A HISTORY OF THE SERVANT EVENT IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

View images from the 25th Celebration

This year, 2006, is the 25th year of the Servant Event in Western North Carolina. As the first Servant Event in the LCMS it is also now the longest running Event in Synod. By this time there have been hundreds of other Events across the country. A suggestion was made that a history of the Event over the years should be titled, "By the Grace of God", because every year those things accomplished in meeting physical needs could only have been done with God's daily help and guidance, and what has been accomplished in the minds and hearts of those involved ... the youth, counselors, staff and also the recipients of the work ... could only come through the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

In 1981 Pastor Don Schaefer of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Olney, Maryland had planned an Appalachian work project in Nora, Virginia. The SE District advertised the project, but that year there was no response to it. The following year Pastor Schaefer contacted Rev. Karl Schmidt, who was then the Mission Executive of the SE District, and asked him for the names of pastors who were serving congregations in Appalachia. Pastor Schmidt suggested the name of Pastor Budke, who was serving the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Waynesville, NC. A phone call by Pastor Schaefer to Pastor Budke resulted in both the Pastor and Parish Family at Our Savior becoming involved. Pastor Budke agreed to be the local coordinator and also find work sites, while the Congregation shared in caring for other aspects of the work.

Staff appeared in a marvelous way. Rev. Richard Reichert, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Monroe, Michigan, saw a notice about the Servant Event and asked his parishioners if anyone was interested. Mrs. Rollin (Mary) Webb responded, "If you need someone to go, I'll go," and she did go, and even brought youth from her parish to be participants. Since that time Mary has attended each of the Events for these 25 years and has been on the staff as Community Life Leader for many of those years.

Together with the youth who came with Pastor Schaefer, the group from Michigan and one college student from Illinois, the team totaled eleven youth and two adults. Housing for that year and the next was provided by the Peter Pach family, who lived near Lake Junaluska, with the team members meeting in the living room for planning and devotions, sleeping close together in the bedrooms and occasionally taking after work showers under the garden hose out on the lawn. Breakfast was eaten, and lunches were packed there, and the evening meal was served at church with food prepared and served by members of the congregation.

Contacts with the Haywood County Health Department, Mountain Projects and with other community resources resulted in the planning for two projects where very special needs were found. Mr. Gene Carver supervised and was totally involved in the work and, along with help from other church members, saw it to completion. That year it was one week of long hours of work and little time for any recreation or sight seeing, yet the spirit of the Event was evident in the desire of all of those youthful servants to return the following year.

The following year, 1983, two groups came from Michigan, two from Maryland, one from Illinois, and the Rev. John Brunner and his group came from Wausau, Wisconsin for a total of 27 youth and adults. During the two weeks that year, projects were completed for two Appalachian families in the Fines Creek area, with a social and cultural exchange that was exceptional, and resulted in a close contact with one family that has lasted over the years. It was also the year that Gene Carver went directly from being involved in the work to having open heart surgery.

With the increased interest being shown in the Event, in 1984 it was necessary to seek a more spacious housing arrangement. Pastor Budke was able to secure dormitory space at Western Carolina University through their Conference Housing Program. That year 28 youth and staff worked on projects for 10 days in West Waynesville and in the Cullowhee area of Jackson County. Linda Kennley, from South Carolina, became a work supervisor for the Event that year, and Mr. Bill Burgess, from Newton, NC, began a work supervisor position that, in spite of his own physical needs, lasted for several years and was a great asset to the Servant Event. The outcome of the year's Event was well stated in a letter from Pastor Schaefer to the staff when he wrote, "Rest well in the knowledge that all of your work and time has helped 21 young people as well as people in Waynesville, to see their world, their God, their faith and themselves in some exciting new ways." He also sensed that the time had come for the organizational structure to be formally stated, and proposed having an ongoing team of four leaders in the areas of Spiritual Life and Community Life, and Directors in the areas of Work Projects and Local Resources, a team that would work with the counselors and other resource people. This system was in place for 1985 and has been used ever since. In 1985 the housing accommodations were again at Western Carolina University, with a total of 30 participants. Dr. Bryant Clancy was welcomed to the area and work sites for three days. Rev. Clancy was actively supportive of the work during the years of his tenure as S.E. District Mission coordinator.

