In 2014, an experimental ministry called Mission Trip Birdsboro was founded at St. Paul's United Church of Christ (UCC) in Birdsboro. Over the course of several days, about 30 church volunteers worked in the community by making improvements at local parks and completing repair work for four local homeowners. The purpose of the mission was to help those unable to care for their homes, including senior citizens and those with disabilities.

The effort grew through the years and neighboring churches joined the effort along with sponsoring organizations. Today, the ministry is now known as Mission Trip Birdsboro & Beyond, a fully independent nonprofit organization. This year, from July 20 to 24, volunteers completed work for 40 homeowners and at three community locations, including the Birdsboro Community Memorial Center.

A total of 143 volunteers took part in the effort, including 88 site workers. Other volunteers who did not perform physical labor helped by preparing meals for the worksite volunteers.

Despite record high temperatures and humidity, the volunteers completed painting projects, planted and weeded flower beds and pruned trees. Other projects included installing safety grab bars in the shower of a senior citizen, repairing a storm door, sanding and repairing stairs and porch railings and laying down a walkway. All the volunteers wore matching T-shirts, which read, "God's Will: Our Heart" from Ephesians 6:6.

A kickoff was held on July 17 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Birdsboro, and a closing celebration took place at St. Paul's UCC in Amity on July 25. Volunteer Stuart Wells, a member of St. Paul's UCC and one of the originators of the Mission Trip Birdsboro program, addressed the group during the event.

"Look at what grew out (of) a handful of church members dreaming of a way to demonstrate the love of Christ outside the walls of a church building. None of us envisioned something so big with such vigorous growth," he stated. "We set out in faith to make a small movement to demonstrate Christian love: to love our neighbors as ourselves and to serve others as Jesus taught."

He noted that even though Mission Trip Birdsboro has evolved into Mission Trip Birdsboro & Beyond, the goal of program remains the same. "The change in organizational structure has not changed the core values of service to our community and to share the love and grace of God as taught by Christ," said Wells. "While the participating churches and volunteers are from different denominations, common to all is the desire to live Christ's teaching to love and serve others."

Wells also hopes that in the future the ministry might complete projects at several hundred homes during mission week. "At this rate, eight or nine years from now, could Mission Trip Birdsboro & Beyond be looking at 300 or 400 home projects?" he asked. "Unimaginable. Just as today would have been unimaginable in 2014. And yet here we are. I am thrilled by the prospects of where Mission Trip Birdsboro & Beyond can go from here."

To learn more about the ministry and to view photos and videos from the work week, visit http://www.missiontripbirdsboro.org or http://www.facebook.com/MissionTripBirdsboro.