A Summer of Serving: Bringing Hope and the Gospel to Appalachian Communities
by Cup&Cross Ministries, Intl.
Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains has made ministry to this region deeply personal. The people and the challenges faced by rural families are not distant realities to us as humble messengers of the Gospel. Because of our commitment to honoring the dignity of every individual, we have never been a ministry that uses images of poverty or vulnerable children to raise support. For ethical reasons and out of respect for the families we serve, this report will be presented through words rather than photographs.
This summer, we have been blessed with numerous opportunities to minister throughout the rural communities from Tennessee to North Carolina. Each opportunity has been a reminder that ministry is often found in simple acts of compassion and being open to the tug on your heart to act where and how He commands. Our summer outreach began with an invitation to participate in a community event held at the county courthouse, where we helped provide shoes, school supplies, and food for more than 150 children. This initial partnership opened the door for further ministry involvement, including helping prepare and pack more than 300 ministry bags filled with Bible devotions, crafts, and resources designed to encourage children spiritually.
Following, we partnered with a local Baptist church to distribute vitamins we donated to children participating in their summer program. This was an unplanned event that from start to finish literally happened within 24 hours. For many families, basic health resources that we often overlook are difficult to afford. These moments remind us of the many blessings we experience each day and the importance of sharing those blessings with others.
Through the Cup & Cross Homeschool Network, we were also able to provide homeschool curriculum and educational resources to families within our community. Supporting parents who are committed to educating their children while strengthening their faith continues to be an important part of our mission. And during this election season, we have had the opportunity to engage with several candidates and community leaders to raise awareness about the importance of homeschool independence, parental rights, and educational freedom. Building upon these conversations, we continued advocating for families and strengthening relationships with local leaders which is apparent by Cup & Cross successfully working with the county commissioners to adopt our county as the first homeschool sanctuary in the Nation. We also are continuing to serve in the Summer Serve Project of the First Lady of our State as well.
Throughout the summer, we have also had the privilege of volunteering with several local churches during their Vacation Bible School programs and three week-long summer camps one of which was personally hosted to teach the Eastern European community in our area. These opportunities have allowed us to invest directly into the next generation by teaching children the Word of God and building relationships within our community which is so important to us. Jesus did ministry by “walking around” and it is one that should not be overlooked.
Our passion for reaching children with Biblical truth throughout the summer led to a unique divine connection beyond our local area. We traveled to North Carolina to minister to children within the Cherokee community of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only federally recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina. This opportunity allowed us to share the love of Christ with our actions while learning from this historic community.
As we look ahead, we ask for prayer that God will continue to open doors and provide favor so that this relationship may grow and develop over the coming months. We are grateful for every opportunity to serve, knowing that even the smallest acts of kindness can become powerful expressions of God’s love.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
4 Must Try Bulgarian Summer Salad Recipes
NEW REVIVAL in BULGARIA
Unprecedented revival is sweeping the country of Bulgaria again and has started among the Pentecostal Church of God. We have spent the last full month in traveling and preaching in key churches crossing the country from the capital Sofia to the Black Sea and from the Danube River through the Balkan Mountains to the Thracian Valley.
While people in general are struggling with the economic and political crises and the church is in continuous leadership dilemmas, God is on the move with a new revival mainly among the new generation of young people. We saw this in recent national youth events like our spring 2011 youth leaders gathering near Yambol and the regional youth revival in Silistra during Easter. Similar meetings were reported in Eastern Bulgaria in May and in the capital Sofia in June with the arrival of praise team from Hillsong, which gathered over 7,000 people in one single event. And last but not least, various meetings of Roma leaders and youth, to which we had the privilege to contribute as well.
We are now looking forward to combining these experiences within our national Bible Camp which we hold for young ministers and youth leaders, followed by the New Wave camp at the Black Sea and the traditional Karandila Youth Camp in the Balkan Mountain. For when one generation looses touch with God, as described in Jeremiah 5:31, God always brings a new generation to serve Him. Today, God is raising a generation of young and faithful people full with the Holy Ghost, and we simply cannot afford to stay out of this great move of God in the last days.
