Mike Everetts

Event Director, Community Changers

1936 Elkwood Section Road

Hazel Green, AL 35750

(256) 828-4835 ext. 230

Fax: 256.828.4887

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How much does it cost?

$125 per participant

What does the cost cover?

Program materials

transportation from the campus to the work site

entertainment

t-shirt for each participant registered before May 13

meals for the week

lodging on our campus

development of thematic, fun, faith-building programs and daily devotions

comprehensive project preparation materials and leader manual.

Do I need to fill out any forms?

Yes! All participants must complete the appropriate registration forms. You can save or print a copy of these files in PDF format from the Registration tab on this website. You must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view these files. You can download a free copy here: ADOBE READER

To provide the safest environment for teenagers, adult (age 21 and older) staff and participants must pass a national background check through a qualified service provider. Your church will need to arrange for a qualified service provider to run a National Criminal Indicator Database Search that includes Social Security Number verification. A copy of this background check must accompany the Adult Volunteer Application when submitted to Community Changers during the registration process.

What if we bring someone whom has not filled out his/her Registration or Paintball Application?

These forms are mandatory. The Paintball Application needs to be completed only if you plan to play. All forms need to be filled out properly with the appropriate signatures and handed over to our Registration Staff prior to your arrival.  No group member (including all adults) will be allowed to participate in any activity without the form correctly filled out and signed (including the parents' signatures). It is imperative all of the information is completed accurately for medical and insurance purposes. If a youth arrives and the correct form is not completed in advance, the Community Changers staff will need to make phone calls to the parents, youth leaders will need to sign as witnesses to the calls, etc. It is a pretty big hassle. Please make sure that you send the correct forms prior to your arrival.

What about the registration and cancellation policies?

A $50.00 non-refundable deposit per person is due by May 12, 2010. This reserves your spot. We cannot process your application or reserve a spot until we have an application and the registration fee in hand. The balance is due on check-in day, which is June 12. A $25.00 late fee will be charged for each participant whose balance is not paid in full after June12.

If a vacancy becomes available because circumstances dictate that a registered participant cannot attend, this member's group may add another individual to take their place, and any deposit paid will be credited to the new participant. After June 1, no transfer of deposits will be made and the spot will be forfeited.

There are a limited number of vacancies for participants spending the night on campus, and they are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it pays to register early. Once these vacancies are filled, we will not allow any more participants to register.

If a participant becomes ill, or has to leave for the remainder of the week due to an unexpected event, no refund of registration fees will be made.

Cancellation of a Group - Registration amounts paid (less deposit amounts) are refundable when the Registration Team is notified at least 30 days before the first day of the event. The entire fee paid to Community Changers will be forfeited for cancellations less than 30 days from the start of the event.

Can I register more people later?

Absolutely—provided that we have open vacancies and it’s not past the registration deadline.

I want to bring youth of all grades to Community Changers. Is this possible?

Yes. The more complex projects such as roof repairs are limited to students who have completed one of the grades 9-12. Other projects that require less strenuous work such as painting, yard work and so on are generally done by students who have completed grades 6-8.

What about college age students?

College students may attend. They will be part of a college-age crew if enough are registered for that project. College students may not serve as chaperones unless they are 21 years of age or older. If a college age student attends Community Changers, they are required to attend with a church group and pay the registration fee.

Can I use Community Changers as an outreach tool to involve unchurched youth or adults in my ministry?

No. The participants you bring to Community Changers must be Christians who are active in your church's ministry. Our approach involves helping participants grow in their faith and develop mission-minded lifestyles. A work project requires participants to come ready to work hard, sleep on the floor, and share their faith authentically. Remember, you can invite anyone to attend in the evenings during worship time.

How big (small) can our group be?

There is no minimum or maximum size. This is an opportunity for your group to grow together, work together and support one another.

What time do we check in and when do we check out?

Registration/Check-In time is between 1-3pm on Saturday. Check-out time is 10am (or before) on the following Saturday.

