'Changers' Leaders Pleased with Changes in Lives and Buildings

Source from:  By Jim Turner-Editor edit_ndl@bellsouth.net 06/28/2006

A week after completing one of the most massive undertakings in Logan County Christian youth work history, two of the leaders were still upbeat about the experience. And they are eagerly anticipating doing it again. Mike Duncan and Nick Stamps were project coordinator and associate coordinator, respectively, of the Kentucky Changers' visit to Russellville in mid-June. Kentucky Changers is a program sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention's Baptist Men on Mission Department. It provides proactical hands-on help in Kentucky communities. See related pictures on Page A-12. A total of 237 youth leaders and teens were part of the Logan County project. Countless others from Logan County were involved in a variety of ways- helping with projects, providing meals for the visiting young people and their leaders, or worshipping with the visitors. While they were in the Land of Logan the young people made significant changes in the lives of several Logan Countians. They completed 31 projects, all but three of them improving people's homes. In addition to repairing houses for people who were either physically or financially unable to do so themselves, teams replaced the ceiling and did some painting on Badgett Lodge at Wildcat Hollow, did some roofing and painting at the Jesus Community Center and helped considerably in building a new Habitat for Humanity home on Russellville's East Sixth Street. Teams usually consisted of a dozen or so people with no more than two of them from one church group. That helped them get to know new people of similar Christian beliefs and work ethic. The experience was not a new one for Stamps and Duncan. This was the eighth project in six years for Duncan, a graduate of Russellville High School who is minister of music and youth at Second Baptist Church, and the fifth year for Stamps, a graudate of Logan County High School who is associate pastor and youth minister of Post Oak Baptist Church. They have taken their own youth groups on similar projects in the past. In fact, Stamps was leaving with a group of Logan County young people for a Kentucky Changers project in Lawrenceburg Friday afternoon. He's the project pastor this week. Serving as pastor for the Russellville campaign was Bill Houpt, youth pastor of Hillcrest congregation in Hopkinsville. Casey Jones led the songs during "Tool Time," a devotional consisting of praise and worship. A typical day for the young people was to be up for breakfast at 6 a.m., following having spent the night on cots, air matresses, sleeping bags, etc. in classrooms at Logan County High School. They'd eat at LCHS and then be out the door by 7:15 to go to the work site. Church members would bring prepared lunches to them. Over 25 churches in Logan and Todd counties were involved in preparing the meals. The youngsters would be back to LCHS by 4:30 p.m. where they would shower in the lockerrooms at the gymnasium. "We can't say enough about the Logan County Schools and how they worked with us to make this a success, " Stamps said. After the evening meal, which was supervised by veteran food service worker Joyce Flougher of Pendelton County, came Tool Time devotionals, an inspirational message by Hought, and meetings with their own youth groups. Meanwhile Duncan, Stamps and Construction Coordinator Jim Moore of Auburn- a veteran of countless adult and youth mission efforts- were making plans for the next day, especially since new challenges needed to be found because the crews were making such rapid progress, aided by favorable cool and overcast weather. Richard Van Zee of Logan County also provided a lot of construction knowledge and leadership. Moore's own church, New Friendship Baptist Church of Auburn, had a group present. Stamps and Duncan believe that more local churches will not only provide food but will also send youth groups to participate. They also would like to see them include Kentucky Changers in their budget for next year. The local Baptist association also paid a "huge hunk" of the expenses. Projects range from $1,000 to $15,000 in costs. The city of Russellville and Logan Fiscal Court also chipped in for public works. New Life Baptist Church, which is not a member of the association, was one of the churches which provided meals, and the Franklin Mennonite Church made a contribution. "If it's for a good cause, it doesn't matter who gets the credit," Stamps says. Not only did the young people work, but many of them paid their own ways to be part of the project. The cost is $180 to $200 per person. "A sacrifice isn't really a sacrifice unless it costs you something," Stamps says. Stamps liked what he heard from members of his own youth group after the project had ended. "They said, 'We were in our own hometown and we paid to be here. But we should be doing this all the time for free.' Christians should be on mission all the time." Enditem