Kentucky

The planning stages for the 2025 Kentucky trip began in mid-November. An initial bulletin announcement was distributed through CRWRF and re-shared several times to meet our target of 18–21 participants. A second announcement was made to recruit drivers and chaperones, roles which were ultimately filled by family members of Faithworks leaders.

The team departed from Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church at 5:00 AM on Saturday, March 8, taking the Rainbow Bridge at the border for a smooth and efficient crossing. After just over 12 hours of travel, the team arrived in Harlan, Kentucky, where our team of cooks—who had left a day earlier—welcomed us with a prepared meal.

On Sunday, we worshipped with Putney Bible Church, hearing a message from Romans that continued from their 2024 series. That evening, we began our first devotional on Creation and the Fall, focusing on how the fall broke the relationships that God had originally intended to be whole.

Monday began with an orientation at COAP, where Preston introduced us to their mission—keeping homes warm, dry, and structurally sound.

The team split into two crews and began roofing projects, which included stripping old shingles, repairing rot and damaged decking, and reshaping new roofs. Throughout the week, work expanded to include:

• Replacing rotted flooring
• Framing an overhead shelter at Christ Hands for their food distribution line
• Helping with firewood splitting and stacking for locals in need
• Pouring a concrete pad for a new food storage building with Laurel Mission in Greasy Creek

Throughout the week, each team also took turns helping at Christ Hands, working in the clothing pantry, packing food boxes, and supporting the warehouse manager.

On Wednesday afternoon, the group toured Portal 31, a historic coal mine in Lynch, Kentucky, to learn about the local industry and its impact. Later, we hiked at Kingdom Come State Park, had dinner, and closed the day singing and watching the sunset.

A particularly impactful moment came when Jason, Christ Hands’ warehouse manager, shared his powerful testimony. After a troubled past involving abuse, drugs, prison, and near hopelessness, Jason encountered the love of Christ in rehab and committed his life to the Gospel. His story of redemption moved many team members and demonstrated the real, transformative power of God’s grace.

Friday was our final workday, with some teams finishing up smaller tasks and others beginning new projects. Cleanup began that evening. The team closed out the trip with final devotions focusing on serving others and being the hands and feet of Christ.

On Saturday at 4:00 AM, the team packed up and departed, returning safely to Ontario with stops in Wyoming and at Cornerstone Church by late afternoon. A total of 3,400 KM were traveled.

Our long-standing partnerships with COAP and Christ Hands continue to grow. Both ministries are committed to gospel-centered service, and there is still much work to be done in Harlan County. Faithworks is grateful to play a small part in this ongoing mission.