World Changers ride into town

Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
July 15, 2015 2:09 p.m.

You may have noticed church buses from various southeastern states transporting 260 high school students to and from Fernandina Beach High School where they are lodging (sleeping on the floor) and working at 22 homes in the area for 28 various construction projects in our area. According to Suellen Rodeffer Garner, a volunteer coordinator, our local First Baptist Church invited them to spend the week for this nationwide group. First Baptist volunteers are also working on projects as well as providing breakfast and dinner and support as needed. Other local churches are providing lunches at the project sites.

Worldchangers.net lists 51 project sites in the United States including 2 in Puerto Rico with Amelia Island first on the list. The mission for this work is to “serve churches in their mission of making disciples by providing mission experiences that develop the hearts of students for serving others and sharing the gospel…throughout strategic cities of all sizes.”

First Baptist Church partnered with Council on Aging and Barnabas to identify the different projects. This is the first year that this project is taking place and First Baptist will evaluate the one week project to decide whether to do this again. Pictures of some of the participants on two of the job sites on South 12th Street are above and more information on several evening community celebrations with the participants can be found on the First Baptist Church website.

Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.