(Note: Ansonia served June 23-28, 2013)
Ansonia Church of God (Ansonia, OH) installed a new roof on a local widow’s home. They also ministered at the Warco Apartments with music, crafts, Bible stories and games. One lady from the team visited with the guests at McDowell/Minnie Senior Citizens Center; she played games with them and distributed great prizes to the seniors.
“Dear Friends and Partners of GAP,
We the Board of Directors of God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP) want to extend our gratefulness to Lynn and Angie Wagoner for their faithful leadership these past 14 years. While we are very sad to see them step aside we fully support their decision to follow God’s leading into the next phase of their lives. Our prayers and friendship go with them.
During this time of transition the board is actively pursuing an interim executive director to immediately fill the position. We have two serious prospects at this time and we will be making a decision shortly. The appointment of an interim executive director will give adequate time to find a permanent director.
GAP continues to have a dedicated staff and volunteer base who will fill in where necessary. The vital work of God’s Appalachian Partnership will continue.
We understand that you may have questions or concerns about this time of transition. Please don’t hesitate to contact us (GAPdirectors [at] gmail.com) and we will do our best to get you the information that you need. We will also be sending out regular updates as this progresses through email and on the GAP website.
The board of directors is excited about the future of GAP and believes that our best days are still ahead. Our future is in God’s capable hands.
Sincerely,
Danny Bauer
President, Board of Directors
God’s Appalachian Partnership”
Angie & Lynn Wagoner
“Dear Friends,
August eighth 2013 will be Angie and my last day leading God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP). After months of prayer and seeking God’s will, we believe the Lord has made it clear that we have completed what He sent us to Eastern Kentucky to do. He is directing us to give the leadership of God’s Appalachian Partnership to another and pursue a different direction with our lives.
We are filled with overwhelming hope for the future of GAP because the vision and story of the organization has always been bigger then the two of us. It is God’s vision and story.
Over 14 years ago God laid His vision on our hearts to leave our suburban Florida lifestyle and help repair broken lives by sharing the salvation story through service in Appalachia. The story of what happened as we stepped out in faith is simply miraculous. God moved in powerful ways providing the resources and the people to make His vision come alive.
Knowing that the story of GAP started in the heart of God and is an extension of His love for His creation; we have confidence that what He began He will see through to completion.
We will be returning to Florida where Angie will be starting classes as she pursues a degree in biblical counseling. Through our ministry at GAP we saw how much of a need there was for biblically based counseling to help individuals and families find lasting answers.
As for me, I am seeking God’s direction concerning a ministry to pastors and missionaries. This is something God laid on my heart years ago because of the love and encouragement shown to us in difficult times. I am also actively looking for employment in the central Florida area. I am certain that one of my main purposes now will be to support Angie as she prepares for future ministry.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of McDowell and the surrounding area for these past years. We are deeply grateful and humbled by the hospitality and love that has been extended to us.
As this chapter in our lives comes to a close please join us in prayers of praise to our wonderful Father for his faithfulness and the gift of His Son as our Saviour. Please pray for the Board of Directors as they continue to lead GAP into the future God has planned.
In His love and service,
Lynn Wagoner”
Forks of Elkhorn served from June 16-21, 2013
Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church (Frankfort, KY) built a ramp and some new steps for a local family. At BeansTalk the team provided a clown, crafts, popcorn and some food that won over the clients. They also presented the Gospel in Wheelwright through a two day basketball camp.
South Orlando served from June 9-14, 2013
South Orlando Baptist Church (Orlando, FL) traveled north to help GAP and the community anyway that they could. The team built a pavilion at Elk Ridge and prepared a meal for the clients during BeansTalk. South Orlando also held a VBS for the kids at the Minnie Townhouses that ended with water games that had left both kids and adults soaked. Then team ladies also led a Bible study with the women in the complex.
