By: Ann Hawley

The volunteers at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch are the backbone of our ministry. To commemorate their importance and the teamwork that they represent, we wanted to create a new t-shirt that reflects the aim of our volunteer program.

The name “Team Workhorse” was chosen to signify the strength and unity of our volunteers. The byline “Pulling Together for Families in Need” represents the Ranch’s mission statement.

Our Short Term Volunteer supervisor Sarah Robinett sketched the design.  Sarah’s artistry depicts a powerful image of four horses joined together with breast collars, pulling forward against a backdrop of the Three Sisters. The horses are an obvious creative choice, but they also represent strength, teamwork, and forward motion straining toward a common goal.

At the top of the graphic design is the Bible verse, Zephaniah 3:9 – “Call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” This scripture illustrates the like-mindedness of a group of volunteers who are bearing a single burden, and it’s symbolic of the unity required to press toward a goal.

In Christ, we’re called to walk together as if we were linked by a single shoulder. This means everyone stays in step and no one shirks his or her part of the task.  Our objective is to carry out the Lord’s work with His direction, with solidarity, and with singular vision. By pacing together in unity, our individual burdens are lightened and we can obediently complete the responsibilities that are placed before us.

The entire design is encompassed in a circle, representing unity: a continuous line with no discernible beginning or end.

Sometimes a t-shirt is just a t-shirt.  We hope ours will inspire everyone to reflect on the generosity of our volunteers and the beauty of true teamwork!