Tonya Maddox of Davidson, NC has started her own online community called The Epic Journey, that will mimic other social networks but with one main difference – it will be a safe and encouraging environment for Christ followers and seekers.

After one friend told Maddox that her young daughter wanted to open a Facebook account and another talked with her about the sometimes disturbing or off-putting comments and images that can appear on your news feed, she decided to do something about it.

“I believe you have to really filter what you take in because what goes in comes out,” said Maddox.  ”And I feel it is a reflection on me.”

So she created a new social network where her friend’s daughter could interact and connect online with others safely.  The Epic Journey has many features that are similar to other social media sites, such as status updates, picture sharing and networking tools.  However, members can’t post any explicit material.  A series of technological filters will block any questionable posts from going through and those that may slip through the cracks, will be picked up and removed by staff members who monitor the site 24 hours a day.

Besides just socializing, members will be able to do a multitude of other things on the site including locating a new church or bible study, find opportunities to serve in their local community, regionally or nationally or look up Christian concerts and conferences.

“As someone who used to travel two weeks out of every month, I know what it’s like to miss your church or your life group.  With [The Epic Journey], people who are traveling can just type in the zip code where they are and find a church to go to,” said Maddox.

The website is only the beginning though.  Maddox plans to develop The Epic Journey into a non-profit organization and hold two to three conferences each year around the country that will be geared toward 20 and 30-somethings.  The conferences will include musical performances, guest speakers and break-out sessions.

“They will be able to walk away [from these conferences] better equipped for life,” said Maddox.

Unfortunately, it is often this age group that gets looked over, according to Maddox.

“We lose people after student ministry and we send them out, just hoping they’re equipped,” Maddox said.  ”But often they are looking in the wrong places for love and they don’t know how to have a relationship with Christ.”

Maddox has already held several small networking events and plans to continue hosting them on the last Tuesday of each month.  The events are for strategic networking and will feature keynote speakers with their own stories of perseverance and hard work.  The events are held at the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Davidson, NC.

Tonya Maddox of Davidson, NC is starting a "cleaned-up" social network, The Epic Journey.

Although she was quite successful in the more traditional corporate world in the past, Maddox said this venture has brought her the most joy, outside of getting married and becoming pregnant with her first child.

“This is the most exciting thing I’ve embarked on in my life,” said Maddox.

Maddox said she has seen the power the media and social networking can have and she’s excited to see what her “cleaned-up” version will be able to accomplish.  She hopes it will change people’s lives.

“People walk around like they’re in a black and white movie,” said Maddox.  ”But when you add the encouragement of Christ, you can watch those lives turn to color.”

Justin Barnes, a resident of Lake Norman, NC, saw a need for supplies for Charlotte’s homeless population and decided to take it upon himself to fill it. Once a month, Barnes travels to downtown Charlotte early on a Saturday morning and disburses supplies including hygiene products, food, drinks and clothing.

Barnes, 32, started volunteering in 2010 when he started serving at the Mooresville Christian Mission. Working as the Mission’s volunteer coordinator, Barnes did orientations for new volunteers, transported clients to appointments and picked up food donations from various individuals and businesses.

Being newly sober himself and unemployed at the time, Barnes said volunteering kept him busy and gave him something to do instead of looking for drugs.

After noticing a need for a homeless shelter in Mooresville while working at the Mission, Barnes decided to organize a sleep-out in November 2010 to raise awareness. Participants set up on the street outside the Mission and slept there all night, despite the bitterly cold temperatures. Fifty people ended up taking part as well as several local churches that provided food.

After the sleep-in, Barnes knew he wanted to do more. He started volunteering by making sandwiches at Urban Christian Ministries in Charlotte, a ministry that provides food, medicine, showers, mail and laundry services for the homeless.

While serving at Urban Christian Ministries, Barnes had the opportunity to speak to a homeless man who told him about “The Wall,” a street corner in downtown Charlotte where different churches would set up at 8 a.m. each Saturday to feed them breakfast. It was only food being given out though and Barnes realized someone needed to provide much needed hygiene supplies.

So he took the initiative to do just that. The first time he set up, with his girlfriend and a friend at his side, 80 to 120 people showed up. Now, each time Barnes sets up, scores of people stand in line to receive toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, razors, deodorant, socks, underwear, sleeping bags and more.

Justin Barnes and friends give out hygiene supplies and food to the homeless of Charlotte.

Depending on his own schedule and the availability of supplies, Barnes tries to set up at least twice a month. He said for him, the joy isn’t only about helping others himself, but also about getting other people to want to help their fellow human beings.
“If I can take the same desire that’s in me and put it in five to ten other people, then they can instill giving and serving in other people,” he said.

Barnes said he has had the desire to serve others since he was in the second grade.

“I just want to serve those who have fallen on hard times and give them the basic supplies that we take for granted,” he said. “You never know why they are homeless, and it could only take one bad event in your life and you could also be there.”

Perl cosplaying Samus Aran at fashion show

For Michelle Perl of Brooklyn, NY, cosplaying is not only a way to pay tribute to one of her favorite characters; it is a source of confidence and accomplishment. Particularly, since she used cosplaying to help her lose 100 pounds.

After gaining weight throughout high school and part of college, Perl found herself at her heaviest weight of 200lbs in 2007. She had been struggling with depression and was taking a variety of medications, which contributed to her weight gain.

In 2006, Perl’s mother also became sick with cancer and progressively got worse until she passed away in 2007.

“My mother played a very large role in my life and her death had a great impact on me,” said Perl. She realized her depression had only gotten worse after the loss of her mother and she decided to make some improvements in her life quickly before her emotional state got worse.

“I knew that if I adapted a healthy lifestyle and began exercising and seeing results, I could start to take my life in a new direction with improved confidence,” Perl said.

Perl, 27, decided to use the protagonist from her favorite video game, Metroid, as her role model and inspiration. Samus Aran, is an intergalactic bounty hunter in the game, who is responsible for wiping out an entire threatening alien species on her own.

“She is probably one of the most respected and strongest female heroines in video game history,” said Perl. “Although she was a long time silent protagonist, her actions spoke louder than words characterizing her as graceful, cunning, determined and powerful – all of which I felt were great attributes for me to look up to as a role model.”

Perl set a goal to make Samus’ zero suit costume, which is skin tight, and wear it as a cosplayer. Cosplaying is a hobby of anime, video game and comic book fans, where costumes based on fictional characters are made and worn at conventions and events. Some fans will even role play by acting like the character they are portraying or try to realistically portray the character in creative photography shoots.

So Perl went on a strict diet and started exercising. She’d go for long walks, exercise at home and dance in clubs every week.

“Surprisingly, I think the dancing was the biggest piece that really helped me shed the pounds,” said Perl. “Cardio exercise is really easy when you find a way to have fun with it.”

After 2 years of dedicated work, Perl lost 100lbs and in 2010, reached her goal weight of about 100lbs, a healthy weight for her short stature. She finished painting and designing Samus’ zero suit and has since worn it at so many events, she’s lost count.

“[I’ve worn it at] at a Nintendo World event, New York Comic Con, PAX East, Sakura Matsuri festival, Best Buy’s Nintendo 3DS release… I’ve even camped out for events in the freezing cold with it!” said Perl.

“I’m very proud of both the costume and my fitness achievement that came along with it.”