The Mountain Spirit (50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue 2 of 2)

50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2 of 2

A Publication of Christian Appalachian Project: Celebrating 50 Years of Faith, Service, & Compassion

Editor’s Letter

Spirit

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n recent years, I’ve developed a fondness for long drives down unfamiliar country roads.

While there are generally more direct and expedient routes to most destinations, these excursions are the opposite of detours. These off-the-beatenpath roads reward the traveler for his or her efforts in a multitude of ways. One benefit of taking back roads is the avoidance of heavy traffic, which allows one to cruise at a comfortable, leisurely pace. There is the occasional passing automobile, but these are usually accompanied by a warm smile and friendly wave from a local. Tiny communities, often consisting of nothing more than an old gas station and a family church, dot the landscape alongside these remote paths. The rustic scenery, the untainted aromas, and the seclusion of forgotten highways can give the impression that one is a pioneer blazing a trail into a newly discovered, untamed frontier.

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and as we continue to reflect upon the legacy of this endeavor, I am drawn to the image of roads less traveled. In order to work toward the mission of delivering hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia we are necessarily required to take these roads less traveled. At CAP’s foundation is the desire to go into the communities, homes, and lives that have been largely ignored or avoided by others (pgs. 8 & 16). The road to regional recovery is long, winding, and seldom easily traversed, but we are as concerned about each person we meet along the way as we are about the destination (pg. 32). There is no map for this road, but CAP invests in the lives and futures of children in the hopes that their faith may continue to lead us forward (pg. 14). We have not set out on this course alone; our travel companions are the many volunteers (pgs. 6 & 21), dedicated staff (pg. 34), and generous donors (pgs. 38 & 46) who have committed to the journey.

This special commemorative issue of The Mountain Spirit is dedicated to the roads down which we continue to travel, and to the roads in our collective memory that are slowly shrinking in the rear-view mirror. In addition to the current stories of Faith, Service, and Compassion to which you have become accustomed in this publication, we have included three stories from the archives of The Mountain Spirit. These stories represent the reporting of a specific time, place, and perspective and serve as a sort of travelogue for the journey thus far.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Clay Lester CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rev. Ralph Beiting, Vinnie Birch, Felicia Carter, Beth Dotson, Joe Foley, Evan Harrell, Elizabeth James, Clay Lester, Ben Self, Carol Stringer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brenda Barkley, Beth Dotson, Felicia Carter, Joe Foley, Margaret Gabriel, Elizabeth James, Evan Harrell, Clay Lester

CONTACT US By phone: 859.269.0635 Toll-free: 866.270.4227 Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org Website: www.christianapp.org Mail: Christian Appalachian Project P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555

In Peace,

Clay Lester Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director 2

SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Mountain Spirit is published twice a year. The suggested donation is $20.00. Subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to :

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555

CONTENTS

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES I. To promote the dignity and self worth of individuals by promoting self help.

II. To practice and encourage good stewardship of and accountability for all of the resources entrusted to us.

III. To foster individual growth among staff, volunteers, donors, and program participants.

IV. To live out and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all of our actions.

V. To foster open, honest, and effective communication both inside and outside the organization.

VI. To involve the Appalachian people at all social and economic levels in developing solutions to poverty.

Copyright, 2015, Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Christian Appalachian Project is a non-profit Christian service organization operating throughout Appalachia. Christian Appalachian Project is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is qualified to receive tax deductible contributions.

FAITH Volunteer Journal

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Promises to Keep

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**From Our Founder

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By Vinnie Birch

By Evan Harrell

By Rev. Ralph Beiting

SERVICE

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Framework for the Future

By Felicia Carter

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Pioneers & Pilgrims

21

The Building Crew

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**Working and Growing

By Carol Stringer

By Elizabeth James

By Beth Dotson

COMPASSION Eastern Kentucky is No Black Hole

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Jack’s Legacy

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Mountain Movers

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By Ben Self

Financial and other information about Christian Appalachian Project, Inc.’s (CAP) purpose, programs and activities can be obtained by contacting Guy Adams at 6550 South KY Rt. 321, P.O. Box 459, Hagerhill, KY 41222, 1-859269-0635, or for residents of the following states, as stated below. Florida: SC No. CH98 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELPFLA, OR VIA THE INTERNET AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, from the Secretary of State. Michigan: MICS No. 9993. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED

BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state. nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. New York: Upon request, from the Attorney General Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989 (within North Carolina) or (919) 807-2214 (outside of North Carolina). Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling tollfree, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT, INC. BY THE STATE. Funds received in excess of what is needed to support this ministry will be distributed to other CAP missions. From time to time CAP rents or exchanges its list of supporters with other trusted organizations to benefit CAP’s programs and activities. If you do not wish to participate in CAP’s list rental or exchange activities, or if you wish to modify the frequency of future communications from CAP, please write to us or give us a call at 1-866-270-4227.

By Elizabeth James

**A Day With the Elderly

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Guiding By Grace

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By Joe Foley

By Elizabeth James

ARTS + CULTURE 49 Mitch Barrett: An Appalachian Storyteller’s Story

By Felicia Carter

**From the Archives CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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Would you or someone you know be a great CAP volunteer?

Interested in bringing a group to volunteer with CAP? Here are our needs for the coming months: Long-term volunteers needed in the following programs:

Short-term volunteers needed for the following programs:

Family Advocacy Housing and Elderly Housing Elderly Services Child and Family Development Grateful Threadz Volunteer Groups

Family Advocacy Housing and Elderly Housing WorkFest and YouthFest (experienced carpenters needed) Grateful Threadz Volunteer Groups Summer Camp

Volunteer Groups

Our home repair programs rely on the service of one-week volunteer groups to finish projects faster and serve more families and elderly people in need.

Groups from churches, schools, civic organizations, businesses, and even families (children must be age 14 or older) are welcome. Groups of all types are accepted May - November. Alternative spring break programs are available in March (college) and April (high school). christianapp.org/vol | volunteer@chrisapp.org | 606.256.0973

faith

Volunteer Journal n Promises to Keep n From Our Founder n

FAITH

VOLUNTEER JOURNAL Entry: 27 February 2015

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think I received more from Lily and Melissa than I could have possibly given. We worked on their house for a long time: replacing siding, most of their windows, their roof, and their porch in the backyard. I know Lily and her daughter appreciated the work we did.

Their home was more functional and much safer, and as a plus, it looked nicer. But being welcomed into Lily and Melissa’s home and granted the opportunity to enter into their lives was a gift so personal that it felt too great to be returned with only my time and labor.

I know that this is an oversimplification. We gave from our hearts as well as through our work and conversation.

But at times when I felt like I was just a construction worker at their home, Lily would take us aside and pull out her and Melissa’s artwork. They had a stack of Melissa’s paintings in a corner of a back room—many pieces from her art school work, some that combined her love for fantasy worlds with her roots here in McCreary County, and one that beautifully depicted her mother. Lily painted Appalachian scenes on a number of different rustic objects, including cross-sections of tree branches, and she had illustrated the Creation Story across the panels of a large quilt. She even presented us with a couple of old saw blades on which she had painted pictures of her home and Cumberland Falls for us to keep. We often ate lunch inside, and Melissa offered us some of their homemade pickles as they kept the wood stove stocked for us to keep warm on those cold winter days. And when we ate outside, we struggled to keep their cats at bay and our lunches safe as Lily and Melissa watched and laughed. They let us witness and partake in some of the idiosyncrasies that make up their lives.

Not only was Lily welcoming, but she worked on her

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home harder than we did. When she wasn’t working at her job, she would jump right into whatever our crew was working on. If we were on the roof, she would come up and strip shingles with us. When a weekend passed, we would return to her home to find a new wall of siding finished that Lily had worked on while we were away. Before we even started the work, she tore down her old, crumbling porch so that we were ready to begin right away. It was clear that what we were providing was a helping hand. First and foremost, Lily wanted to fix her own home. We were just community members who had the resources and time to help her do it.

Moments like these confirmed to me that my role was more than being a carpenter— it was being her neighbor.

One morning when it was particularly cold, Lily started talking with me and my crew. She told us what had happened to her husband and about some of the other trials she and Melissa had been through. Then she welcomed us into her home to warm up and be with her. Moments like these confirmed to me that my role was more than being a carpenter—it was being her neighbor.

Christ teaches us through the ultimate sacrifice that love is giving of self, but sometimes it’s hard to know what that looks like in our day-to-day lives. Lily and Melissa taught me that it can look like the sharing of conversation, art

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made from the heart, and homemade pickles. It can be a mom showing someone what hard work for a family and home means. It can look like the sharing of a cross and a warm home.

