Check Out Our Latest Video Entry!

Check out our latest (and last) entry into our WCLR Youth Group Video Contest from the "Breakfree" youth group of First Baptist, Duluth, Ga!

Saturday Arrival

Group Leaders,

Remember, please do not plan to arrive at JA Fair High School until 2 pm Saturday, June 21, for check-in, but no later than 4 pm.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone and to an awesome week of ministry in Little Rock!

Travel Safe!
Tim
678-559-6646

New Video Entry: FBC, Cross City!

Check out another entry for our WCLR Youth Video Contest from Ignite Student Ministries, First Baptist Church, Cross City, Florida!

Already! A WOW! Moment!

George Brown of the City of Little Rock shares this Wow! moment as WCLR 2008 is set to begin:

"Bruce Kelly, salesman for Kaufman Lumber Company, canceled his vacation including flight reservations to Virginia so he could be here for WCLR '08."

Isn't that GREAT! Let's all pray that we'll celebrate lots of Wow! moments during WCLR, including celebrating many people coming to know Jesus Christ!

The stage is set for an AWESOME week in Little Rock!

Meet Your WC Summer Staff!

Susan Griffin - Program Specialist
My name is Susan and I'm 24 years old. I've been working as a nurse at the UNC Burn Center for the last year and a half, but in August I head to Richmond, Va., for orientation for an overseas position in Northern Africa. I'm so excited about this big, crazy step the Lord has lead me too. I'm also really excited about the week in Little Rock. It will be my 20th WC project!!

Sara Linkous - Office Manager
I’m Sara, I am 23. I go to school full time at Athens state university in Alabama. I will graduate this may, with a degree in behavioral science :-) yay! I also nanny full time. I think this is my 15th World Changers; I am so excited to see God move.



Casey Philips - Missions Communications Specialist
Hey everybody! I am from Clanton, Ala., and graduated with my BA in journalism and a minor in Spanish from the University of Mississippi on May 10 (Go Rebels!). An interesting fact about me is that I have been a member of the Ole Miss Women's Rifle Team for the four years of my college experience. On May 31 I married Stephen Rawls, the wonderful man of my dreams! We will then be moving to Hattiesburg, Miss. I have been on the World Changers Summer Staff for the past three years, and I have loved every minute of it! World Changers is truly something that I feel God has called me to be a part of.

Lee Weaver - Audio/Visual Technician
Hey y'all! My name is Lee Weaver. I am a 2007 graduate from the University of Memphis. My degree is in Business Management, but I have spent the past year as an intern with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Memphis. This will be my 19th World Changers project as either a participant or staff. I love sports and anything outdoors. I grew up in Memphis, so I'm a city boy with a country accent. I also do a mean rendition of the World Changers dance.

Important WCLR Reminders!

Group Leaders,

Are you getting excited? We are! I am looking forward to an AWESOME week serving our Lord Jesus Christ in Little Rock!

Here's some important reminders as you prepare for our week...

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WORKING ON ROOFS - World Changers REQUIRES that any Middle School student who wants to work on a roof during the week bring a letter signed by a parent or guardian stating he/she is allowed to do so. Otherwise, no Middle School students will be allowed to work on a roof. Let me know if you have a question about this.
  
  
• INSURANCE MATTERS - All participants at World Changers must have Primary Health Coverage (World Changers only provides a secondary policy for participants). Insurance information must be provided on each participant's World Changers Participant Form that is brought to the project. For more information about what World Changers covers see your Group Leader Information or see this web page: http://www.world-changers.net/site/c.jjJVJ6MNIwE/b.4113807/
  
  
• WHAT TO BRING CHECKLISTS - Please make a list and bring items suggested in your Group Leader Information. Also, our Construction Coordinator Tom Ford has requested additional items be brought by each group. If you have not received that list, please contact Tom at
  573-216-9225 (cell) or email at tom@tphoc.com. If you have difficulty contacting Tom, you also may contact Katie Nugent, Tom's daughter who is assisting him at the project, at katie@tphoc.com. Here's a link to the World Changers "What to Bring Checklist" http://www.world-changers.net/site/c.jjJVJ6MNIwE/b.4113845/
  
  
• GUIDELINES FOR JA FAIR HIGH SCHOOL - According to Jon Hodge, our World Changers national missionary who sets up logistics for our region's World Changers projects, we have some special guidelines that have been given to us by the administration at JA Fair High School. Included in these guidelines are not having food or drink in classrooms where you and your groups will be sleeping. I understand there are other guidelines as well. I will pass these on to you immediately when I receive them.
  
