Registration for WCLR 2008 Underway!

Registration for the World Changers Little Rock project began August 1!

From August 1-January 31 you may register your group with no deposit at the time of registration. A $50 per person deposit for the number of participants (students and adults) you register must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2008. All deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable to the balance after that date. You may register online here.

The theme for World Changers 2008 is LEAP. More information about the World Changers ministry is available here.

Send your registration now to reserve your spots!

WCLR '07 Makes Arkansas Baptist News!

World Changers repair homes, share Christ in Little Rock

Stella Prather
Arkansas Baptist News

As the father of 15 children and grandfather of 47 grandchildren, Henry Baker thought he had seen all kinds of “kids.” But the Little Rock man says a group of teens he recently encountered is one of a kind.

“I think they are great,” says Baker, speaking of a group of teens that re-roofed and painted his home July 21-27. “I’ve never seen kids like this.”

Pointing to the young adults nailing shingles on his home July 27, Baker said, “You don’t find many who will get up and do something like that … in the hot heat. The job they are doing … is just amazing. You just don’t see kids like that anymore.”

Baker and his wife, Barbara, were among several senior adult families in Little Rock that received home improvements through a partnership between the City of Little Rock and World Changers, Inc., a ministry project of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Now in its 17th year, World Changers, Inc. allows teenagers to share God’s love by providing free labor to communities in need.

During the week-long ministry project, nearly 400 students and adults, representing 19 churches from nine states, helped paint and roof 26 homes in and around the mid-town Little Rock area. The City of Little Rock supplied needed project materials.

This is the second year World Changers have come to Little Rock. Another 130 World Changers ministered in Pine Bluff July 14-21.

Joining in the Little Rock World Changer’s project were several Arkansas Baptists churches who provided meals for the student workers. These churches hailed from the North Pulaski and Pulaski Baptist Associations.

Among the Little Rock student volunteers was Andy Blauser, a high school senior from Round Rock, Texas. Noting that he has, in the past, taken part in several mission trips, Blauser said, participating in World Changers was another opportunity to be obedient to God’s call on his life to be a missionary.

“This (World Changers) is a chance to actually put feet to my faith and faith without works is dead,” said Blauser.

Greg Shamblin of Cumming, Ga., was among 57 volunteers from First Redeemer Church of Cumming who helped work on the Baker family home. This is the second year church members from the Atlanta-area church have ministered in Little Rock.

“My daughter came last year and she came back and said, ‘Dad why don’t you go next year.’ … So here I am,” shared Shamblin, adding that his participation has motivated him to recommit his life to God.

“It has touched my heart working with these kids,” says a tearful Shamblin. “You can see God working through them.”

At the completion of each home project, every Little Rock family was presented with a Bible and a photo of their work crew.

Baker said he won’t soon forget his World Changer team.

“I think they did a real great, a real great job,” said Baker. “You know they could be out getting in trouble, but instead they are here.”

“I think this is one of the best things that has ever happened to us,” adds Baker. I’ve really enjoyed watching what they are doing for us. I’ve never seen children work like that.”

WCLR News Coverage!

Check out this clip from one of the local Little Rock TV stations, THV Channel 11. In all, three TV stations, the local metro newspaper and other media outlets covered World Changers while you were there!

WCLR Photos Posted

Hundreds of photos from the World Changers Little Rock project have been posted by "Capt Kodak" himself, otherwise known as Steve Harwood. Steve served as project assistant for media.

Other photos from the week are available via the "My World Changers" link at the right. Look for the Little Rock project

Check out Steve's photos here.

Wow! What a Week!

World Changers Little Rock 2007 is in the books, and what a week it was!

We had 3 salvations during the week, including 2 students and 1 resident at the project sites. The gospel was presented more than 150 times and 27 houses were renovated!

385 Students and leaders from 9 states and 19 churches participated in the project!

I can't wait until next year! My thanks go to Tom Ford, our construction coordinator; George Brown of the City of Little Rock; Chad Meeks, our association coordinator; Pamm Yarbrough; Steve Harwood; our WC summer staff; and our group leaders and students for doing such a GREAT job! You were tremendous witnesses for Jesus Christ this past week!

Be sure to watch the WCLR Action Cam below!

WCLR - 385 Strong!

World Changers is impacting Little Rock in a BIG way! More than 380 students and leaders from nine states are in the city renovating homes and sharing Christ!

