By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – A hammer and some nails, lumber and shingles, and a crew of servant leaders are making it possible for Kentucky Heartland Outreach (KHO) to provide home repairs to families in the Central Kentucky region this summer.
Campbellsville University and Kentucky Heartland Outreach, an affiliate of CU, are working together to help families in need and introduce them to Jesus Christ.
The KHO volunteers are working in Green County this week, along with Trammel Creek Baptist Church.
For the next four weeks, KHO volunteers will be staying at Eubank Baptist Church and will be working in the following counties: June 25-29, Casey County; July 2-6, Rockcastle County; July 9-13, Lincoln County; and July 16-20, Pulaski County.
“We are so thankful each year for the number of groups that come out to volunteer their time,” said Todd Parish, president of KHO.
“It allows all of us to work together and minister not only to each other, but to the needs of the families in the community and bring them into a knowledge of Jesus Christ. He’s the reason we do everything we do.
“Each person has the ability to minister to someone in their own way and it’s amazing to see how everyone can use their talents and gifts to work toward one central ministry.”
John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president of Campbellsville University, said KHO is a “great ministry, and we at CU are very proud to be associated with them.
“KHO allows youth and our students to work with those who cannot help themselves, and we are pleased to work with these servant leaders to help others.”
“Lives are being changed through the outreach ministries of Campbellsville University such as Kentucky Heartland Outreach.”
KHO hosts youth groups from churches all over the nation each summer in order to accomplish much needed repairs on homes in the Central Kentucky region. Each summer, KHO works in a certain region of the state, giving families a new roof, deck or wheelchair/walking ramp. A trained crew chief is in charge of each site, while gaining the help of the volunteers to get the task accomplished in a timely manner.
All is done free of charge to the homeowners, providing they qualify for the grant-funded program, which specializes in aiding homeowners who are at or below the Area Median Income levels for their county.
KHO is funded in part by the Kentucky Housing Corporation through a grant that provides the means for the materials and administrative costs it takes to run an intense camp such as this, and also by Campbellsville University. Labor is provided on a volunteer basis from the many churches who wish to spend a week of their summer doing something to help a homeowner in need.
In addition to the home repairs, the groups have a chance to worship together each night with the KHO worship band and with KHO’s camp pastor. The camp is a chance for students to understand the ministry that Jesus Christ had among the people and how he was able to meet people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.
KHO is a non-profit, faith-based organization that specializes in providing minor home repairs for families who could not afford to complete them on their own. They are funded by Kentucky Housing Corporation and Campbellsville University, along with other various donors. Each year, they work with over 1,000 volunteers to complete numerous home repairs in the South Central Kentucky region.
KHO serves the following 13 counties: Adair, Allen, Barren, Casey, Green, Hart, Larue, Lincoln, Marion, Metcalfe, Pulaski, Taylor and Warren.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.