-- Vinnie Birch

Entry: 30 April 2015

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think there is a natural inclination in us to turn down the assistance of others, especially when we are volunteering. A participant offers me something, and my gut reaction is to turn them down. I think, “I don’t want to take anything from them—they are struggling enough without me consuming their food.” I mean it with the best intention. Knowing how much food I consume as a twenty-two year old male, it would seriously set anyone back no matter their financial status. Really it extends from a desire to give freely without taking anything in return, but I realized recently how selfish this attitude can be.

Christ teaches us that loving our neighbor does not mean denying what they have to offer.

Susan and her husband had already offered me some of their lunch directly after I had finished mine, and later she was practically insisting that I take some water. I was thirsty, but I went through the same thought process of wanting to give without taking. But it seemed as if the only thing she wanted was to serve me. That’s the interesting part of

the situation. I’m there to help her, and all it seemed she wanted was to help me. So I took the water.

Service can easily put us in a mindset of “we are the helpers and they are the people we are helping.” But this outlook places us above those we’re serving: “I have something to give and you can only receive;” “You don’t have anything to offer me that I could need.” And this idea completely contradicts the intention of service. We want people to feel fulfilled, not small. This can only be done when we recognize one another’s common dignity.

Everyone has something to give.

Recently I started running my ideas of service through a “neighbor lens.” Loving our neighbor as ourselves is the language of the gospel after all. I consider how I would treat a close friend if they were in the situation of the participant.

If that person needed help installing some windows and I offered my assistance because they couldn’t afford to hire someone, would I turn down their water when I was thirsty? No. So why should I turn down water from a participant? It only creates distance between us that implies, “You are not my neighbor.”

Christ came to give the ultimate gift. He gave himself fully for the salvation of humanity. If ever there was someone who had something to give and who needed nothing in return, it was Christ, but even He asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. Christ teaches us that loving our neighbor does not mean denying what they have to offer.

-- Vinnie Birch

If you would like to read more volunteer entries like these, please visit the CAP Volunteer blog at christianapp.org and The Mountain Spirit Online at themtspirit.wordpress.com

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FAITH

Promises to Keep

By Evan Harrell 8

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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FAITH

hen you think of Ralph W. Beiting, you seldom think of the man who grew weary of his work in Appalachia. You think of the man who was relentless, who pressed forward when it seemed everyone else had given up on Eastern Kentucky.

Yet even Rev. Beiting himself almost threw in the towel on his promise to the people of Appalachia. In 1991, he was on his way to visit two Eastern Kentucky companies that were on the brink of collapse when he fell asleep at the wheel of the van and drove straight into the rear of a coal truck—a wreck that almost cost him his life. After weeks and months in hospitals and doctors’ offices, he began to ask if it was all worth continuing. Sure, so much had been accomplished in Appalachia through Christian Appalachian Project, but on the horizon, he could still see miles and miles of winding, country roads stretching before him—the work yet to be achieved. He asked himself, and God, why he should go on. He was 67 years old and past the age at which many Catholic priests normally retired. He had worked hard all his life and accomplished many things. He was tired and sick.

One day during his recovery, he was scanning his bookshelves for something to read to calm his mind when he arbitrarily stumbled upon a collection of Robert Frost poems, which would inspire him to write one of his last books, “Promises to Keep.” As he read the words of one of his favorite poets, he had a profound realization: he could give up. He could end his career and his commitment to the region.

But that would be taking a clear path—one that had already been beaten and traveled many times by other charitable organizations that had come and gone. He drew a comparison to “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” saying, “Suddenly it all became clear to me. The woods are certainly ‘lovely, dark, and deep.’ It would be lovely to retire and take life easy. But I have ‘promises to keep’ before my life ends. And ‘miles to go’ before I’m ready to quit.”

Christian Appalachian Project has made promises to Appalachia. These promises have not always been easy to keep, and some of them have yet to be realized. To fulfill these promises is no small task, however. There are still Appalachians without adequate housing, adults who are either functionally or entirely illiterate, and children who go to bed hungry and cold.

President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a War on Poverty in 1964. He visited the region and brought national and international attention with him, and since that time,

organization after organization—with only good intent— has rushed in with the aim of alleviating poverty but leaving just as quickly with little to show for it. It’s clear the answer to the needs of this area requires trying new methods and beating down the weeds that cover the proverbial roads many people and organizations choose not to go down.

But CAP has always traveled the road not taken. CAP has always sought out the areas of greatest need in Eastern Kentucky and wisely allocated its resources accordingly.

Choosing ‘the road less traveled’ is rarely easy, however; but following Christ’s example of love puts things into perspective for us. Being blameless, he could have walked away from his duty with a clear conscience, but instead, he chose to sacrifice his life for all of us.

“Luckily,” Rev. Beiting said, “that kind of sacrifice is not required of us to help the people of Appalachia. That was a road that only Jesus could walk. But there are many other roads we all can walk—quiet, country roads in Appalachia that lead to families in great need, lonely elderly people, and hungry children. Those are the roads ‘less traveled’ that you and I can walk.”

“It would be lovely to retire and take life easy.

But I have ‘promises to keep’ before my life ends. And ‘miles to go’ before I’m ready to quit.”

Nobody knows what the future will hold; we will undoubtedly have to travel down some unbeaten paths and stop by woods on a snowy evening. No matter what the future brings, one thing is certain: CAP will always have its sights set on children. Rev. Beiting loved CAP’s service to children. He saw in their eyes a glimmer of hope for the future—a glimmer the despair of poverty had long ago taken from many of their parents.

Unfortunately, in Appalachia these promises may be harder to keep than anywhere else in America. These promises, however, are not different from the promises humanity should make to every child on earth—that you will be loved, and that those around you will do what they can to make sure you have a fighting chance to develop physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

Jesus Christ said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the

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FAITH kingdom of heaven” [Matt. 18:3]. Rev. Beiting loved those words of Christ because they reminded him that, of all the promises he made to the people of Appalachia, the most important are those he made to children.

“But a promise made to a child should never be broken. So we keep going, sometimes in the dark, to make sure we do everything we can.”

Rev. Beiting believed CAP’s programs for children were the most important of all. In our child development centers, summer camps, Bible camps, teen centers, and school programs, he wanted to instill three loving ideals in the children and youth: a love for themselves, a love for learning, and a love for others through service as an outward expression of Christ’s love for all of us.

Keeping the promises CAP has made to our children has not always been easy. We often wondered where we would find the food to feed them at our child development centers. We wondered where we would find good teachers, where we would get enough desks and books and supplies.

“But a promise made to a child should never be broken,” said Rev. Beiting. “So we keep going, sometimes in the dark, to make sure we do everything we can.”

“I think children are worth going into the dark for.”

The future is wildly uncertain. Fifty years ago, when CAP was founded, computers took up entire rooms and the Internet was only a dream. Now we carry both of them in our pockets. Who is to say for sure what the next 50 years will bring? Is it really so inconceivable then to dream of things that, at present, are seemingly as farfetched as flying cars? Of course, with the advent of these very probable advances in technology, Appalachia will undoubtedly face another unique set of challenges as the rest of the country develops and leaves the region even further behind. As the nation and the world progress, blazing new trails, these Appalachian roads will still be left untraveled.

But CAP has always traveled the road not taken. Its very nature is to provide services Appalachia lacks at that moment in time, and then, once another person or group has the ability or interest to provide in the same capacity, CAP packs up and reallocates those resources elsewhere— 10

walking down another road less traveled. Very careful planning goes into deciding which programs and services to provide to which areas, depending on the needs of a specific Eastern Kentucky county, sometimes even years in advance, because CAP wishes to be good stewards of the resources provided to us by God and our generous givers.

In the future, CAP will continue in this same manner, constantly seeking out unique paths toward the answer to defeating poverty, even if it means entering a darkened forest and blazing a new trail.

“We have to bring hope to these people,” said Rev. Beiting. “As children of God we are called and commanded to this task. We are not necessarily promised victory—at least not in our lifetimes. What is important is not the victory but the struggle itself. I may not live to see the complete victory. But if my span of time on earth is part of the answer, that’s all that counts. If I am part of something good, what more could I ask for?”

And what more could CAP ask for than people who, despite the darkness of the woods and uncertainty of the roads they travel, continue to press forward toward progress for the people of this region? As for whether his life was part of the answer to poverty in Appalachia, it was, Rev. Beiting.

It sure was. n

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

FAITH from the ARCHIVES Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit SeptemberOctober 1993 Issue

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit September-October 1993 Issue CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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SERVICE

k r o w e m Fra r the Fo e r u t Fu

By Felicia Carter

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magination is a constant theme throughout Christian Appalachian Project’s Child Development Centers.