Already, there have been numerous professions of faith! Crews are working at 26 different work sites doing roofing, painting and other construction-related projects. The entire group is staying at JA Fair High School in Southwest Little Rock.

Nineteen churches are participating during the week from Texas, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Oklahoma and Arkansas!

Continue to pray as they lift Jesus high!

Fellowship Bible Church Video!

Check out the latest entry in our student video contest from Fellowship Bible Church in Austin, Texas! Remember, the winning group will receive a scholarship to any World Changers project in 2008...among other goodies!

Latest Video Entry: Elmhurst KPC

Check out the latest entry into our youth group video contest! It is from Elmhurst Korean Presbyterian Church students, who made for a talent show to raise funds for World Changers. Enjoy! Send your video now! You can't win if you don't enter!

Directions to JA Fair High School

Following are directions to JA Fair High School:

From the North: I-40 to I-430 South take Exit 4 Col. Glenn Rd. right on Col. Glenn Rd turn left on W David O. Dodd Rd. School is on the left.

From the South: I-30 to I-430 North take Exit 4 Col. Glenn Rd. left on Col Glenn Rd. turn left on W David O. Dodd Rd. School is on the left.

From the East: I-630 to I-430 South take Exit 4 Col Glenn. School is on the left.

J. A. Fair Address:
13420 W. David O. Dodd Rd
Little Rock, AR 72210

School Web Sites:
http://www.lrsd.org/schoolindex.cfm?sccode=8
http://www.fairwareagles.com/

Have a "Wild" Time While in Little Rock!

Groups that would like to plan to go to Wild River Country on their afternoon off, Wednesday, July 25, will receive a special discount rate of $11 per person. The park will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The regular group rate is $15.99 per person.

If your group would like to take advantage of this special rate contact Chad Meeks to reserve your tickets at pintobeanhead@gmail.com or call 501-851-2563 (day), 501-804-6693 (cell).

Leadership Profile: Chad Meeks

Note: Chad Meeks is serving as association coordinator for the World Changers Little Rock project.

I was born and raised in the Little Rock area. I am married to a wonderful woman named Holly. I have two beautiful children, Micah and Alexis. I am a student minister at Cedar Heights Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. I enjoy reading, Starbucks, my new MacBook, and traveling. That's me.

We Want to Pray for Your Group!

Hey, we want to continue to pray for your group specifically about requests you have! Jameson Barker, our speaker for the week, is requesting these to be sent to him at
jameson.barker@gmail.com.

The countdown has started for Little Rock! In a few short months we will all converge on the city to share the love of Christ! If you haven't completed your pre-project study, please start planning it now! Also, take a minute to look over all the group leader materials you were mailed and make certain you have all your forms - such as the transportation form and group leader questionnaire - completed. Mail those to me at 4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022.

Contact me at tyarbrough@gmail.com if you have questions.

First Video Entry - FRC 1040 Missions!

Hey everyone...I have yet to see any videos from you guys, so I'll post one of my own! This is our tag for the 10/40 missions ministry at our church. Enjoy! Come on, start sending them my way! Much thanks to Steve Harwood, our "video guy" who you'll get to meet at the project. --Tim

LR Resident Praises WCLR Effort!

Note: This is a letter received by George Brown and the City of Little Rock from one of the residents served by World Changers in 2006:

To Whom it May Concern,

This thank you note is a late one, but I do believe thank you is always in order.

How thankful we were for having a job well done this past summer on our roof.

The Christian young people who did the job, and the adults who guided them, did a fantastic job. They were always in order.

Our neighbors and friends were delighted to have such a group in the area.

My twelve year old grandson received a great positive lesson from the affair. He loved the youth.

We are anticipating the next phase, a complete house makeover (badly needed!).

May God’s blessings be given to all who are responsible for the complete affair.

Thank you again.

Sincerely Yours,
Vouncile Harris and grandson

"Choose to Serve" is 2007 Theme

The 2007 World Changers Theme is Choose to Serve from 1 Samuel 15:22b.

Teenagers today have lots of questions. They question their purpose in life. They question the validity of the Christian faith. They wonder how they can serve God today.

The messages this summer are all about addressing these questions. We will explore why we should serve God, when we serve Him, and how we serve Him.

Here We Come Again in 2007!

We're looking forward to another exciting year at World Changers Little Rock! Return to this website periodically for important updates as well as some fun stuff!

Check out these shots from the 2006 project here.