May 3, 2008

Associate Coordinator for Missions Travels to McCreary County

By: Joshua Speight

For the past six months I have read, heard, and studied about McCreary county in preparation for my interview and eventual role with the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship. Finally, on April 29th I had my first opportunity to visit this county which so many Kentucky Baptists have partnered with during the past few years. A lunch was arranged where I could be introduced to several leaders of key partnerships in the county. Included were John Lepper and myself from KBF, Donna Thrash from McCHDO, Jim Cmolik from Hills and Hollers Ministries, and representatives from the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). While eating a fabulous meal (including some great fried green tomatoes), we discussed ways that all of our various ministries could grow our partnerships to continue with the people of McCreary County. The lunch was a great starting point of discussion for me as I begin my ministry in the county representing the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship.

After lunch and an interview session with the next KBF McCreary County Summer Intern (to be introduced very soon), John, Donna and I were able to spend around half an hour discussing ministry philosophies. I became keenly aware of how similar the philosophy of Donna and McCHDO line up with the philosophy of the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship. Both of our groups hope to come along side the people of McCreary County to walk with them, embracing the gifts they have within themselves to raise hope in their community. The plan for McCHDO is to build “generational housing,” houses which will go well beyond the present family who receives a home through Extreme Build or any other project in the area and becomes a home passed on to generations of families. By building a home that is comfortable for the family, a home which they (and any of us) could be proud of, and a home which they earn through an affordable mortgage; the people of McCreary County realize that hope for them and their family is attainable just as it is for anyone else.  Our role as Fellowship churches is not to give them hope; we can never give something so large to anyone. Instead through our partnerships with one another, our partnerships with organziations like McCHDO, and our partnerships with the very people who live on the other side of poverty in McCreary County - it is through these partnerships that we offer the hope that is present through the love of Christ. Our ministry with our words, our hands, and our lives demonstrates that God is present among the people of McCreary County.

My first trip to McCreary County encouraged me in numerous ways. Yes, there is much work to be done in the county as so many are living in conditions which are hard to imagine. But we have already made such an impact in this community. For two years, Kentucky Baptists have spent a week in the heat of the Kentucky summer building a home for someone who did not have the means to provide such a home. We have shown this community that there are people of Christ across the state who care for those who are on the fringes of society and we will not sit back any longer and let them go on believing there is no reason to hope . Our witness is growing in this community, it is growing because you have been faithful to the vision cast before you to go forth making disciples in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. May we continue to go as God leads us as we partner together in 2008 and beyond.

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