World Changers share special message during visit to region

Area Baptist churches are welcoming a special group of workers to Southern Illinois this week.

In the midst of tough and uncertain economic times, more than 23,000 students have made a decision to pay money out of their own pockets in order to help improve living conditions for people across the United States and Canada.

Two-hundred-fifty-five students from across the nation are scheduled to be in the Cairo, Mounds and Mound City areas this week.

The students, who were scheduled to arrive July 18 and stay through July 25, are taking part in the World Changers program.

The purpose of World Changers is for teenagers and adults to share God's love by providing free labor to communities in need.

The students will be working on a variety of assignments that range from painting houses to putting new roofs on homes.

On average, participating students pay $260 to take part in the week.

This summer, 98 World Changers projects will take place in more than 85 cities.

This week, in addition to the work in Southern Illinois, World Changers crews are scheduled to be in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, Alaska, Virginia, California and Missouri.

World Changers students have renovated more than 19,500 homes in more than 900 communities.

World Changers anticipates reaching a goal of working on more than 20,000  homes after the summer of 2009.

"It is encouraging to see students serve in this capacity," said John Bailey, team leader for World Changers, in a news release.

"People will be touched by the spirit and effort of these students."

"This will be a life-changing week for all involved. The students who participate in World Changers will see that they can make a difference.

"And the residents whose homes are worked on see that the young people offer hope for our future.

"World Changers is a win-win for communities and participants. For a community, these volunteers help stretch their housing rehabilitation dollars. For the volunteers, a World Changers project provides a place of service," said Jonathan Wilson, coordinator for World Changers, in a news release.

"Students see that God can use them now to make a difference," Wilson said.

World Changers is in its 19th summer of operation and is an initiative of the North American Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention).

Following an eight-session "how to" study that participants complete prior to coming, students serving in Cairo were set to hit the ground running.

Major work was scheduled to begin Monday.

Students are scheduled to stay in local accommodations for the week.

The initiative is a partnership with local city agencies, Baptist associations and local businesses.

Locally, the partnership involves the Clear Creek Baptist Association, a local organization with its office in Anna. Baptist churches throughout the area are members of the association.

Volunteer crews from several local Baptist churches, including Anna Heights and Mill Creek, are scheduled to be working on houses this week.

Many local churches also have welcomed World Changers workers to their services. The local churches also are providing meals which are delivered to work sites, along with other assistance. About 175 people at nearly 20 area churches in the association are helping out.

Churches in the Union County area are offering another form of assistance for those who are doing the work of World Changers – prayer, for safe travel, safety, good health and cooperation.