Can I arrive late or leave early?

No. It's critical for all participants to be in attendance from start to finish of your trip. Arriving late or leaving early creates complications and negatively impacts other participants…so plan to arrive on time for registration on the first day and stay through checkout on the final day. All participants are expected to assist the Community Changers staff in the cleaning of the facility on Saturday June 19 before they leave.

What if a member of my group has a "special situation"?

Any “special needs” for your group or individual members of your group should be communicated prior to May 12 to the Event Director, such as specific accommodations/adjustments. (Examples include: youth or adults with disabilities, extreme dietary/allergy concerns, group/individuals that need to remain together, etc.) We may not be able to accommodate each request. Any changes, other than a prescribed medical requirement will not be granted after May 12, which includes, but is not limited to changing of sleeping arrangements, or work crew assignments.

I have an extremely overweight participant coming on the trip; will he/she be able to do all of the activities?

For the most part, all of the activities during your trip are adaptable to almost all levels of physical fitness. If you are overly concerned about any of your participants, feel free to contact the Event Director.

What should I bring to Community Changers?

Please note, you can SAVE or PRINT this section from this link; PRINTABLE PAGE

Your Bible

A notebook and pen for taking notes

Work Shoes - Expect to get them dirty. They must cover your entire foot. No sandals, flip-flops or open toed shoes allowed on the work site.

Work clothes - There will be five days of work. Clothes used for work will get extremely dirty. Wear clothes and shoes you don't mind throwing away. Buying second hand clothes for this purpose is a great idea. Please remember, this is a Christian event. Don't wear anything they may be offensive or suggestive to others. No tank tops, sleeveless shirts or shorts may be worn on the work site. 

Evening and church dress - We encourage students to shower prior to worship time each evening. This means having a set of casual clothes to change into. This may require up to six changes of clothes. Shorts, 4 inches above the knee or longer may be worn on the church campus. You may also consider wearing a pair of shoes other than the shoes you work in. 

Sleeping bag, cot, air mattress, and pillow - You will be sleeping on the floor. A twin size air mattress is allowed. A full, king, queen and full size mattress cannot be used because of space limitations. *Sorry, no exceptions* .

Hat or visor

Sunglasses

Safety goggles

Copy of your family health insurance card

Dirty clothes bag

Pajamas - please wear some sort of sleep clothes and do not use your everyday clothes

Personal toiletries - Towel, wash cloth, shampoo, tooth brush and paste, soap, lip balm, deodorant and so on. Remember the sunscreen

Extra money - for snacks and drinks during "free time" in the cafe'

* Please note that there are no clothes washers or dryers available on campus. 

What should I not bring to Community Changers?

Please don't bring anything that you wouldn't want to be broken, borrowed or misplaced. Monies can be deposited into an individual account if used in the Solid Rock Cafe. Any balance remaining in your account at the end of Community Changers will be returned to you.

What about electronic devices?

Experience has shown that use of some electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, Game Boy's, etc.) on a mission trip become a distraction to the owner and disruptive to the experience of other participants. These devices often isolate participants and interfere with their ability to fully engage in the community. They can also present a safety hazard on worksites when people talk on their cell phones or listen to music through ear buds or headphones. In addition, many of these electronic items are costly and are easily lost, broken, or stolen. If misused, youth leaders, adult participants and Community Changers staff have the right to confiscate these electronic devices and give them to the appropriate youth leader to hold. Many churches choose to impose stricter guidelines for their own group. Our recommendation for youth is to leave the electronic gear at home.

Do leaders need to bring a cell phone?

Yes, all crews should have at least one cell phone available at all times. This phone number will be at our office in case of any need that may arise.

What about prescription and over the counter medications?