Hand-drawn pictures line the walls, and under the pictures are captions that depict what the drawing portrays. Most notable is a picture that is covered with warm-colored, abstract splotches, entitled, “A Lawn Mower.” Countless other pictures follow suit that capture the beautiful, imaginative mind of a child.

Along with the students, teachers with the same level of enthusiasm flood the classrooms, constantly encouraging the learning environment that builds fine motor and communication skills to help create a strong future of students.

Located in Park’s Lake, Ky., and Mt. Vernon, Ky., these facilities provide all-day programs for the students in their communities.

Both centers provide extra activities to help the participants be even more involved with the program.

The students get to go on field trips, they are assigned homework crafts where they get to work with their parents, and they have the opportunity to go to school dances where they wear their favorite dress clothes and dance the evening away. There is also an Infant and Toddler Program offered, where CAP home visitors travel to homes and work with the families to mutually enhance the home environment. The home visitor will support the parents by providing information on early childhood development and identify materials to be used for learning experiences at home. The goal of this program is to provide support and encouragement to family members as they learn to empower themselves as parents.

Given the high level of interactions between the teachers and students, they have scores that reflect the personal care the programs provide. According to the Brigance

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Kindergarten Screener, a screening tool used statewide at kindergarten entry that assesses whether a child is ready to hit the ground running at the start of his or her education career, more than half of all students who go through a CAP Child Development Program are ready for kindergarten.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children accredits Eagle Child and Family Development Center, and Mt. Vernon Child Development Center is not far from obtaining that title.

This is all thanks to an excellent staff of volunteers and employees. Becky Kana is the manager of the Mt. Vernon Child Development Center and has been with CAP for 33 years. She has always worked in childcare, but it was not until about 10 years ago that she started working at the Family Life Child Development Center. She sings its praises wherever she goes.

“This program is really important,” Becky explains.

“When it began, it was kind of out of the norm. People started to realize that the time between birth and kindergarten are crucial learning periods, so the numbers in enrollment started to go up.”

According to the Brigance Kindergarten Screener, well over half of all students who go through a CAP Child Development Program are ready for kindergarten.

Brinda Campbell manages the Eagle Child and Family Development Center located in Park’s Lake, Ky., and has

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

SERVICE been working for CAP for 10 years. She began her service with CAP working in adult education, teaching G.E.D. classes to those living in the area.

“Once other adult education programs started moving into the area, the number of students in my classes started to go down. It was a sign from God when this position became available because I knew I wanted to stay in education. I get to see my staff go above and beyond with the families. They feel what the families feel, and it is sincere.”

Both really enjoy working with the children and the families of the community. Watching the families learn and grow is one of the most rewarding parts.

Many success stories come out of the programs, but one of the most recent stories is a participant named Haley, who attended the Eagle Child and Family Development Center when she was younger. Now a senior in high school, she is still heavily involved.

“I started working as a full-time volunteer when I was 16. I’ve worked in the Early Steps Program with the one- to four-year-olds, and I’ve stapled and filed a lot of papers.

Now, I work with a peer-tutoring program for ages five to 18. I also worked as a junior counselor at Camp AJ.” Haley says that being able to identify with participants is very important.

“Working at summer camp really helped me to relate to

the area more. Even though Eastern Kentucky is small and this is where I am from, there are many different types of people that live in the area. I was able to see that at camp.

It really helped me when it came to tutoring the students because I knew a bit more about where they were from.”

Haley says her favorite thing about CAP is how it resembles a huge community.

“People bring together items that they have to give to those who are less fortunate. They all want to help, and that is the commonality.”

Haley plans to attend the local community college to take her general education courses, and then transfer to a university after that to study veterinary sciences.

Overall, the Child Development Centers are a crucial program to CAP. Serving the communities by providing high-quality early education sets the foundation for a high graduation rate, which is important for growth in these communities. n

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PIONEERS AND

PILGRIMS

Story & Original Drawing By Carol Stringer

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SERVICE

was surprised to find myself on a tin roof one morning this past March. Although I had signed up for Workfest knowing I would be assisting with construction, I hadn’t anticipated anything this daunting. Not only was I on a roof, I was on an unfinished roof made up only of rafter beams over a trailer, or in some places, rafters over nothing at all. The plan was to craft what the construction crew leaders affectionately called a “sweatshirt” around the trailer, effectively making it safe, warm, and dry. That meant constructing an entirely new roof over the older, preexisting one.

Climbing on a roof like that was uncomfortable. I didn’t really want to work on a roof that I could have easily fallen from with a gentle push, or the slip of a shoe. I had to sit on boards and scoot along, carefully placing my feet each time so that I didn’t slip. I couldn’t stand up. The wind was insanely cold, and I was constantly nervous I was about to fall off or blow away. But in the end, I kept kept my emotions to myself, remained calm, sat there, did my job, and safely climbed back down when we were done, because even though I didn’t want do it, no one else really did either.

Service can be uncomfortable, but it’s what we’re called to do. Deep down, I knew that roof was the most important thing we needed to accomplish that week for our homeowners. Their need overcame my reluctance, and ultimately I was proud of what we accomplished.

Serving others is rarely the glamourous, “feel‑good” experience many people perceive it to be. We’re accomplishing the work that often no one else wants to do, in a location that no one wants to visit, helping people who are often invisible to those around them. Few people understood the complex nature of service better than Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) founder, Rev. Ralph Beiting, who dedicated his life to serving the people of Appalachia.

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ORIGINS Whatever his expectations might have been, upon arrival in Appalachia, Rev. Beiting discovered that the home and future chapel he had been provided with was dilapidated.

An overgrown yard, collapsed front porch, sagging floor, and a complete lack of furniture greeted him in his drafty new home. Thinking he could have his new parishioners assist him with cleaning the place up, he soon learned that there were only a handful of practicing Catholics in the area. There wasn’t even a church in Berea, Ky.; the closest Catholic Church at that time was in Richmond, Ky. Faced with these challenges, he began to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what he had gotten himself into. However, it soon became apparent to him that the needs of his new flock were greater than his own.

In a region devastated by the decline of the mining and timber industries, he found that many people were downtrodden and in need of assistance, both physical and spiritual. The lack of opportunities for the people of this region had far-reaching implications for education, infrastructure, and the emotional and physical well-being of the populace. Without industry, there were no jobs and no hope. At the time he arrived, adult illiteracy was not an uncommon problem, only adding to the long list of educational shortcomings that plagued the region’s adults.

Rev. Beiting was initially overwhelmed by the region’s poverty and the physical needs of his new parishioners. Yet he was determined to do something about it. He began to investigate outlets to address their needs and reached out to the students of Catholic colleges in the state. He made frequent trips to his home in Northern Kentucky, where he would gather up donations of food and clothing that he would distribute back in Appalachia. Deep down, he knew that these small loads of goods were not enough to make a dent in the needs of the region, but something needed to be done to address the root causes of poverty instead.

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

SERVICE By the early 1960s, Rev. Beiting had initiated a number of fledgling programs, including Bible schools, a used clothing store, and an emergency family shelter. The reach of these programs was ever-expanding, and times were changing. 1964 was not just the year that Christian Appalachian Project formed out of the original programs, but also the year of the War on Poverty and the Second Vatican Council.

WAR ON POVERTY On a national level, changing social attitudes and ideas contributed to the creation of the Great Society and War on Poverty legislation enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson. After seeing the poverty of Appalachia firsthand on the campaign trail, he vowed to do everything possible to pull the area out of its economic slump.

Just as it was then, the volunteers and staff of CAP continue to be a diverse group from all walks of life.

Feeling the need to organize and direct the new programs he had started, he took great pains to come up with a name that he felt accurately represented his new organization.

It was “Christian” because he wanted volunteers and participants to remember their commitment to spirituality, and because without their dedication to Christ, he felt they would not succeed; and it was a “project” because it was a service-based organization where volunteers would get their hands dirty.

While he was committed to the spiritual nature of this new organization, he wanted to make sure that it was clearly inclusive, rather than exclusive. It was obvious to him that there was more than enough work to go around for anyone of the faith who wanted to help in Appalachia, not just Catholics. Previously, Rev. Beiting had been met with much resistance from the regional bishop when he attempted collaboration with local churches. He continued to persevere, and eventually their own views on the topic began to relax.

Rev. Beiting would have been aware of the changes at that time coming from the Second Vatican Council. Great strides were being made towards a thaw in the Church’s relationship with Protestants and other religions. His embracive attitude toward the new doctrine is evident in his long-time commitment to service and dedication to the people of Appalachia regardless of their faith. Just as it was then, the volunteers and staff of CAP continue to be a diverse group from all walks of life. Our differences unite and strengthen us as we come together to serve our region—a quality Rev. Beiting understood and valued.

