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Partners in the Mission:
Transformed Kentucky Changers
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| Release Date: 07/29/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
Every summer, Kentucky Changers spend a week working to transform the homes of those who cannot afford much-needed repairs. However, it is the transforming of the lives of those who are involved that continues long after the projects are complete.
This year Kentucky Changers repaired more than 80 homes in Monticello, Maysville and Williamsburg. There were also 22 professions of faith and 15 commitments to vocational Christian ministry from among the 972 participants.
Homeowners are greatly impacted by Kentucky Changers. Crewmembers always have an opportunity to share the Gospel with homeowners, and several of them pray to receive Christ each summer. Homeowners include widows, single moms, older couples and disabled persons.
A homeowner in one recent case had become bitter after being unfairly treated many times by people who took her money without completing the work. When the Kentucky Changers demonstrated Christ’s love to her while repairing her roof and 19 windows and window frames, she was overwhelmed and grateful.
“The homeowners felt the love of the crews,” said Michelle Paschall, youth minister for Memorial Baptist Church, Murray.
During the Friday night celebrations following each week of Kentucky Changers, most homeowners are present and the crews have the opportunity to rejoice with them while viewing before and after pictures of their homes.
Paschall, a 13-year veteran of Kentucky Changers and an experienced crew leader, added that the week of Kentucky Changers ministry continues to impact teens and adults throughout the year.
“There was great improvement in the house, but the greatest improvement was in my life,” one teenaged participant said.
In Williamsburg this summer, the preacher for the week asked those who made professions of faith during the week and those who had made commitments to vocational Christian service to come forward. Three young men professed their faith in Jesus Christ, and seven young men and women acknowledged their calls to vocational ministry. The audience of their peers applauded each one and promised to pray for them.
The celebration there was made possible by a partnership with the University of the Cumberlands Mountain Outreach program. Director Mark Hensley and 12 student “runners” helped make sure the Kentucky Changers crews had the materials needed for their projects.
“You worked in the rain, sun and mud, and still completed the assignments,” Peggy Murphy, ministry assistant for the Baptist Men on Mission Dept., said in commending the students.
Churches in the areas where Kentucky Changers worked are also to be commended for providing noon meals at the job sites for participants.
Pray for all teens as they return to school soon and pray that Christian teens will remain strong in their Christian values.
Missions gifts through the Cooperative Program enable ministries like Kentucky Changers to exist.
Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535. |
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