On September 8, 2014, we held GAP’s annual furniture sale. This event allows our clients to purchase new and used furniture at a great price. Prices range from $1.00 to $30.00 per item or set of furniture. All funds from this event go into a special account that is used to help clients during emergency situations throughout the year. This allows our clients to purchase furniture they need and at the same time help fellow clients. Although we do sale all the furniture to clients there are some clients due to a recent house fire or other extreme cases that are able to receive furniture at no cost to them.

One of the greatest furniture needs our clients have is for mattresses and bedding. I helped a husband and wife shop who had six children. They stated their only need was beds at this time. They wanted two beds: one twin bed for their two boys to share and one full bed for their four girls to share. This family of eight for the last several weeks had been sleeping just on blankets in the floor. They had to get rid of the three mattresses they previously had due to bed bugs. When this family arrived we only had 3 mattress sets left at the sale. The couple was so excited about getting these mattresses for their children. We fit the twin inside their minivan and we tied a queen set to the roof. When I asked if they could come back for the third queen mattress set their response was, “Two is all we need. We don’t want to take from someone else who needs it worst than we do. Me and my wife are fine sleeping on the floor.” When they asked how much they owed, I responded “No charge.” The man’s response was “Thank you, Jesus!”

This event reminded me of GAP’s theme verse for the year, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:16. (NASB) This is what we are called to do at GAP. We allow God’s light to shine through us as we do “good works”. But these “good works” have a purpose. They are to point people to our Father. When this man responded, “Thank you, Jesus!” he was glorifying our Father in Heaven. God had met a real physical need in his life and he recognized it was a work of God not GAP.

Another family who came to the sale had been homeless for several months and had just gotten into a house. The man had lost his leg due to diabetes and was not able to get into his former home. This led the family to be homeless seeking shelter in different area homeless shelters. God has now provided them a house to rent and they received a load of furniture for their new house. It is such a blessing to be a part of God’s work!
I would like to say thank you to our partner Smoke Rise Baptist Church in GA. Throughout the past year, this church had collected two trailers full of furniture for this year’s sale. A group of men delivered the furniture and a couple even stayed and were a huge help in loading the furniture into clients’ vehicles. We also had another mission team who showed such servant hearts as they worked at the furniture sale, South Gate Baptist Church from MO. This team served as personal shoppers for our clients during the sale and also helped load furniture. South Gate Baptist Church did a wonderful job talking with our clients and helping them at this sale.

The event was a great success! I appreciate all the staff, volunteers and mission teams who worked together.  (Please click on the image to view more pictures of Furniture Sale 2014.)

KidStock 2014 was a huge success! 413 children received a backpack, school supplies, new shoes and socks, and heard the Gospel message during our annual back-to-school event.

As families arrived, each child was given a backpack and name tag. There were carnival type games throughout the park where kids could play and win school supplies. At a given appointment time, families formed small cluster groups. These small groups moved together through 3 different stations. At the first station, families were presented the Gospel Message and backpack tags that represented the Gospel. Then the clusters moved to the second station where a short skit was presented telling the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. After that each child had an adult volunteer wash his/her feet and share the Gospel again. Then each child was presented with a new pair of socks and new shoes. Words cannot describe how excited some of these kids were with their shoes. So many children would tell me that the shoes they received were their favorite color.

The Word of God and the Gospel was shared throughout the day in various ways. At the end of the day we have record that 41 people made decisions for Christ! Praise the Lord! Some repented and accepted God’s salvation and others rededicated their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful day of ministry!

Read what others had to say about KidStock 2014!

“This was my first year coming to KidStock with my church. After hearing several testimonies about this ministry at GAP I came with very high expectations and a lot of excitement. The reality of KidStock truly blew my mind and humbled me. As I was washing the feet of children and helping them try on new shoes I was reminded of how my God is the God of provision. This ministry not only provides school supplies and new shoes to these kids, it gives them the opportunity to hear of the hope that’s found only in Christ. And as I got the opportunity to minister to these children and their families I appreciated more and more the hard work, the effort, time, and sweat that the team at GAP puts into this wonderful ministry. God bless you all at GAP for allowing me to be a part of this!”

