CLENDENIN, WEST VIRGINIA
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Disaster Relief Mission Trip
THE MISSION
In 2012 Next Step began partnering with the state of West Virginia. For four years, we spent summers in a small town called Rosedale. Over those initial years, we were blessed to see many of our friends and neighbors come into a deeper relationship with Christ as well as grow together as a community.
Following the flood of 2016, Next Step began to redirect their efforts only about an hour southwest to the town of Clendenin to assist in relief efforts. During our time in Clendenin, we have been blessed to have the opportunity to walk alongside this town through their journey of relief and recovery. Next Step volunteers were in Clendenin within hours of the flood waters receding, and have been seeking to partner with Clendenin ever since. Despite the initial relief efforts waning over the years, Next Step has continued to send volunteers with a long term mindset to continue the work that began in 2016.
While the flood is what brought us to Clendenin, the surrounding area is not without hardship. A simple google search displays that ranked among other states, West Virginia is #49 in Economic Strength, #44 in Education, #49 in Healthcare and #50 in Employment.
While these are daunting statistics, there is so much hope within the hills of this state. Through the platform of construction and home repair, Next Step students have the opportunity to join in the continuing recovery of Clendenin, and learn why they call it: “Almost Heaven, West Virginia”.
QUICK INFO
DATES AVAILABLE
| June 2-8 | |
| July 21-27 | |
| June 23-29 | |
| June 30-July 5** |
* Sunday – Friday Trip
- Call for Availability on Crossed out Dates or for Winter/Spring Break Trips
AGE GROUPS ALLOWED
- Middle School Students
- High School Students
- College Students
TRIP COST
$429/person
*This includes all accommodations, food, work project materials and programming.
TYPICAL WORK
Construction 80%
Community Activities / Immersion 10%
Relational Ministry 10%
PAST PROJECTS
CLENDENIN LITTLE LEAGE FIELD
The building and field of the local Little League was devastated by the flood. Since then we have partnered to open back up their training facility, build a bathroom pavilion, as well as facility sidewalks! We see this as such a neat opportunity to make sure community spaces that were destroyed in the flood, are restored for residents of the town. Each Friday night CLL hosts a community movie night, where volunteers can meet members of the community and join together for a kickball game and movie. We are so excited to continue in big community-projects like this one, for years to come!
THE ROXY THEATER
The Roxy is a staple of old Clendenin. It was built in 1930, and if you ask anyone over the age of 50, they most likely went on their first date in the Roxy. Around 2000 it closed and has not reopened since. After the flood, we joined with the owner and local nonprofit organization 25045 to renovate the Roxy into a community gathering place with theater style boxes for seating and a large stage to host plays, concerts, and community movies.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH
HBC immediately responded to the flood and housed over 1,000 volunteers in their church in the first year of relief. Since then, Heritage has continued in partnership with NSM through extra housing needs, community projects and even weekly pizza donations!
CLENDENIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
A place we can rest and eat our lunch, use the restroom, or do our devotions. Clendenin UMC has hosted Next Step for lunches, and through their partnership we continue to find meaningful projects in Clendenin.
WORSHIP
EVENING PROGRAMMING
WORSHIP MUSIC
We’ve been told our worship experience is where summer camp meets mission trip. We put together bands from all over the country to lead your students in powerful worship every night. These talented and Christ-centered musicians will help show your students that worship can be fun, worship can be exciting, and worship can bring a joy they have maybe never experienced before.
CHALLENGING MESSAGES
It is our goal to bring your students closer to Christ this week. One way we do this is through challenging evening messages. Whether your students are new to the whole God thing or devoted Christians, these messages will help them understand Christ is alive and working in their lives today and a personal relationship with Him is available.
ORIGINAL VIDEO SERIES
Every summer we produce an original video series that coincides with the evening messages. This video series is our attempt to reach your students in yet another way with powerful stories of Christ in action. We’ve featured speakers such as Francis Chan, Shane Claiborne and Propaganda. You can watch some of our past video series in our Film Section.
MYSTEP FOLLOW-UP
MyStep is an online program solely dedicated to helping your students, your church, or your ministry take the next step in a commitment to Jesus Christ. Whether you just came back from a mission trip through Next Step, or you’re just looking for another way to strengthen your faith, MyStep is for you! We created a safe environment for students to explore the faith, and experience God in new and amazing ways!
Devo Stories are one of MyStep’s most popular features. We have over 365 short video story illustrations that show the many different ways God is working in our daily lives. Whether it’s a comical lesson about the consequences of stealing or a serious conversation about a parents’ divorce, these stories help students understand God in new and real ways.
Another feature is the Prayer Wall, which provides an open and anonymous prayer forum for anyone to share their praises and concerns, and be prayed for throughout the year. Know our team is praying for these requests.
Both of these features can be installed for free on your mobile device. Simply search for Devo Stories or Prayer Wall on your phone or tablet’s app store. This makes staying connected to God and each other easier than ever!
LOGISTICS
ACCOMODATIONS
The trip is hosted at Clendenin First Baptist Church, right in the town of Clendenin! Here we will worship, eat meals, sleep, shower, and hang out. Girls will be sleeping on bunk beds, and will need to bring twin air mattresses. Boys will be sleeping downstairs, and can bring a twin air mattress or cot. This facility does have A/C.
