Mission volunteers from thirteen states gathered in Jenkins, Kentucky November 20th to dedicate the completion of a new church plant at “My Father’s House,” the mission of MSC missionaries Bessie and Lester McPeek. Since 2001, “God’s Love from a Diaper Bag” has distributed an estimated 700,000 diapers, plus clothing and other supplies for children. In addition, the mission works cooperatively with three county health departments and five resource centers. The McPeeks also coordinate approximately 25 mission teams annually who do home repairs, Backyard Bible Clubs, nursing home ministries and many other activities in the area.
Volunteers from 13 states worked nearly 16 months to renovate the mission house to include a sanctuary with a baptistery. A large kitchen and dining room and a dental clinic with a reception area, two examining rooms and a bathroom and storage area was also added to the back of the first floor of the building. Behind the mission house, volunteers added a 2,880 sq. ft. storage building.
Calvin McFarland, a member of First Baptist Church, Monticello, Ky., who spearheaded the construction, spoke about all the obstacles and recalled the week in 2009 when he wrestled with God, knowing the work was way out of his comfort zone. “Finally, on Friday, I pretty much pinned God down,” he said. “If you want me to do this, prove it, because I know nothing about what I’m doing. I don’t know anything about coordinating all these people from all these places and there are no drawings, no architect, no plans—nothing!”
The next Sunday after church, a man walked up to Calvin. “My name is Dave Swinson,” he said. “I recently moved here from Orlando, Florida and I’m an architect. We were in the Sunday School class when the McPeeks spoke last week and I can draw the plans.”
Swinson drew the plans and Calvin e-mailed a materials list to more than 170 contacts.
Donations soon arrived—a barber chair, two dental chairs, a $70,000 panoramic dental x-ray machine, 5-ton heat/ac unit, paint, plumbing and electrical materials and concrete blocks for the foundation.
When state inspectors refused the original plan, Billy Jackson, a retired IMB missionary from Brushy Creek Baptist Church, Easley, South Carolina, redesigned the upper floor of the building and became the team leader for the construction. “I’m just amazed how God brought so many people—skilled and unskilled—to build what He wanted completed,” said Jackson, who made 14 trips to Jenkins during the work.
At the dedication ceremony, Lester McPeek recalled their initial struggle to remodel the former NAPA building. As he and Bessie were driving down the highway one day, several pieces of insulation blew off a truck in front of them. After trying to find the owner, Lester stopped to load the insulation. Then, he and Bessie drove up behind a log truck. “Don’t pray for lumber right now!” Lester cautioned.
Bessie recalled one of their first visits to take food and clothing to a family with five children. While the children searched through the bags they had taken, Lester felt
a tug on his pants leg. “Mister, Mister, do you have a toothbrush?,” a little five-year old girl asked.
“We had taken toothpaste and assumed they had toothbrushes,” Bessie said. Since that
day, the ministry has given away over 5,000 toothbrushes.
The Jenkins church plant is sponsored by First Baptist and Oak Grove Baptist Churches in Monticello Ky.
“We have all watched God’s hand move through Bessie and Lester and the building of the present facility,” said Glenn Hickey, a member of Monticello First Baptist. “There is no doubt in our minds we are following God’s direction in the planting of this church in Jenkins. He has shown himself faithful in providing all the needs and we are confident God will continue to work miracles through this work.”
Ending the dedication with a prayer, Appalachian Regional Ministry Director Bill Barker summed up the feelings of everyone present. “Lord, this is a beautiful edifice to your glory. Hundreds have come here to serve. We pray this building will be dedicated toYou and for Your glory.”