Hello.  I’m Trevor Salla.  Except for when I was away at college, I’ve been coming to this church since I was a kid.  And the people here have become an extended family to me.  And they’ve helped connect me to the greater world rather than just my own small circles.

For a number of years, I’ve volunteered for service trips with the Appalachia Service Project, or ASP.  Whether through Lima or other churches.  I know some other folks here have also gone and know how impactful and rewarding an experience it can be.

Now I am not a minister.  At least, not more so than any of you.  But Pastor Dorry asked if I would be willing to give a sermon and incorporate a little information about ASP, as another trip is being planned this year.  Nervously I agreed.  We’d love your support.  Possibly as a volunteer yourself.  Or just through donations or prayers.  This year’s dates are July 15th through 22nd.  Reach out to me or the church office if you are interested and we can get you more details.

When giving this sermon in person, I’ll be holding a heavy, solid, straight steel pole between 5 and 6 feet long.  It has a flat cylinder on one end and something like a chisel at the other. In some cases, there will be a point on one end instead of one of these.

Does anyone know what this tool is called? Apparently, it is most often called a digging bar, at least in the US. It has many other names as well, such as a hop bar, slate bar, spud bar, San Angelo bar, and more. But even though I haven’t been able to find the phrase online, it was first introduced to me on one of my ASP trips as a “God rod.” Which makes sense to me. It reminds me of the story of Moses striking the rock as God commanded him to provide water for his people.

A digging bar is heavy, but not so heavy that most people can’t lift it. The one I have is about 15 lbs. It can be used as a lever to help unearth buried rocks or roll large logs. One can also raise it and thrust it down to apply surprising force. This can help dig holes that are too deep or narrow for a shovel.  Especially when you don’t have another tool, a post hole digger. And, when you don’t have a jackhammer or a diamond-bit drill, it can let a person break rocks. Yes, with this you can split bricks, cinder blocks, and even small boulders. It’s not easy. But it makes something possible that would be impossible for even the strongest human alone.

Now I think I’ve only needed a “God rod” on two of the dozen or so ASP trips I’ve been on. We used it to dig holes for the support posts of a porch and a of ramp for accessibility.  And when we dug drainage ditches, we used it to break up and remove the rocks we found in the ground.  We could then lay large, flexible plastic tubes, to keep water from flooding the house. (Again.)

Now, most ASP jobs don’t require a tool like this “God rod”. Most jobs involve common tools such as hammers, measuring tapes, power drills, circular saws, sanders, and paint brushes. Volunteers can bring their own, but in most cases all one needs is work gloves, safety goggles, and maybe a hammer. The rest is provided. As the saying goes, we use the right tool for the job. It makes things so much easier!

But what exactly is ASP, you might wonder, and what does it do?  Quoting from their website, https://asphome.org:

“The Appalachia Service Project provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation — bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to Central Appalachia to repair and replace homes for low-income families.”

“Since 1969, we’ve made homes warmer, safer, and drier for families and provided transformational service experiences for volunteers.”

Volunteers, often groups of teens accompanied by a handful of adults, travel to one of the poorest areas in the country.  They help fix up and occasionally build homes for those who are too poor and/or too unhealthy to do so on their own. Sometimes after natural disasters such as floods or fires. But mostly just from lack of resources.

Each team of 4-7 people works for a week, usually during the summer. If necessary, a different team takes over the following week. The staff organize the projects and teach the various groups what to do.  They are often college students who had volunteered at ASP when they were younger. There are some professional craftsmen involved as well, but they are few and far between.

One would think “How is this going to work? Do folks really know what they are doing? Would I really want amateurs working on my house?” But you’d be surprised what caring people can accomplish if they put their minds to it. Guidance is given, and you are never pressured into doing something you are uncomfortable doing. Well, maybe a little uncomfortable. But just “comfortably uncomfortable.” Because it’s new. Until it isn’t.

And you’ve got to realize whatever you manage to do is going to be an improvement over what was there before. Fear not. Staff and professionals will come inspect to make sure the job has been done well enough. And help correct it later if not.

