PResbyterians At Your Service  (PRAYS)

 

PRAYS (PResbyterians At Your Service) is a self-proclaimed “home-repair ministry” that seeks to enact the principles of hard work, generosity of spirit, and dedication to ensuring safe, warm, and habitable homes for the economically disenfranchised in the New River Valley.  PRAYS is dedicated to following the mission and vision of BPC, especially as a “church in the world. . . boldly addressing human need through social action.”  
 
The story of PRAYS began four years ago when two members of BPC, Joe Ivers and Brenda Roberts, took note of the widespread need right in our home community and decided to put the mission of the church into action.  In the past three years, PRAYS has grown from a fledgling organization involving only two people to one that is a staple ministry within BPC and also in the wider community with a host of volunteers that vary across denomination, age, and skill level.  PRAYS has rebuilt and repaired over 100 homes across the New River Valley (from Blacksburg to Shawsville), continuing to garner widespread ecumenical, local social agency, local business and general community support.  Such support is evidenced not only by the growing number of non-BPC and even non-churched volunteers working with PRAYS but also by the fact that local construction crews, flooring companies, local hotels and hardware stores have offered their services and/or wares for free or at a discounted rate in support of PRAYS work.
 
PRAYS works by referral only, the majority of which come from social service agencies in the NRV, but many of which also come from the local schools and individuals. For many who are referred, PRAYS is many times their last option for help.  The structure of the social care system is designed to provide services to those who are destitute, with many, many in need of immediate care falling through the cracks of the system.  All of those served by PRAYS are at or below the poverty level and some are unemployed and perhaps homeless.
                
The requests for PRAYS work is still on the rise paralleling the overall poor health the economy.  Fortunately, as the need for PRAYS grows, the number of volunteers stays steadfast and strong. Currently, the total list of people at BPC interested in volunteering with PRAYS is approximately 40, and more BPC and non-BPC volunteers are being added periodically.  Perhaps some of the most valuable volunteers with PRAYS come from the families themselves, three of whom who have worked alongside other volunteers from BPC and outside.

 

PRAYS has implemented an application for those in need (to help in prioritizing jobs), a volunteer application (to better engage the strengths of the PRAYS volunteer base), and a group website (prays.groupsite.com) which all work toward making PRAYS a more streamlined and sustainable part of BPC ministry.  PRAYS has formed a leadership committee within BPC, which has helped thus far to ensure that PRAYS (and also other outreach ministries within BPC) is adequately covered by proper insurance, to streamline the volunteer experience as a part of PRAYS (a survey on volunteer experiences is currently underway), and to engage in responsible use of resources and stewardship of God’s work.

 

To find out more about this ministry and how you can be involved, contact Joe Ivers, Brenda Roberts, Clare Dannenberg, or Janne Mathes.