This summer, Living Grace Christian Church sent a team of 12 volunteers, Pastor Carl, Janelle, Sierra, Laura, Jenna, Anya, Andrew, Owen, Hunter, Evelyn, Persephone, and Ken, to western North Carolina to serve communities still recovering from devastating flooding. Alongside dozens of other volunteers, they spent the week sharing Christ’s love through practical service, encouragement, and fellowship.
Throughout the week, our teams served in many different ways. Volunteers hung and finished drywall, built wheelchair-accessible ramps and decks, installed flooring and skirting, stained decks, completed siding, landscaped properties, and assisted at a local soup kitchen. Our team was also blessed to have volunteers faithfully serving in the kitchen, preparing meals each day for the mission teams and demonstrating that every act of service plays an important role in God’s work. Some crews remained at one worksite all week, while others traveled to several locations, meeting and encouraging many different homeowners and families.
While the projects accomplished were significant, the relationships built throughout the week made an even greater impact. Homeowners welcomed volunteers with incredible hospitality, sharing meals, stories, and testimonies of God’s faithfulness through difficult seasons. Team members also grew closer through daily devotions, evening worship, tubing on the river, games, and serving side by side. Our youth played an important role throughout the week by leading worship, working diligently on job sites, and bringing enthusiasm and joy to every project.
Again and again, team members shared that although they traveled to serve others, they returned home feeling just as blessed. God used the week to strengthen faith, deepen friendships, and remind everyone that every gift, whether building, cooking, encouraging, leading worship, or simply listening, can be used to make an eternal impact.
We are grateful for everyone who prayed, gave financially, and encouraged our mission team before and during the trip. Your support made this opportunity possible. Please continue to pray for the families in North Carolina as they continue rebuilding, and that God would continue to use each member of our team as they serve Him in their everyday lives.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10