Having served on the Texans on Mission Builders team for more than a decade, Builders Coordinator Larry Quinn said his work has always been about more than tools, demos and construction. Over the years, he has discovered an equal amount of appreciation for the spiritual ministry he is able to do through his service, especially when it comes to working with youth.
Over spring break, the Camp Builders team partnered with Royal Ambassadors from First Baptist Church in Hempstead to rebuild dormitories at Lakeview Baptist Assembly, which along with hundreds of trees, were damaged by a tornado last April.
According to Quinn, the groups made for a dynamic duo.
“That is a hardworking group of kids,” Quinn said. “They do not like standing around. They wanted to work!”
Camp restoration projects carry spiritual significance, Quinn said, noting that many young people are able to come to Jesus or deepen their faith and relationship with Him during their experiences.
He added that many of the camps affected by storms and disasters wouldn’t survive without help from TXM due to lack of maintenance and funds. At Lakeview, repairs would have cost the owner triple what it cost with TXM’s help, Quinn said.
“We think it's important to be at the camps — to try and help them continue in their ministry and support that by making sure they have adequate facilities and that everything is working like it should,” Quinn said.
Jerry Kitts, a volunteer on the Builders team, worked together with the RAs on electric repairs. As he taught the young volunteers the tricks of the trade, he bonded with them — chatting about favorite Bible verses, asking deep questions and talking with them about life.
Kitts said he and his wife, Ruth, are passionate about investing in the lives of youth, sympathizing especially with today’s generation and the pressures they face.
“I don’t know how they make it, actually, with all the stresses of modern life,” Kitts said. “It’s crazy how complicated life is for young people, and it shouldn’t be. It’s not fair.”
Quinn said part of his motivation in ministering to young volunteers like the RAs is to model a life of service beyond retirement.
“It's very important to get them introduced to the idea of being mission oriented,” Quinn said. “Because a lot of people, when they get older, haven't even given any thought of what they're going to do when they retire. They don't have a reason to get up every day.”
Brothers and RA members Walker and Liam Derrick worked on putting in new siding, decking and roofing during the rebuild project. Walker said he had a deep admiration of the Builders and loved being able to learn from them through their practical and technical skills and stories.
“These guys have been doing it their whole lives — they all know how to do it, and yet they’re all very humble about it,” he said.
The devotion and community among the Builders and being able to step away from day-to-day life are qualities that lead Liam to recommend trips like this to anyone who is interested, he said.
While the groups were there to serve the camp and its future campers, Liam said even those serving felt the impact of God’s calling through the work they did, as one of his friends accepted Christ during the trip.
“It’s time to kind of reflect on what God is using me for, what's been happening in the last semester or two and what I want to change,” Liam said.
