2008 Appalachian Christmas Project

Our 4th Annual Appalachian Christmas Project (December 12-14) was a great success.
We had a great response this year. It’s hard to believe how much this project has grown. This year, it involved nearly 80 volunteers from 7 different churches. Those churches were: Antioch Chr Ch (Willisburg, KY), Nelson Chr Ch (Bardstown, KY), Mt Olivet Chr Ch (Williamstown, KY), Big Hill Avenue Chr Ch (Richmond, KY), El Bethel Chr Ch (Owenton, KY), Gardenside Chr Ch (Lexington, KY) and Ruckerville Ch of Chr (Winchester, KY).

Our focus was on the eastern Kentucky communities of Lee County (Beattyville, KY) and Owsley County (Booneville, KY). Volunteers helped with work projects at a local mission in Beattyville (Cumberland Mountain Outreach) as well as helping make some minor repairs for area homes. In addition, we gave nearly 400 presents to area children and food baskets to several families in need.

Christmas parties were held at two different Lee County locations on Saturday, December 13th. One took place in the mountain community of Spencer Ridge and the other in town at Beattyville Christian Church.
In addition to doing a VBS there this summer, this was our second year in a row for doing a party at Spencer Ridge. We meet in a vacant Church of Christ on the top of a mountain.
One of the ladies in the community wrote a card to the team that read: "Our little church is almost a forgotten place. But Thanks to you all it has life two times a year. From all the children let me say thank you."
This is was our first time for doing a party at Beattyville Christian Church, but things went very well. Our team was able to tell Bible stories, play games, do crafts and give presents to several area children. We say THANKS to Jeff Porter (minister) and the folks at Beattyville Christian for allowing us to us the church building for the party.

Several inches of ice and snow caused us to delay the Owsley County portion of the ACP until Thursday, December 18th. On that day, a group delivered Christmas presents to over 75 boys and girls at the Owsley County Elementary School in Booneville, KY.

We hope and pray we made this year’s Christmas a little merrier for many people in Lee and Owsley County.
I say THANKS once again to the many people who gave of their time during a very busy Christmas season to be a blessing to others.
May God bless and have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In Him,
Greg Herriford (Teen Mission, USA)