Steve Hill has been ministering to people in eastern Kentucky since 1997. Every trip is different in its own way but worshipful in every way.
Sixty-two missionaries from Little Clifty Baptist at 2575 Clifty Church Road in Leitchfield, Truth Baptist in Radcliff, and three additional churches, plus other individuals took supplies to the people in Kimper in Pike County last weekend.
Hill, the pastor of Little Clifty, said it was a “glorious experience” with 13 professing faith in Jesus. They were baptized Sunday morning in front of a packed house at Kimper Church of God.
Hill, who never misses a chance to share the gospel, did so passionately again at a Saturday morning service. Meanwhile, the rest of the team was outside the church preparing hot dogs, hamburgers with all the trimmings and lining up supplies they had brought with them.
“We took our supplies and dropped them off at the drop site and held worship service on Saturday morning,” he said.
The team brought enough supplies for more than 400 families, Hill said. The biggest need was food although they also brought coats, clothing, blankets and toys for the children.
The people in the Kimper-Phelps area have been devastated by disastrous flooding. In February, Hill organized a team to bring more supplies. He said the people in the area are resilient and tough, but they have been through more than people can imagine.
“The Tug River was flooded, and people couldn’t get in or out,” he said. “The Pikeville area is bigger and had a lot of help but many here didn’t get much help.”
He said one woman who saw him coming thought he was from FEMA with a promised RV. Hill said he apologized to her but did offer some supplies which she was thankful to receive.
The cooperative effort of five churches and even the individuals from Tennessee and North Carolina who joined with them, made for one huge effort to assist the people in Kimper, Hill said.
Many of the people on the trip from Little Clifty, along with the neighboring churches in Leitchfield, enjoyed being together again. “My wife just spoke to someone this morning who has been going with us for several years. She said it was like a family reunion.”
Hill said one older gentleman, who was accompanying the group for the first time, was amazed by what he saw.
“When he got there, he said, ‘Preacher, I’ve been around the world, but I’ve never been in a place like this.’ I told him these people here are tougher than whipped leather. They know where they are and who they are and are friendly and hospitable. They were already asking when we were coming back.”
Hill promised they would return. And you can be sure he will bring the gospel with him.
(Photo: Little Clifty Baptist Church Pastor Steve Hill (left), baptizes one of 13 new converts in Kimper last weekend, courtesy of Kentucky Today)
By Mark Maynard, Kentucky Today