During the winter of 1986 it was learned that the Haywood County Police had a camp a few miles from Waynesville. Pastor Budke met with Police representatives and the agreement was made that they would rent Camp Schaub for use during the Servant Event. The arrangement was a great blessing that year as well as the following seven years. During those years the average number of participants was 51, with four to six projects being completed each year. Groups continued to come from the "regular" states, but eventually added were participants at various times from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas and California. During 1986 additional Servant Events began in Franklin, NC and in Nora, VA, all under the supervision of Pastor Schaefer. Rev. John Brunner became the Spiritual Life Director until Pastor Schaefer returned full time to the Event a few years later. In 1987 Mrs. Aria Leutschwager came as cook and continued in that position for several years.

The year 1988 saw the groups from Franklin, Nora, and Waynesville joining together for orientation at Camp Schaub. It meant that there were about 120 together before the other two groups left for Franklin and Nora. Mr. Don Zimmer became the new interim Director of Christian Service in 1990. At that time the three Servant Events became independent of the others, so the programs were no longer coordinated. The Franklin group was discontinued a few years later, while the Nora, VA group has continued until the present. Rev. Preston Wagner moved from Emmanuel, Asheville to become the SED DCS Director, and started working with the Servant Events in 1992. During the years of the Event, many families have shared, often over several years. At the first Event in 1982, Charles Younglove had attended as a youth servant, in later years he served as a Junior Counselor and eventually he served as an assistant to the Work Director. His brother, Ronald Younglove, and sisters Sharon and Darlene had also come as participants in various years. In 1990 his father, David Younglove, was encouraged by his children and Mrs.Webb to come as Assistant Work Director. Since then David has faithfully come to evaluate site selections and in more recent years has served as Project Director, in 1992 Pastor Budke retired from full time parish ministry, and that year was away teaching in China during the time of the Event. Though he continued to be involved in site selection, contact people in the next few years included Mr. Dann Jesse, Rev. Mark Hein, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Lewis, and Rev. John Greene. During 1994 there was a major change in accommodations when, shortly before the Event, there was a change in the status of Camp Schaub and the Police with the State, and we found that we were no longer able to meet there. After a number of attempts to find a place, Pastor Budke contacted Pastor Mark Nieting, Bob Foerster and Tommy Ridgeway at Emmanuel, Asheville, and it was agreed that facilities at Emmanuel could be used.

Thankfully, the same accommodations were available in 1995. Pastor Nieting was able to arrange with the YWCA for the use of their shower facilities. The year 1995 was also the first year for a youth participant to come from Emmanuel. It was Zeke Ridgeway, who continued to attend for the next three years. One of the years, counselors Melanie and Drew Brunner, from Conover, NC, sponsored him. During 1994 and '95 Our Savior in Waynesville/Clyde was still involved and did some of the meals and arranged for entertainment. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Osborne hosted several cookout picnics for both the participants and the recipients of the work at their Fines Creek mountain home. A whole new experience came about in 1996. The ownership of Camp Shaub had changed but permission had been given to again rent the property for the Event. However, about 10 days before the Event, renovations of the camp facilities by the new owners had not been completed and rental for the Event was denied. Pastor Budke was not available to be of any help (he was back teaching in China), and Pastor Greene was also away.

