The Opportunity to Learn Construction Skills for Students in St. Tammany Parish
World Changers, an entity of LifeWay Student Ministries, provides mission experiences for students looking to serve others and share the gospel. By interacting with churches in different communities throughout the United States, students have the opportunity to learn construction skills such as sheetrock, painting, siding, roofing, windows & doors repair or replacement, interior repair / renovation projects, wheelchair ramps, fencing, landscaping, and 
disaster cleanup. They also learn leadership skills which will help them with not only future mission trips but also future education and professional opportunities. The World Changers program began in 1990 and has expanded to 67 North American locations as well as international locations. In 2011, World Changers became a part of LifeWay Student Ministries which expanded the number of students involved as well as the church networking opportunities.
World Changers along with Northshore Baptist Association, Southern Baptist Association, Kent Design+Build and the St. Tammany Parish government will aid in this year’s project in St. Tammany Parish. A federal grant through the Community Development Block Grant program will be used to purchase $30,000.00 in lumber, paint, doors, windows and all other materials needed for the volunteers to get the job done.
This is the 4th year in a row that volunteers from around the country will repair and fix up homes for low and moderate income home owning families in St. Tammany Parish. Twelve homes in the community were chosen via an application process and the majority of the homeowners are disabled and/or elderly.
The 150 volunteer teens and adults from around the country will be housed at First Baptist Church in Covington. The volunteers’ week of construction work such as painting, scraping, demo and repair of these homes.
“We welcome the World Changers group back to St. Tammany. They have made such a difference in so many people’s lives over the past four years, and we cannot thank them enough,” St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister said. “Collaborative efforts like these between public, private and faith-based organizations, make our community stronger, improve our quality of life, and benefit everyone involved.”