  
• MAKE-UP OF WORK CREWS - We are now in the process of putting together work crews for the week. We will do everything we can to honor the requests you have made concerning work crews. However, once you arrive for the week of World Changers, we plan to only make minor adjustments to crews...as major changes typically require hours of additional work. Remember! World Changers is designed so students and leaders from various churches can work together and make new friends! Thanks to everyone who helped us get this process started by getting their Group Information Forms in on time! :-)

Serving Together!
Tim

Meet Your Staff: Tom Ford

Rev. Tom Ford, pastor of The Potter's House in Camdenton, Mo., has served as construction coordinator for the World Changers Little Rock project the past two years.

Yes, you heard right! Tom is both a PASTOR and a CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR! You may say, "Hey, he's a FREAK of nature!" Well, that's that may be true, but Tom combines his love of Jesus Christ and an earnest love for people and the things of God! While making certain roofs get replaced properly and paint and other repairs to homes are done right, Tom understands the REAL reason we all are coming to Little Rock...to share the good news of Jesus with people of the community who so desperately need a savior.

Now, as for Tom's background, that's a bit more sketchy. Rumor has it that Tom served in the Vietnam War in special forces or even as a Navy Seal! While this has yet to be confirmed, for those of you who haven't met Tom, you will realize once you meet him that you best follow his instructions for a smooth construction project! :-) Seriously, while Tom's appearance may look a bit intimidating, he is as gentle as a kitten with a bowl of warm milk!

Tom will be accompanied on the project with his daughter, Katie Nugent. Katie serves as Youth and Children's Director at The Potter's House.

First Video Entry! New Hope Youth Group!

Check out the first entry in the 2008 Church Youth Group Video Contest. It's from the New Hope Baptist Church, Geraldine, Ala., youth group. Get that camera rollin' and send your entry in now!

World Changers: 23,000 Strong!

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--More than 23,000 Southern Baptist students -– from teenage to college-age -– will tackle roofing, drywall repairs, painting and landscaping in 96 World Changers projects this summer in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Read Article

CollectivElement to Rock WCLR!

Group Leaders!

Check out the website of our band for the week at www.collectivelement.com! James Alan Hall, or simply "JAH" as he is known, is ready to bring some radical worship to Little Rock! Below is JA's and the band's bio:

CollectivElement is Radical Pursuit Ministry's (RPM) signature worship band. With 18 years of worship leading experience James Alan Hall (JAH) and Whitney Hall (Whit) bring the passion and hunger for God's presence to the forefront of a professional musical band. Their powerful original worship tunes like "I Am Your's", "I Choose You", and "Thirsty" combined with the incredible worship tunes from artist like Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, David Crowder, HillSong United, Matt Redman, Steve Fee, and many others make for life-changing moments for a life-starved culture. CollectivElement's focus is not on music, but on ministering to as many as possible, not on glorifying self, but on giving all glory to their Almighty King.

CollectivElement would love to hear from you and pray for your group! JAH can be reached at jah@collectivelement.com.

Photos of Your Home Away from Home

Group Leaders,

As promised, here are some photos of JA Fair High School, which will be your "home away from home" during the week of World Changers in Little Rock. It will be the third year JA Fair has served as lodging for World Changers.

Thanks to Steve Harwood, our project assistant for media, for pulling these together!

As always, let me know if you have questions! --Tim

Meet Your Staff: Tim & Pamm Yarbrough

Tim Yarbrough is serving as project coordinator of the Little Rock project and is being assisted by his wife, Pamm.

Tim and Pamm have many ties to Little Rock. Pamm is originally from North Little Rock and graduated from Arkansas Tech University. Tim is a graduate of Murray (Ky.) State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Both are rabid Razorback fans and can be found "calling the Hogs" often from their metro-Atlanta home when Arkansas plays other Southwestern Conference teams like Georgia.

Pamm is a teacher and has served in student ministry in two churches. Tim is the Acts 1:8 Challenge coordinator at the North American Mission Board. Tim led for more than four years the missions ministry for a 200+ student ministry at their church in Cumming, Ga.

Since moving to Georgia in 2002, Tim and Pamm have led senior high and all-youth projects in Savannah, Ga. (two years); Charlotte, N.C.; Pikeville, Tenn.; and since 2006 in Little Rock.

