The Appalachia Service Project (ASP) has been serving the home repair needs of families in Central Appalachia since 1969, when the Rev. Glenn “Tex” Evans, a United Methodist minister, began connecting the energy of youth with the needs of the poor. Each year, more than 15,000 volunteers provide critical repair services for more than 350 families. The core of the ministry is a six- to eight-week summer program operating in over 20 counties; 50 to 70 volunteers in each county are housed each week in schools, churches and community centers staffed by four to five college students.
While ASP’s goal is making homes “warmer, safer and drier” for families, it is much more than a home repair ministry. The emphasis goes beyond tools and supplies to “accepting people right where they are and just the way they are” through building relationships with the homeowners and with other volunteers.
Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, sent its first work team of two adults and six high school students to Mingo County, West Virginia, in 1985. In July 2025, Trinity’s congregation celebrated 40 years of partnership with ASP. During worship that morning, the five Trinity teams who had spent the previous week serving five families in Kanawha County, West Virginia, reported on their work – underpinning, drywalling, installing a tin roof, building decks and ramps, shoring up floors and replacing outside walls. After worship, Trinity congregational members, current participants and their families, and many past ASP participants joined together for a light lunch, a program of memories and stories, and time to peruse a display with pictures and posters containing the names of each volunteer who served each year.
Over its 40-year involvement with ASP, Trinity has sent 166 work teams to Central Appalachia. Of the more than 230 youth who have gone to ASP, over 70% have gone more than once. Several youth continued on to become leaders on Trinity teams, and four youth have served as ASP summer staff. But Trinity’s partnership involves more than the 299 individuals who have physically gone to ASP. ASP has become part of the fabric of Trinity. Children look forward to their turn to go on ASP because “that’s what you do,” and the congregation has fully supported the program through prayers and fundraising, contributing over $800,000 over 40 years!
On its website, ASP says, “No one walks away from the ASP experience unchanged.” Each year, the youth return with a new understanding of how families with limited resources struggle every day, or they realize the advantages they’ve enjoyed in contrast to the families they’ve served.
Trinity volunteers will tell you their favorite stories about their ASP experiences, but almost none of them have anything to do with the actual construction. They are memories of the families, the children, the pets and the bonding with their teammates. ASP is indeed life-changing. If your congregation would like more information about ASP, their website is asphome.org.
Penny Lindell; Trinity Presbyterian Church; Wilmington, Delaware
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff:
Sharon Castillo, Director, Plan Administration, The Board of Pensions
Laurie Cato, Director, Agency Communications, Engagement & Church Relations, The Board of Pensions
Let us pray:
Loving God, you call us to be your eyes, your hands, your feet and your voice in the world around us. Help us to use our eyes to see those who are in need, our hands and feet to respond, and our voices to share your love.
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