By Rev. Dr. Jonathan Webster:
The Virginia Region tries to live out their theme “Better Together.” One way they live it out is trying to be the hands and feet of Christ beyond the region with a multi-generational mission trip which includes Disciples as young as 11 and as old as Disciples in their 80s. It started when 12 disciples went to Western Kentucky during the summer of 2023 to help the survivors of the E4 tornadoes that occurred in December of 2021. The group built a deck for survivors, installed a floor for a new Habitat for Humanity home for survivors and did various other projects. They stayed at First Christian Church (DOC), Princeton, KY.
During the Summer of 2024, 32 Virginia Disciples went to Charleston, S.C. They served by building houses for Habitat for Humanity, partnering with a local AME congregation to repair homes of their members, and worked in foodbanks by organizing food, distributing food, and painting the porch of one of the organizations. The group stayed in the mission house of James Island Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). In addition, they learned from an organization that seeks to provide clean water internationally and toured the local Emergency Operations Center to understand the coordination and depth of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
After Hurricane Helene devastated our neighbors in North Carolina, our Virginia team grew with 79 participants in 2025 and 83 in 2026. These two years we partnered with the Week of Compassion and Christmount, our national Disciples conference center. Our projects including building homes with 3 different local Habitat for Humanity organizations, repairs, and other work at Christmount as well as work in food and clothing banks including a free farmers market. In 2025, we were blessed to have Disciples Peace Intern Ruthie Weeks present for our young people each day and a group presentation by Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri on the work of Green Chalice.
Some of the highlights of our 2026 trip included:
*Partnering with Hearts and Hammers. One of our teams remodeled a donated RV for a family that had been living in a tent for the last several months after their home was condemned because of mold from the flooding.
*Partnering with Bounty and Soul to help staff a free farmer’s market several days in various locations in Western N.C.
*Partnering with with CrossRoads “Help Build Hope” where the team joined together to frame a home that was then donated to Habitat for Humanity for a family that lost their home due to Hurricane Helene.
*Evenings were spent learning more about the recovery at Christmount, listening to a bluegrass band, and worship led by our youth and young adults.
We are looking forward to continuing our Hurricane Recovery efforts as we return to Western N.C. the week of June 7, 2027. For more information contact: Rev. Dr. Jonathan Webster at jonathanwebsterbcc@gmail.com.
