Hinton Rural Life Center 60th anniversary series
Inspired by Jesus Christ, Hinton Rural Life Center’s purpose is to engage individuals, congregations and communities in transformation through retreat ministry and missional outreach. As part of the 60 years of Hinton Center series, Clay County Progress is highlighting the faces of those who carry out the mission of the retreat and conference center.
Each week, you will meet a staff member, volunteer or someone closely affiliated with the organization, either in the past or currently. Rev. Dawn Livingston Livingston joined the Hinton Center staff in August 2016. As an ordained deacon in the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, Livingston was appointed to Hinton Center as the director of Program Ministries.
“I moved here from a smaller mission site in southeast Ohio whose summer missions program was modeled after Hinton Center,” Livingston explained. “I had discerned my call as a deacon there and worked my way up to executive director. I was the only full-time staffer, so finding the position at Hinton and being able to focus more on missions and ministry made my heart soar.”
Livingston grew up in the rolling hills of another rural Appalachian community, in southeast Ohio. “So moving to the Hayesville area felt very much like home to me,” she said. “I love the people, the mountains and the lake.” As director of Program Ministries, Livingston’s role has her overseeing missions and ministry in the community. This includes Christmas Care of Clay County, Hinton’s safe and healthy housing, the firewood ministry and its poverty awareness efforts.
“I often share that when I started at Hinton, working with the college students summer staff was something I really wasn’t excited to do,” she said. “Yet, that first summer it quickly became something I love and one of the biggest joys in ministry I have year after year. We have had some discern calls into ministry, some who really find their passion in serving and so much more.”
Livingston’s background qualifies her for all of these things and more. “I have worked with people in poverty for more than 15 years,” she continued. “I’m a certified trainer through Bridges Out of Poverty, and both Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid. I have my bachelors in professional communications from Wheeling Jesuit University and my Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary.”
An active member in the Rotary Club of Clay County, Livingston serves on the boards of People of Clay Coalition Allies for Recovery and Education, ReFrame Foundation and The Jackie Ward Foundation for Academics and Arts. “I enjoy spending time with my three ‘furry kids’ — my dogs, reading, traveling, watching ice hockey and being creative through painting, writing and crocheting,” she said. “You’re likely to find me with a cup of coffee in hand.” Livingston is engaged and is planning a fall wedding. “We’re excited to continue living in this beautiful area,” she said.
“I think Hinton is important to our local community because we walk alongside our neighbors to help improve quality of life. Did you know your zip code can be a better indicator of your health than genetics? This is why we are striving to complete safe and healthy home assessments so we can continue to improve the health of our neighbors and our community.”
Nick Oliver, construction coordinator Hinton Center’s Construction Ministries Coordnator Nick Oliver arrived on the job in 2017. The Murphy native, who says he was born and raised in the Boiling Springs area of Cherokee County, did not have to travel far to take the job. He described his job, “Assessing homes in the community for safety and the health of residents therein, creating plans for construction and or repair, then working with volunteers from near and far to make those improvements by equipping them with tools, building supplies, knowledge of best practices in construction and an appreciation for our beautiful community and its members.”
Before working at Hinton, Oliver was facility manager for Pace Setters Adventures of Marble. Prior to Pace Setters, he was a trail crew leader for Great Smoky Mountains National Park for almost a decade. “Times in between, I worked on projects around Murphy, including helping with construction of the Murphy River Walk with Lonnie Maize, Edwin Manchester, Ben Pipes and Piney Knob Trail System with Eddie Sylvester,” he said. Nick Oliver is the son of Dana and Dennis Oliver, but his mom Dana passed away in 1999. He is happy to be able to stay in western North Carolina, the place of his youth. “In everyone’s life, there are times when you have the ability to do for yourself and then times when you do not,” he said.
“Some are fortunate to have a capable partner to help with the hard times. In those times without, the Hinton Center does its best to be that capable partner.” When asked to share something readers may not know, Oliver replied, “If you have a strong heart for this community, you can partner with Hinton to provide assistance to those in need by referring folks to our program, by joining a team of like-minded volunteers in firewood production, home assessment, construction or repair or by donating to the Hinton Center.”
Oliver added, “The bulk of Hinton’s volunteers are youth from other towns across the United States, some skilled, some learning.” If you have construction trade knowledge and would like to help our community and pass along your valuable skills to the next generation, contact Oliver.