At the time Christian Appalachian Project was founded, President Johnson drafted his important legislation that created the Food Stamp program, Economic Opportunity Act, and Social Security, among other things, collectively known as the War on Poverty. This body of legislation was created with the people of Appalachia in mind after President Johnson visited the area while campaigning.

Rev. Beiting’s insight... proved his guidance of CAP was founded in a divine vision for our future path.

President Johnson’s declaration of the War on Poverty lit a fire in the region that initiated numerous workrelated programs intended to help the Appalachian people.

Government money flooded into the region to improve the lives of the poverty-stricken; however, Rev. Beiting saw that, over time, many of those programs “quickly deteriorated into a vast effort to keep the money flowing.” Regardless of their intentions, they often failed to provide sustainable skills that translated to jobs or services for many people.

At the time, Rev. Beiting deeply considered accepting

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SERVICE government funding for CAP but ultimately turned it down. As time passed, the government lost interest and the money evaporated, leaving the region without many tangible results from the effort. Rev. Beiting’s insight into the outcome of the funding only proved his guidance of CAP was founded in a divine vision for our future path. As other organizations failed and left the region, we remained and grew stronger, expanding our ability to help people help themselves in Appalachia.

Often, as we get to know the families of our participants, we discover they might have other needs or that another family member needs help.

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Today, CAP has expanded to be the 18th-largest human service organization in the nation. We remain an established coalition of programs that address the needs of our region.

By remaining fluid with our services and abilities, we are able to fill the cracks in the services provided by others that help stabilize Appalachian families and individuals.

Our organization strives to be flexible in meeting the needs of our participants. We have created a system known as “wrap-around care” where we address multiple needs to the best of our abilities. Often, as we get to know the families of our participants, we discover they might have other needs or that another family member needs help. In this way, we provide more comprehensive assistance than if we only provided rigid, one-dimensional aid.

Unlike others, we tailor our service to meet the needs of the people we help. As demand for a service grows or decreases, we open or close programs; this way we always use our resources to the best of our ability.

While the Great Society and the War on Poverty came to an end, some elements remain. When I was sworn in as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, I had a crash course on Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a vestigial program of the Great Society measures put in place by Johnson. I was surprised at how closely the history of the organization I would be working with, CAP, mirrored the time frame of the War on Poverty and VISTA. Here I was, fifty years out, continuing the work set in motion by those early pioneers of altruism in our region. After all, some of the first VISTA volunteers did come to the hills of Appalachia. n

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By Elizabeth James

riving down the backroads of McCreary County, Ky., you will most certainly come across a few things. You will observe the beautiful wildlife and nature that surround what many people here call home. If you stop for directions, you will be met with kind faces and helpful people. And if you travel far enough from the main roads, you will likely see the signs of poverty. At its heart, Appalachia is a vision of starkly contrasting beauty and brokenness. The people here are strong and humble, but the struggle to survive and thrive in this region is significant.

Two people attempting to lend a hand in this struggle are long-term housing volunteers Janean Shedd and Vinnie Birch. Currently, the duo are hard at work in the yard of Thomas and Sara. This elderly couple’s home has a laundry list of repair needs, and ever since the housing crew leader on this site suffered an injury at home, Janean and Vinnie have been tasked with addressing the home repairs on their own.

From the moment the sun rises each day, Janean and Vinnie work tirelessly to build a deck, stairs, and a ramp for Thomas and Sara’s home. Observing their interactions throughout the day, it becomes immediately evident that these volunteers consider the participants as family. Their

love and respect for this couple influences everything they do—from their consideration for Thomas’ safety as they choose materials for the ramp to the conversations and laughter they share over lunch in the yard. For now, this region is Janean and Vinnie’s home and the folks they’re assisting, like Thomas and Sara, are their neighbors. There is still much work to be done on this home, but Janean and Vinnie are committed to finishing this project for the sake of their new friends.

Janean Shedd is from Ashburnham, Mass. She came to Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) with the desire to serve others. During college, she wanted to attend CAP’s WorkFest but never had the chance. After graduating, she volunteered for a year of service in St. Louis with the Vincentian Service Corps. Janean realized at the completion of that year that she wasn’t ready for her volunteering days to be over. “CAP was still on my radar at that point. I was already doing housing repair work on the weekends, and I felt called to serve in a more rural setting, so CAP seemed like the perfect fit!”

Her first long-term stint was from 2010 to 2011, and when this service year ended she immediately began to devise a plan to return. She was back for a couple of months in the summer of 2013, and then again this past

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SERVICE winter. “When I started in February, I only intended to be here until the end of March, but when March rolled around I felt called to stay longer. Now I’m here until next December!”

Janean is discovering a lot about herself and the nature of service during her time in Eastern Kentucky. She explains that she is still adjusting to the slower pace of life and work.

“I am a doer and a mover, and I find it hard to sit still.

Being patient and taking the time to get to know the people with whom we interact is a vital part of CAP’s work and mission. I would like to think that I have learned how to wait, stop, and listen.”

Through her experiences in the Housing Program, Janean has been reminded of the importance of gratitude. She has come to value things like the stable floor in her home, the heat during the winter, and all the other aspects of her life that she may sometimes take for granted. She gains new insight and perspective every day, from fellow volunteers, CAP employees, our participants, or even those that she may pass on the road on the way to work. “There is an appreciation of time and life in Appalachia, and the longer I live here the more I share this appreciation.”

As far as working side by side with Vinnie, she says she couldn’t ask for a harder worker to serve beside, or a better friend. “I think that CAP volunteer life helps to create deep bonds more quickly than in other situations, due to the attitudes of those drawn to CAP and the devotional times we share every week.”

“Community truly exists here. I also cherish the spirituality of the people. They are very focused on God, and seem to trust God completely, in both good times and bad.”

Vincent (Vinnie) Birch, an Albany, N.Y. native, was led to CAP when he felt called to make a radical change in his life to serve others. “After being in school for so long, I had the strong desire to spend some time giving to others in a more substantial way.”

Prior to his decision to become a long-term volunteer, Vinnie felt that choices he was making in his life were not significant enough to affect genuine change. Vinnie 22

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SERVICE explains: “I began to see this as an opportunity to really let my faith direct me. And I felt that God was asking me to step into a new challenge.”

And everything was indeed new to Vinnie: his temporary home, the people with whom he shared it, and the types of hands-on work projects in which he is currently engaged.

He quickly fell in love with the people and mountains of Appalachia, though he has been most affected by the constant opportunities for service.“One of the greatest lessons I have learned so far is how humbling of an experience it is to serve others.”

“The participants have faith that my work will be sufficient to protect them and their families, but it is work that can only be done through Christ.”

Vinnie had never participated in any building or construction projects before he became a volunteer, so it has been both challenging and rewarding to spend every day in CAP’s housing program. He is amazed by the willingness of so many participants to work right alongside him, contributing as much as they are able to the success of the home repairs. “Having the participants with me as I am struggling to complete repairs on their home is simultaneously one of the most humbling and beautiful experiences I have ever had.” He continues, “They trust my inexperienced hands with their home, something so near and dear to their hearts, and they are grateful for any progress I am able to make. The participants have faith that my work will be sufficient to protect them and their families, but it is work that can only be done through Christ.”

Due to the unusual circumstances of the past few weeks and the necessity to proceed without a housing crew leader, Janean feels very lucky to have Vinnie as her crew partner.

She explains, “I don’t know that I could be doing this without him.”

When asked about working with Janean, Vinnie shares, “Janean is a really enthusiastic and hard worker. She is also very invested in Appalachia and its community. Out of the volunteers I have worked with, there has been a consistency of teamwork, and Janean is no exception. It makes the mission of CAP tangible when people work together to CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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SERVICE serve as neighbors in various ways to the people of Eastern Kentucky.”

Vinnie has been impressed with everyone he has met in the CAP family, and he is inpired by their dedication the mission. “Even though I’m a housing volunteer, I am also someone who works as a member of a community dedicated to serving the people of Appalachia. I have seen people adjust their role many times in order to serve the broader mission of CAP instead of solely playing their prescribed part.”

“It seems everyone I encounter has had experience doing home repairs and living off the land, and everyone has some knowledge of the wilderness.”

Janean is particularly encouraged by the collaborative, fluid manner by which CAP attempts to feed, clothe, and provide shelter for the participants. “As volunteers, part of our dinner conversation usually centers on our days, and so we get to hear stories of those in our communities and help each other brainstorm ways to help other programs.”

Janean enjoys looking out at Eastern Kentucky’s breathtaking landscapes while on lunch breaks at job sites almost as much as she enjoys getting to know the people who live there. She says the people of Appalachia have stolen her heart. “There is such a tie to the land and to family. The communities are formed by close-knit kin. The people I have met here in Appalachia are strong, capable, loving people. They are fiercely independent, and strongly inclined to defend their own. They are also ready and willing to welcome you in at a moment’s notice, to treat you like family, and to offer you even the last can of food in their house if you are hungry.”

