WHAT IS A TRANSFORMATION STATION? THE THIRD WAY: A VISION FOR THE 21st CENTURY
By Keith Wasserman

     Since beginning Good Works in 1981, my HOPE has been that we might continue to discover the variety of different ways in our generation to fulfill what the mission of Messiah is from Luke 4:18-20: to "bring good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted and proclaim God’s favor" to those who believe they live outside God’s blessing. But what does it mean to bring good news to the poor in the 21st century? How do we really help people struggling with poverty and at the same time point them to the ONLY ONE who can truly help them both in this life and in the life to come? How can we give to and serve our friends who struggle with poverty and also allow them to give back? Something in my spirit is grieved at just giving more and more stuff and not allowing people the dignity of earning it. If we truly believe (as I do) that God wants to bring us into relationship with people in our community who struggle with poverty, we must create ways to allow those we are serving to give back, to share with us in the work and to receive the blessing of their labor. Have we confused helping the poor with giving them stuff? So, how do we bring the poor the good news about Christ in our generation? I believe the answer lies in creating a context where the Holy Spirit can work though us to reveal Jesus and the love of God through natural, spirit-led yet sacrificial relationships. It is in the context of relationships that we get to know first what God may already be doing inside a person's heart and what ‘word’ we can add to the sentence of his grace already at work in their lives!
     The Transformation Station project is based on the economy of time rather than money. We provide several things to those struggling with the long term issues of poverty in our community: cars, furniture, appliances, bicycles and food. We want to provide these resources to those who are struggling with poverty but NOT in crisis here in rural Appalachia. We have created a unique volunteer opportunity for those living in poverty to serve the needy, disabled and to serve others in general. We have created a “third way” for our friends in poverty to obtain resources by serving others in exchange for them. In short, we have developed a range of volunteer/work programs with citizens in need. Each week we have a number of men and women working on our properties and in the community to help their neighbors. After an initial interview and screening process, each person in the Transformation Station program receives supervision and guidance in the work they do on our property or in the community. While the program has had its share of problems, overall it has been a very successful project with many people obtaining vehicles, couches, appliances, bicycles, and food. Part of the hours they will volunteer will be hours spent on the learning maintenance of the vehicles they obtain.

CAN YOU HELP?
      We are seeking donations of cars, furniture and appliances in good condition and food to provide to those who want to work..

CONCLUSION:

By volunteering to serve others for these items, we are providing a third way for citizens to get their needs met. And in working together with us, they share their lives with us and we have another way to share our lives with them. In sharing our lives and getting to know one another, trust is built along with mutual respect and love. It is inside this context, the context of long-term relationships that we are able to share our lives with the poor.

• This program is not for anyone in crisis. Those who are hungry or in need of emergency furniture will be directed to other organizations in our community which provide these resources on an emergency basis.
• We make an effort to provide a way for people with disabilities to participate, either by arranging work suitable to them or by allowing them to send a friend to work for them.
• Good Works will continue to provide emergency food to anyone staying in our shelters at no cost. We will continue to provide an estimated 18,000 meals each year at no cost to them.