Tim and Pamm have led and/or participated in more than 40 World Changers and other missions trips since 1991. Tim was named to the original World Changers staff which organized the first nationwide projects in 1991 following a successful World Changers pilot project in Briceville, Tenn..

In 2007, Tim and Pamm led students from their church to participate in the first-ever international mission project to Jamaica. Check out photos and our mission trip video here.

Directions to Little Rock and JA Fair HS

Lodging during our project will be at JA Fair High School, 13420 David O Dodd Rd, Little Rock, AR 72210.

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

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.

If you want a map from where you are to JA Fair use the map below and enter your address:


View Larger Map

Your Church is Making a Difference!

When World Changers comes to Little Rock June 21-28, it will be making a difference by assisting residents who reside in some of the city's worst areas...all in the name of Jesus Christ! You are making a difference! Read more below...

Abandoned LR Houses
A Haven For Criminals
(Today's THV) -- Most people living in any community agree abandoned and boarded up homes are not welcome. Little Rock Police say these properties are not only an eyesore, but a haven for criminals. Little Rock has thousands of abandoned properties. Now the city says it's taking a new proactive approach to this problem. Read the complete article and view the video here.

Awesome Pre-Project Visit!

Groups were able to dodge tornadoes that swept across Arkansas on Friday, May 2, to participate in an awesome pre-project visit to Little Rock!

Seven of the 12 registered churches sent representatives to check out project sites and to experience an extensive tour of the Little Rock and surrounding area.

Greeting group leaders for the pre-project were representatives of the City of Little Rock and Pulaski Baptist Association.

Churches attending were First Baptist Church, Duluth, Ga.; New Hope Baptist Church, Geraldine, Ala.; Faith Community Church, Tyler, Texas; Dublin Baptist Church, Dublin, Ohio; First Baptist Church of Cross City, Fla.; Bois D'arc Baptist Church, Athens, Texas; and Faith Community Church, Tyler, Texas.

Check out photos of the pre-project visit here. Photos of all work site houses will be posted soon.

Meet Your Staff: Rushing Mayes

Pulaski Baptist Association liaison Rushing Mayes is a 25 year old youth pastor who currently resides in the south side of Little Rock.

The son of missionaries, Rushing lived in Brazil for most of his teenage years. While living there God called him into the ministry and, while teens have always been his passion, over time God has allowed that ministry to expand.

He currently serves as the Minister to Students at Bingham Road Baptist Church and he also serves as a Mission/Ministry Coordinator for the Pulaski Baptist Association.

Rushing graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 2005 with a degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Business Administration. He is currently engaged to Ashley Jones, a fellow OBU student, and on May 17th of 2008 they will begin their life together.

Rushing would love to hear from you! Email him at rushing82@yahoo.com.

Meet Your Staff: George Brown

George Brown, our agency representative for the Little Rock project, is originally from northern Iowa. He moved to central Arkansas following a 22-year career in the United States Air Force. He has worked for the City of Little Rock since 1989. George currently is the Housing Programs Administrative Assistant in the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs. In his position, George is responsible for the development of policies and procedures for housing programs, tracks all open housing rehabilitation cases, and reviews bid proposals for cost reasonableness.

An active deacon at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot, George co-teaches a 4-year-old Sunday School class with his wife. He drives a church van to pick up elderly and disabled church members for Sunday School and church.

George is the owner/operator of Woodcrafts by George, specializing in wholesale millwork trim pieces.

George would love to hear from your group! His email is gbrown@littlerock.org

Before & After: Prayer Changes Things!

Check out this video made by our project assistant for media, Steve Harwood, showing before and after shots of the 2007 projects in Little Rock:

Pre-Project Schedule for May 2-3

Below is our tentative schedule (subject to change) for the pre-project visit May 2-3. For those not attending, I will plan to post links to photos and video to assist you in promoting the project.

Friday, May 2
2pm Meet in lobby of Wingate Hotel
2:30 Tour city - work sites
4:00 Tour of JA Fair HS
6pm Dinner
8:30 Back to Hotel (free time)

Saturday, May 3
8am Breakfast on your own at hotel
9 Meet in hotel lobby, continue city-work site tour
11 Back to hotel - depart for home

Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock

Please pray for our World Changers friends and those who were effected by last night's tornado in Little Rock. I'll pass along more information as I get it. Below is a link to an AP news article.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A tornado hit parts of Little Rock and its suburbs Thursday, injuring an unknown number of people while damaging businesses and downing trees and power lines. Read