As a boy, I often remember seeing "Kilroy was here" crudely written on interstate overpasses, restroom walls, and desks. This American cultural expression traces its roots back to World War II, when this graffiti began to appear almost anywhere that our troops had passed.
Last year, Kentucky Baptists left their mark in the streets of New York City, the Black Forest of Colorado, the tattered remains of a school in Oklahoma, a flooded church in Kentucky, areas of Illinois and Michigan with little evangelical presence, and a forgotten corner of war-torn Mali. The imprint of "Kentucky Baptists were here" was scrawled by the hands of Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, as volunteers came alongside those left devastated by disasters. Your gifts to the Cooperative Program and to our state mission offering provide the resources that make it possible for Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief to respond to the heartbreak of disasters and to bring help, healing, and hope to hurting people.
I want to say "Thank You" to Kentucky Baptists for their faithful giving that enables us to fulfill the Great Commission. Because you give, "You were there" to help Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers:
provide 427,028 meals to victims of disaster
minister to 216 different families with chainsaw, mud-out, or ash-out assistance
care for 71 children after a tornado ripped through a community
allow 3990 people to have a hot shower and a place to wash the remains of their belongings, through our mobile shower and laundry units
make 1461 Chaplaincy contacts and 3335 ministry contacts with survivors
lead 38 people to a personal relationship with Christ
"You were there" as you gave to missions, prayed for our ministry, and sent us as Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers to offer the compassion of our Lord.
Volunteers Make a Difference
Exciting reports from this past year's Kentucky mission activities keep coming in. Missionaries serving in Kentucky reported that over 22,000 volunteers served with them this past year, resulting in 1360 professions of faith in Christ and 379 baptisms.
Christians by Choice Ministries (Corbin) alone saw 600+ volunteers, 10 mission teams, over 25,000 volunteer hours, 10+ souls added to the Kingdom, and others who are seeking salvation as seeds were planted through their efforts. They hosted teams from GA, OH, TN, AL, SC, NC, and from all across KY. This ministry, directed by Robin Reeves, served approximately 6000 people through various mission projects and events such as backyard Bible clubs, Kid's Kamp, women's Bible studies, school programs, nursing home projects, block parties, clothing ministries, clown ministry, "Sewing Seeds of Kindness" ministry, women's conference, and light construction projects.
Robin has served as a self-funded missionary since 2002, working through her local church and association to reach hundreds of lives with the Gospel of Christ.
George & Robin Lewis, Directors of Freedom Center Ministries in Lynch, reported 21 professions of faith during the month of August as volunteer teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, and northern Kentucky came to serve alongside them in Harlan County. The teams did nursing home ministry, worked in the warehouse, and did minor construction projects. Back-to-school needs of children in Harlan and two other counties were met as they received clothing and shoes through the ministry of the Freedom Center. Team members shared the love of Christ as they gave their personal testimonies.
One gentleman at the nursing home heard the Word preached and received Christ as his Savior and, another man, after years of faithful praying, seed sowing, watering, and being faithful witnesses of the Good News, knelt on his front porch and received Christ. George & Robin have served as self-funded missionaries since 2004 and have shared very similar stories over and over again.
Please pray for Robin Reeves, George & Robin Lewis, and the 100+ missionaries serving in Kentucky, as well as thousands of short-term volunteers that are making an eternal difference in the lives of so many in Kentucky.
Visit the Freedom Center Ministries website at freedomcenterministries.com/. To view mission opportunities across Kentucky go to www.kybaptist.org/go.