Ky. Changers Teens Repair Low-Income Homes 06/12/2008 MONTICELLO – More than 250 Kentucky Baptist teenagers and their chaperones are serving in Monticello this week to provide much-needed home repairs in low-income communities. The volunteers are part of Kentucky Changers, a program sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention that provides practical hands-on help in Kentucky communities. At least 25 Monticello homeowners will benefit from the group’s efforts. The repairs will come at no cost to the homeowners. Team members have paid their own expenses to participate, and local Kentucky Baptist churches are funding the cost of construction materials. Wayne County Middle School is also contributing to the effort by providing housing accommodations for the volunteers. “It’s great to see churches and the community come together for a common cause,” said Peggy Murphy, ministry assistant for the KBC and project coordinator. “Students from churches all over the state give of their time and money to help make a difference in the community.” The high school students are working in teams to take part in painting, roofing, and other work projects for families who cannot afford to pay for the needed repairs. The work is supervised by experienced crew chiefs, often adults who do similar work throughout the state during the year. Kentucky Baptist churches represented by the participants include: Walnut Street Baptist Church, Benton; Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Berry; Fordsville Baptist Church, Fordsville; Doctor's Fork Baptist Church, Gravel Switch; Hillcrest Baptist Church, Hopkinsville; Glensboro Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg; Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Louisville; Clifton Baptist Church, Louisville; New Gasper Baptist Church, Morgantown; Living Waters Fellowship, Oak Grove; Oak Grove First Baptist Church, Oak Grove; Paducah First Baptist Church, Paducah; Clear Fork Baptist Church, Rockfield; Sonora First Baptist Church, Sonora; Trenton Baptist Church, Trenton; Fairview Baptist Church, Waynesburg; Knoxville Baptist Church, Williamstown. Another group of young people will do similar work in Maysville later in June, and another group will do work at the University of the Cumberlands in July. In total, more than 1,000 volunteers will be involved in the three projects this summer. Sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Changers program provides a weeklong missions experience for teenagers, college students and adults. Participants have the opportunity to live out their faith while completing light construction work for low-income families. Since the program’s inception in 1994, thousands of students have participated in projects across the state. Kentucky Changers partner each summer with local Baptist churches, government agencies and homeowners to complete community development and construction projects. Evenings are filled with fellowship, group sharing times and worship. For more information, contact the KBC’s Baptist Men on Mission Department at (502) 489-3399 or toll-free in Kentucky at (866) 489-3527, or go to www.kybaptist.org/kychangers. The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative headquarters in Louisville, Ky. including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. - 30 - Release prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications