THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408170155
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
VOLUNTEERS FROM NANSEMOND River Baptist Church recently served as short-term home missionaries in Huntington, W.Va. The eight-hour trek began July 16 with a caravan of vehicles transporting 21 adults and six teens to their mission assignment, selected by the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board.
When the Nansemond River team arrived, they shifted into non-stop action. In the mornings, part of the crew traveled to Eastwood Baptist Church to lead Backyard Bible School classes for about 50 children in a day-care program. In the afternoons, the young people boarded the church van and traveled to Barboursville Correctional Center for Youth, where they worked at building relationships, counseling troubled young people and sharing a Bible study on the life of Peter.
``Our kids really enjoyed getting to know these youths and spending time with them,'' said Neal Johnson, associate minister of music and youth at Nansemond River.
The Vacation Bible School leaders conducted an evening Bible School for the children of Marcum Terrace, a low-income housing project, on three evenings. About 60 children enjoyed Bible stories, puppets, music and crafts.
``They really loved having us there,'' said Wanda Johnson, craft coordinator for the Nansemond River group.
While various teaching ministries were going on in the city, a construction crew of Nansemond River volunteers extended their love through hands-on labor.
One location, described by Nansemond River worker Richard Johnson as ``out in the holler,'' was the dilapidated home of a 67-year-old woman who had suffered a debilitating stroke. When the Nansemond River crew began to replace her leaky roof, they dug through six layers of old shingles and two layers of linoleum before getting to the wasp-infested log rafters. By the end of their work, this woman had a new roof and a back porch.
Neal Johnson said he was speechless when he saw another project the Nansemond River workers tackled. Before renovating a condemned structure that housed five people, the Nansemond River volunteers had to collect and haul off 15 tons of trash - ``three loads taken off by an 18-wheeler,'' one worker explained. With this task complete, construction coordinator David Smith led the team in winterizing the house, which had no windows and no doors.
``It really made you appreciate what you have at home,'' Wanda Johnson confessed. Before leaving the site, Johnson and others planted flowers to give the renovated house a touch of color.
During their week of service, the Nansemond River members were housed at the Union Baptist Church in Milton. At the close of each day, a devotional time gave team members a chance to reflect on the trials and blessings of the day.
``We became a very close-knit group by the end of the week,'' Richard Johnson said.
While the group worked from sunup to beyond sundown, several teammates mustered enough energy for some fellowship and late-night eating at Paul Bunyan's Truck Stop. Others wound down after the long, hard days by playing basketball.
While the work was hard, the rewards proved great. ``Everyone came away with a great feeling of accomplishment,'' Neal Johnson said. ``We helped others, but we also learned a lot ourselves.''
``We gave a lot to them, but we also received a great deal in return,'' added Jimmy Thurmond, education director at Nansemond River.
Money for the $3,000 worth of construction supplies came from the Nansemond River congregation, including $644 that the church's children raised during their local Vacation Bible School ministry. To help keep additional expenses to a minimum, mission team members each paid $75 to cover their own expenses.
``Everyone left Huntington with a sense of accomplishment, and we have an open invitation to go back,'' Neal Johnson said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Bill Smith, left, and David Lawson, members of the missionary team
from Nansemond River Baptist Church, direct a morning Vacation Bible
School at Eastwood Baptist in Huntington, W.Va.
by CNB