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Appalachian Trail Days Mission 2010
The Appalachian Trail Days mission is a joint initiative of Brookwood Baptist Church and Liberty Park Baptist Church, in partnership with First Baptist Church of Damascus, Virginia. We minister to the Appalachian Trail hikers who are participating in the annual "Trail Days" event held each May in Damascus. This event is attended by several thousand current and former hikers. By meeting many of their physical needs, we find we have excellent opportunities to show and communicate the love of Jesus. We have a particular need this year for two medical personnel who could work May 14th & 15th in the Medical Wagon. These volunteers should have knowledge of basic triage, and also drawing blood, checking vitals, ect. The Medical Wagon is fully equipped. Most injuries are associated with feet, ankles, and knees. The team will stay in a Comfort Inn in Abingdon, VA, a six hour drive from Birmingham. If you are interested, please contact one of these leaders: Charles Vianey 541-8888 Patrick Ryan 965-3308 John Morris 837-3317 What do we do? We have plenty to do for all skills. At FBC Damascus, we offer hot showers, a coffee house, meals, footwashing, and free medical screening (including some basic blood analysis and hiker's first aid). Who can participate? This is an excellent mission opportunity for families (with children in fourth grade and older), singles, and couples. Non-medical and medical skills are welcome. What does it cost? Each person is responsible for their own travel to Virginia. We stay in a Comfort Suites Hotel in Abingdon (about six hours from Birmingham) that costs $89 per night. You will be responsible for your dinner and lunch each day. When is it? Exact dates in May will be announced. Want to help but can't go? You may donate "hotel size" toiletries. We have a collection box in the hallway at Brookwood, just down from the church office. For more information, contact: Charles Vianey CLICK HERE to download a printable information sheet.
 Several years ago Linda and Jeff Austin, members of FBC Damascus, realized that hikers were passing right in front of their church as they followed the AT right down mainstreet Damascus. They saw that their church was missing a big opportunity to reach out and minister to the hikers. Through a relationship at Liberty Park with AT Servants, a ministry to hikers, Brookwood and Liberty Park now partner with FBC Damascus to minister to hikers of the AT during the Trail Days event with a medical clinic and shower unit. Many of the hikers began their journey in mid- to late-March at the beginning of the trail just north of Dahlonega, GA, and have been hiking about six to eight weeks by the time they reach Damascus. This is the first occasion many have had for a hot shower and this is a welcome part of the ministry. Rest assured, the toiletry items and towels you have donated for the ministry were put to good use and greatly appreciated by the hikers.  The other part of our ministry is the medical clinic where we check blood pressure, analyze body fat, perform a blood analysis in our portable lab, conduct foot washing and basic “foot first aid,” and give the hikers access to medical doctors to discuss all sorts of ailments. Beyond providing hot showers and medical screening, the hikers crave talking about their experiences, sharing their stories from the Trail and of their lives, and that provides a wonderful opportunity to discuss matters of faith.
Each year we've participated in Trail Days, I've been pleasantly surprised how open the hikers are to discussing their lives and their individual journeys. For every hiker we met there are many different reasons why they've chosen to hike a section of the AT or the entire 2,175 miles from Georgia to Maine.
 With every discussion we attempt to move from general matters to talking about our faith in Christ. While some are not open to talking about their faith, many are. This year, we had six hikers make professions of faith in Christ. In all cases, our goal is for every hiker to see Jesus in us and to know our faith in Christ is the reason for us being there. Plans for next year's trip are now underway and I encourage you to prayerfully consider participating in this or other ministries offered by Brookwood. Participants from Brookwood were Rod Camp, John Morris, Dick Norris, Sandra and Patrick Ryan, Chad and Charles Vianey.
—Charles Vianey
CLICK HERE to view a video about The Appalachian Trail Days Mission
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