They say that charity begins at home, but for 150 Georgia mission workers, the call to do good works led them straight to the 'green, rolling hills of West Virginia' last week.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Hephzabah/  Kilpatrick Baptist Association Missions Team made its way to the region for a week filled with volunteer work that included several vacation Bible schools, major church roofing projects, and other activities in Mercer, McDowell and Summers County churches associated with the Mountain State Baptist Association.

“We've had a relationship with that organization for the past eight years, and we come in and help in various ways with projects that the association tells us about, and others that we learn about through the relationships we've formed through the years with various churches and pastors,” said Mission Leader David Harbeson. “It's an opportunity for us to share Christ and to be His hands and feet. And, it allows some of us who have some stronger resources to come someplace and assist where they might not have as many people or resources to fall back on to do get these things done.”

The group, representing a total of 65 churches from east central Georgia, arrived in the Mercer County area July 11. From that moment on, the volunteers of all ages and backgrounds had hardly a free minute to spare, as they worked busily together to complete what Harbeson says was the fullest project list the group has tackled in the eight years they've traveled to West Virginia. The group made their home base at Bluefield College during their weeklong stay.

“Our leadership team came in March to look at potential projects and to get this trip planned out, in terms of where we were going to be and what we would be doing,” said Harbeson. “It's worked out so well this year because literally by God's gifts, He has provided us with the materials and the people that we need to get these projects done. We have guys who are roofers by trade doing the roofing projects, and guys with a wide range of construction skills doing other things, and then we have teachers and cooks and just so many people with specialized skills coming together to do this work. It's like the Body of Christ; it's a lot of parts coming together, but we're still one body as we work together.”

In addition to several major repair and renovation projects, including the installment of a brand new roof at Princeton's Willowbrook Baptist Church, completed by the mission team, the group also worked to spread God's message through the implementation of vacation Bible schools at five churches in the region.

“One of our goals has been to try to mentor while we do this work so that the churches here can have an example of this leadership and teaching, so as they grow they can take on these responsibilities themselves,” said Harbeson. “We're here for one week, but they live here, so that's an important aspect of this. Also, our help and resources often help these local churches to do some things in their communities that they wouldn't have been able to do otherwise, so it's very much a cooperative effort.”

From all backgrounds and walks of life, the mission team's devoted members ranged in age from 12 to 80-years-old. Some are retired, some took time off from work or school to take part, and others were on summer vacation, but all, according to Harbeson, were inspired to participate by the common passion for serving others and a gratitude for the blessings in their own lives.

“This is our major mission trip, and it's just folks coming together to help others in some way, to reach out in any way that we can,” he said. “Any time you give from the heart, you receive back just as much or more than you gave, and the 'thank yous' and smiles on the children's faces, and just the opportunity to share the Good News, are such a blessing. Many of our participants have done this several years in a row, and so many of our first-time people have already told me they're going to come back next year. It's just a wonderful experience.”

— Contact

CharLy Markwart

at cmarkwart@ptonline.net.