BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Seventy-five out-of-state volunteers rolled up their sleeves in Martin County last week to serve with Appalachia Reach Out in its mission to be “Christ’s Love in Action.”

Volunteers from two churches in Michigan and one in Virginia replaced the stairs on the Kingfisher Trail, sanded wood flooring in the Historic Martin County Courthouse, did critical home repairs, led vacation bible school and worship services, and did several other odd jobs.

“They have invested in our beautiful community in some incredible ways,” ARO director Dwayne Mills said. “Their investment will be felt for many days, weeks, months and years to come.”

Caleb Horjust, director of high school ministries at Christian Reformed Church in Caledonia, Mich., was busy at work last week in the Historic Martin County Courthouse. His group is familiar with Inez.

“I’ve been here seven times, and our group itself has been here two times,” Horjust said. “We just love the people of Inez; we care for them deeply. A lot of our students continually want to come back here every year.

Some of Horjust’s team worked at the King Fisher Trail, a home outside Inez, and the vacation bible school at Warfield Park.

“We’re thankful for the opportunity just to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to bring glory to God through helping here at the courthouse and a couple of other job sites around Inez,” said Horjust.

Lori Dykstra, Alli Vanderhyde and Jane Vanderkam from Hudsonville Reformed Church were doing hard labor shoveling gravel onto the back of a John Deere Gator at the King Fisher Trail.

“This is day 2,” Dykstra said after finishing a load. “We’re putting down the rock and rebuilding the staircase — all 180 [steps], the railing, the stringers and treads.”

The three said they were enjoying their time in Inez.

ARO partners with teams that feel led to Martin County and hopes to plant a seed for each person to take back to their community. The groups last week continued the work of several other teams before them in 2022, bringing the total to 15 on the year.

“Each of these individuals gave selflessly during this week in living our ARO’s mission,” said Mills.

“It’s a joy for ARO to give back and help Martin County see the importance of investing back into our community.”

ARO’s next teams will arrive July 16. Another team will come July 23.

“We have teams in August, September and October,” added Mills.