Generations on Mission 🌱
During the week of June 27–July 3, ARDF (Anglican Relief and Development Fund) brought together Anglican churches from across the country in Black Mountain, North Carolina, for a unique family mission trip. Grandparents, parents, and children lived, ate, worshiped, and served side by side, demonstrating what a heart for service looks like across generations. Below, DOMA kparticipants of all ages share how God worked in their lives through this week of serving together. Enjoy photos and videos from the trip, as well!
From Rev. Stephanie Workman, Deacon, All Souls Church, Richmond, VA
There is so much I could say about the week long mission trip to help rebuild the Asheville area after the hurricane nearly two years ago, through ARDF, Anglican Relief and Development Fund, but I will seek to give you a snapshot. 19 families were represented with 80 people ranging in ages from 7 to their 70s! Families came from Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. We all stayed on the base camp, but worked at six different projects.
Thanks to the amazing leadership of Amy and Brian Stewart, our daily rhythm involved breakfast, morning prayer, our work sites, and reconvening for free time and fun intergenerational games, followed by dinner and evening prayer.
My family worked alongside of three other families at the Veterans Village. The previously displaced veterans lost their homes once again from the hurricane. Our group spent the week remodeling 4 rooms at a former motel undergoing renovations for veteran suitability. We did demo, painted, caulked, installed flooring and sheetrock.
There were a handful of mottos guiding our week. Two impressionable mottos were “relationships over tasks” and “work at the pace of peace”, reminding us that people matter more than the work that we were eager to accomplish. This translated into slowing down or stopping when our kids were restless or struggling or listening to each other’s stories as we painted. We slowed our pace to be attentive to places of pain uncovered. We have used this phrase often as we have returned home; my husband, Will, and I keep reminding each other are we working at the pace of peace?
Lastly, besides the significant amount of work accomplished at each worksite, I was touched to see kids get excited about missions and serving. Most of the kids eagerly asked when the next mission trip will be. When we create a culture of serving in our families, and in our kids at a young age, they are likely to pursue this as a lifelong mission, realizing there is greater joy in giving than receiving.
From Claire Trainor, Director of Children's Ministry, Church of the Resurrection, Baltimore, MD
Claire shares thoughts from some of the younger members of the ResBalt ARDF team of 12:
Savannah Ulz - Age 11 - “I liked being around people who loved God and who were happy and willing to come down to help people. I was challenged by being in a new environment where I didn’t know anyone and had to make friends and make do with what I had. I loved how good it feels to help people.”
Hannah Jensen - Age 8 - “I liked being around the wildlife and other people who are Christians. A challenge was being in the sun a lot on hot days while working, but I liked helping other people. I have never done a mission trip and I would definitely go again. I was exec ting to be in a tent on the ground, so that was nice (having a tent with bunk beds) too.”
Lindley Trainor - Age 9 - “I liked that I was able to spend time with new people, have fun and get to know them better, and work with them to help other people know about Jesus and help those who are in need. It was also challenging learning to do new things; I got to spray paint a gate, and I had to rake manure!"
Finn Trainor - Age 7 - “I would want to go again because I enjoyed being in the mountains and we got to work on a farm to serve a lady named Ms. Jennifer who had a flood at her home. I got to see her new beehive and feed watermelon to a duck!”