The 2013 Community Easter Egg HuntThe staff and volunteers of GAP have been sowing seeds for nearly fourteen years in the southern end of Floyd County. We were thankful that God did not choose to literally water the earth on the day of the 2013 Community Easter Egg Hunt. Despite the cold, cloudy day, it is estimated that 800 people attended the event. Both kids and adults raced to find the prize eggs. Puppets, clowns, games and face painting were among the activities of the day. The story of God’s ultimate sacrifice for us was told; food for the body and soul was provided. We did our best to plant and water the seeds of the Gospel in as many ways possible.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”- I Corinthians 3:6
We have been very intentional in presenting the Gospel at all of our community events. This one was no exception, but we have never had a response like this one. Seventy-three adults wanted to know more about having a personal relationship with Christ. We have been doing follow up for the past month with these individuals. The visits with these people have been exciting. Helena was saved and wanted to know what to do next. Heather was looking for someone to go to church with. She said she felt funny going alone. We have plans to meet her outside the church on Sunday so she doesn’t have to walk in alone. Christy said she went to church but didn’t know about a “personal relationship”. She made a profession of faith on the phone with Kathy. Amanda cried for an hour as I shared with her about God’s love and grace. She left wanting some time to think on what had been shared. She did ask if we could talk again. She came in this week, hugged my neck and thanked me for sharing. She said, “I made the decision. I am attending Victory Baptist Church with my sister.”
We are thankful for the opportunity to plant, to water and to watch God give the increase.
Hillcrest Baptist Church of Hopkinsville, Kentucky did a great job serving on their first mission trip to GAP. BeansTalk has never been more inviting, the Senior Citizen Center has a new look inside and out. Most importantly, two young boys were saved at movie night on Wednesday. 
The Ramp
Sarah contacted GAP through Facebook when her daughter had a nasty bicycle accident. Chloe broke both bones in her leg and did damage to her ankle. The road to recovery will be long for Chloe with physical therapy and possible surgery along the way.
The house sits high upon a hill with two sets of rough stairs from the driveway to the house. This made it difficult for Sarah and her husband James to get Chloe in and out of the house. A ramp was needed. The problem was that the ramp needed to be 95 feet long.
We immediately put a request out for funds and hoped to partner with other organizations in the area to get this done. There was no response to this project. While sharing this need with Paul Nunn’s Sunday School class, a man spoke up and said, “We can do this.” Later, in response to the financial need, we received funds from Penia Baptist Church and Robert Warner. Smoke Rise Baptist pledged the balance of the project.
Chloe’s first ride up the ramp
The way this project came together was God’s people reaching out in love. God used us in more ways than just to build a ramp. Sarah and James have never asked for assistance from GAP in the past but through this project we were able to build a real friendship with this family. Sarah cooked meals every day for the workers. James, despite working nights, worked alongside of the men all week. Kinzey, the younger daughter had her time with a hammer but had more fun playing with our newest staff member, Kathy. Sarah was so excited as the finished product was coming into view. She shared how James’ grandmother had never been able to come up to the house because she uses a walker. She always had to visit at the bottom of the hill. Now the family can get together in the house. This is a great family and it has been an honor to serve them.
FBC Prestonsburg
Editors Note: Kathy is GAP’s newest staff member and here she tells the story of how she joined the GAP family.
Kathy Henson
My road to serving at God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP) has been a bumpy one with a lot of twists and turns. I grew up in an abusive home where I lived in fear and never felt like I was loved.I was a very lonely child. The only Godly example in my life was my grandmother who I didn’t get to see much because she lived so far away. When I did see her she would always tell me about Jesus and take me to church. I learned that church was a safe place for me and I would go every chance I could get. When I was twelve I was saved, but I wasn’t discipled. I knew something life changing took place in my life that night, but didn’t understand what.
My dad was killed in a car accident when I was 13. It was a very traumatic for me. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I started running with the wrong crowd and did things that I knew were wrong. I didn’t trust people and I didn’t know how to love people or let them love me. I wouldn’t let anyone get close to me. I married at 21 and we were married 14 years before we divorced.
