Week 7: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Greensboro NC & St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX
Week 7 brought together friends from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Greensboro, NC and St. David's Episcopal Church of Austin, TX for a week that was equal parts hard work, joyful worship, and the kind of community that seems to form almost effortlessly at Glory Ridge. Each day began and ended in worship. Laughter echoed from the worksites, and for some, strangers became lifelong friends.
If there was one thing that defined this week, it was music. It spilled out of morning blessings at breakfast and followed the group everywhere they went. Hammers kept rhythm with familiar songs, campers made up worksite anthems complete with choreographed dances, and the dining pavilion often turned into an impromptu singalong. Salvation Song by The Avett Brothers was a favorite of the week, and the surprise appearance of an electric bass in worship only added to the fun. Worship was joyful, energetic, and deeply genuine—a daily reminder that praise isn't confined to a sanctuary. Sometimes it sounds like voices raised around a breakfast table or a crew singing together while laying a floor.
The work itself was just as inspiring. At Ashley's home, the work began by building sawhorses before leveling floors, installing new flooring, and finishing the week with beautiful new kitchen cabinets that transformed the heart of the home. At Justina's house, the list of completed projects seemed almost impossible by week's end: a remodeled bathroom, a wheelchair ramp, beadboard in the kitchen, a new sliding glass door, and a covered porch roof—all accomplished through a remarkable combination of skilled leadership, willing hands, and steady determination.
Elsewhere, Tammy's home received new exterior doors and safer back deck steps, while another crew repaired subflooring and built a brand-new deck at Paul's house. One of the quiet gifts of every worksite was watching experienced adults patiently teach younger volunteers. Skills were shared, confidence grew, and by Friday many campers found themselves doing work they never imagined they were capable of on Monday.
Not every memorable moment came from the finished projects. One crew spent part of the week tearing down a 37-foot deck in a steady rain. Instead of complaining, they laughed through the mud, sang their way through the demolition, and somehow made one of the messiest jobs of the summer one of its most memorable. Those are the kinds of moments that become camp stories for years to come.
Ministry also happened in places where no tools were needed. A visit with Hazel reminded everyone that sometimes the greatest gift we can offer another person is simply our presence. Conversation, listening, and unhurried time together spoke just as clearly of Christ's love as anything built during the week. Residents across the community welcomed volunteers not only into their homes, but into their lives, expressing gratitude that went far beyond the repairs themselves.
Of course, no week at Glory Ridge would be complete without our most popular camper, Luther (the dog), making his rounds, happily accepting scratches and attention from anyone willing to stop for a moment.
Midweek offered a chance to catch our breath with an afternoon at Carolina Hemlocks. Campers explored, played games, made music, and simply enjoyed the beauty of Western North Carolina together. Back at camp, the ordinary moments became some of the sweetest: bubble fights while washing dishes, enthusiastic renditions of American Pie, long conversations after meals, and the slow realization that the people gathered around the table no longer felt like teammates—they felt like family.
Behind it all were countless people serving quietly and faithfully. Kelley Root of Greensboro stepped in as a project leader with wisdom and encouragement. BT Neale's enthusiasm was contagious from the first day to the last, while Jenny Campbell's flexibility helped every moving piece come together with grace. As the week ended, the group's generosity continued, with extra food being donated to Walnut Community Center Food Pantry so the blessing of the week could reach beyond camp.
Looking back, it's hard to measure Week 7 by the number of floors installed, decks built, or cabinets hung—though those accomplishments were remarkable. What we'll remember just as much are the songs echoing across the ridge, the muddy demolition crew laughing in the rain, conversations on front porches, and the quiet ways God drew people together.
Weeks like this remind us why Glory Ridge exists. We come to repair homes, but somewhere along the way God is always doing another kind of building—forming community, deepening faith, and teaching us that worship can happen just as beautifully with a hammer in our hand as it does with a hymn on our lips.