"Spiritual Ministry with Nails"

Earlier in the year, my wife Carla and I attended an event at Severance Center in Cleveland that featured Bryan Stevenson. Bryan has spent his career working with individuals incarcerated on death row. He emphasized the need to be in close the people you serve. This is my third trip to Carter County Tennessee in the last twelve months. Each day I am amazed at all the people I have met from this part of eastern Tennessee. I am also amazed by the people that travel all the

Day 2 - The work crew started out their morning at the chalet with breakfast and then making lunches for find day. The comfort of the chalets is really gift to the team after a hard working day. Oh, and fresh veggies from David’s garden is a nice treat for lunch too! The crew is in two work groups again today. One team as at Holly’s house finishing up the stairway railing. They’re also painting the railing and installing a carpet runner. They’re also clean up drain spots an

Today, the crew of us from St. Matthew, Bethesda, and St. Paul (Bellville) began our work here in Carter Co. Tennessee. We’re here for the week and as is the case in most first days of anything, the morning was a little bit of a slow start. We were looking for guidance and direction as to what projects we would do and what was expected of us. It took a while to get started, but things started to come together and everyone found a spot to start helping out. I grew up doing pr

Also Day 1 - A second project was ready for work and so four members of our combined crew went over to that house. They’re staining and sealing a newly installed walk way to Kathy’s home. Kathy uses a walker or cane and wouldn’t have access to her home without this help!

Day 1: Morning prayer and planning for the work we will be doing. We’re working to secure walls and electrical work for this home owned by Jessica and Teddy. A tree fell on their home during the storm and the rain poured in. So, they had to de-mold and gut the home. We are working on installation on multiple rooms. Take out rotted and moldy wood and installation and replacing it.

July 17, 2026 As our week of labor comes to a close, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the opportunity to go on the trip, the work we accomplished, the conversations had, the connections that were made, and the feeling of fulfillment that comes from giving hope to others. Before departing for home, we renewed our baptism and shared communion as we listened to the flowing water of the creek. It was a powerful reminder of who we are and why we serve. I’m looking forwar

7-16-2026 It was another exhausting but satisfying day in Tennessee. We completed the drop ceiling in Holly’s basement, finished installing ceiling lights and smoke detectors, did touch up painting, helped spruce up her yard and planted some grass seed and hung a tree swing for her children. We walked away today knowing she had a fully usable home that was safe and clean. We were only a small part of this job. There were many, many others that came before us. There were th

7-15-2026 Yesterday (Tuesday) we were able to finish two coats of paint on the basement floor but with dry time it took two trips during the day and to optimize our ability to work in the basement on Wednesday, a final trip was even made after supper. In between the painting trips we were able help Emma (her children, Mathew and Molly, and her godmother Lisa). At their house we helped them by connecting the shower drain, fixing the roof, and sealing some exterior seams with s

7-14-2026 Wednesday evening campfire, hosted by the Holms family... owners of The Chalet.

7-14-2026 Yesterday, our team spent the day working on a basement that was severely damaged by the flooding during tropical storm Helene in September of 2024. We split into two teams hanging ceiling titles. Also, we cleaned the concrete floor before etching with a solution prior to painting. The highlight of these trips is always meeting the people that we serve. While we were working in the basement, we noticed there was a cat on the premises. We asked the owner to make sure

7-13-2026 Your sins have been “covered” by the blood of Jesus and you have been “washed clean” in the waters of your baptism. This week our theme for the week is “Living Into Our Baptism.” Every day we are focusing on one aspect of baptism. Today was a fitting beginning to our work here this week, and quite apropos to the theme of baptism, given that we started the day working on a drop ceiling (literally “covers” all who come beneath the panels). I was amazed at how quickly

7-12-2026 Today was a day of traveling as we made our way toward a week of disaster relief ministry. We don’t know our assignments yet, but we’re trusting that God has already gone before us and will place us exactly where He wants us. We are praying that He will lead our hands and feet to serve with love, compassion, and willing hearts, bringing hope to those who need it most. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways sub

7-12-2026 Sent forth by God's Blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The supper is ended. Oh, now be extended the fruits of this service in all who believe. The see of Christ's teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. Your grace shall incite us, your love shall unite us to work for your kingdom and answer your call. With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living, the tasks of our everyday

Roan Mountain, Carter County Tennessee St. Matthew in partnership with Bethesda on the Bay Lutheran Church will travel to Carter County Tennessee on Sunday, July 12, 2026 to provide disaster recovery assistance. We will drive to Tennessee Sunday and return on Friday. We will travel to Carter County again the week of September 13, 2026. For those unable to join us this year, you can pray for the team, provide food donations for the trip, or support with a monetary gift. Also,

Bob Maas, our trip coordinator Today was our final day, embracing God's people in Carter County, Tennessee. We are totally exhausted physically ... but higher in emotions than you can imagine. God has walked with us every step of this amazing journey. We have felt your prayers during the entire trip. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to share YOU and your love for others. What an honor! Whatever efforts was made in winterizing and reconstruction of homes was t

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17) Day 4 End of the day - Tired and dirty, but joyous! A person’s hands are able to perform SO MANY works, sometimes in completely opposite ways. They can bless and insult, grasp and release, push-away and welcome, caress and inflict harm, work and wave-off, praise and offend. Hands are quite impressive and capable i

Hurricane Helene was a deadly and devastating tropical cyclone that caused widespread catastrophic damage and numerous fatalities across the Southeastern United States in late September 2024. Helene weakened as it moved quickly inland before degenerating to a post-tropical cyclone over Tennessee on September 27. The storm then stalled over the state before dissipating on September 29. It was today, at Tommy’s house, that we faced head on, the ravages of Hurricane Helene.

In a world of technology, social media, and news outlets, who do you trust? Do you see false information and failure in these various ways to get information and trust them? While leaving our third site, Bob’s navigation took us down (up) a logging road that we couldn’t continue to drive up. This “failure” in technology was a little nerve racking and left us feeling lost. Dave was in the back trusting the Lord through prayer that we could get out of our predicament. Today,

We traveled to Roan Mountain Tennessee from St. Matthew yesterday after the blessing of the team during the first service. It was great visiting with my carpool travel companions, Melody and David, during our eight-hour trip. The roads were dry the weather was beautiful and there was minimal construction. While I gathered the last items in the morning, my stomach was churning in nervous anticipation. As I grow older, I tend to be apprehensive about new and different exp

We all arrived safely at the Chalet Retreat, in Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Our hosts are the wonderful Holm family who purchased the beautiful property to house relief teams and clergy families as their personal ministry. What a blessing! Parents Mickey and Nicole Holm, with their children Avory, Walter and Ollie The seven-eight hour drive had us all arriving at different times... but just in time to settle into our individual housing units... and sit down for our first meal