It was a time of prayerful searching for Dann Jesse, Ruth Budke and Rolene Lewis. It was a very few days before the participants arrived that an arrangement was made with the representative from Camp Hope, in consultation by phone with Pastor Green and Mary Webb, for a shared use of the camp with the S.O.A.R. group. That group had use of the meeting room, but a large tent was rented for the Event meetings from Hendersonville Tents, a very helpful Christian company. A quote from Mary Webb's report stated, "The Lord tells us that in His Name we can do many things, and that happened. Having to move to a new camp opened a door for witnessing to the S.O.A.R. group. We were very busy at our five sites. We thank the County Inspectors for their help and patience." That year one of the sites was a mobile home that was beyond repair, so Bill Burgess purchased a good used one to take its place. The problem was then to move it to the site over bridges and up the mountain. For a time it seemed impossible but again, "By the Grace of God", and the help of a parishioner who worked at Grasty's Garage and Towing Service, it was accomplished. After the 1996 Event, Our Savior in Waynesville/Clyde decided not to continue as a host congregation, but in 1997 Emmanuel accepted the opportunity to continue the Event by becoming the sole host congregation. It was an expansion of the earlier relationship that Emmanuel had shared with the Event.

It was support that was, and continues to be, received with gratitude by the Servant Event staff, for it has continued over the years. In 1997 the initial plan for accommodations was to again use Camp Hope. The Boy Scouts had purchased the Camp, and Mr. Stuart Thorp had made the necessary contacts to implement a rental arrangement. However, the matter of the Camp's distance from the work sites as well as the cost involved made the location less feasible, so once again accommodations were at the church, an arrangement that has continued there for the following seven years. As in 1994 and '95, Pastor Nieting and Bonnie Richards cared for many details including the disbursement of funds. Ruth Budke relinquished meal planning, supervision and shopping into Kathy Ridgeway's able care.

That year, and all of the years since, Kathy and Tommy have been the designated local coordinators, kitchen supervisors and "anything else". After the first fifteen years, changes in Servant Event organization and policy allowed the host congregation to have youth participants and counselors. Again, God provided in a wonderful way when Bernard Smith became a counselor, a position that he has held every year, except for 2001, when he was unable to attend because of surgery. Zeke Ridgeway, Jennifer Piercy, Christiane Foerster and Adam Bennett were the youth servants. Bob and Judy Foerster were staunch helpers, as were the school staff members. Church groups, committees, families and individuals gave support and help in shopping, in preparation and serving of meals, in setting up and in sharing the Fellowship Hall and other rooms.

Some also went out to the sites on some days to work and encourage the young people. Though much of the work in earlier years had been done in Haywood, Jackson, and then Madison County, the site selections were now largely in Madison and in Buncombe Counties, with great help from the Madison County Health Department over the years. The supplier of much of the project materials, the Coal, Feed and Lumber Company of Marshall, has also been very helpful and cooperative, as has the Equipment Rental Company in Weaverville. Equipment Rental is owned by Bernie and Grace Conrad, members of Emmanuel who, over the past years, have often given help to the Event.

In 1998 the group attending was somewhat smaller, with about 35 youth and adults. The youth participating from Emmanuel were Christiane, Katherine and Bethany Foerster, Adam Bennett and Zeke Ridgeway. In 1999 the youth from Emmanuel in the Event were Bethany and Katherine Foerster, William Singletary, Byron Williams, Casey Parker and Patrick Ridgeway.

The year 2000 brought back Patrick, Casey, Byron and William as well as a newcomer, Aaron Giese. Also joining the Event in 2000, and returning in 2001, was Pastor Bob Liebman. Sam and Cymantha Waites also came on board as staff members in 2000 and have been hardworking participants ever since. In 2001: Youth from Emmanuel who shared in the Event included Aaron Giese for his second year, and Anna Lorenz, Ada Peterson and Seth Uldricks. In 2002: Seth Uldricks returned for his second year and was joined by Tiffany Griffin. A special participant was Pastor Rob Harbin, who had attended his first Event in 1987 at age 15, and who then had attended several more times during his high school and college years. He came from Killeen, Texas, bringing with him three youth from his parish. In 2003: Tiffany Griffin returned for a second time, along with Adam Nieting, Bryan Parker, Samantha Fridd and Lance Winkler coming as first timers. In 2004: During the month of July, Servant Event pictures were displayed on the Narthex Bulletin Board, thanks to Kathy Ridgeway, Bernard Smith and Bob Schell.

