Reintroducing the Clinton Community Christian Corporation – the 4C’s

By Guest Columnist Dr. Laurie Lawson

The Clinton Community Christian Corporation (4C’s) was founded by Clint Doña, who was a student at Mississippi College. His family, which included eleven children, were immigrants from Central America’s Nicaragua and were raised in Los Angeles, California. He and his siblings were taught by their father, a minister of the gospel, that “faithfulness to God was paramount, that prayer was in order at all times, and that our lives should be infused with serving others.” He taught that “everything you do, you do it as unto the Lord,” which was a very important verse and statement for Doña’s path to creating the 4C’s.

During the months between January and February 1971, Clint recalled praying in earnest, asking God to show him a clear path of exactly what He wanted him to do. Within a little over a month, Clint encountered seven people who had ties with Clinton and/or Mississippi College and felt the call from God to apply to Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi – a place he had never heard of.

While traveling with fellow students to volunteer, he saw several homes that needed attention and asked other students if anyone lived in the “shacks” – and no one knew. He was really curious and vowed to search further, stating that, if people lived in those houses, he was sure they really needed some help. He didn’t have a car but knew what road to take, walked up to the first house and knocked. He continued to knock on doors asking if the residents needed help, meeting a few families and promising to keep in contact with them. Several students who had befriended him asked what he was doing. When he told them, they offered to help collect items requested by the families.

And that’s how it started…by Clint, some students, and wanting to do something for others. Clint, along with Bradley Pope, Mississippi College Director of Religious Activities; Joe Cooper, Mississippi College faculty member; MC students and community supporters came together to further the ministry. There was some church support – Northside Baptist in Clinton, Pleasant Green in Clinton, a Methodist church in Jackson, and other church congregations. First Baptist Church of Clinton allowed students to use a small building to store collected items. Clothing was distributed, as were food items. They soon outgrew the building provided by First Baptist Church and another building was located in downtown Clinton.

Mississippi College Baptist Student Union members became involved on a greater scale, as did Mr. Pope, and efforts were becoming more coordinated. Clint talked to “Pope” about his vision of this ministry – that there was so much need in the community among the poor – children needed tutoring, food needed to be given out, medical attention should be made available, and that Mississippi College played a huge role through student involvement – the Baptist Student Union, nursing students, those studying to become preachers and teachers became involved. One family was building a home, and Clint asked students to help several Saturdays until the house was built.

It became apparent that this work was not a fly-by-night operation and that it was moving in the direction of an “official” type of ministry. Clint had always insisted that this work was the direct result of Christians working out in practical terms of what it means to be a Christian; therefore, he insisted that “Christian” be included in the name. He did not want it to become just another social service project. The name was to include Christian, and also be known that it was this community of Christians that was doing this work.

For more than fifty years, the mission of the 4C’s was to create awareness of some of the needs in the Clinton community and to coordinate available resources and efforts to meet those needs. This same mission continues to be the focal point of the agency today.

The 4C’s provides meals, transportation and socialization to senior adults, backpack and school supplies to youth, food assistance, financial emergency and holiday assistance to families experiencing crisis situations – a ministry which began years ago and continues.

The survival of the 4C’s ministries is literally contingent on support FROM the community. We need YOUR help! No gift is too small! You can show that you care by mailing your contribution to P.O. Box 21, Clinton, MS 39060 or to 2001 West Northside Drive, Clinton, MS 39056. You can also pay by PayPal, Cash App, or Givelify by visiting the website at www.hello4cs.org. Please consider volunteering your time, talent and/or service.

Help us continue to support those who are in need… the least of these…

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40NIV)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Laurie Lawson serves as the executive director of the Clinton Community Christian Corporation.