Appalachia Missions Trip - Elizabeth Sims



 For over 40 years, the ARP denomination has had the privilege to serve and minister to the Appalachian states of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The Appalachia mission trip has been a staple part of summer activities for students and adults. For a week in July, churches from across the denomination travel up to minister to small churches in the tri-state area by holding vacation bible schools. The impact of the Appalachia mission trip is lasting not only for the ARP churches who serve but also for the children from the area who attend. Our denomination is serving in great ways through this service of Appalachia.  

Appalachia began back in 1981 as the “Kentucky Mission Trip”. Presbyterian youth director Johnny Price from Columbia, SC had the vision to take a team of high school students from Columbia to do a bible study for children in the Cumberland Gap area of Kentucky. He found Bill Hazelwood, a Southern Baptist pastor in the Cumberland Gap area to collaborate with him and together they were able to serve a week of vacation bible schools for churches in Bell County Kentucky. This area is directly in the middle of the poverty belt with many struggling families. Through Appalachia, the gospel was being shared with children who were often neglected and churches being far away. In 1986, Price was named the Director of Youth and Family for the ARP denomination and, because of this, word of Appalachia began to grow. As a result, many more young people and churches longed to minister and share the gospel in this region. So many participated that the churches spread to serve in not only Kentucky but also Virginia and Tennessee. This is how it was named “The Appalachia Mission.” Now, 40 years later, hundreds of young people have served, loved, and ministered to thousands of children in the Cumberland Gap.

 

The impact of Appalachia has and will continue to have lasting effects on those who serve and are being served. There are many personal stories over the years from students, leaders, and children on the ways they were greatly shaped by their week at Appalachia.  Personally, Appalachia has impacted me in several ways over the eight years that I have served. One of the most important lessons was I learned how to better articulate my faith and the hope of my salvation. Growing up in a Christian environment with friends who all believed or went to church, I did not share my faith often. However, having the opportunities all week to teach and talk with the kids at VBS allowed me to better articulate the truths that I believe. Another way Appalachia has impacted me is through my relationships with my fellow youth group members and leaders. From the brevity of the week and situations we were placed in, the bond of Christ was strengthened between those of us who served together. We learned how to pray and best serve one another. We truly grasped how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these children and one another. I know I speak for myself and many others when I say that we are incredibly grateful for the years spent serving and growing in our faith through this mission trip. 

 

As we look to the future of Appalachia, I ask you to consider and be diligent in prayer over this mission trip. Here is a concise list of requests that you or your church can remember and pray for:

● Ministry to continue for years to come
● The children who have attended and will attend VBS
● The Lord to be glorified by all who participate and serve
● More ARP churches will feel called to send a team to serve and lead a VBS

 

May God be glorified through our work through the Appalachia mission trip. 

 

 

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