Place of peace; love your neighbor
George Moore and I sat in the grass with cups of coffee, looking at the Worship Pavilion. He talked about his vision for Glory Ridge during my first visit with the St. James youth. He said God talked to him, and when George finished his story, I felt that God Himself had spoken to George Moore.
The young people from our parish come from affluent families. They have no concept of how other people live, but by the end of the Glory Ridge week, they understand and love the residents they serve.
My team’s first assignment was a mobile home where parents, two toddlers, and a baby lived. The structure leaked so badly I could put my hand on the side of the trailer and it felt like a sponge. The resident and her three children sat with our team each morning and prayed. They never complained about their living conditions. The husband and father was away during the week, putting down asphalt on highways in the blazing heat of summer.
Dennis showing young people how to use the circular saw.
We treated the outside of the home and roof with sealer to make the structure dry. Before, when it rained, the roof leaked and water dripped onto the baby’s crib. The bathtub had fallen through the floor. We picked up the tub, replaced the rotten floor joists, installed new flooring, and put the tub back in place.
One camper, Margaret, learned to use a compound miter saw and became proficient in less than a week.
When the father came home at the end of the week, he saw what our team had done, and he broke down and cried.
With our work finished, we tried to leave the job site early. When we went around to gather our supplies at the back of the house, we discovered the father had built a fire and was cooking hot dogs on a yard rake to serve us dinner. He felt it was the only way he could show appreciation for the work we’d done.
A typical day at Glory Ridge is spent working hard serving a family and getting to know them, teaching young people to care for others, and returning to the Ridge to hear the kids’ stories about the connections they made with the residents of Madison County.
Dennis patching a roof.
Some people think Glory Ridge is simply a rustic youth camp. What many don’t realize is that everyone who goes serves a mission.
Glory Ridge partners with the Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County, Glory Ridge’s home county, to help residents repair their homes.
For example, our youth, accompanied by a few adults, rebuilt decks, patched leaks, and rebuilt stair steps or added railing to stairs. We made these homes safer and more comfortable.
For less-skilled campers and adults, kids help with a school’s community garden or go to a group home to entertain the residents.
George Moore’s vision is alive and well.
By Dennis Fish
About the Author
Dennis Fish is an advisor to Glory Ridge and has participated in several youth mission trips with St. James Parish. In addition to his work with the youth, he is an active member of Men on a Mission, a group dedicated to improving the Glory Ridge camp and its facilities. His commitment and hands-on service continue to make a lasting impact on the community.