Cheryl and Mike Powers assemble a light for the home’s eat-in kitchen.

“They like to be called a finish group,” said Marc Hensley, director of Mountain Outreach. “The finish work I am speaking of is final sanding of drywall in preparation for primer and paint, both of which this group did on our Laurel County site.”

Youth group member Shane Patterson uses spackle to fill in dry wall seams.

The group also hung ceiling fans, installed kitchen cabinets, laid vinyl flooring and carpet, installed base-boards, vanity cabinets, mirrors and in hung shutters.

The group consisted of eight people ranging in age from 13 to 69. Cheryl and Mike Bowers, members of the church, first learned about the Mountain Outreach program when their daughter Katie was applying for admission to University of the Cumberlands. The Bowers returned to their church, which had been interested in missions, and informed them about the Mountain Outreach program.

“The church has come every year except last year for the past five years,” said Mrs. Bowers.

“It’s been fun,” remarked Shane Patterson, a youth group member. When asked if he would return to work with Mountain Outreach he said, “Yes.”

Although Katie graduated from Cumberland in May of 2006, Cerulean Baptist Church continues to work with the Mountain Outreach program.

University of the Cumberlands, located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, is a private liberal arts college in its 118th year of operation. Cumberlands offers four undergraduate degrees in 37 major fields of study, 30 minors and nine pre-professional programs, graduate degrees and certifications in education as well as online and accelerated, nontraditional programs for adults.