WCLR 2008 Action Cam!

Check out the Action Cam from our 2008 project!

"Soul Renovation" in Little Rock!

PC's Notebook

What a awesome week!

Students and leaders worked to renovate 25 houses during the week of World Changers. While that's important, the most important statistic from the week is that 18 people made professions of faith in Jesus Christ! By the way, that is more salvations than the two previous years of the project combined (14)!

You could say we have been a part of God's "soul renovation" in Little Rock!

I am grateful for the group leaders, students and the churches that sent them! Thanks also goes to the wonderful job that Rushing Mayes of the Pulaski Baptist Association to facility the feeding of our group during the week. Areas churches did a great job!

World Changers appreciates its continuing partnership with the City of Little Rock. Since 2006, more than 1,000 volunteers have renovated 75 houses in the city. City officials estimate the volunteer labor at more than $750,000!

Please continue to pray for the work in Little Rock and for students and leaders who have been impacted by this week. May God continue to bless all they strive to do to share Jesus Christ in a lost and dying world!

-Tim Yarbrough
Project Coordinator

God's Word is Powerful!

PC's Notebook
Day 6 - World Changers Little Rock

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

Students and leaders are seeing the fruit of their labor this week, as 15 precious souls have come into the Kingdom of God!

They are using the platform of serving others through World Changers to open doors to be witnesses for Jesus Christ...and people are responding.

Continue to pray for our efforts as our week continues in Little Rock.

-Tim Yarbrough
Project Coordinator

Work and Fun in Little Rock

PC's Notebook
Day 5 - World Changers Little Rock

Wednesday was a short day for everyone as students were allowed to take the afternoon off and enjoy the sights and attractions of Greater Little Rock.

Some groups took advantage of Wild River Country, which is only a few miles from JA Fair High School. Others enjoyed the Little Rock River Market, which is downtown next to the Arkansas River. Still others took in dinner at a number of local eateries and a movie.

Things were back to normal on Thursday as crews worked all day at project sites, trying to get in a position to finish everything up on Friday.

-Tim Yarbrough
Project Coordinator

PS: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ran an article on World Changers today. Below is the text of the article:

300 youths aid LR elderly, disabled
Volunteers with Southern Baptist group repairing roofs in city

BY ALLISON NICHOLS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Nearly 300 youth volunteers descended on Little Rock’s rooftops this week shingling homes in need of repair and doing other work.

Megan Wilson, 14, of Duluth, Ga., is spending part of her summer vacation for the second year with World Changers, a Southern Baptist missionary organization that works with communities to fix up houses for elderly or disabled homeowners who might not otherwise be able to afford repairs.

“It brings us as a group closer to God,” Megan said, explaining why she “really, really enjoy[s] this trip.”

World Changers volunteers are repairing homes in Little Rock for the third straight summer. This year the organization is sending 23,000 junior high, high school and college students to 95 communities in the world, said John Bailey, the team leader for World Changers at the North American Mission Board, a missionary organization with the Southern Baptist Convention.

“We would like to see these teenagers return to their communities and see their lives as an opportunity to serve others,” Bailey said.

Casey Rawls, 22, a World Changers spokesman who has worked with the mission for four summers, said one of the best things about the program is that the volunteers form a partnership with community leaders.

The city’s Housing and Neighborhood Programs Department identifies the houses through an application process and spends $50,000 for the supplies and materials using federal Community Development Block Grants. Homeowners who are 62 or older or drawing disability are eligible to apply for the program as long as they meet certain income- level requirements, said George Brown, housing programs assistant with the department.

By the end of the week, World Changers aims to have repaired 25 homes, which would bring its total in Little Rock during the three years to 75 homes. Brown said all told, World Changes has saved the city $750,000 in labor costs.

And Rawls said the work benefits the student volunteers, too.

“To see the joy and excitement in the homeowners’ faces just blows them away,” she said. “It changes their world at the same time that they’re changing the people in Little Rock’s world.”

Altha Richard, 78, has lived 53 years in her Chester Street house, which is getting a new roof and a fresh coat of paint this week.

“I’m so grateful and thankful,” she said, expressing regret that she couldn’t bake for the volunteers as she used to do for area schoolchildren. “They’ll never know how much I thank them.

Copyright - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Media Comes Out for World Changers!

PC's Notebook
Day 4 - World Changers Little Rock

It was a hot and steamy day for the second work day at World Changers. After a rousing start on Monday, many crews began to settle into the work week.

One of the highlights of the day was a news conference conducted by the City of Little Rock for World Changers. All of the local TV affiliates were present along with local newspapers. Numerous city officials welcomed World Changers and provide the media information about the week's project. Here a link to coverage by Channel 7.

World Changers representatives Tom Ford, coordinator; Tim Yarbrough, project coordinator; and Rushing Mayes of the Pulaski Baptist Association spoke to the media. Ford presented City Director Joan Adcock with World Changers T-shirts and caps; one set was for Mrs. Adcock and one was for the mayor of the city.

