-Information and photos courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc.
This year’s Servants on Site event will be held June 22-29, 2019, with a total of 163 participants. Junior high and senior high school students will repair 12 roofs and build up to six wheelchair ramps. The event will be Rebuilding Hope, Inc.’s seventh annual week of witnessing and sharing Christ and serving people in need in our communities.
Those leading and planning for every phase of this week of projects and ministry include:
Project Coordination – LEIGH HUMPHRIES
Leigh Humphries is once again project coordinator, a job she’s had since the first SOS week in 2013.
Leigh, who lives in Person County and is a member of Theresa Baptist Church, has sorted through the registrants and organized the crews according to the types of jobs scheduled. Before the work begins, she will assign encouragers for the crews at the work sites, which she visits during the week.
Leigh’s duties continue once the day’s work is done as she helps chaperone the youth’s overnight at Crossroads Christian School.
Construction Coordination – VANN WESTER
Before participants head to their jobs, each site – whether ramp or roof – must be evaluated.
Vann visits each site, meets with the homeowner and determines the condition of an existing roof or the terrain where a ramp will be built, and the number of materials needed for each job. Finally, Vann, a member of New Sandy Creek Baptist Church, recruits crew leaders and secures the necessary permits for each job.
Materials Coordination – WALT SLATON
Without a steady supply of materials, the jobs would not be completed. And that’s where Walt Slaton, a member of Central Baptist Church, comes in as materials coordinator.
With a worksheet describing each job, Walt assembles shingles, tar paper, lumber, nails, bolts, nuts, washers, tools, compressors, hoses and more the week before SOS. Materials are on-hand, donated or purchased locally. Where possible, materials are delivered to sites before the work week begins.
Throughout the week, Walt says he has runners ready at the RHI warehouse to resupply workers through a chain that begins with a job’s crew chief who notifies a multisite supervisor. The supervisor notifies Walt who dispatches a runner.
Theme is “I.D. Identity Defined” – JOHN MARKS SANDERS
The theme for the week is “I.D. Identity Defined,” John Marks reports. The meaning of the theme will be explained by guest 
speakers at each of the evening worship services during the week.
The services and their emphases will be:
Sunday, “You Are KNOWN,” based on Psalm 139:13-14. Speaker is Mitch Smith, pastor at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.
Monday, “You Are DISTINCT,” based on Gen. 1:26-27. Speaker is Garrett Barneycastle, member of and former student pastor at Open Door Church.
Tuesday, “You Are CHOSEN,” based on 1 Peter 2:9-19. Speaker is Michael Nunn, member and former youth and campus pastor at Mercy Hill Church.
Thursday, Guys and Girls Break Out.
Friday, “You Are HOW OTHERS KNOW,” based on 1 Samuel 17:46-47. Speaker is John Sanders, member and former youth and lead pastor at Open Door Church.
The public is encouraged to attend the worship services at 7 p.m. at Central Baptist Church in Henderson, except Wednesday night when participants will have free time.
Destination SOS for 163 students – MARTHA MCGOWAN
Martha, who is the SOS secretary and a member of West End Baptist Church, reports that 163 have registered for the week.
In addition to participants from Vance, Granville, Warren and neighboring counties, teams will be coming from a number of communities, such as Roxboro, Windy Gap and Otto, Martha reports.
And it’s also Destination SOS for a team from South Carolina.
Breakfast and Supper – ROGER BIBEE
Breakfast and supper are served at Central Baptist Church, beginning with Sunday breakfast before the work week begins.
Central member Roger Bibee does most of the cooking.
Supplies, Roger says, include 4-5 cases of liquid eggs, 300 chicken quarters, 10 gallons of spaghetti sauce and noodles, 40-45 pounds of bacon, sausage, hash browns and more. Supper includes a full salad bar. A team of six helps with serving and cleaning up.
Lunches
Sixteen churches will provide lunches for the teams at the work sites. The churches are Fuller’s Chapel, Gardner Baptist Church, First Baptist Church (Creedmoor), West End Baptist Church, Raleigh Road Baptist Church, Franklinton Baptist Church, Mountain Creek Baptist Church, New Bethel Baptist Church, New Life Baptist Church (Henderson), North Henderson Baptist Church, New Sandy Creek Baptist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Carey Baptist Church, Oxford Baptist Church, Island Creek Baptist Church, and Norlina Baptist Church.
A church that sponsors a project “adopts” a crew and serves lunch each day. The crew on Sunday attends the church’s worship service, has lunch and later visits the homeowner.
Needs for SOS
Volunteers – Adult/college-age volunteers are needed to serve as staff during the week. Staff assists with setting up the rooms, posting signs and schedules and for chores such as cleaning bath and restroom facilities.
Financial Support for SOS Projects
A roofing project costs approximately $2,000, but any amount is appreciated!
For more information, call the RHI office at (252) 438-5132.
