When Owen and Betty Heyward first traveled to Lynch and Cumberland, Ky., they had no idea that their lives would be, in their words, “forever changed.”
The Heywards were a part of a vision tour of rural Appalachia in 2004 as a part of groundwork laid for a partnership between the South Carolina Baptist Convention and Appalachian Regional Ministries (ARM).
The Heywards and others on the trip saw a local community devastated when the coal industry left the area. There were no jobs and little educational opportunities.
“The people who could, left the area. The others stayed. It is a very poor area,” said Betty Heyward.
While in Kentucky, the Heywards connected with Bill Barker and Lonnie Riley, who currently serve with ARM. After seeing and discussing the vast needs in this part of the country, the Heywards returned to their home church, Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, with heavy hearts but determined to do something to help.
After much prayer, the Heywards decided to start with the senior adult ministry where they serve as directors. The Millbrook ministry collected needed items for Solomon’s Porch, the ministry Riley leads in Kentucky.
“We were overwhelmed with the generosity of our people – we took a load of food, towels, soap, detergent and paper goods to Lynch,” said Heyward.
Soon the entire congregation was involved sending back packs, health kits and food to Cumberland school children.
“This is a program where a back pack is filled with nonperishable foods for the kids to take home on Fridays for the weekend. They return the back packs on Monday. They receive breakfast and lunch at school during the week, but go hungry on the weekends if they don’t have the food from the back packs,” said Heyward.
The Heywards are planning to return to Cumberland in July to again distribute more back packs collected at Millbrook.
The Millbrook partnership has reached Appalachia and beyond through the Heywards. At a recent Global Focus event at the church, many individuals sought opportunities to travel to the region on short-term mission trips and a team will travel to Kentucky in October.
In addition, as an extension of the work in Kentucky, desperate needs in Pittsburgh, Penn., have recently come to the attention of members at Millbrook. Much like Lynch and Cumberland, areas of Pittsburgh that were once thriving have now been vacated as the steel industry in the area folded.
“Pittsburgh is now filled with poor people who need help, not only financially but also spiritually,” Heyward said.
In a true measure of regional partnership, teams from Millbrook have now extended their hand to Pittsburgh as well. The church has plans in 2008 to meet more needs in Kentucky as well as Pittsburgh.
What started as a small call on two hearts has grown into a thriving church partnership. And as God continues to provide opportunities, Heyward and Millbrook continue to answer his call.