Crews will work a half day tomorrow. Following lunch youth groups will get the afternoon and evening off to enjoy the sights around the Little Rock area.

Below is another link to another news story about World Changers Little Rock:

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=67878

God Provides "Sonshine" After Rain Scare

PC's Notebook
Day 3 - World Changers Little Rock

Dark skies greeted students and adults as they gathered for The Great Send-off this morning at JA Fair High School. However, after a few sprinkles and some scattered showers dissipated and everyone hit the work sites and got started in record time!

Crews worked diligently and by noon significant work had been done on many of the sites.

A news conference sponsored by the City of Little Rock will be held tomorrow. We hope to get copies of a TV news story that ran on Sunday, as well as other stories about World Changers in Little Rock. Be sure to check out this news story done by Little Rock TV station Fox Channel 16.

What was the most awesome aspect of our day is that five, yes five, people were saved at project sites today! So literally God provided "Sonshine" after the rain scare this morning!

God is at work! Continue to pray for our efforts.

-Tim Yarbrough
Project Coordinator

PS...be sure to check out photos from the project being posted on Flickr! Enjoy!

It's Been an Awesome Day!

PC's Notebook
Day 2 - World Changers Little Rock

Everyone awoke today to discover what crew they had been placed in for the week.

Our 25 crews are the Brush Bunch, Cool Caulkers, Crow Bars, Dandy Sanders, Drips & Runs, Dumpsters, Googus Roofers, Hammer Heads, Hands Saws, Hard Hats, Knot Heads, Level Heads, Nail Heads, Night Awls, Paint Chips, Plumb Bobs, Roller Kings, Saw Horsemen, Scrapes, Splatter & Roll, Shingle Bells, Short Cuts, Sore Thumbs, Square Feet, Stone Rollers and Tool Timers.

Today was also the day crews worshipped in their host church which will providing their meals at work sites during the week.

Following worship in area churches crews took a tour of their work sites during "Meet the Neighbors." Many students and leaders got the opportunity to meet the resident whose house they will be working on this week.

Training for various crews was held this afternoon, along with training for crew chiefs. Tom Ford, construction coordinator, is returning for a third year to Little Rock. Also held this afternoon was evangelism training led by Chad Meeks, our speaker. Crews met together for dinner for the first time tonight, a meal which featured fried chicken.

- Tim Yarbrough
Project Coordinator

We're Underway!

PC's Notebook:
Day 1 - World Changers Little Rock

Everyone arrived safely on Saturday excited and ready for the week ahead! We are grateful for the lodging facilities at JA Fair High School. It is a great facility to house a bunch of folks just itchin' the change the world!

After check-in, groups brought in their bedding and lodging and set-up their sleeping quarters for the week. The school facility is laid out so that we can house females on one wing and males on another wing.

A Welcome Celebration for students and leaders was held in the auditorium where introductions were made and the band, CollectivElement, kicked everything off with a spirited rendition of the World Changers song. A bit later, group leaders and adult chaperones were dismissed for their first meeting and orientation to the week in Little Rock while students enjoyed more music and games.

During evening worship, speaker and camp pastor Chad Meeks set the tone for the week by speaking on the week's theme, LEAP from 1 John 1:5-7.

Please be in prayer for our students, leaders, residents on the projects and the witness for Jesus Christ we seek to be this week! Pray for God to open doors for the gospel and to bring worshippers into His Kingdom through our efforts!

- Tim Yarbrough
Project Coordinator

Check Out Our Latest Video Entry!

Check out our latest (and last) entry into our WCLR Youth Group Video Contest from the "Breakfree" youth group of First Baptist, Duluth, Ga!

Saturday Arrival

Group Leaders,

Remember, please do not plan to arrive at JA Fair High School until 2 pm Saturday, June 21, for check-in, but no later than 4 pm.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone and to an awesome week of ministry in Little Rock!

Travel Safe!
Tim
678-559-6646

New Video Entry: FBC, Cross City!

Check out another entry for our WCLR Youth Video Contest from Ignite Student Ministries, First Baptist Church, Cross City, Florida!

Already! A WOW! Moment!

George Brown of the City of Little Rock shares this Wow! moment as WCLR 2008 is set to begin:

"Bruce Kelly, salesman for Kaufman Lumber Company, canceled his vacation including flight reservations to Virginia so he could be here for WCLR '08."

Isn't that GREAT! Let's all pray that we'll celebrate lots of Wow! moments during WCLR, including celebrating many people coming to know Jesus Christ!

The stage is set for an AWESOME week in Little Rock!

Meet Your WC Summer Staff!

Susan Griffin - Program Specialist
My name is Susan and I'm 24 years old. I've been working as a nurse at the UNC Burn Center for the last year and a half, but in August I head to Richmond, Va., for orientation for an overseas position in Northern Africa. I'm so excited about this big, crazy step the Lord has lead me too. I'm also really excited about the week in Little Rock. It will be my 20th WC project!!

