There was a special kind of energy in the sanctuary this morning at Bear Creek, wasn’t there? It was more than just our usual Sunday fellowship; it was the powerful, humbling feeling that comes from seeing a mission come full circle. Today, we had the incredible privilege of hearing from our mission team that just returned from a week of service at the Appalachia Ministry Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

For those who might not know, the Appalachia Ministry Center is a beacon of hope in a region facing deep-seated challenges. They do the hard, on-the-ground work of helping families break free from cycles of poverty and addiction through empowerment, literacy programs, and vital medical care. It’s a ministry of compassion, and it’s the place our team got to be the hands and feet of Christ this past week.

Hearing them share their personal stories, one by one, was incredibly moving. They spoke with raw honesty about the people they met, the burdens they helped carry, and the moments of grace they witnessed. But their most powerful message wasn’t about the work they did over there—it was about the work they feel called to do right here.

They brought back a concept they called the “51/1 Rule,” and it settled over the congregation with real weight. They served faithfully in Appalachia for one week, but they challenged all of us with the question: What are we going to do in the other fifty-one weeks of the year, right here in our own community?

It was a call to turn their experience into sustained action. The team expressed a passionate desire to create that same spirit of mission right here in Davie County—to help the homeless and lift up those in need among us. And it’s already starting. The young men in the group, inspired by their trip, are launching a mowing ministry to serve those in our community who are no longer able to keep up with their yards.

This is what it’s all about. Their hope—and our prayer—is that the training they received and the new passion they found will spread like a wildfire through our church. They don’t want their mission trip to be just a report; they want it to be a catalyst for Bear Creek to become a true leader in loving and serving our neighbors.

We are so incredibly proud of our team, not just for the work they did, but for the vision they’ve brought back. They’ve reminded us that the mission field isn’t just across the state line; it’s across the street. Let’s answer their challenge and make the next fifty-one weeks count.