TRANSPORTATION
Bus and van accessible, The nearest airport is Charleston Yeager (CRW) and it is about 30 minutes away from Clendenin First Baptist.
WHAT TO BRING
- Twin Size Air Mattress
- Bedding & Pillow
- Water Bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Swim Suit
- Work Shoes
- Work Clothes
- Casual Clothes
- Work Gloves
- Safety Glasses
- Hammer
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
For most summer dates, please see the standard mission trip schedule below. Please plan on arriving on Sunday afternoon between 3-5pm and departing Saturday morning 8-9am. Monday-Thursday are work days and Friday will be a fun day!
For the week of June 30-July 5*, please note the trip is scheduled to end Friday morning between 8-9am. This means you would arrive Sunday afternoon between 3-5pm, Monday-Thursday are still work days, but the Friday fun day is not included. The trip ends Friday morning 8-9am. This shorter schedule is to allow our on-site staff with one long weekend in the summer for rest.
SUNDAY (ARRIVAL DAY)
3:00 pm – Arrive at Clendenin First Baptist Church
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Worship & Weekly Orientation
9:00 pm – Church time, Small groups & Free Time
11:00 pm – Lights Out
MONDAY – THURSDAY (WORK DAYS)
7:00 am – Wake Up
7:15 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
8:00 am – Morning Devotional
8:15 am – Depart for Clendenin Work Sites
12:00 pm – Lunch & Devotion
4:00 pm – Clean up Worksite and Return Home
4:30 pm – Free time, Shower Time, Adult Leader Meeting
6:00pm – Dinner
6:45 – Shower/Free time
8:00 pm – Worship
9:30 – Church Time/Free Time
11:00 pm – Lights Out
FRIDAY (COMMUNITY / FUN DAY)
8:00 am – Wake up
8:15 am – Eat Breakfast and Lunch Preparation
9:00 am – Morning Devotion
9:15 am – Depart for Free Day Activity
4:30 pm – Free time, Shower Time, Adult Leader Meeting
6:30 pm – Dinner at HBC
8:00 pm – Worship
9:30 pm – Church Time/Free time
11:00 pm – Lights out
FAQS
The trip lodging facility will always be locked to ensure safety. During the day, students will be serving at homes where Next Step has already visited the family and knows who they are. Furthermore, community members select these projects, so we can ensure they are safe places for us to be. This network of community friendships allows for Next Step to engage with the community in a way that is trusted and safe.
On the first night of the trip, our staff will train and equip your team to understand safety on the construction work sites. If you’re interested in learning more about this, please visit our Construction Safety page.
We are more than happy to talk in more detail about safety on this trip. Please feel free to contact our office for further conversation regarding trip safety.
Final Payment on May 15
The deposit is $50 per participant and due 30 days after online registration. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact our office and we would be happy to discuss in more detail.
During the mission trip it is important that we make every effort to dress respectfully, modestly, and appropriately. We will be working hard serving in the community so it is best to wear old, comfortable, and modest clothes. Please understand there may be different cultural norms in the other partnering churches and/or community you are visiting for one week. While certain clothing may be acceptable in your hometown, it might not be appropriate for the mission trip.
Please review the dress code below and pack accordingly. If you have any questions, please contact our office at missions@nextstepministries.com or 608-514-4051.
- Shirts: All trip participants should wear either a short-sleeve or long-sleeve t-shirt on the work projects. You may wear tank tops or sleeveless shirts in the evening during free time, dinner, and worship. Tank tops must be modest. Please note, no spaghetti strap tank tops or ripped/torn cut-off shirts. All sleeveless shirts must have a hem.
- Pants/Shorts: All trip participants should wear modest pants or shorts at all times on the mission trip. Please adhere to the following rules:
- Please be mindful of the length of your shorts. Follow the “fingertip length” rule to determine if your shorts are appropriate length. To do this, stand with your arms straight at your side and place your palm against the side of your legs. The length of your shorts should be at your fingertips or longer. Spandex pants/shorts are NOT allowed on the mission trip at anytime. This includes yoga pants or spandex athletic shorts.
- Bathing Suits
- Ladies must wear a one-piece swim suit or wear a t-shirt over a two-piece swim suit. Males must wear swim trunks that are long enough for the “fingertip length” rule mentioned above.
Each trip participant should be sure to pack the following items:
- Air Mattress (twin size to be sure there is enough space for everyone)
- Bedding & Pillow
- Water Bottle
- Sunglasses and/or Hat
- Sunscreen & Insect Repellent
- Personal Snacks (i.e. granola bars, trail mix)
- Towel and toiletries (i.e. soap, shampoo, toothbrush, etc.)
- Work Shoes: an old pair of tennis shoes will work well
- Work Clothes: old t-shirts, athletic shorts, cargo shorts, or jeans all work well. Please be sure to review the dress code in advance.
- Casual Clothes: bring a clean set of clothes to change into after showers every evening. Plan to dress casually and comfortably!
- Personal work gloves, safety glasses, and hammer