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To live, love, and serve as Jesus teaches. |
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Ministries:
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Appalachia Service Project
Someday that leaky roof you fix will leak again. The sheetrock you hang with ingenious skill will crumble to dust. The windows you so creatively reconstruct will allow the cold winter winds to find their way through. But the love, the care, the compassion you share with some fellow human beings will remain in their hearts and ours forever. - David Spicknall, September 1991 (Cornfield version of 1st Corinthians, verse 13)
ASP 2008 Trip Devotion Booklet CUMC-ASP Message Board (NEW!) ASP National Web Site - www.asphome.org
The Appalachia Service Project is a home repair and home building ministry through which volunteers and our ASP staff repair and build homes for low-income families in rural Central Appalachia (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia). The goal is to make homes WARMER, SAFER and DRIER, while offering transformational experiences for volunteers and homeowners alike. While ASP maintains an affiliation with the United Methodist Church's Board of Discipleship, ASP's scope of ministry is open to participants of all denominations, civic organizations and community groups. Statement of Values
ASP was founded in 1969 by Glenn "Tex" Evans, a United Methodist Minister and former missionary, while ministering at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky. The first work camp was established in at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. Tex, with $800, "Pinky" (the pink station wagon which was the first donated ASP vehicle), and 50 volunteers who repaired four homes. By 1974, ASP had 2900 volunteers at ten centers and repaired 301 homes. The Cup of Cold Water Fund was established at that time to pay for wells, septic, plumbing, and to install electricity for homes without these amenities. In 1976, ASP expanded beyond Central Appalachia by sponsoring work crews in Arkansas, California, Alabama, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Kentucky. (The Sierra Service Project was a successful spin-off from ASP's ministry in California and is still incorporated today.) Recognizing that the project was too geographically diverse, in 1977 ASP returned to its roots in Central Appalachia, where it remains today. On July 25, 1978 the Rev. "Tex" Evans died from cancer. Today, ASP hosts nearly 15,000 volunteers from over 30 states each year. These volunteers operate in over 20 of Central Appalachia's most impoverished counties.
What is ASP at CUMC?:
In 1981, Reverend Duane Gebhard organized the first group from Christ Church to go on ASP. That first year, Christ Church sent 26 youth and 8 adults to Whitesburg, Kentucky. Contrast that with the past two years (2002 and 2003), in which Christ Church has sent 50 youth and 20 adults each year. All total, from 1981 through 2005, Christ Church has sent 578 people to help with the special needs of the Appalachia area. Additionally, for 2006 we have 12 NEW first time youth! Christ Church has always gone on a retreat following the workweek to relax, reflect, and have some fun. For several years the group went to Rev. Gebhard's cabin at Duneswood on Lake Michigan. In the years after Rev. Gebhard was appointed to another church, the group has been to several other retreat centers. In the early years the group also did some sightseeing, including 1982, when they visited the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mission: To grow youth disciples in Jesus Christ Adult Goals:
Adult Criteria
Youth Criteria
As a policy of our church, for the protection of our youth, we can not identify our volunteers by name. However, it is the face that is most important, as that is how you would customarily identify them around the church. We hope this photo album will assist you in getting to know our volunteers and we encourage you to introduce yourself to one and all! There are many ways that people have donated to ASP over the years. Many, many, many hours of work have been donated by the volunteers that organize, run and participate in the CUMC ASP program. As always, funds are needed to run this important mission project of CUMC. Following are some of the ways that you can be a part of the ASP program here at CUMC. Please note that there are many corporations that will match your donation through a company matching grant program. This doubles the value of your gift to our sisters and brothers in Appalachia and to the life experiences of the CUMC youth. If your company does NOT match donations to churches, they generally WILL match donations made directly to the ASP program. So whether you make donations to the ASP fund, attend one of our
beautiful meals, laugh at our skits and/or pray for a safe journey, we
sincerely appreciate your support of the ASP program here at CUMC. It is
a mission that our youth can be involved with thanks to your support.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
We would love to recognize those who support our program, but can only do so if we know who you are. Of the above methods, only the sponsorship drive allows us this privilege. If we know who you are, we will recognize you in our special way by sending you a personal letter from our ASP site in Appalachia in July. You will also receive an invitation to the special ASP recognition service which follows our return. This service is a witness to the week of service and the year of preparation, through stories, song, tears and laughter. For many members of the congregation, this is one of the most meaningful services of the year! Donations to National ASP Program In 1998, the Appalachia Service Project was designated as a General Advance of the Church by the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. A "General Advance," or "Advanced Special," is a mission project that has special impact in areas of highest need. Your United Methodist congregation can now designate your second mile and other gifts to ASP through the General Advance program. Our project number is 2-982050-1. For information about donating money via credit card or check, or donations of vehicles or airline tickets/vouchers, see the National ASP Home Page and click on "Donations" in the left hand menu.
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