Christian Care Ministry (CCM) has some outstanding employees, and this week we were able to speak with Tonya Moore, one of our Contact Center leaders. As we prepare for our third annual Day of Sharing on October 3, we asked her a few questions about her volunteer experiences while at CCM.
Q: How long have you worked at Christian Care Ministry and in what capacities?
I started at Christian Care Ministry three years ago as a contract employee and was hired on permanently in January 2018. I work in the Contact Center as a Subject Matter Expert for Member Services and also as a Temporary Trainer for the Training Department. My duties include reviewing materials and evaluating training needs and effectiveness in an effort to improve employee performance and drive customer experience. I help ensure that training goals align with organizational goals by serving as a liaison between Instructional Design and the Contact Center to identify areas of improvement in the training curriculum.
Q: What led you to CCM?
I moved to Palm Bay in 2015 to help my son and my daughter-in-love care for their three children. After the sudden passing of her mother, they also needed additional financial assistance, so I went online to begin applying for jobs. I got a phone call within 30 minutes of submitting my first application. It was a temporary assignment, but it was the perfect fit for me.
Q: Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Valdosta, GA.
Q: Tell us about your family.
My daughter resides in Georgia with her four children (two girls, and two boys), and my son and his wife reside in Austin, TX. They have four girls.
Q: How did you come to know the Lord/what is your testimony?
During my teen years, I struggled with abandonment issues and feelings of rejection. After several years of searching for love in all the wrong places, I remember crying myself to sleep one Saturday night when I was in my early 20s. When I woke up on Sunday morning, I still felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness and loneliness. I immediately got dressed and headed towards my family church, but God had other plans. As I passed this little Pentecostal Church a few blocks down the road, I felt this tugging at my heart, and I could hear the sound of music ringing in my ears. I didn’t understand why I felt I had to stop there, and I honestly don’t remember hearing the preacher’s message that day. I cried throughout the entire sermon. The only thing I could remember was hearing him clearly saying, “If it feels like something is tugging at your heart, DO NOT WAIT until the sermon is over, Jesus is calling for you to come.” I walked down to the front of the church, and the pastor just stood there watching as I bawled my eyes out and began thanking God for loving me.
It still gives me chills to this day as I remember the warmth of God’s embrace and the outpouring of His love that brought me to my knees in front of a group of complete strangers that eventually became my spiritual family. I had never known such great love!
Q: What are your hobbies or passions?
My passion is being an influencer to help others identify their purpose and become the best version of themselves. Whether that is through evangelism or peer-to-peer coaching. I love to share my knowledge, skills, and talents to help others succeed.
Q: Tell us a little about how your experience participating in the Day of Sharing!
I began participating in the Day of Sharing in October 2018, and my group was assigned to LOVE, INC. to assist a homeowner with interior painting. Since my family no longer resided in Palm Bay, I invited my Evangelism Ministry Leader, Delores, to join me. When we arrived, we found that the homeowner had a debilitating disease that rendered her incapable of doing many basic housekeeping chores. There was a ton of work needed in a very short time so the team split up into small groups. My team handled the housekeeping chores, another team worked to remove furniture and prep for the painters, one team was assigned to interior painting, while another worked to declutter the garage and do some minor clean-up outside. Delores and I formed a bond with Ms. Ann, the homeowner, and we continued to follow up with her for several months afterwards.
In 2019, we wanted to share the joy of serving others with our entire evangelism team, so I volunteered to be the CCM chairperson, and oversaw the Brevard Rescue Mission assignment. I worked alongside my CCM family with approximately 10 – 12 members of my church family. It was such a thrill to know we were able to help transform a run-down, shabby neighborhood into a beautiful community with a clean lot available for a new playground. We also installed beautiful landscaping in an area where the women and children could soon call home!
Q: What did it mean to you to be able to join your fellow employees in volunteering in the community?
2 Corinthians 5:20 is our purpose statement for our AFC ministry, The Ambassadors For Christ. So, this was just another way for us to submit ourselves to God and allow Him to use our time, our talents, and our resources to show the love of Jesus to others whom we have never met and who may never have the capacity to return the favor. It was a selfless act of love, just like the love shown to us when Jesus gave himself to be crucified for us!
Q: What would you tell someone who is considering volunteering in their community?
Serving will require you to deny yourself. It means rearranging your schedule to make time to help someone else. It means sacrificing that weekly takeout meal to be able to donate resources or money, and it means allowing God to use your hands and your feet to move throughout your community to bless someone in their time of need.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We are still looking for more volunteers to join us at New Life Mission, formerly Brevard Rescue Mission, for this year’s CCM Day of Sharing! If you and your family are in the Melbourne area and looking for places to serve, please consider joining us on Saturday, Oct. 3rd!
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