Memphis Workcamp Inspires

Hard at work in the hot summer sun, a group of Memphis teenagers repaired, scraped and painted a home in Orange Mound. The badly-in-need-of-repair home on Buntyn was shaping up. That was confirmed by MLGW safety inspector Chris Harrison, Corporate Safety, who gave the home’s electrics, meter and weatherhead a passing grade. Welcome home!

The Christian teen service project is called Workcamp. They scraped and painted a total of 11  homes in 2021. Representing six Memphis Churches of Christ, Workcamp has been around since 1989 and has painted 868 homes since then.

This year, 160 teens and adults are working throughout the city for neighborhoods in need, painting mostly homes in Orange Mound. Homes of course are painted for free. Helping the teens were adults Barry Fowler, Cordova Community Church, who was doing carpentry while a teen helped and learned some carpentry from him, as well. Crew leader/supervisor Perrin Rowsey, Highland Church of Christ, was up on a ladder slapping on paint while the other teens were all around the house – even up on the roof – doing a masterful, professional job with improvements. The house was looking good!

Harrison was there to help the group get the home inspected. MLGW has been partnering with Workcamp for years helping out and making sure the homes are safe and pass inspection, so the homes can be livable and secure again. MLGW employees such as former safety supervisor Garland Crawford, retired, and Mark Ward, Corporate Safety, have been part of this years-long assistance.

“The Workcamp group sends us a list of addresses they’ll be working on,” says Harrison. “It’s mostly 11^th and 12^th graders from various high schools participating through different churches – only working on all-wood houses. We go out free of charge and inspect the electrical lines and meter centers. If it’s unsafe, then we’ll send a crew to make repairs to our lines or refer the customer to an electrician and let the team leader know that there is a potentially dangerous situation at the meter center.” 

Workcamp director is Buster Clemens from Highland Church of Christ. He praised his young volunteers for their hard work and dedication. “Our goal and purpose is to serve the community,” Buster says. “Being Christlike and a light for our community is what these young Christian volunteers are dedicated to. They are serving God by serving people, and we want them to have ownership and be proud of the good work they are doing for others.”

The six churches involved in Workcamp are White Station, Highland, Sycamore View, Missouri Street, Oliver Creek Churches of Christ, and Trenton Crossing Church of Christ in Clarksville, TN. This year’s Workcamp theme is, “Love your Hive” with projects in Orange Mound, Soulsville and North Memphis. Workcamp partnered with Bee901 for the theme, and several restaurants provided dinner each night for the young volunteers. On Workcamp’s website (memphisworkcamp.org) is a call to action and a short history as follows:

“Memphis Workcamp began in 1989 when Germantown youth minister Mark McVey brought the idea from Oklahoma City. Mark McVey, Charlie Hester (Goodman Oaks), Farland Clark (White Station), and John Pitman (Union Avenue) did most of the work that first year. The Coleman Avenue Church served as the home base, and the Church of Christ at White Station hosted the evening assemblies. The first year saw 125 workers paint 25 houses. Workcamp was moved to Highland Church of Christ in 1990 and remained there until 2006. Workcamp has been hosted by the Church of Christ at White Station since 2007.

“For thirty-three years now, teenagers and adults have come together every summer to paint and restore 868 houses in Memphis, Tennessee. Our hope and prayer is that as the community sees Memphis Workcamp crews in action, they will see what the love and joy of being a Christian means.” Workcamp breaks down racial barriers and let’s teenagers put their faith into action. And it’s a great hands-on learning experience and a weeklong adventure with a lifelong impact!

Judging from the young volunteers, their enjoyment and hands-on involvement was evident that Wednesday in Orange Mound, it will be a service project they’ll never forget. Another Workcamp crew was working just down the street on Buntyn working just as hard in the heat. Two young crews doing great work in the neighborhood, putting their faith into action and helping folks in need. It’s an inspiring example for all of us.