Amid God’s Appalachian Partnership’s 25th Anniversary Celebration and our largest building project, this summer has been packed full of ministry! In addition to Constructors for Christ who came over 5 weeks bringing 318 volunteers representing 71 churches from 10 different states, we hosted 8 different church teams totaling 96 volunteers from 4 different states.
In May, we had Smoke Rise Baptist Church (Stone Mountain, GA) help us clean out our Maintenance Building which led to something we had never done before. We held a one-day construction material sale, for our GAP families, here at the office with the excess supplies stored in our Maintenance Building. We had everything from lumber, boxes of screws, plumbing supplies, toilets, tubs, and hot water heaters. Various building supplies that our families were able to purchase at a low price and use on their own homes to repair and replace. A college and single adult team from Lawndale Baptist Church (Greenville, NC) was here serving and there was much excitement in the air over the supplies people found and how it was just what each family needed/wanted. It was a blessed opportunity to share how God loves us and provides for our needs.
Pikeville First Baptist Church is a faithful partner of ours and this summer they brought their very first college/young adult group for a week-long trip. This is my family’s and Tanya’s home church, so it was exciting to see Jhaughanessy and Allison participate. The group built a much-needed ramp for a family, served at Distribution, senior citizens, and helped serve supper at the Group Home.
We also had a new church serve alongside us this summer, Crossroads Evangelical Church, from Wauseon, OH. What a blessing this team was with their servant hearts and willing spirits. The team did a home repair that included new windows, bathroom, kitchen sink, and stairs to a side porch. They also served two days of distribution, group home, and senior citizens. They accomplished so much and were such a blessing. We pray we see them again here at GAP!
We continue to minister at the senior citizens building here in McDowell/Minnie, but this summer we were asked to come to another center. The Martin senior citizens center asked if we would come and minister there each week. We only started at the end of July but have had a wonderful time getting to know new people and share with them. We praise God for this new ministry opportunity.
Two teams helped us provide two weeks of Day Camp at Left Beaver Townhouses, Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church (Raliegh, NC) and Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church (Frankfort, KY). The children and families had been looking forward to this all summer and we had a wonderful mixture of both fun and gospel conservations. We had as many as 33 children in attendance.
Our last team for the summer, Across the Map, is more like an associational team. The team is made of members from different churches. This is the third team they have brought in this year. The first was in March, another in June, and then this final team which ministered by doing home repairs for a widowed lady in addition to haircuts during distribution and at the senior citizens center.
Thank you to each of our teams and summer intern, Zach, who ministered with such joy and love. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities and sharing the Hope of Jesus with our families. Your partnership in ministry is making an impact. Thank you for standing in the GAP.