Your Worship Team (Work Group) has offered themselves to serve. What follows will give you an idea of what you can expect from a Work Camp at Good Works. Please feel free to discuss any possibilities for projects or needs with the Good Works staff member coordinating your Work Group. It is our preference that there not be any surprises for your group regarding the projects with which you will be involved. If there are any changes to the schedule, we will discuss these with you. We want you to be comfortable with what we are assigning to your group.
The vision for Worship Teams: Transformation
We have four goals that we are seeking to accomplish in your group and through the presence of your group with us:
#4 - Accomplishing necessary tasks for GW and the community. The task is a catalyst for transforming relationships.
#3 - Nurture Your Faith Community by living and working together.
#2 - Make the Connection between your faith and your service to GW.
#1 - Transplantation—It is our desire that what happens here does NOT stay here. Take what you learn here and do similar projects in your own community.
Types of Projects
There are about as many types of projects as there are groups, but we can give you an idea of the type of work you might be doing from the accomplishments of past groups.
Some groups have installed hearths and built storage sheds. Others have done specific construction, electrical and plumbing work in our facilities. Mechanics have worked on our vehicles. Many have helped Good Works by caring for the yards and garden and splitting wood. Other groups have painted, cleaned, moved, and restored parts of our facilities that needed some refurbishing. In the past seven years volunteers have built:
- Our administration building with a Bed and Breakfast
- A picnic shelter
- A retreat cabin
- Playground areas for children
- A bridge
- The Transformation Station
- The stage and seating for our amphitheater
- Woodsheds
No doubt you will be building on the work of previous groups. We have found that each group has a unique set of standards in going about their work, as you will also. Each group has sought to do their project to the best of their ability under our leadership. Please respect the efforts of the groups that have gone before you, as you will want others to respect your work.
Part of the ministry of Good Works is to serve our community through our Samaritan Projects. We will plan to make this a part of your experience with us. Please let us know if you have any preferences or ideas for a particular work project. Although we have many needs that we are seeking to fill, we recognize that you are coming with some specific goals for your group. We want to incorporate those into the work project plan for the time you are with us.
Skills
 We welcome groups of all skill levels. There is much to be done on the facilities and properties requiring general skills that can be easily taught and supervised. We are often in need of groups that are willing to mow lawns, weed gardens, split wood and clean.
We are also thankful for those who bring specific skills to serve at Good Works such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, etc. Please let us know about the skill level of your group and any persons with skills that can be employed on particular specialized projects. These skills are an asset to us and we want to take advantage of them to the extent the individual is willing.
As an organization, we can promote the Work Camp program by specifically describing what project groups will be working on, or by generally describing the various types of projects that you could be involved with, determining the specific project after we know the skill level of your group. While both of these approaches have weaknesses, we tend to favor the later. This is primarily due to the wide variety of projects for which people are requesting help. Once we get your Team Profile we will assign projects to you. Once we know the skills in your group, we will begin identifying projects appropriate for your group. However, if you are aware that we have a specific project in process and decide that is the project you want your group on, we will plan accordingly.
Doing the Work
You know the members of your group better than we do. Therefore, we do not consider it our goal to make sure everyone is working all the time. The role of the staff or interns is to supervise your project, assist you with any needs you might have in the process and minimize the possibility that someone will get hurt. They will also seek to be inclusive of everyone in the group. But we will leave the prompting to work up to the leadership in the group. Some members will need to be told to take it easy because they are working to hard for the heat of the day or may hurt someone as they are working. You will see others who are resting and you know that is a good thing for them. You may determine that others in the group may not be working in a way that will accomplish your goals and you will have to direct them in the task at hand. Others may be goofing off or horsing around or not handling the equipment properly and will need a rebuke from you. Each person is different. Although the work may be hard at times, it is not our goal to exhaust your group. We want to work beside you in the development of your Worship Team. You have our permission to speak with us about any task that you feel is inappropriate for your group.
While the projects are an essential help to Good Works, we do not feel they are an end in themselves. Rather, each is a catalyst to something greater—the building of your faith community. Your act of service together becomes a catalyst not just for individual growth but for community growth and God is seeking to form you into a people who choose unity to follow Him.
Tools and Materials
Good Works has access to some tools required for general projects done on our property (hammers, saws, brushes, shovels, mowers, etc.). However, we have found that people are more comfortable with their own tools (please mark them!). In addition, we do not have many trade specific tools, in which case that individual will want to bring these with them.
Good Works will generally have the materials needed for your project. These are paid for with the donations you give to us. Special projects may require materials that are beyond our budget. Please let us know if your group could help with these materials. We are not able to fund materials needed for Samaritan Projects. This may be an area your group could help with while you are with us. If you are interested in making a separate donation toward materials for a Samaritan Project, please let us know as soon as possible. For some people, this makes the difference in getting the project done for them. |