Participants from Emmanuel were Adam Nieting, Bryan Parker, Samantha Fridd, Lance Winkler and first timer Erika Luke. Rev. Christopher Fairbairn again returned as assistant to the Spiritual Life Leader. His first year, as a youth participant, was in 1985. Don Schult, Jr. (OJ) first attended in 1987 at age 15, and is now working as the Community Life Coordinator. Again, God provides leadership for His Work. The accounts of the work done indicate that much was accomplished. The septic system installation included the task of removing a great rock, and again finished, "By the Grace of God" and with His protection much in evidence. The other projects may not have been so dramatic, but were equally important to those who worked on them and also to the grateful recipients. Even Emmanuel now has a permanent reminder of the Event's workers in the tasks that they performed in the leveling of ground and the trees that were planted. The leveling of uneven areas and the providing for shade and beauty is appropriate in another way, for each one is a legacy of the Event's impact on life itself.

The Ridgeways would like to acknowledge Sally Hiller and Sirpa Quinn from the S.E. District office, who have been very helpful in years past and especially in 2004. Thanks, as well, to Tommy and Kathy Ridgeway for their contribution as coordinators. They are also the SE District's Servant Event coordinators, and are on call to help set up and help Events anywhere in the SE District. Over the years they have attended several training sessions in St. Louis and one in Colorado. It is also appropriate to remember Pastor Don Schaefer, Mary Webb and others, with thanksgiving. It has been a history of 25 years of servant-hood by those called by our Lord to be Servants: the various other pastors and lay people who have served in the privilege of reflecting our Lord's Love; the caring youth who shared in the program, gave of themselves for the sake of others, and grew in spiritual maturity and dedication; and the parish families who have supported this outreach with their own care and love. Yet, as we are grateful for those who have shared, we recognize that it comes from our being faithful to the calling we have been given by our Lord.

What is the future of the WNC Servant Event? Over the years there have been a number of changes for the Event due in part to changes in this area and in the people who live here. Many of the old-time Appalachian families are no longer with us. Tourism and real estate sales invite not only different people but also to some extent a different lifestyle. When the Event began, work sometimes included the construction of outdoor toilets. With the changes in the environmental laws of the State, that has changed to working on septic systems. With the increased response by the Health Departments and related agencies some of the most critical needs in respect to sanitation and housing have now been cared for. The Servant Event has been a part of that process. Each year the search for sites, and the selection process to find a combination of extreme need and genuinely worthy local candidates for assistance with septic tanks, painting, roofing, and other related needs, becomes a bit harder. Yet, genuine needs do remain, and with them the need for prayerful response for the sake of Christ.

Over the years a focal point of the Events has been the carefully prepared devotions, evening studies and discussions led by Pastor Schaefer and Pastor Brunner. What these youth, and others, take with them for their own Jives from the Spiritual Life sessions and interactions with peers, what they share with those they have come to serve and what they carry home to their congregations and others is not only something which is measurable in human terms. When lives are changed by contact with Christ, they are changed for both time and for eternity. Some of these youths have gone on to become pastors, some are now in Seminary, others have become DCE's and teachers. Yet it is far more than that, for it is not only that some positions in the Church are being filled, but also that lives are being changed. It is not only that new, lifetime, friendships have begun because of the event, or even that a number of participants who met or shared here have married (including to this time the Fairbairns, OJ & Sara Schult, and Drew & Melanie Brunner) but more important is that the incredible freedom of living as Servants of Christ has been shared. In the 23 years of the existence of the WNC Servant Event in Waynesville and in Asheville about 1,200 youth from 15 states have completed about 100 work projects for needy people. The local coordinators and the staff want to thank Emmanuel for the partnership with the Event over these last years. They, and many others, pray for the parish's on-going support so that the Servant Event may continue in accordance with His will, to the well being of others and to HIS eternal honor and glory.

Researched and written by Ruth Budke, with assistance from Tommy and Kathy Ridgeway and Bernard Smith