She respects the humility with which the people live their lives and how they have learned to survive and make resources last. She admires the strong family ties, and the sense of tradition that permeates their lifestyles. She marvels at the way they pick back up and carry on after major disasters. She is comforted by the willingness of people to help their neighbors in times of distress. “Community truly exists here. I also cherish the spirituality of the people. They are very focused on God, and seem to trust God completely, in both good times and bad.”

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Vinnie has also developed a love for the mountains and beautiful forests, and he loves the plant and animal life. Like Janean, he has enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the beauty of Appalachia and its people. “The quality that I admire most, and I have witnessed it in almost everyone here, is the ability of people in this region to sustain themselves. It seems everyone I encounter has had experience doing home repairs and living off the land, and everyone has some knowledge of the wilderness. I’ve been blessed to learn a lot about these things from the people I have met in Appalachia.”

When Vinnie served with CAP’s Disaster Relief program in Floyd County, responding to flooding that occurred in August, he was deeply touched by the experience. One home he visited belonged to an elderly woman whose daughter was assisting her. The daughter spoke with Vinnie and painted an image of the body of Christ, explaining that “when one part of the body becomes injured, a sort of bruise is sustained. And just as blood flows through our bodies to heal an injury, the blood of Christ flows through the body of Christ to heal any injured part.”

Vinnie firmly believes and is constantly reminded that the work he does as a volunteer at CAP, and as a Christian, provides healing for the members of the body of Christ whom need it most.

As the sun sets, Vinnie and Janean pack up the building tools and supplies to end their day with Thomas and Sara.

The family knows that each sunset will bring with it a new morning, and that new morning will bring these two young people back over the hills and down meandering roads to their home. When the smiling faces and waving hands of these volunteers emerge from their CAP truck, they will be greeted not as a building crew, but as neighbors. n

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

This new documentary, narrated by actor Martin Sheen, features the history and mission of Rev. Ralph Beiting and Christian Appalachian Project.

50 Years in the Mountains: The Story of the Christian Appalachian Project is available for viewing at christianapp.org

50 YEARS IN THE MOUNTAINS

THE STORY OF THE CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT

VIEW NOW AT CHRISTIANAPP.ORG

Christian

Appalachian

Project

SERVICE from the ARCHIVES Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1992 Issue

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1992 Issue 26

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SERVICE from the ARCHIVES

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SERVICE from the ARCHIVES

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1992 Issue 30

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compassion

Eastern Kentucky is No Black Hole n Jack’s Legacy n Mountain Movers n A Day With the Elderly n Guiding By Grace n

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ifty years after President Lyndon from a whopping 60 percent in 1960 to a stillJohnson launched his “War on Poverty” significant-but-far-less-severe 26 percent in 2010. from a humble front porch in the tiny That’s actually a pretty incredible turnaround, all Appalachian town of Inez, Ky., many things considered. Such progress occurred in spite Americans still envision Eastern Kentucky of the steady decline of the region’s once-dominant as a region without hope or promise, a coal mining industry. When coal-industry ‘black hole’ for federal and charitable dollars. A employment in Eastern Kentucky peaked in 1950, recent article in the New York Times entitled there were 67,000 miners. Now that figure has “What’s the Matter With Eastern Kentucky?” fallen to just 7,300. Abandoned mining facilities described it as a place of “desperation,” a litter the hills and valleys of Central Appalachia, “moribund area,” where the “sheer intractability but the families of those who once worked the of rural poverty” makes it perhaps “the hardest mines remain. place to live in the United States.” To those Last year, I served as a volunteer with Christian who call this region home, however, such tired Appalachian Project (CAP), founded in Eastern characterizations are an ongoing source of Kentucky in 1964 –– the same year that President frustration because they misrepresent the Johnson launched his “War on Poverty.” region as a whole and ignore the very For 50 years, CAP has helped substantial progress made here to provide the kind of relief over the past half-century. and support necessary to In the 1960s, Eastern give people in need in Kentucky was indeed a Eastern Kentucky poster child for rural and other parts of poverty in America. A Appalachia a buffer 1964 article in LIFE against hardships Magazine entitled “The and a foundation Valley of Poverty,” on which to build described the situation: healthy, productive In a lonely valley lives. Of course, CAP in eastern Kentucky, has never claimed to in the heart of the offer the solution to mountainous region Eastern Kentucky’s called Appalachia, live economic woes. an impoverished people Instead, we view our role whose plight has long been of providing relief and ignored by affluent America. support to people in need Their homes are shacks without as both a moral imperative

By Ben Self plumbing or sanitation. Their and a means to help create the landscape is a man-made desolation of circumstances in which communities corrugated hills and hollows laced with polluted can flourish and development can occur. streams. The people, themselves — often diseaseWhile many may argue that our model of ridden and unschooled — are without jobs and service should be replaced with a model of even without hope. economic development, the reality is that To the extent that such a depiction was accurate nonprofit human service efforts and economic then, it certainly no longer holds true. Without development enterprises are necessarily engaged a doubt, parts of Eastern Kentucky are still very in a partnership when facing the difficult task of poor relative to the rest of the nation, but relative uplifting distressed communities. That is because to itself, progress has actually been quite dramatic, economic development doesn’t happen in a vacuum. despite outside perceptions to the contrary. The An economy cannot grow if the people do not national poverty rate fell modestly from about 22 have enough to eat, or lack health care services, or percent in 1960 to about 15 percent in 2010. By live in substandard conditions, or lack educational comparison, the average poverty rate in the 54 opportunities, or have no means to rebound from counties that make up Appalachian Kentucky fell family crises or natural disasters. CAP, alongside

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COMPASSION other worthy nonprofits, helps to meet many of the basic needs that would not otherwise be met by private business or public services.

So here are a few of the ways CAP is making a difference: CAP’s largest program, Operation Sharing, serves more than 1.5 million people in need annually by distributing $80 million in donated food and supplies each year among more than 1,000 nonprofit and public partners in 15 Appalachian and Ozark states. CAP’s tractor-trailers pick up donated goods — including food and drinks, household and building supplies, clothing, appliances, furniture, and books — from corporate and national nonprofit storehouses, and then distribute them to partner organizations, including food pantries, schools, youth clubs, health centers, senior centers, churches, libraries, fire departments, shelters, and community development agencies. In so doing, CAP enhances the capacities of smaller local nonprofits, thereby helping to boost resilience and jumpstart development.

Through two Eastern Kentucky hubs, CAP’s Housing Repair and Elderly Housing programs work to ensure that all people within an eight-county distressed service area live in conditions that are safe, warm, and dry. Each year, with the help of 800 volunteers, CAP repairs more than 250 houses belonging to low-income individuals and families. While working to ensure the health and safety of residents through the provision of repairs, the program also preserves and enhances that most basic asset of the poor, their homes. Most importantly, this repair service frees our low-income participants from having to choose between paying for repairs and paying for food, gas, utilities, medicine, and other essentials.

From CAP’s inception, a focus has been put on nurturing young people and supporting families as a means to combat poverty and promote development in Eastern Kentucky. Due to a lack of affordable early childhood education programs, CAP runs two Child and Family Development Centers in Eastern Kentucky, which provide free full-day preschool, in-home infant/toddler development services, after school programming for school-age children, and family involvement programs for low-income families.

In addition, CAP runs a food and clothing bank as well as Family Advocacy and Family Life Counseling programs in Eastern Kentucky. These provide various forms of in-kind assistance and

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emergency financial relief to low-income families, as well as counseling for families in situations of spousal abuse. Finally, CAP runs two summer camps in Eastern Kentucky that provide week-long camp experiences for nearly a thousand young people from low-income families every summer.

From CAP’s inception, a focus has been put on nurturing young people and supporting families as a means to combat poverty and promote development in Eastern Kentucky.

Ultimately, through these and other programs, what CAP provides in Eastern Kentucky is a kind of blanket of human services for the distressed communities it serves. While not directly promoting economic growth, these programs provide participants with supporting tools they need to construct better lives for themselves and for their families. Thus, while the impact CAP makes and has made over 50 years on the development of the region may seem small and is impossible to measure, it is not small in the lives of the individuals and families we serve.

Of course, Eastern Kentucky’s development challenges are not going to disappear any time soon.