 

 

Some more facts from the website:

More than 25 communities are served by ASP each year.
More than 350 families are impacted through ASP each year.
More than 3,000 repair projects are completed by volunteers each year.
More than 20 new homes are built and gifted each year.
More than 15,000 volunteers serve with ASP each year.
ASP repairs roofs, walls, floors, foundations, and bathrooms, in addition to making homes accessible through porch and ramp repairs or additions.

ASP works in the Appalachian regions of KY, NC, TN, VA, and WV.  Some of the centers are permanent where there is sufficient need.

It is a mission trip as well as a service project. You won’t be preaching, but you might be sharing. Especially with the other volunteer groups from around the country. In the evening there are fun group activities, music, and fellowship back at the center.  These can be just as moving and rewarding as the worksite accomplishments during the day. The Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, but it is open to all people who want to help others. And I’ve seen more than one teen, and even an adult, announce they’ve decided to become a Christian because of the experience.

I’m not going to going into detail on the various types of projects I’ve worked on with ASP.  I’ve talked about them before and would be happy to talk more later if you are curious.

But what do the impoverished folks from Appalachia need?  The same things as the rest of us.  We need safe, accessible shelter.  Warmth.  Food.  Healthcare.  Each Other.  And whether we know it or not, we need God.

When we help others, God is often working through us, accomplishing more than we might realize. One of the most memorable experiences was working on the home of an elderly couple.  For whatever reason, they were raising their two grandchildren. (And at least one dog.) If I recall correctly, the home was raised on cinder blocks, and the exterior was mostly wood and sheet metal. Previous groups had fixed holes in the floor, insulated it, and started redoing the roof. Our team finished the roof and added insulation and siding to the outside walls. Which sounds like more work than it was because it wasn’t that big of a building. Maybe three rooms.

In any case, on the last day the couple were crying with gratefulness. I could understand them being happy to be warmer come winter. But they explained that, had the house not been fixed up, they would have lost custody of the kids. And then it was our turn to tear up.

There are other ways you can Do something to help people besides participate in the Appalachia Service Project.

If you want to help build a house locally for just a weekend or even a day, Lima plans to participate in Help Build Hope again this fall. Ask for details!
You may have heard of the recent work Lima has done to help fix up the old parsonage at Eddystone UMC to house a family of refugees from the Ukraine.
The congregation is helping orphans in Rwanda to start businesses and become self-sufficient through Zoe Empowers.
Feed the Homeless.
Join a Bible Study.
Share you gifts.
Share your time.
Give to the poor.
Call your mother.

Give the Thirsty something to drink.
Feed the Hungry.
Care for the Sick
Visit those in prison.

Sound familiar?

We have so many blessings!  It is only right to give back.  And in doing so, our blessings are multiplied!

If you remember from today’s New Testament reading, Jesus asks us to go out into the world and spread the Good News.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

This is sometimes called The Great Commission.

Essentially, spread the word of God’s love and Jesus’ teachings.  Love God, love others, and show that you love others by being a servant.

I don’t know about you, but being an evangelist and preaching to others doesn’t come naturally to me and isn’t one of my gifts.  But I’ve learned that that’s okay.  There are other ways one can be a servant, and plant the seeds of God’s love, even if you are not the one to harvest.

Folks need to know that God has not forgotten or ignored them.  That they are not alone.  That they are loved.

Since the pandemic, more of us might be able to relate.  Feelings of isolation.  Of hopelessness.

If you are feeling lonely, you are not alone!  In more ways than one.  Others are lonely.  And God is with us all.  And by reaching out to others… by being a servant… you might cure their loneliness.  As well as your own.

You can show, not tell.  And then, if a person asks, you can trust the Spirit will help give you the words to say.  Or simply point the person in the right direction… Toward someone with that gift.  Toward the Bible.  Toward a hymn.  Toward a church.  Toward the TV series, The Chosen.  (It’s great! And free. Google it!)  Toward a small group.  And if you go with them and listen, they (and you) are more likely to hear.

“Is the Lord among us or not?” Remember He reassures us “… surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Look for Him in others.  Share His love.  Let God work through you.  Be the right tool for the job.