SERVANTS ON SITE – SEASON 7 – SCANDALOUS GRACE
by Robert Parham
Rebuilding Hope Inc (RHI) has once again prepared for Servants on Site (SOS) to continue into its 7th year beginning this Sat., June 17th and running through Sat., June 24th. Individual volunteers and groups from as far as Alabama will once again come together and call Crossroads Christian School in Henderson home. For the entire history of this event, Crossroads has graciously opened its doors and allowed us to stay there and use their wonderful facilities, and we appreciate it very much.
SOS serves as a tool for churches to mobilize, equip, and disciple students and adults in an evangelistic effort to impact the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This week will see over 200 youths, chaperons, and crew leaders combine with additional volunteers, runners, warehouse workers, feeding teams, and together, mobilize almost 300 volunteers to donate their time and resources in this unified mission. We will attempt a total of 21 projects this year in Vance, Granville, Warren, and Mecklenburg counties. Divided into 15 crews, we will attempt to replace nine roves and construct 12 handicapped ramps.
SOS is an annual 7-day summer mission project for youth (completed grade 6 through college) and adults to work on construction projects for homeowners in our community with immediate needs and limited resources. Crews leave each weekday morning around 7:00 a.m. for their jobsites, work and minister to the residents and surrounding neighborhood, and at 4:00 p.m., return to the lodging facility in the afternoon for clean up and free time before dinner. Lunches on site are provided by our sixteen “Sponsor Churches,” whose caring congregations have generously donated food, funds, adult volunteers, and worship ministers to make this annual mission a success. These churches are of multiple denominations and are spread out through Henderson, Norlina, Oxford, and Creedmoor.
The theme for 2017 is “SCANDALOUS GRACE”, with reference to Romans 5:1-2 and many others. Grace is God giving us something good that we do not deserve. Jesus had a scandalous reputation among the Elite in his day for serving the not-so-desirable. As a Christian today, are we being perceived as somewhat scandalous just for our beliefs? “2 Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” Romans 5:2. We will for this week turn our attention to glorifying God by showing his Grace through Faith, and inviting all to share in salvation through Jesus Christ. Our continuing effort to keep the local media apprised of the efforts by so many people is simply to exhort even more churches and volunteers to join us, so that together we can continue to reach out in our communities.
Rebuilding Hope would again like to express its appreciation to everyone who has been involved with these uplifting summer mission projects over the last six years. It is our first year working out of our new facility on Raleigh Road, and we would like to also acknowledge all the generous donations we received throughout these local communities that made it possible. Thank You! Together we have made an impact in our community by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not only in words, but in actions.
We would also like to express our appreciation to Central Baptist Church for providing their facilities for breakfast and dinner each night of the week. Also, beginning Sunday the 18th through Friday the 23rd at 7:10 p.m., all of our teams and volunteers will gather for worship in their sanctuary located on 2574 Ruin Creek Rd. in Henderson. We would like to invite anyone who would like to, come out and meet our mission participants, join our worship service and experience firsthand what God is doing through SERVANTS ON SITE. Our hope for this week is that through all those involved, God’s Grace will be visible in these communities, hope replaces despair, and lives will be changed. Thanks be to God!