As a recent editorial in Louisville’s Courier-Journal explained: “The problems of Eastern Kentucky are stubborn and deep. They include generational poverty, high unemployment, low educational attainment, poor health, and entrenched political corruption.” And indeed, pockets of severe hardship remain, particularly in a handful of small rural counties such as Breathitt, Clay, Jackson, Lee, Leslie, and Magoffin—those highlighted as being among the nation’s poorest in the New York Times article cited above. But poverty in Eastern Kentucky is hardly insurmountable, as the progress of the past 50 years has shown. Unfairly stereotyping the region as a ‘hopeless case’ and ‘black hole’ for public and aid monies simply because it remains poor relative to the rest of the nation is the last thing the region needs.

Instead, what Eastern Kentucky has always needed is sustained commitment from the public sector and private business, as well as from a host of nonprofits like CAP willing to make the small, concrete differences year after year in the lives of the 26 percent of the region’s population most in need of help. n

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ew people in the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) family are as widely known or better respected than Jack Hamm. Since 1998, Jack has been a beloved member of the CAP community, working on-and-off in the accounting department for almost eighteen years. When you think of the services CAP provides to families in need in Eastern Kentucky, you may not immediately think of the folks who work in accounting. That’s because you don’t know Jack.

Born in Flemingsburg, Ky., thirteen miles south of the Ohio River, Jack Hamm grew up in a loving home with two older brothers, a mother, and a father.

“They say Flemingsburg is where the mountains meet the bluegrass,” says Jack, “and Eastern Kentucky has always been in my thoughts from the time I was a small child.”

Something else that is always on Jack’s mind is how hard the people of Eastern Kentucky work to

“I think I was most impressed with CAP’s employees, and I still am to this day because nothing has really changed. They are very dedicated to their work.”

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By Elizabeth James help their families. Jack himself got his first job as a six-year-old helping the janitor clean his school. His grandfather George Washington White worked hard mining clay from the mountains until a tragic accident took his life. Jack’s mother was still a small child at the time, and George’s sister took her in and raised her.

In 1945, at the height of World War II, Jack’s father was called away to Texas to serve in the United States Army Air Force as it was named at the time. Jack still remembers how many fathers, sons, and brothers were away during the war and how many families struggled to keep food on the table. The U.S. began rationing food items we take for granted today, such as sugar, and Jack remembers carrying those ration stamps in his pocket, running down to the store to buy groceries for his mother.

Jack recalls, on a day when he was younger, he scared off another boy who was trying to pick a fight with him. Some days later, as he was walking out of the gymnasium leaving work, someone started pelting him with rocks—the older sister of the boy he scared off.

“That young girl’s name was Fried,” says Jack, “and she was the daughter of a much wealthier family in town.”

The same little girl who stood up to a young Mr. Hamm became his high school sweetheart a couple of years later. Now they are married and have three sons.

Upon graduating high school, Jack wanted to see

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COMPASSION new places, so he joined the U.S. Air Force, just like his father, serving from 1958 to 1962. Afterward, he attended Morehead State Univ. in Morehead, Ky., just 27 miles from his hometown of Flemingsburg. When he graduated in 1966, a large accounting firm in Atlanta offered Jack a job. He even remembers his first day of work—June 6. He and his wife lived in Atlanta for almost 30 years until they moved back home in 1995, where they built their log cabin-style house in Harrodsburg, Ky. Jack first learned of CAP while working for Hughes & Christopher, a public accounting firm in Danville, Ky. Thomas Christopher was a tax advisor to Rev. Beiting, and the firm helped CAP get its start 50 years ago. In 1998, Tom Christopher recommended Jack to be CAP’s Chief Financial Officer, an opportunity for which Jack is forever grateful—an opportunity to give back to the place he had always called home.

He stayed in this position for almost 20 years until he retired in 2007. The first time, that is. Over the past eight years, as CAP has needed extra financial help, Jack has always been there for accounting consultation and other financial guidance. “It’s hard to get rid of me, “ Jack says, “but my health has become a factor, and I need to officially retire. I wanted to make it until I was eighty years old, but I figure I will have to quit at seventy-seven.”

“Jack is an excellent accountant and I value his counsel greatly. But mostly Jack is just a fine fellow with a beautiful soul, and I am happy to count him as a friend of mine.”

When asked how he continuously gave his best effort to the job, he remembers his time spent with CAP’s founder. “I want to always be able to help CAP when I can. I worked closely with Rev. Beiting, and it affected me deeply. He was a dynamic man, and he was truly a Christian soldier.” To this day, Jack keeps a photograph of Rev. Beiting in his desk drawer, and he is always inspired to carry on the mission of CAP when he sees it each day.

He also draws strength from the other employees at

CAP who work tirelessly to end poverty and extreme need in Eastern Kentucky. When Jack got his start in Georgia, he had several pro bono clients, but when he came to CAP, he noticed a special sense of sincerity and devotion to the efforts of helping the participants in Eastern Kentucky. “I think I was most impressed with CAP’s employees,” he says, “and I still am to this day because nothing has changed. They are all very dedicated to their work.”

Naturally, Jack has left his mark on CAP and, subsequently, on many of his coworkers who will miss him dearly. Greg Mink, Corporate Treasurer, says, “Jack is an excellent accountant, and I value his counsel greatly. But mostly, Jack is just a fine fellow with a beautiful soul, and I am happy to count him as a friend of mine.”

Jack was not only a friend but also a guide for Sharon Adams, Controller, who says, “Jack has been my mentor ever since he came to CAP. He has given me direction and support and has taught me so much about life.” She also remembers a time she saw Jack’s strength put to the test. “He had to have open-heart surgery, and while in surgery, he suffered an aneurysm that resulted in a stroke. His strength and courage to overcome was totally inspiring. He never gave up, and he came back to work as usual. He just gives a smile and a laugh and goes on his merry way!”

Paula Ballard in Donor Relations, an employee who has known Jack longer than most, became emotional when asked about his retirement. “There are no words to express a man like Jack that would do him justice.

He is a man of faith, honor, loyalty, and intelligence,

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“I worked closely with Rev. Beiting and it affected me deeply. He was a dynamic man, and he was truly a Christian soldier.” and he is the most caring person I could ever have the pleasure of knowing. He has always been dedicated to answering any question I’ve had, and if he didn’t know the answer, he would find it by the end of the day. It has been a pleasure to know this man who has touched so many lives here at CAP, including mine.”

Jack looks forward to retirement — for real this time — where he will spend more time with his wife, his three children, and three grandchildren, who all make him incredibly happy. He says he can’t wait to play more cards and work on his coin collection. “I have given my grandchildren each a collection of coins,” he says, “because I want them to have something to remember me by.” His CAP family has a suspicion, however, that they will remember him by so much

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more than coins. Jack has always carried out his work at CAP through the idea that, “It doesn’t matter why you help others; it doesn’t matter if you help them because of age, illness, or circumstance; we have to help each other.” And there has been no truer exemplar of that idea than Jack Hamm himself. n

Honor

the Future

To make an Honor Gift by phone, please call

866.270.4CAP (4227) 36

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

MOUNTAIN

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MOVERS

Stories that shine a spotlight on YOU and YOUR support of Christian Appalachian Project’s mission.

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ichard Roth is an energetic gentleman with a warm laugh and a kind heart. One of the first things I recognized about him during one of our few opportunities to visit was that he takes every opportunity to honor two special women who helped shape him. Richard’s mom was the stabilizing force in his dysfunctional family during his childhood.

He describes his dad as a hard worker with an ability to sell anything” but also had his issues. Richard’s mother led him to the Lord.

When Richard speaks of his wife, Bobby Louise, he does so in glowing terms. She passed away six years ago, but it is obvious that the love has never died. “She taught a neighborhood Bible study and led many neighborhood children to the Lord. She was a wonderful mother who was extremely protective of her two sons, Ricky Jr. and John. Bobby put her education on hold until the boys were finished and then completed her high school degree.” The boys have been successful, both professionally and personally. Ricky Jr. teaches at a local college, and John is in higher education administration. They have provided four grandchildren who are followers of Christ and all pursuing college degrees.

Richard has always valued education; he attended Arizona State after finishing six years in the Air Force; he worked at night and took classes during the day.

“I always had a hunger to study engineering.” His career in engineering began in San Diego at Convair before joining Motorola in support engineering. He describes himself as “not a very good engineer” so he got into the marketing side of engineering.”

In 1970, he and his partner, Gene, started a company that he says “only God could have made successful.” It was called Engineer Systems Inc. (ESI). The equipment they provided allowed companies like Shell and Exxon to get paid quicker from oil tanker transactions. They owned the facility 38

and employed as many as 150 people. They sold out to a company in Chicago, and Richard stayed on to help. He eventually bought back a portion of the company and is now working a few hours each day.

CAP is one of the numerous charities that Richard supports. He provides both his financial resources and his time. His relationships in Phoenix and the surrounding communities provides him opportunities to pass out Bibles with Gideons where others might not have access. Sharing God’s word is something that will undoubtedly drive Richard for as long as he lives.

