Enlarge CharlotteONE Executive Director David Hickman discusses his "Then and Now" series.

Posted: July 26th, 2010 Jarvis Holliday

It’s a warm weekday evening and hundreds of young adults are gathered outside in uptown Charlotte. They’re talking and mingling, while a DJ plays a cool blend of music. It sounds a lot like the popular Alive After Five series that takes place Thursdays at the EpiCentre. But this is July 20, a Tuesday. And these young people have gathered to not only be entertained, but also be inspired. This is CharlotteONE.

Four years ago, several local churches started a four-week trial program to see if they could be more effective in reaching young adults and singles. The weekly program was a success; CharlotteONE was born.

Led by founder and Executive Director David Hickman, the group is now supported by nearly 40 local churches. CharlotteONE holds its sessions each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Uptown, except during the summer, meeting just one Tuesday of the month.

Shortly after 7 p.m., Hickman took the stage and thanked everyone for coming out to the second installment in his “Then and Now” series.

“Things change over time,” he said. “Remember that old Motorola phone? Well, that’s now the iPhone 4. The Sony walkman is now the iPod Nano. Ralph Macchio used to be the Karate Kid, but that’s now played by Jaden Smith.” 

The message Hickman was conveying was that no matter how things change, God is always there for you and his love doesn’t change. He also said that he wants to reach people so they can one day have a "then and now" story.

When it was time for the main event, a news story began to play on the big screens, describing how a Charlotte middle school teacher had been arrested for selling drugs at a local restaurant.

That teacher-turned-drug-dealer was guest speaker Mason Murchison. 

“I always wanted to be on TV one day, but not like that,” said Murchison as he took the stage. Growing up he knew he wanted to be a teacher and loved the job for the four years he was able to do it.

While he didn’t go into much detail as to what led to his arrest that day in December 2007, he accepted responsibility for it and talked about how it changed his life.

“After my third day in jail, on that morning it hit me that I had probably lost everything. I would never be able to teach again,” he said.

After serving his 60-day sentence, he began going to church, something he said he hadn’t done since college. Attending a CharlotteONE service one evening impacted him. “The environment of this place—it was the first time I was able to let go.”

The next CharlotteONE summer gathering will be held August 17. Newk’s Express Café will sell sandwiches on the steps of the church beginning at 6 p.m. The church service starts at 7 p.m. For details, visit www.charlotteone.org.

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