Service, Worship, Discipleship, Community
Changers challenges participants to become on-mission Christians as they live out their faith while getting their hands dirty.
That's how one Kentucky Changer described the ministry. Modeled after the Southern Baptist youth missions endeavor, World Changers, Kentucky Changers was formed in 1994 to provide quality home repair and maintenance services to the needy as an expression of Christian service. That initial group of about 80 volunteers completed 10 projects in Hopkinsville that year. In 2016, nearly 1,000 students from churches across Kentucky, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia, took on 90 projects in five counties.
Students, chaperones, adult crew leaders, and other supporters pay for the privilege to sleep on the floors of gymnasiums and classrooms during the summer after days of hard, hot work including roofing, painting, and other maintenance/repair tasks. All work is supervised by skilled carpenters and builders.
Local Kentucky Baptists welcome Changers to their churches, provide meals and other support during the week. Every evening Changers gather for worship and Bible study led by a Kentucky Baptist pastor or youth pastor.
Church membership, or membership in a WMU-sponsored organization, is not required to serve as a Kentucky Changer. Each year, students come to know Christ as they participate in Changers. Others make commitments to full-time Christian service.
Note: Students must have completed seventh grade prior to the project year, or be older, to participate. College/career young people and other adults are welcome to participate as members of a crew or volunteer leaders.
Check out one homeowner's message (at 4:24) to Kentucky Changers.
Take a few minutes to hear from Changers (students and adults) how the combination of worship, Bible study, Christian community and service has impacted their spiritual lives. (starting at 2:00).
View more Kentucky Changers Videos
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