When asked why he supports CAP as well as other charities, Richard gives a beautiful response: “I am a Christian and I have more than others. I don’t expect anything in return from my giving. If I give a thousand, another bald-headed guy comes along and gives $5000, it takes a lot of people. If lots of people don’t give a little there won’t be a mission. I do the things I think God would have me do.” n --Larry Pelfrey

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hen Nancy Horn Barker, Pharm. D., was asked if she would be interested in serving on the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) board of directors in 2012, she jumped at the chance to be a part of an organization that provides so many meaningful services to the people of Appalachia. Nancy grew up in Inez, KY and is a 2002 graduate of the Univ. of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. She is the director of the Bluegrass Pharmacist Association Executive Council. She also serves as the director of the Kentucky Retail Federation Board, the director of the Kentucky Retail Federation Insurance Agency Board, and a volunteer for The Nile Ministries.

The more Nancy learned about all the incredible programs and services CAP provides to its participants, she began to want to give and support their mission. Nancy shares, “CAP allows me to give back to the area I grew up in and continue to work in. I am a giver by nature and nothing blesses me more than to give to such a worthy organization.”

As someone who was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky and continues to work in the area, Nancy is so proud to be a part of an organization that does so much for her neighbors.

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

“Right now I am really excited about the Moving Mountains campaign and my involvement with it. I feel honored to be the Vice Chair of this campaign and serve alongside the Chair, Bob Hutchison.”

Because of this campaign, Nancy has been able to get to know many of her fellow board members, while also discovering new things about herself. She never in her wildest dreams thought she would get the chance to ask fellow board members for contributions to the Moving Mountains campaign. “During my meetings with fellow board members, I was able to allow the Holy Spirit to work through me and ask them to prayerfully consider giving a donation.”

Nancy views these requests as not asking for herself; instead, on behalf of all current and future participants who benefit from the many programs and services CAP provides. Nancy strives to live in a way that promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all of her actions. She says it’s important to remember that by meeting the needs of people living in poverty in Appalachia, we are able to develop a relationship filled with trust.

To Nancy, all of the programs at CAP have their own significance and each plays a role in improving the quality of life for participants. “I am so proud that we serve people of all ages, from the children who attend the summer camps to the elderly who take advantage of the services we provide for them.”

One annual event that particularly inspires her is WorkFest, during spring break. The number of college students who participate each year never ceases to amaze her. Nancy loves to hear the stories from students of how their lives are forever changed after spending such memorable time with our participants.

Serving on the CAP board of directors is one of the most fulfilling experiences in Nancy’s life, and the generosity of her fellow board members continues to astonish her. “Since I have been a part of CAP’s board, there has been a 100% donor participation from the organization’s board members.”

The board’s generosity demonstrates both their commitment to and belief in CAP’s mission. “The staff are some of the most dedicated people I know and they work tirelessly and make sacrifices as they serve those who may otherwise be overlooked.”

Each day, Nancy feels as though the people at CAP are truly “the hands and feet” of Christ.

“As a board member, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to be a good steward of the mission of CAP as we endeavor to lovingly serve and minister to the people of Appalachia.” n --Elizabeth James

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COMPASSION

he Family Financial Foundation is a nonprofit organization that started five years ago in Lexington, Ky., with the mission to raise awareness and to enhance and financially support other nonprofit organizations that share the Foundation’s core values. Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) was selected as one of these organizations because of its commitment to improving the quality of family life within the state of Kentucky. Family Financial Foundation works hard to impact the lives of Kentucky families as well.

The more they learned about CAP, the more they wanted to be involved and show support.

David Smyth, a longtime supporter of CAP and a Senior Partner at Family Financial Firms explains his personal admiration for the organization. “Having one of the largest nonprofits in the country right in our backyard is just amazing. It’s wonderful to be able to consider an organization, with the scope and reach of CAP, as a local charity.”

In 2013, Family Financial raised $6,000 on behalf of Christian Appalachian Project at it’s “A Good Walk Spoiled” golf tournament. Through this charity golf match, Family Financial helped other nonprofit organizations further their missions in changing the lives of families in Appalachia. Last year, the foundation held their first-ever fundraising gala on behalf of Christian Appalachian Project’s 50th Anniversary and raised nearly $10,000 through a silent and live auction.

When the folks at Family Financial Foundation read stories of how families have been touched, and they look at the photos of smiling children, they are reminded that all the hard work they put forward to help CAP is worthwhile. David Smyth shares, “We particularly love the summer camps CAP offers to Appalachian kids. Many of us have wonderful memories of going to camp when we were kids, and we love seeing our children making those same memories. We love that CAP provides these wonderful experiences to children who otherwise might not be able to attend summer camp.”

Family Financial Foundation believes that the families who share our communities need support and encouragement. “CAP continues to open our eyes to the needs in Appalachia that we don’t always see. We are so grateful for their tireless work on behalf of Kentucky families. It’s truly inspiring.” n --Elizabeth James

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Are your ducks in a row?

Charitable Gift Annuity Program Make a gift to Christian Appalachian Project and receive an income for life.

This is possible when you fund a CAP charitable gift annuity.

A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you and CAP. In exchange for cash or other assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) of $5,000 or more, CAP guarantees to make fixed payments for the rest of your life (and the life of a second beneficiary, if desired). Following your life, the assets remaining are used to fund the work of CAP. Please use the following information to calculate my charitable gift annuity: Name (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss)__________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________ City_________________________________State______ Zip_______________ Telephone (_____)___________________Birthdate: _______/_____/________ Amount of Gift Considered $___________________________ Frequency of Payment Desired: qAnnual

q4 times/year ($5,000 min) qMonthly ($10,000 min)

Yes, I am interested in a Two-life Charitable Gift Annuity illustration.

q

Name of Second

Beneficiary____________________________Birthdate______/_____/________

• Rates far superior to CDs or Money Market funds.

• Fixed payments for life.

• A charitable income tax deduction the year the charitable gift annuity is funded and an additional five years, if necessary.

• A portion of each lifetime payment considered a taxfree return of principal.

• An opportunity to make a significant commitment to the Christian Appalachian Project and enable us to help people

Please Complete & Return Form to: Christian Appalachian Project Planned Giving Department P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555 or Call: 1-866-270-4CAP (4227) (All information provided is confidential)

COMPASSION from the ARCHIVES

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit JanuaryFebruary 1990 Issue

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1990 Issue CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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COMPASSION from the ARCHIVES

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1990 Issue 42

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

COMPASSION from the ARCHIVES

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1990 Issue CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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COMPASSION from the ARCHIVES

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1990 Issue 44

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

COMPASSION from the ARCHIVES

Originally Published in The Mountain Spirit January-February 1990 Issue CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

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COMPASSION

Guiding By Grace

By Elizabeth James

R

ob Lawson grew up in Whitley County, outside of Corbin, Ky., surrounded by poverty everywhere he looked. He remembers each detail all too vividly: “I went to school each day with kids who lived in substandard housing, and I saw many of them wearing shoes that were so small their toes poked out of the front.” Rob saw children his age and younger go all winter long without a coat to keep warm, and many of those children even missed meals. “I remember a kid I went to school with — we were friends — when I went over to his house you could look through many parts of the wood floors and see dirt. The actual ground was peeking out in some places.” These memories always made an impact on Rob growing up, but he didn’t quite realize it at such a young age. Rob explains that his family was by no means wealthy, but growing up in a double-wide trailer made him “the rich kid” to many of his peers.

When Rob was in sixth grade, he and a friend were playing hangman one day. “The word he was trying to get me to guess was a four-letter word,” Rob says, “and his hint was that it was a word that described me,

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and not him: ‘Rich.’ I remember looking at it, and it had never occurred to me that anyone would ever even consider me well off.” Rob shares that, while his family didn’t have a lot, they did have so much more than everyone else.

Today, Rob is a financial advisor at Thrivent Financial and a board member at Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). Thrivent is a financial services organization that provides guidance for those who want to learn how to be wiser with money and also live generously. His admiration and love for the people of Appalachia has inspired him to give back by providing financial direction for some of them as well as volunteering with CAP in addition to serving on the board of directors. “The people of Appalachia are very loyal to one another. And there is a lot of pride, not from a place of arrogance, but a pride in where you’re from.”

Rob has spent a significant amount of time traveling around the country and has met a lot of people from different regions, but he says he hasn’t met another group of people with as much pride in the land they inhabit as the people of Appalachia. It’s something that

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

COMPASSION has always stood out to him — that, and their selfreliance.

Rob’s father was from Clay County, and he had an Aunt that lived up in an area called Stinking Creek outside of Knox County. Rob fondly remembers his family piling into the car to make the trip to visit her.

