World Changers: an annual summer vocation

Regina Hicks keeps two giant blue tote boxes ready at all times. One is filled with roofing tools; the other is filled with work clothes. This summer Hicks and her two teenage daughters loaded a borrowed truck with the plastic totes and headed for not one, but two World Changers projects.

Hicks, a member of Adairsville Church, served as a roofing crew chief at each project – one week in LaGrange and one week in Savannah. She’s one of only a few women who run roofing crews.

“I grew up toting shingles in the summer for my dad. And my husband is a contractor, so I guess it just rubs off.”

During the school year Hicks teaches second grade. It was three years ago that she first tried her hand at World Changers.

“I’d been a Sunday School teacher and I’d taught GA’s. I’d always talked about missions, but never done it,” she admitted. A fellow church member who had been involved in World Changers encouraged her to try it.

On her first project she found herself in charge of a group of teenagers on a roof in Savannah.

“I had two boys with me on the crew who had experience and my supervisor was there. We made it through,” she said.

The experience was so meaningful, she decided to keep her tools and work boots packed.

“When I get home I wash my clothes and put them back in the box. I’m ready to go next year. I’d do this all the time if I could. I just love it.”

Since 1990 World Changers has been providing mission opportunities for students across the United States. This summer the North American Mission Board-sponsored program will include more than 22,000 volunteers working in more than 100 cities world-wide. Volunteers spend a week at each city rehabbing houses at no cost to homeowners.

Georgia is one of three states that choose to manage its own projects through Serve Management Group out of Cumming. This year more than 1,300 volunteers participated in three projects in Savannah, two in Atlanta and one each in LaGrange and Augusta.

“World Changers opens up areas of ministry for our youth and at the same time opens our communities that may be resistant to the gospel. It’s also a new way to do missions for our local churches and associations,” said Jim Richardson, consultant for GBC Men’s Ministries, who oversees Georgia World Changers projects.

Members of Baptist Tabernacle in LaGrange were involved for the second year in hosting a group of World Changers. They were responsible for feeding a crew of 15 World Changers.

“We had an overwhelming response from our congregation as soon as we asked for donations for the group. We had sacks and sacks of groceries brought in.

“We’ve only done it two years, but everybody that’s worked on it got such a blessing out of it. It’s something to better our community and show fellowship out there – that’s what it’s all about. We’re working for the Lord,” said Cindy Bowen, member of Baptist Tabernacle.

While World Changers projects are funded through the fees collected from the participants, they are managed through GBC Men’s Ministries.

For more information about either participating in or sponsoring a World Changers project, check out the web site www.studentz.com or call (770) 936-5259 or 1 (800) RING–GBC. You may also email Jim Richardson at jrichardson@gabaptist.org.

Your church’s giving through the Cooperative Program is vital to the missions and ministries of the GBC and the Southern Baptist Convention.

For more information or to order free educational materials on the Cooperative Program, contact the GBC Cooperative Program office at ahill@gabaptist.org or (770) 936-5240 or at 1 (800) RING–GBC.

You and your church may send Cooperative Program gifts to:
Dr. J. Robert White, Executive Director
Georgia Baptist Convention
2930 Flowers Rd. South
Atlanta, GA 30341-5562

Sherri Brown

Regina Hicks, from Adairsville Church, works on a roof. Hicks is one of only a few female crew chiefs who run roofing crews at World Changers projects. She attended projects in LaGrange and Savannah.

Sherri Brown

Mary Liz Taylor, 13, from Western Heights Church in LaGrange, works to pull a nail out of a roof during a Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., World Changers project.

Sherri Brown

World Changers crew members take a break from pulling shingles off a house in LaGrange. The homeowner, a single woman who cleans offices for a living, had 10 layers of shingles that had to be removed before the crew could replace the roof.

Sherri Brown

Lynn Duncan, construction coordinator for World Changers in LaGrange, prays during the Monday morning send-off.