Since the founding of this ministry in 1996, hundreds of projects have been completed and almost all of them are connected with carpentry, construction or repair. Hundreds and hundreds of hands....all working to glorify God. Sometimes those hands were building a church building, so that a preacher would have a place to preach. Sometimes they were lovingly and carefully crafting a steeple to put on top of that church. Sometimes they were carefully sanding a table or chairs or a pulpit podium for a church.

At other times, they were installing vinyl siding, pouring concrete or installing windows and doors. Sometimes they were connected to a body that had crawled in a dark, damp crawl space underneath a home and was repairing HVAC ductwork. Skilled hands carefully installing light switches or electrical distribution boxes. Pulling cable for a video system so that mother's could still see and hear the sermon while they were in the 'cry room' with their baby.

Sometimes those hands were so cold the fingers could hardly grasp the handle of a saw or hammer. But, those hands kept working. Sharing, helping and caring hands. When God calls your hands to help us...join us!

Handicap Ramp Ministry

In western North Carolina alone, we have some 58,000 people over the age of 5 with a physical disability. Many of these disabilities require the use of a wheelchair or walker. Ascending or descending steps with either of these devices is dangerous. Without a handicap ramp, some are prisoners in their own home!

The purpose of the Experiencing God Through Missions Inc handicap ramp ministry is to aid people throughout western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and eastern Tennessee, with disabilities by the construction of modular handicap ramps. In most cases, these people do not have financial resources to hire a contractor to build a ramp. Many cannot even afford to purchase the materials. The goal of our Local Missions Team is to provide the materials (if necessary) and the labor (always free) to install a handicap ramp for anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay. Our teams of volunteers give freely of their time, talents, energy and resources. These teams consists of people from all walks of life. They are volunteers who enjoy serving our Lord by helping others.

Physical walking disabilities can be temporary or long term. But almost always occur suddenly and without  warning. Usually when a handicap ramp is required, the need for installation is immediate. After much research, our Local Missions Team developed a modular, reusable approach to handicap ramp construction. This method allows installation to being almost immediately. Because of the modular construction, when the need for the ramp passes (death, move to a new location, regain physical ability) it can be disassembled quickly and moved to a new location or stored for future use. The goal of the Local Missions Team is to keep enough ramp sections and landings prefabricated for at least one 40' long handicap ramp. This includes having in stock the other supplies needed, such as nuts, bolts, screws and the paint/sealer.

Our team does not build custom handicap ramps, therefore our handicap ramps might not be suitable for all occasions. Nor do we built ramps for commercial use. Our ramp sections, landing sections and railing is built to a standard size. Each section is finished with our 'standard' redwood paint/sealer which is Deckscapes from Sherwin Williams. Even though our construction methods are strong and safe, we cannot guarantee they will meet  any codes or requirements if a building permit is required. Our handicap ramps should be considered as temporary structures.

All prefabrication of ramp and landing sections is done in 'the barn,' which is located in the Mills River area near the Buncombe/Henderson county line. This is done so that we can assure that every section is built exactly alike so the sections can be mixed together for reuse.

We do not discriminate due to age, race, religion, physical or financial ability. Since we depend on free-will financial gifts for support, we might not be able to help everyone that applies for a handicap ramp, even though we want to and will if financial gifts keep pace with demand!

Vision

To provide a handicap ramp for everyone with a need so they will never have restrictions entering or exiting their homes.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to partner with local evangelical churches and the community; having one cause and one purpose to serve God, so that the people we encounter may see His good works through our lives.

Support

You can support the handicap ramp needs of your community by:

• Providing a tax deductible financial gift. Make you check payable to Experiencing God Through Missions Inc and mail to P O Box 543, Arden, NC 28704.
• Become a workshop volunteer and help assemble the handicap ramp modules.
• Volunteer to work on-site installing the modular sections.
• Assist with fund raising efforts

Scripture Reference:

Job 1:10
"...you have blessed the work of his hands..."

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