Jeremy Pope
Pastor of Freedom Baptist Church
Standford, KY

“I was able to go with my church group this year to partner with the GAP during this annual KidStock outreach. During that day, I got to spend a brief time in the foot washing area. I can certainly say that the experience was humbling and, at the same time, it was also such an honor. It was difficult to look into their eyes knowing that the God of the universe has a plan and such promise for them and yet wonder what can be said in a few brief minutes that would help them understand how much God loves them. I also had the mother of one small child whose feet I washed, as well as another gentleman later that day come and talk with me elsewhere at the event. Without question, all combined my most memorable and treasured day at the GAP so far!”

Elizabeth Williams
Freedom Baptist Church
Standford, KY

This is what we are all about here at GAP – ministry evangelism. We seek to meet people at their point of need and to always share with them the love of Jesus Christ and His Gospel Message! During KidStock 2014, families came with a need for school supplies but they left with much more – the message of Jesus Christ!

KidStock 2014 was such a success because of our many partners like you. 109 volunteers from six different churches and the Left Beaver Fire Department helped during this event. We also were blessed to have Kentucky Raceway Ministries and Pit Stop Challenge with us this year. I praise God for all our volunteers who gave of themselves to share the Gospel. I would also like to praise God for hundreds of others who sponsored a child, donated supplies and prayed for this event. Thank you all for your partnership, support and prayers. God truly blessed KidStock 2014 in a mighty way. Please join us in giving praise to the Father! (Please click on the photo to see more pictures of KidStock 2014.)

Central Baptist from Paris KY have done a wonderful job in being flexible for the week. Their first day began with some heavy rain so it delayed their construction project and the ladies ended up shopping for distribution in the rain. But all came out dry as they were able to finish the construction project, ministered to the seniors, the group home and did a VBS at the townhomes. Thanks for being so flexible guys. You are a blessing! (Please click on group picture to see more photos.)

Evangel Baptist Church is from Pennsylvania and they not only have shared the gospel but lived it. Michael N. has a roof over his home and Nason S. has a new bathroom. We’ve also enjoyed some fellowship at each home with barbeque and some picking and grinning on the guitars. The ladies have cut hair all week and have developed some sweet relations with the clients. They blessed the folks at the group home with more music and of course the wonderful snack bag that they all get. God Bless You! (Please click on group picture to see more photos.)

Board Statement

John & Shaughanessy Morris with their two children, Jhaughanessy & Jacob

Dear Friends and Partners of GAP,

Please join us in welcoming Rev. John Morris as the interim Executive Director of God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP). John will be beginning work immediately and serving alongside Lynn to ease to the transition in the final weeks of the Wagoners tenure.

John and Shaughanessy Morris are NAMB appointed missionaries of the South Baptist Convention. John serves as pastor of Lothair Baptist Church and Regional Missions Mobilization Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Missiology. John and Shaughanessy have been married for 15 years and have two children: Jacob (13) and Jhaughanessy (11).  John can be reached at john.morris@gapky.org.

If you have any questions about the process please don’t hesitate to contact us (GAPdirectors@gmail.com) and we will do our best to get you the information that you need. We will continue to send out regular updates as this progresses through email and on the GAP website (www.gapky.org).

We are deeply grateful for your continued prayers and support for us a board and the organization as a whole. You remain a key part of the partnership as we spread the Gospel here in Eastern Kentucky.

Here to serve,

Danny Bauer
President, Board of Directors
God’s Appalachian Partnership

A Note From John Morris

It is with great humility and honor that I accept the Board’s invitation and the Lord’s call to serve as the interim director of GAP. Lynn and Angie have became great friends of ours as we have co-labored with them in the Lord’s ministry. I have seen firsthand how the Lord has used GAP to touch many lives with His love. I ask for your prayers and continual support of the Lord’s ministry during this time of transition. I am excited about the future of GAP because we rest assured that the ministry’s founder, God, will continually guide and direct His work.

A Note From Lynn Wagoner

Angie and I are excited with the Board’s choice for interim director. John and his wife, Shaughanessy have been a longtime friends. John has been involved with GAP since 2000. He has been instrumental in directing group to partner with GAP. He assisted GAP with flood relief, counseling for our clients and finding resources for the distribution center. We joined forces during several youth events including a mission trip. He led a Bible study in our home. He and Shaughanessy planned and hosted GAP’s 2012 staff retreat.  John served as our supervisor while we served as MSC missionaries for the North American Mission Board. He encouraged in difficult times and celebrated our joys with us. During our time of working together, God built a friendship for which we are truly grateful. We confidently pass the baton to John, knowing that GAP will be directed by a proven leader and a godly man.