Community Ministries

Even though Operation InAsMuch was cancelled, numerous projects have recently been completed by our local churches and individuals as well as a visiting mission group.

Meat Camp Baptist Church RA Group assisted the Gragg family with yardwork and debris removal from the winter storm.

Smith Grove United Methodist Church Youth group worked on Saturday, April 17th, assisting the Adams family with cleaning out a flower bed and the Brown family with limb cutting and removal from this winter's ice storm. The weather wasn't very cooperative, but the youth didn't let that defeat their spirit as they worked in the cold and misting rain for several hours. Both the Adams and the Brown family were not only blessed with the work that was accomplished, but they were inspired by the attitudes of the youth to be so willing to work regardless of the circumstances and weather!

The Operation InAsMuch Leader for Yardwork, David Cox, organized three teams to work on Saturday, May 1st. One team of five volunteers assisted the Johnson family; one team of seven assisted the Miller family; one team of eleven assisted the Lyons family.

Howard's Creek Baptist Church had seven volunteers complete a handicap ramp for the Southerland family on Saturday, May 15th. The project leader, Robert Pennell, alongside the Pastor, Rev. Mark Chaney, managed to adopt the project on May 6th and then complete the project only nine days later! Special thanks is given to John P., for giving his permission for this project to be done and for donating a portion of the materials to this effort!

Cool Springs Baptist Church assisted the Weaver family with yardwork. The winter was especially tough on the Weaver's property! The work required chainsaws and pole saws, plus a truck to haul all of the debris off. The Weaver family said that some of the tree limbs that were removed had just been "dangling" after being injured from the winter ice storm. Mrs. Weaver was especially concerned about the safety of these dangling limbs "every time the wind would blow". The church was happy to assist her and to help calm her worries!

Greenway Baptist Church has developed an idea entitled SOS (Servants on Saturday). Beginning May 29th and going through September 25th, groups will serve on the last Saturday of each month in the community assisting in a wide variety of projects. On Saturday, May 29th, a team led by Karen Wood Bradley assisted the Smith family with yardwork and debris removal. On Saturday, July 31st, a team consisting of John Cook, Gordan Rule, and Dr. David Luster, rebuilt a porch for the Hicks family. (see the Hicks album of before and after pictures!) Plans for Saturday, August 28th, are already being formed to assist another needy family in the area.

A Sunday School class from Mount Vernon Baptist Church, led by John Woodward, assisted the Parker family with installing a refridgerator, landscaping, gazebo repairs and poison ivy removal. John agreed to serve on one of the teams organized by David Cox on Saturday, May 1st, and was excited to lead a new team in serving the Parker family.

Kingdom Builders served in our area June 30th - July 3rd. An indoor ramp for Potter family was one of the many projects they completed in our community. Mr. Potter had been confined to one room of his home due to his motorized wheelchair being unable to access the rest of the house due to steps leading out of the room he was in. Now, with this indoor ramp, Mr. Potter is able to enjoy meals at the table with the rest of his family, access his bedroom and bathroom and enjoy all the rooms of his home!

A church through the Ashe Baptist Association adopted the Taylor family. Plans to assist them with step repair and gutter repairs on being formed now.

Lawndale Baptist Church Seniors group of Greensboro, NC, served in our area August 16th - 20th, 2010. They completed handicap ramps, assisted Anita with her floor repairs, painted the Associational Office, cleaned gutters, houses and yards for several families and individuals in the county.

Our goal is to SHARE the love of Jesus while SHOWING that love in action through each project. These projects are witnessing opportunities and should be treated as such. If you look at it as "simply a job", you're truly missing the calling! As the doors to these homes are being opened for us, so are the hearts of the residents. Someone we might not have ever been in contact with had this project not been referred and adopted has just invited us into their home! Will you serve and live out the great commission of "GO YE THEREFORE.."?

For a list of projects that are in need of adoption, click here eridan.websrvcs.com/clientimages/36647/ccmproj.082010.doc

To find out how you or your church group can become involved as mission partners, contact Anita Greer, the Community Ministries Director, at 828-264-4482, or email her at threeforks@bellsouth.net