This summer was like a breath of fresh air as we hosted six mission teams who served alongside us for a ministry-filled summer here at God’s Appalachian Partnership. After a year of having no mission teams and limited ministry due to COVID-19, the staff was excited to engage our communities with the Gospel. We continued with drive-thru distribution and teams served families a hot meal in to-go-boxes, prayed with them, and shared the Gospel. Our GAP families loved the interactions and delicious food they were served!

We had five weeks of Day Camps (four days each week) for children in our area in three different locations. One week, we hosted two different Day Camps at different locations. We had a wonderful turn out averaging 10-12 children each day. The teams did a tremendous job not only sharing the Gospel Message but also showing the love of Christ with these children. Once the camps ended and teams left, many of the kids would ask for team members by name.

After a long pause in ministry, we were so excited to be back into the Group Home to visit our precious friends. It had been a year since the staff had been in the facility due to COVID-19. Some of our old friends had passed away, others had moved, a few were still there, but it did not take long to make many new friends! What a blessing it is to visit and minister here each week. Plus, we were able to start back at the Senior Citizens Building for about three weeks this summer. How we have missed seeing their smiling faces, even through masks!

Throughout the summer, several teams continued to help us minister to families affected by the March 1^st flood with home repairs. The Lord has given us amazing opportunities to share the Gospel and build relationships with many families we would have never had the opportunity to meet before. One mission team helped us host a block party in a community greatly affected by the flooding. It was very special to see families who were once so overwhelmed by disaster, join together and be blessed by the fellowship of community and the great love of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in our county, on July 22^nd we had to cancel the rest of the mission teams for July, August and September. Later the difficult decision was made to cancel all teams through the rest of 2021 calendar year. We did not come to this decision lightly but for several weeks the number of cases in our region were extremely high. Many of our families had to cancel distribution appointments because they were sick with COVID-19. Please pray for our region as it is being hit hard by this pandemic.   

We praise God for the following partner mission teams that were able to serve alongside of us this summer: Lawndale BC (Lawndale, NC), Forks of Elkhorn BC (Frankfort, KY), Wake Cross Roads BC (Raleigh, NC), Memorial BC (New Haven, MO), Parksville BC (Parksville, KY), and South Orlando BC (Orlando, FL).

We are gearing up for a busy, ministry packed Christmas season at God’s Appalachian Partnership. Due to COVID-19, Christmas Project 2021 will look different this year compared to previous years. However, one thing will remain the same: as families receive needed Christmas gifts they will continue to hear the Gospel message! Christmas Store will be a drive-thru ministry this year. As we register each child we will be taking an interest inventory for gift ideas. And even though we do not start our Christmas project signups until this month, we have been receiving calls for weeks now. It would be easy to allow ourselves to become overwhelmed but we know and trust that God will provide for that which He has called us to do!

GAP began to have sponsorships for the Christmas Project in 2001. Since 2008, the sponsorship amount, per child, has been $35. Now, 13 years later, we see the need to increase that sponsorship amount to $43 per child. The cost of quality gifts has increased, especially gifts for teenagers. $3 of every tax-deductible gift will cover administrative costs and $40 will be used to purchase gifts. Administrative costs include the design and purchase of GAP’s annual Christmas ornament and materials that are used to present the Gospel.

We are grateful for all our partners. If you are unable to sponsor the entire $43 please give as you are led. Every amount, not matter how great or small, will be used to glorify God! Your faithful partnership in ministry is a blessing and allows us to share the Gospel with families in our area! Please consider sponsoring a child today!

On March 1, 2021, we saw one of the worse flash floods to hit our region since the 1980’s. In Floyd County alone, 199 homes where affected: 12 destroyed, 95 experienced major damage, 81 minor damage, and 11 affected. Total damages estimated at $1.937 million. In normal circumstances rebuilding a home after a disaster presents many challenges, but striving to rebuild during a global pandemic and in an economic depressed region compounds the problem and can leave individuals feeling hopeless.

We are grateful for our many partners who have allowed us to minister to 72 different families over the last several months related to flood relief and recovery. Just a day or two after the flood we were out walking the roads listening to families, feeling their pain, giving out immediate resources, and praying with them. We were overwhelmed with how the Lord provided for the needs of each family, even as those needs changed as days turned into weeks. We handed out cleaning supplies, gift certificates to local restaurants, new and used clothing, building supplies, new and used appliances and furniture, and new mattresses and box spring sets with sheets.                

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams from South Carolina came in for three weeks working a total of 884.5 hours and completing a total of 31 mud-out projects. We also had other teams from Smoke Rise BC (Stone Mountain, GA), Fitzpatrick BC (Prestonsburg, KY), and Calvary BC (Lewistown, PA) who helped with rebuild projects. We built many new relationships in our community, had several Gospel-centered conversations, and saw two people come to know Christ!