Relationship based ministry helping homeowners in the county

For seven weeks youth and adults from more than 35 states have visited Rutherford County to help homeowners here to have warmer, safer and drier homes.

Appalachia Service Project (ASP), a "relational ministry with construction on the side," is open to all people and utilizes volunteer labor throughout the year to address critical housing needs in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The Summer Home Repair Program is conducted each year from June until August.

Last week youth and adults from Fairfield United Methodist Church in High Point worked to address needs at a home in Mooresboro, completing the construction of a bedroom addition on a mobile home.

"There are actually six projects going on this week," said Rachel Koehler, a former volunteer who is on staff for the first time this summer. "This summer there has been 12 to 15 families helped."

Coming into a job that was started by others has its challenges, said Michael Rhoney, a member of Fairfield UMC, but the work is very rewarding.

"This is the first time we've stayed in North Carolina to do mission work," Rhoney said. "And really our focus this time for our youth is that we do have needs very close to home."

The work the group provided was "the most intense construction work" they'd done, Rhoney said, but ASP gives very specific instructions.

"We got an update last week of the progress on this project, but we really didn't know exactly what we were walking into," he said. "But we have a general contractor on our team, so that helps."

"It really is harder than most of our mission trips, because in the past we've usually been hanging out with older people," said Garrett Booker.

"It makes me feel good to know we've helped someone who doesn't have as much as we do," said Charlie McKeown.

Homeowners had to apply to receive services from ASP, Koehler said, and prior to work beginning each application was reviewed to see what projects volunteers could tackle.

"We do a home visit and depending on the safety of the project and based on our volunteers capabilities, we determine if we can help. For those we can't complete, we offer them information on where they can get it fixed."

Because relationship building is a big part of ASP's services, Rhoney said the group had worked to develop a kinship with the homeowner and her children. While the girls waited for paint to dry on the door for the bedroom, they played video games with the boys who lived in the home.

There's also fun and games for them to engage in as well, explained Koehler.

"Today is Whip Flip Wednesday," she said, squirting whipped cream onto the arm of a volunteer. The object of the game is to flip the whipped cream and have it land in your mouth. Other days are themed as well, she added, with Theme Song Thursday and Awkward Family Photo Friday.

While homeowners benefit from having much needed home repairs completed, it is the youth who complete the work who benefit most.

"Mission work like this gives them organizational skills and well as leadership skills they can use going forward," Rhoney said.

For more information on Appalachia Service Project, visit asphome.org.