I met Connie Padgett at work. She took an interest in me and invited me to her church, but I wanted nothing to do with her. I tried to push her away because I thought she would be like everyone else and hurt me too. However she persisted. She would try to talk to me, but I had nothing to say to her. She never gave up on me and I finally went to church with her.
Though I didn’t know it at the time, it was a divine appointment from God. I started going to church there and got my life right with God. I began studying the Bible and God taught me that He would never leave me nor forsake me, that I was fearfully and wonderfully made and that He loved me no matter what. For the first time in my life I felt a love like no other.
My life hasn’t been the same because someone took an interest in me and shared God’s love for me. To this day Connie remains my best friend and I thank God for her. I’m thankful that she never gave up on me. Her family took me in, accepted and loved me for me. They showed me what family was about. They truly love the Lord.
I was at Freedom Baptist Church for fifteen years. I went on several in-state mission trips as well as five trips to Haiti and once to Belize. My heart’s desire is missions. I have always been interested in missions since I was in Girls in Action (GAs) but I always thought you had to be rich to be a missionary, little did I know.
I was at the hospital with a friend and was going to the cafeteria to get us something to drink but found that it was closed. I went into the gift shop to look around. There was a volunteer working in the gift shop and we started talking about missions. She shared about how her church was involved with GAP in Eastern Kentucky. That was a region that I had always been interested in. The lady told me about a woman named Joan Mann, from her church who was going to be going to GAP in a week. She told me to give her a call if I wanted to ride along and gave me a phone number.
I called Joan and asked if I could tag along on her trip and she said “yes”. I was excited though I didn’t know this lady at all and had no idea what God was up to. Because of this adventure everybody says I got to the GAP by hitchhiking.
While I was there I met GAP’s founders, Lynn and Angie Wagoner, for the first time. I was really touched but I saw that day. I told Angie the only way I would give into missions if I was to loose my job. We had that conversation in August 2009 and in February 2010 I lost my job and it confirmed God was calling me to missions and to serve at GAP.
But I ran away from that call as fast as I could; it scared me. I have always been self sufficient but God wanted me to give Him total control, but I said, “No”. That was the most miserable time in my life. I got my job back and was still miserable. I was sitting at work praying, asking God what to do and His answer was “quit running from me and run to me”. I went to bathroom and had a melt down and told God I would go wherever He sent me.
Throughout this experience I hadn’t told anyone about my plans but I knew it was time to let others know. When I did finally tell Connie, she said she already knew that God was going to send me to the mission field one day. I then told my associate pastor and then I told my church family.
I completely surrendered my life to missions. All God asked me to do was step out in faith and He would take care of the rest. Though I didn’t feel like I was qualified to do anything I asked Angie to send me an application to serve at GAP.
I gave my notice on a Monday in October, a week before I moved, and that evening the company told us we would be closing for good in December. If I had stayed until then I would have received a severance package, but I knew I couldn’t because I had already told my co-workers that God would take care of me and He had more money and was bigger than Red Wing Shoes. So I didn’t take it. I wasn’t suppose to get any money from them. However, a couple of months after I had moved to McDowell, I went to check my mail and there it was, a severance check.
God has opened up doors for me and is taking care of all my needs, just like He promised He would. He has done so many things and I don’t deserve any of it. I thank God for His grace and mercy, His faithfulness and for giving me the opportunity to share the gospel and lead people to the Lord. I thank God for the GAP and I’m excited to see that He is working in lives here. God is good!
We Estimate that there were 800 in attendance at this years Community Easter Egg Hunt. 73 adults filled out forms requesting more information about having a personal relationship with Christ.
At the end of the event we drew names for six prizes. Ealita Stumbo won $100 Walmart gift card. She was quite emotional when she came forward to claim her prize. “You just don’t understand how much my family needs this. My husband was hurt at work and this will really help,” she said softly.
It is always a blessing to see God provide. He has some pretty unique ways working.
