ALEXANDRIA — When thinking about spreading the gospel, a trowel and potting soil would not typically come to mind; but these were among the tools used by a mission team from Plymouth Haven Baptist in Alexandria when they spent a weekend at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center in Lynchburg in April. The purpose of the trip was not to attend a conference or a retreat but to serve as volunteers helping the center prepare its facilities for guests coming to Locke Mountain in the upcoming months for spiritual enrichment.
When Tom Johnson, pastor at Plymouth Haven, became aware of this opportunity he felt it was a great way for the members of the church to serve and also learn more about the state conference center. Two of the team’s members had never been to Eagle Eyrie.
So far this year 13 groups with a total of 138 people have spent weekends at Eagle Eyrie performing a variety of tasks from plumbing and painting to carpet cleaning and electrical work. In 2008 about 31 groups brought a total of 273 volunteers to the center.
“We use volunteers for anything we need help with. If they have a skill, we try to use it,” says Stephanie Harrison, landscaper and volunteer coordinator at Eagle Eyrie.
Eagle Eyrie provided lodging and meals during their stay. “Those of us who went thought it was very well organized,” says Debbi Rodgers, team member from Plymouth Haven. “We knew what to expect in the way of work because we were provided a list of tasks when we arrived.”
Team members John and Debbi Rodgers, Bernie Smith and Tom and Susan Johnson planted flowers and filled hanging baskets, treated wooden gazebos and stairs and painted picnic tables while the weather was good. When it began to rain, they moved indoors and painted the dressers in a lodge.
The team learned the conference center is not just for Baptists. On the weekend they were there, a Methodist conference for youth was taking place. While they worked outside they were lifted up by music coming from the conference hall and were greeted by young people walking the roadways.
If a group from your church is interested in volunteering at Eagle Eyrie, contact Stephanie Harrison at 434-384-2211 by email at [email protected]. Teams are scheduled for weekends when the facilities are not full, so contact Stephanie for dates that are open through the fall.