A Simple Yes is all it Takes
Betty Moats had a plan. The 84-year-old approached the leader of the church youth group that was painting and roofing her home. Could she invite her neighbor to join them for the devotion and the meal they shared together each day? Betty did and her friend came.

Near the end of the week Betty’s neighbor approached one of the adult chaperones. "For 18 years Betty has been inviting me to come to church. But I have not seen church people live out what the Bible says. But after being here with these young people, I want to know this Jesus." There under a shade tree at Betty’s home, the neighbor prayed to receive Christ and now attends church.

The mission effort is called Ocoee Outreach, but the story goes far beyond one ministry. It’s about a pastor’s wife in Cleveland, Tennessee, who heard from God and said, "Yes, I will." From that commitment began a ministry that has served the community, changed lives, challenged Christians and set the stage for greater outreach.

Michelle McCluskey’s awakening began in the summer of 1996 when she took a college group to Charleston, South Carolina, on a mission trip to repair a roof. She returned home wondering who helped the needy people in her city with home repairs.

The answer was nobody. Michelle spoke to Charleston Outreach director Jack Little about developing a similar project in Cleveland. His advice was: "Just start." Start-up funds came through a new ministry grant provided by the Tennessee Baptist Foundation. Ocoee Outreach was born with the goal of "sharing Christ’s love with the people in the Bradley County area through home repair."

Ocoee Outreach began bringing in volunteer teams for construction projects. In the summer of 1999, the program brought in more than 500 volunteers from nine states. These construction groups are led by college students recruited through Baptist Student Unions and state mission organizations.

Local churches contribute by providing meals and hospitality to the youth groups coming in for the weeklong projects.

These groups fund their own mission trips, as well as the cost of the materials used for repairs. As they work on their designated homes, the students also build relationships and share Christ with those they are helping.

As a result of her work, Michelle was appointed to the position of Director of Church and Community Ministries by the Bradley County Baptist Association. Now she is a resource to others who have a desire to help meet needs.

Soon other ministries sprang up. The popularity of the mountains and white-water activities in the nearby Polk County area has led to a resort ministry for Ocoee River tourists and workers. This ministry reaches out with sports activities, Christian music and Bible studies. Area churches provide river guides with survival packets containing first aid supplies, shampoo, deodorant and aspirin.

Other churches and Christians have started leisure ministries for children in four at-risk areas of Cleveland. This project is called YUC (Youth Under Construction). It serves as an outreach to neighborhood children by providing wholesome fun and fellowship opportunities.

"There’s nothing extra-ordinary about me. I was just willing to take a step of faith and to care." Michelle’s greatest struggle is finding time to fill her multiple responsibilities. "It’s tough knowing when to say no. I also have to realize I can’t save the world. My heartbeat—my watchword—is to seek to minister. To do whatever we do with excellence and represent Christ well. We want to seek to be faithful where God puts us ... I can’t imagine a more abundant life than that."

Radio Freeing Denver
"Hello?" ... "I’m a prostitute."

The caller’s voice was detached, almost mechanical.

Kathy Joy, half of the "Roy and Joy" Morning Team for KWBI Radio broadcasting to Denver and most of Colorado, took the call right after the show.

A long pause followed before the caller, Wendy, spoke again.

"I figured you might hang up on me," she said.

Kathy sensed Wendy had reached a critical moment in her life. She squeezed the phone receiver, praying Wendy would keep talking.

And Wendy did. She told Kathy she was sick of her lifestyle, but scared to make a change. She was drawn to the music she heard on KWBI. She also heard a gentle quality in Kathy’s voice that gave her courage to make the call.

"Can I pray for you?" Kathy asked.

Guarded, Wendy agreed.

"Can I ask our listeners to pray for you, too?" she pursued.

Again, Wendy said yes and hastily ended the conversation.

"This happens a lot," says Kathy. "Sometimes we don’t get to hear the rest of the story. We are left to pray and trust the Holy Spirit to continue His mysterious work."

At the heart of the KWBI Roy and Joy Show is encouragement. "Every morning, we’re building relationships with people we may never meet!

"Stories tear away the facade of the polished, distant announcer. The listener relates much better to someone who is in the trenches with him, in the everyday experience. When I go on the air and ask how to get melted crayon off a car seat, the phones light up. People instantly connect with a mom who’s survived a family road trip. If something we say resonates in the listener’s heart, then things begin to happen on a more spiritual level. We simply want to be real and most of all, approachable."

The rest of the story?

Wendy stayed in touch. She became a Christian, earned a college degree and now is married with a family. Kathy and Wendy have become close friends.

"It’s a gift to have Wendy in my life. Now, when the mic is up, I think about others who are finding hope through Christian radio. Who knows? Tuning in for a few minutes may be a side trip on a journey of despair. Such a side trip can make an eternal difference."

Following with Faithfulness
You might say Allison Leding has been pre-paring for the mission field her entire life. "Missions is in my blood," says Allison, a US/C-2 missionary on assignment in New Orleans. "Since I was a small child, I’ve known about missions and I’ve always had a desire for it."

Allison’s passion for missions inspired her involvement in mission friends, GAs and Acteens. Her mother was the Woman’s Missionary Union Director for their church’s association. As a student Allison went on church mission trips to Michigan.

During college she worked with students at a church. Things were going great. She had an incredible student group that was growing in their faith.

"I was at M-Fuge with my youth one summer and they showed a video on missions. Watching that video, seeing people’s lives changed, made me realize I had to do mission work." A few weeks later, she saw an ad for US/C-2 missionaries. She decided to do it.

"Leaving the student group was my greatest struggle. I had developed such a good relationship with them," says Allison.

But she followed her desire and Allison arrived at the Rachel Sims Baptist Mission in the heart of New Orleans.

"The mission is pretty much the center of activity in this neighborhood. During the week, school age children spend their afternoons in tutoring sessions and Bible study. We also have evening Bible studies for the teenagers who live in the neighborhood," says Allison.

She says one thing she and a co-worker have really focused on is being an example for teenage girls.

"Most of the girls who come to the center do not have positive role models at home. I try to exemplify Christ—even when I’m working in my yard—because I know they are watching me. I’m here to share the love of Christ with them and that’s an awesome feeling."

Allison lives just two doors from the center. "I am with children and teenagers all the time," she explains. "I have to show them with my lifestyle what it means to be a Christian."