She lived in a one-bedroom home with a coal burning stove and no running water. “I remember she had an outhouse, and she got her water from a well. She raised her eleven kids, and up until she passed away in her eighties, she was still helping to raise some of her grandkids.” Needless to say, Rob witnessed many examples of self-reliance even in his own family.

Rob was drawn to CAP for personal reasons and was very familiar with its presence in Appalachia. He has been blessed and has always found the importance of being generous. “It always bothered me that I hadn’t yet gotten involved in CAP, and I live in Lexington.

Then one day, finally, I had a sum of money that I really wanted to give back to Appalachia and the people I grew up with.” When Rob began researching to find organizations that specifically serve the people living in Eastern Kentucky, he quickly realized that CAP fit perfectly within the type of work he wanted to contribute to. “It’s where my heart has always been. Honestly, for several years I have felt the burden weighing on me to actually do something. God really kept pushing me to give to an organization of my choice that would give me the opportunity to give back.”

“The only thing I think Christ talked about more than finance was grace.”

Through his career as a financial advisor, Rob firmly believes he is able to make an impact on people’s lives every day. People everywhere may have financial burdens, but the people of Appalachia suffer unique challenges. “I have a rare perspective through my job when it comes to some of the financial situations that many Appalachian families face. I see my job as a type of ministry.” Rob always explains to others that, in the Bible, there are over 2,300 verses that relate to finance.

“The only thing I think Christ talked about more than

Get To Know Our Christian Appalachian Project Major Gift Officers Paul Ransdell, Ed.D. Director of Development

pransdell@chrisapp.org | 859.285.1583

Paul is motivated by a desire to make every dollar count – to ensure that lives are changed because CAP uses resources wisely. “CAP supporters are some of the most benevolent people on earth. I am honored to know so many of them.”

Susie Hillard Bullock Senior Development Officer

sbullock@chrisapp.org | 859.361.3826

A native of Jackson County, Susie grew up in London, Ky. “My work allows me to meet some of the most compassionate and generous people in the world who also happen to share my passion for helping people in Eastern Kentucky and other parts of Appalachia.”

Larry Pelfrey Manager of Planned Giving

lpelfrey@chrisapp.org | 859.582.5522

Larry’s passion is to serve Christ by serving others. As much as he wants to lesson the pains of poverty in Appalachia, he also want those we serve to know that Jesus loves them. “I grew up in poverty and I know it not only hurts but also leaves scars. That motivates me to help people.”

Scott Kirk Midwest Development Officer skirk@chrisapp.org | 630.715.4921

Scott lives near Chicago, and serves CAP donors in IL, MO, WI, MI and IN. He helps individuals and families make tax-wise gifts so that their charitable giving has the greatest influence. His compassion for the poor motivates his strong belief that “where people live shouldn’t determine how they live.”

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in Eastern Kentucky, he firmly believes that it starts with education. “I don’t think people in Appalachia always have the same opportunities … they can be so isolated. We need to start making sure our young people are financially smart and start figuring out how we can change cycles of poverty. Education is such a huge piece, and it’s important to give people new opportunities.” Rob wants change for the people of Appalachia, and his work with CAP is a great start. n

finance was grace.” Our finances can often be a very important part of who we are. Rob points out that if your finances are in order, it can really allow you to live generously. He is truly able to give back every day and help others be able to do the same, all while becoming wiser with their money. When he was younger, he had to be very mature for his age, witnessing problems with money and quickly learning the financial traps to avoid.

When it comes to resolving the problems of poverty

Be Part of the Story!

Support Christian Appalachian Project with a donation of $20 or more and receive a complimentary subscription to The Mountain Spirit. Not only will you be enriched with stories of faith, service, and compassion in every issue, but your gift will also help to support all of CAP’s programs. For more information about donating to Christian Appalachian Project, call 1.866.270.4227.

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THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

Mitch Barrett

ARTS + CULTURE

An Appalachian Storyteller’s Story

M

By Felicia Carter

itch Barrett is a down-to-earth, Appalachian-based folk singer, born and raised in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. He started playing guitar at the young age of 11 and blames his love for music on his grandmother.

For him, music has always been a key component in his life.

“When I was a kid, I would always sing in church, and I remember going home where all my family would gather. Grandma would play guitar and Pa would stand behind her, very formally, and they would sing hymns. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a singer.”

Christian Appalachian Project has also been a constant component in his life.

“I attended one of the first CAP summer camps in the late 60s, and that’s where my love for CAP began. I was just a little poor kid living outside Berea, Ky., and Rev. Beiting would bring a bus out and pick us up.

My cousin Earl and my sister Autumn would also tag along.”

Rev. Beiting was very close to Mitch’s grandmother and would often bring volunteers to their home to see what Appalachian life was like. Mitch’s grandmother would make soap, kill hogs, and engage in other activities that Mitch refers to as “old-fashioned.”

Since then, Mitch has led an adventurous life serving CAP, and it started unintentionally. A CAP employee invited him to come play music at a volunteer event, where he instantly connected with those volunteers.

Mitch revealed to them that he had deep roots with

the organization, as he attended camp as a kid with his sister and cousin. This spurred some thoughts and he was invited to come and work for CAP. He spent some time recruiting volunteers for CAP, where he was able to use his gift of singing to communicate to students from different universities.

He was traveling throughout Appalachia doing what he loved. Due to funding, Mitch’s time recruiting volunteers was cut short; luckily, he had established many connections while playing music and this opened many doors.

“I attended one of the first CAP summer camps in the late 60s, and that’s where my love for CAP began.”

Mitch spent thirteen years playing the local hangouts throughout the region. Even though he was following his passion, he grew increasingly uncomfortable with the realities of life on the road. He decided to come back home, where he found his second passion: woodworking. He chose to spend the next few years using his hands to craft beautiful works of art, but he did not put down the guitar or stop singing to his family.

It was a serendipidous encounter while attending an art fair in Berea that led Mitch to play music again publicly. He met a teacher from inner city Los Angeles and they began talking about woodworking, and

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ARTS + CULTURE the conversation shifted to music. Mitch shared his experiences, and the teacher invited him to come to his classroom and speak to his students about Appalachian life.

Appalachian pride, was to teach communication skills to the youth. Getting the students to write and speak to one another was a strengthening tool that Mitch encouraged.

“All of us Appalachians are storytellers because we love to talk...”

“At that point, I had never flown before,” Mitch remembers, ”So I had him buy me a train ticket. I took a train across the U.S. to share my story.”

During that week he spent with the students, he learned a lot about himself.

“I was sharing my wisdom on why we should avoid stereotypes when I realized I was merely telling my grandmother’s stories,” Mitch explains. “She knew that we would meet folks who would label us with stereotypes because we are from Eastern Kentucky.

She exposed us to Appalachian authors at an early age to educate us.” Mitch found himself displaying his Appalachian pride and realized that this self-respect could be put to use. He wanted to take the experiences and wisdom he had gathered from his grandmother and pass them on to the youth of Appalachia. As soon as he arrived home, he became a member of the Kentucky Arts Council and began working on a program where he could teach the youth storytelling, traditional music, and contemporary songwriting.

“All of us Appalachians are storytellers because we love to talk,” Mitch laughs. “So I would have the students go home and ask their grandparents what they were doing at their age. They would bring those stories back and we would make an even bigger story out of them.”

A big goal of this program, aside from developing 50

“I wanted to teach them that they needed to know how to communicate to get what they want. More importantly, they will be able to tell people what they do not want.”

Mitch also taught creative writing to the middle school and high school students.

His down-to-earth demeanor is constant, even while speaking about his successes. He has played for incarcerated populations, acted as a mentor for many CAP volunteers, and has served as the opening act for big name musicians like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Crystal Gayle. That particular opportunity happened last fall at CAP’s 50th Anniversary kickoff concert in Richmond, Ky., and for many in attendance, Mich was the highlight of the evening.

Today, Mitch lives in the home that he was raised in outside of Berea. He is still heavily involved with the Kentucky Arts Council and still plays music throughout the region, promoting Appalachian pride and culture. CAP still serves as a central part of his life.

“CAP saved me when I was a kid. I was what they call today a ‘latchkey kid’ because, back then, our parents had to work. So, I was in the holler with my old grandpa, where oftentimes, he was watching four grandchildren. He would mostly sit under an old cedar tree, smoking his pipe, telling us not to get hurt. CAP was a savior that way. I got to attend camp and be exposed to young college students, which was a big influence on me and where I am now. I am very proud of CAP and am proud to continue to be a part of this organization.” n

THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2

Christian Appalachian Project thanks our sponsors for making our 50th Anniversary celebration possible:

SMS

SouthEast Printing & Mailing Service

P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-9944 The Mountain Spirit

christianapp.org

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