World Changers come to provide labor, outreach to Randolph County

Over 130 persons of all ages have descended on Randolph county to offer aid to those in need in the name of the Lord.

World Changers, teens and adults from Illinois Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas have given up a portion of their summer to provide free labor and live out their faith by helping those who can’t help themselves. Many of those in Moberly this week have never done anything like this before but for a few, this is what they do in the summer.

World Changers began in 1990 in Briceville, Tenn. By doing light construction on nine homes in the area. Last year, the organization coordinated over 23,000 participants across North America. World Changers is a ministry of the North American Mission Board and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Work being done in Moberly includes replacing window trim, roofing, replacing siding, painting, and wallpapering. Not many hands went up when one of the 14 crews, which are dispersed around 10 work sites, was asked if they had construction experience.

“Kids can learn that stuff,’ said local coordinator John Davidson. “We can teach them the skills and they have that when they go home. It’s part of the experience of world changers.”

Davidson said the youth and their “crew encouragers” are staying at Timber Lake Christian Church and local businesses are providing supplies.

Elijah, 13, was the youngest of one of the crews. When he was thanked for giving up a portion of his summer he said, “This IS my summer.”

Jordan, of Oklahoma, said this was her first time working with the World changers group although she had participated with similar groups in the past.

“I like to serve the Lord and reach out and help people,” she said.