What a Friend We Have in Hanover

(above) The HEFC team poses on the porch of a home where they helped make repairs.

By Bridget McCormack-Finley

Hanover Evangelical Friends Church (HEFC) has been sharing Christ’s love in – and allaround – Mechanicsville, Virginia for more than 50 years. But the church also has a history of extending its reach through organizations like Christian Appalachian Project (CAP).

“There are many things about CAP that have kept us coming back for 14 consecutive years,” said Jeff Reynolds, who coordinates the mission trip and part of the children’s ministry at the church. “We love the relationships we have developed with CAP staff and long-term volunteers that have touched our lives. We love that we get to share in CAP’s mission of helping the people of Appalachia in the name of Jesus.”

The partnership with CAP started in 2006 when two members realized that they had both been financial supporters for years. Another member of the church was connected through a relative that worked in CAP’s Family Life Counseling Program. HEFC has since become an invaluable part of the CAP family.

“Our main focus has been housing repair,” Reynolds said. “It was one of the ways that we knew we could glorify Jesus by helping people in need in Appalachia. When we return to Virginia, others are impacted as we simply come home and tell of our experiences. People are drawn to join us on the next trip. We have people on our jobs, family members, as well as other church members who decide to serve or donate once we talk to them about our experience with CAP.”

In addition to participating in mission trips with CAP’s Housing Program, the church has also offered a Vacation Bible School through CAP’s Eagle Community Center in McCreary County. When each of their various service experiences are included, HEFC has served in nearly all of CAP’s primary service areas and has stayed in all of CAP’s group housing facilities. They have also participated in WorkFest and YouthFest, CAP’s alternative spring break trips for college and high school students. Through that partnership, CAP gained two long-term volunteers from the church – one of whom later became a CAP employee.

Tim and Peggy Ridenour discovered a new part of God’s plan during their week-long mission trips. “We had been attending the church for a few years, but never went on a mission trip until 2016,” Peggy explained. “Tim had been away from the church for several months. When he came back, he was welcomed with so much love. Jeff asked him that day if he wanted to go on the group trip; it was already paid for.”

The trip proved to be a catalyst for both Tim and Peggy. Following Tim’s initial week of service with CAP that summer, he returned with Reynolds to serve as an assistant crew leader at YouthFest the following spring. In the summer of 2017, Peggy joined Tim on the church’s next mission trip. “By then we were thinking, ‘God is trying to tell us something,’” Peggy said. “We came in September, by ourselves, and we were convinced that this is where we were supposed to be. God used HEFC to get us here.”

Tim and Peggy committed to a year of service beginning in January 2018, and Tim joined CAP’s Housing Program as a full-time employee that following July. Peggy is currently serving with CAP for a second year as a Family Advocacy/Housing Caseworker in Rockcastle County and has signed up for a third year of service.

“The intentionality of the HEFC leaders with evening devotions during the mission trips always played an important part in my experience,” Peggy added. “The practice of reflecting on who we’d met, who we’d touched, where we’d seen God at work, and in whom we’d seen God, truly incorporated the spiritual aspect of serving. It has stayed with me.”

Reynolds added, “It is a life-changing experience to share the love of Christ through working and sharing our lives with participants and CAP staff. You return home enriched and looking for ways to help others in your church and community.”