Word of Faith Church Outreach Ministry Helps Highland Residents Cope With Hardships

Monterey, VA – In small communities across the country church and civic organizations often lead efforts to help those in need. Highland County has a long tradition of people helping others to get through difficult times. Word of Faith church in Monterey started a new program a few years ago year to support county residents who have been affected by medical problems, fires and other hardships. Word of Faith Church member Mark Waybright has been a part of this group since the beginning.

“Word of Faith Church ministry was the result of people just getting together and wanting to help people in need,” says Waybright. “It all began back in 2010 in April when Trenda Varner organized the first of several fundraisers.”

Fundraisers were held later that year for Wayne Arbogast and Joseph Will.
In addition to Mark, the Outreach Committee includes Trenda Varner, Nancy White, Myrtle Wimer, and Wayne Marshall. The group also held a special dinner for the community.

“All the fundraisers were really successful, we really enjoyed doing it,” he says. “So we decided to have a thank you dinner in December of that year to the community.”

Since its beginning in 2010, the group has continued to help community members in need.

“Several of us just decided that we wanted to keep this thing going,” says Waybright. “So we got together, we formed a committee. Since June of 2011 we have held four fundraiser dinners and we sold chicken at the fair. And we’ve also given over $10,500.00 to nine different families in our area.”

The Outreach Ministry also received a $5,000 motorized wheel chair through a donation and gave it to a local family. The group’s next fundraiser event is this coming weekend.

“On Saturday, March 3rd at 6 o’clock at Word of Faith church we’re going to have a praise and worship concert,” he says. “That’s going to feature Doyle Moats, Jr.; also along with him will be [the] Higher Ground quartet from the Mennonite church. Everyone come out on Saturday evening at 6 o’clock, Word of Faith Church and enjoy a wonderful time of worship and fellowship, and we’ll see you there.”

Story By

Heather Niday

Heather is our Program Director and Traffic Manager. She started with Allegheny Mountain Radio as a volunteer deejay. She then joined the AMR staff in February of 2007. Heather grew up in the Richmond, Virginia, area and now lives in Arbovale, West Virginia with her husband Chuck. Heather is a wonderful flute player, and choir director for Arbovale UMC. You can hear Heather along with Chuck on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8pm as they host two hours of jazz on Something Different.

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