American Baptist volunteers represented more than half of the total volunteers at the New Orleans, La., site of Ecumenical Work Week III.. Army Staff Sgt. Frank Vargas, who took a week off from active duty, learned what it means to be a soldier for Christ. National Ministries' staff members Victoria Goff (left), national coordinator for Volunteer Ministries, and the Rev. Marilyn Turner (right), associate executive director for Program Ministries, stopped for a Kodak moment with Ward "Mack" McClendon, director of Lower Ninth Ward Village, a community center.

Eighty-one American Baptist volunteers from around the United States, coordinated by National Ministries, transformed lives and communities when they participated in "Ecumenical Work Week III: Worship, Witness & Work"—a program of the National Council of Churches USA's Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast in August.

The American Baptist volunteers worked in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, La., on rebuilding three homes and helping with community service projects. Construction jobs included painting and installing trimwork, flooring and sheetrock, while community service work included mowing, pulling weeds, general repairs and maintenance, and serving meals to the homeless.

"This has been a mind-opening experience. I had no idea that New Orleans was still in this condition," said Army Staff Sgt. Frank Vargas, who took time from his active duty at Fort Hood, Texas, to volunteer. "There is still a great need. This opportunity has given me a different outlook on what it means to be a soldier."

At Lower Ninth Ward Village, a community center, volunteers cleaned and painted bathrooms, cleaned a kitchen that was virtually impassable, created a library, built a computer desk, painted several other rooms, created a mural in a common area, and started a garden on a quarter-acre plot.

"You put wind back in my sails; you have been a blessing; you have become family to me," said village Director Ward ("Mack") McClendon of the American Baptist volunteers. "When you think that hope is not there anymore, and a group like yours comes in, it is unbelievable. I never felt that my dream would become a reality until now. You have done that. From me and my community, I want to say, ‘thank you.' "

More than half of the total ecumenical New Orleans' volunteers (140) were American Baptist, and represented diverse ages—ranging from 8 to 76—as well as diverse ethnicities, including Euro-American, African-American, Asian-American and Latino. "It's good to see people who look like me wanting to help," said McClendon, referring to his African-American ethnicity.

And more than half of the American Baptist volunteers (46) were youth. "At home, I have everything I need," said 15-year-old Christian Carlo of Riverside Church, N.Y. "Being here has made me appreciate all that I have."

While some volunteers had participated in mission work in the past, the experience was new to others, such as those from Union Baptist Church, Mystic, Conn., and Evergreen Baptist Church, N.J. The latter group served meals and built storage shelves at New Orleans Mission, a homeless shelter. "This has been a good opportunity to work together with other people," said Jay Park, Evergreen's youth pastor.

The experience proved life changing not only for New Orleans residents but also for participants. "Volunteers were able to make a difference and help to transform the lives of those they encountered, and,   in turn, I believe each volunteer has been transformed," says Victoria Goff, National Ministries' national coordinator of Volunteer Ministries. "I am sure that many will take this transformation back to their personal lives, churches, and communities. And it is my hope and prayer that it will continue to grow as each shares of their experience."

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