Sara Linkous - Office Manager
I’m Sara, I am 23. I go to school full time at Athens state university in Alabama. I will graduate this may, with a degree in behavioral science :-) yay! I also nanny full time. I think this is my 15th World Changers; I am so excited to see God move.



Casey Philips - Missions Communications Specialist
Hey everybody! I am from Clanton, Ala., and graduated with my BA in journalism and a minor in Spanish from the University of Mississippi on May 10 (Go Rebels!). An interesting fact about me is that I have been a member of the Ole Miss Women's Rifle Team for the four years of my college experience. On May 31 I married Stephen Rawls, the wonderful man of my dreams! We will then be moving to Hattiesburg, Miss. I have been on the World Changers Summer Staff for the past three years, and I have loved every minute of it! World Changers is truly something that I feel God has called me to be a part of.

Lee Weaver - Audio/Visual Technician
Hey y'all! My name is Lee Weaver. I am a 2007 graduate from the University of Memphis. My degree is in Business Management, but I have spent the past year as an intern with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Memphis. This will be my 19th World Changers project as either a participant or staff. I love sports and anything outdoors. I grew up in Memphis, so I'm a city boy with a country accent. I also do a mean rendition of the World Changers dance.

Important WCLR Reminders!

Group Leaders,

Are you getting excited? We are! I am looking forward to an AWESOME week serving our Lord Jesus Christ in Little Rock!

Here's some important reminders as you prepare for our week...

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WORKING ON ROOFS - World Changers REQUIRES that any Middle School student who wants to work on a roof during the week bring a letter signed by a parent or guardian stating he/she is allowed to do so. Otherwise, no Middle School students will be allowed to work on a roof. Let me know if you have a question about this.
  
  
• INSURANCE MATTERS - All participants at World Changers must have Primary Health Coverage (World Changers only provides a secondary policy for participants). Insurance information must be provided on each participant's World Changers Participant Form that is brought to the project. For more information about what World Changers covers see your Group Leader Information or see this web page: http://www.world-changers.net/site/c.jjJVJ6MNIwE/b.4113807/
  
  
• WHAT TO BRING CHECKLISTS - Please make a list and bring items suggested in your Group Leader Information. Also, our Construction Coordinator Tom Ford has requested additional items be brought by each group. If you have not received that list, please contact Tom at
  573-216-9225 (cell) or email at tom@tphoc.com. If you have difficulty contacting Tom, you also may contact Katie Nugent, Tom's daughter who is assisting him at the project, at katie@tphoc.com. Here's a link to the World Changers "What to Bring Checklist" http://www.world-changers.net/site/c.jjJVJ6MNIwE/b.4113845/
  
  
• GUIDELINES FOR JA FAIR HIGH SCHOOL - According to Jon Hodge, our World Changers national missionary who sets up logistics for our region's World Changers projects, we have some special guidelines that have been given to us by the administration at JA Fair High School. Included in these guidelines are not having food or drink in classrooms where you and your groups will be sleeping. I understand there are other guidelines as well. I will pass these on to you immediately when I receive them.
  
  
• MAKE-UP OF WORK CREWS - We are now in the process of putting together work crews for the week. We will do everything we can to honor the requests you have made concerning work crews. However, once you arrive for the week of World Changers, we plan to only make minor adjustments to crews...as major changes typically require hours of additional work. Remember! World Changers is designed so students and leaders from various churches can work together and make new friends! Thanks to everyone who helped us get this process started by getting their Group Information Forms in on time! :-)

Serving Together!
Tim

Meet Your Staff: Tom Ford

Rev. Tom Ford, pastor of The Potter's House in Camdenton, Mo., has served as construction coordinator for the World Changers Little Rock project the past two years.

Yes, you heard right! Tom is both a PASTOR and a CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR! You may say, "Hey, he's a FREAK of nature!" Well, that's that may be true, but Tom combines his love of Jesus Christ and an earnest love for people and the things of God! While making certain roofs get replaced properly and paint and other repairs to homes are done right, Tom understands the REAL reason we all are coming to Little Rock...to share the good news of Jesus with people of the community who so desperately need a savior.

Now, as for Tom's background, that's a bit more sketchy. Rumor has it that Tom served in the Vietnam War in special forces or even as a Navy Seal! While this has yet to be confirmed, for those of you who haven't met Tom, you will realize once you meet him that you best follow his instructions for a smooth construction project! :-) Seriously, while Tom's appearance may look a bit intimidating, he is as gentle as a kitten with a bowl of warm milk!

Tom will be accompanied on the project with his daughter, Katie Nugent. Katie serves as Youth and Children's Director at The Potter's House.

First Video Entry! New Hope Youth Group!

Check out the first entry in the 2008 Church Youth Group Video Contest. It's from the New Hope Baptist Church, Geraldine, Ala., youth group. Get that camera rollin' and send your entry in now!