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Each year, Group Mission Trips makes a visit to Winchester to host a week-long camp. 

2024 would be no different. 

More than 50 residences in Clark County and Winchester were served by over 300 campers from numerous states as the 2024 Summer Work Camp occurred from Sunday, July 7th until Saturday, July 13th. 

“We do 18 of these work camps across the country this year,” said Susan Burton, the director of Group Mission Trips. “[We’ve] been doing them for over 30 years.” 

This year’s middle and high school youth came from over a dozen churches compromising several states – including Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska. Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina – as well as Brantford, Ontario, Canada. 

Winchester City Commissioner Shannon Cox has long served as a co-sponsor, performing several tasks to help make Work Camp a possibility for several years. 

“Shannon does a lot of fundraising…to help cover the costs of materials”, Burton added. 

Yet Cox is far from alone. 

While campers team up willingly to provide hands-on home repair projects for elderly, disabled, and veteran homeowners, and more, applications to do so are found via Clark County Community Services (CCCS), both in office and at www.clarkcountycommunityservices.org/workcamp. 

As such, many of the homeowners having work done on their residence are clients. 

“It’s really full circle for [Clark County} Community Services,” said CCCS Executive Director Laci Scarboro. “They’re getting the applications and they’re filling them out. We’re putting it all together, [and] making sure [they’re] Clark County residents.” 

CCCS benefitted from a collection of donations as well, which will help supply their local food pantry. 

As for those attending the camp, which was enough to make up 53 crews and over 9.500 hours of services total, projects included porch and step repair, wheelchair ramp installation, interior and exterior painting, and basic home repair. 

One church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Mt. Sterling, Il., featured work camps at different sites. 

“What brings me to work camp is just being able to have the opportunity to come to places like Winchester and help folks,” said adult volunteer Mark Stavnes, noting that his group had helped paint different sections of one property. “We have about 20 or so kids in our youth group.” 

“It’s an amazing faith building experience. It’s more [than] about just the work you do. It’s about the faith that grows,” said Michael Heinze, the youth director for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

“I’m an adult leader this year”, said daughter Renae Heinze. “It’s been really fun to work with all these high schoolers from different parts of the country and help out the residents of this community.” 

As with many churches, St. Paul’s was able to incorporate youth from other locations too. 

One was Shelby Nicholson, a volunteer from The Water’s Edge Church in Nebraska. 

“This is my fourth mission trip…I just have had great experiences ,” she said. “They just keep bringing me back.” 

Home owner Peggy Combs was happy and appreciative of the work being completed. 

“They’ve painted the whole outside. They’ve scraped it and painted it and they’re doing my railings, my deck, [and] my porch,” Combs said. “They are absolutely great. They are the best bunch of kids and adults that I have ever worked with…I just thank God that they came in here!” 

Certainly not least, each day featured crew and youth group devotions allowing for reflection – often in conjunction with study.

Plus, evening programs – often exploring Bible verses and incorporating numerous songs such as “I Thank God” by Maverick City & UPPERROOM and “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury – were daily occurrences. 

Doc Newcomb of Marengo, Il, served as emcee for the week. 

“We try to connect the service they’re doing with what it means to be a follower of Jesus”, he said.

Asked what he enjoyed the most, Newcomb was quick to reply. 

“Seeing the kids, Seeing them come alive. Seeing sort of the lights come as to what this is all about,” Newcomb said. “Many of them have been in their churches for a long time and often when they start serving somebody like this, it just clicks.” 

Following a long and rewarding week’s worth, campers left for home on Saturday morning. 

Yet not without Shannon Cox offering a word of encouragement. 

“I told you we’re going to change my town this week, and you did. My town is going to be better forever because of what you guys did this week,” Cox said. “[The] same spirit that you gave my town this week, you take it home and you do it there!”