A qualified leader from Community Changers will be responsible for prescription medications, and make these medications available to the prescribed user at the appropriate times. A record will be kept for each student on any medications being dispensed to them.  Medications will be placed in a secure location and a refrigerator is available for those prescriptions that require one. There will be a supply of over- the- counter medications, such as Tylenol, Ibuprophen, stomach antacid, anti-diarrhea, and so on. These items will be dispensed on as-needed basis. Known allergies to specific medications must be included on your Student Registration Form. This form will be checked prior to any medications being dispensed.

Will my whole youth group work together on a crew?

No. We try to place at least two participants from a church group together on a crew. You will mix with youth from other churches to form a work crew. We try to keep all work groups age appropriate, and the work project will usually be assigned to a group’s maturity.   We feel this experience helps youth get to know and work with others of their grade level.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

After pre-registration is completed on May 12, room assignments are made. We try our best to keep church groups together, but cannot guarentee it due to the unpredicatable number of particpants, group sizes and space available. We break down room assignments based upon the number of particpants, gender and age. Each room generally consists of eight individuals, which includes one adult for supervision. You will be sleeping on the floor. Make sure you check-out the "What to Bring List" for the type bedding you can/cannot bring. Please keep in mind, this is a mission project and some sacrifice of comfort should be expected.

Can I visit my student or attend worship services?

We encourage family and friends to visit with us each evening during worship time. During that time you can take care of personal business such as exchanging clothes, bring medications and so on. We discourage anyone being on campus out of this designated time period unless it's an emergency or you have a specific duty to perform on behalf of Community Changers or Bethlehem Baptist Church. Otherwise, come and have fun with us as we enter into the Throne Room of Grace together.

Are their rules to follow during Community Changers?

Please note, you can SAVE or PRINT this complete section from this link; PRINTABLE PAGE

Student Covenant of Conduct

As a participant of Community Changers, I understand that the Covenant of Conduct is applicable to the Participant at all times while involved with Community Changers and the sponsored activities and events. I agree to:

Recognize that everyone in the group is a part of the body of Christ. I will help everyone feel welcome and important.

Respect the physical and emotional well-being of others by “doing unto them as I would have them do unto me.” This includes refraining from harsh play or violence, refraining from harmful jokes, respecting the need for sleep, etc.

Respect the health of my own body by refraining from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. I understand that the use of these substances is absolutely prohibited. 

Respect the things I use and the property of the places I visit. The areas used for all events, including transportation, sleeping quarters, bathrooms, shower areas, and mess hall shall be left clean.

Participate fully in all scheduled group activities and abide by additional group guidelines made during a special event or trip.

Act appropriately with members of the opposite sex. This means no couples alone at any time, and no public display of affection.

Some areas of the campus are designated for males and females only. Be mindful of these areas and respect everyone's privacy.

Follow all instructions given by leaders / chaperones without protest. An instruction may be politely and discreetly questioned.

Stay within the group or assigned sub-group at all times. I will not wander off alone or leave the activity site unless granted permission by an adult, and I will report for all designated check-in times. 

Hold safety in the highest regard, and refrain from compromising my own safety or another’s safety.

Provide a trusting environment for my peers. When others share something about themselves in a group discussion, I will not repeat that information outside of the group.

Take the initiative to inform my guests of their responsibility to follow these guidelines when they visit or participate in an event.

I will not text message or use my cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, etc. on worksites or during worship programs. I may use my cell phone to call the Community Changers office or respond to an emergency.

Guidelines for Consequences

Consequences will focus on restoring peace with reconciliation among the parties involved. The goal of resolving each problem will be growth and learning through repentance and forgiveness. Any problems encountered will be handled with the group and by the adult leaders to the extent that this is possible. However, should a situation persist or become uncontrollable, the parent / guardian will be contacted and informed of the problem. Should the situation be urgent, the parent / guardian will be contacted immediately and will be responsible for picking up the youth from an event or providing for his / her transportation home. No refund of the registration fee will be provided.

What's a typical day like?

A "typical" day involves serving others, daily devotions, and inspirational/interactive worship programs. Your daily schedule will look similar to this:

5:45 a.m. Rise and shine!  

6:15 a.m. Breakfast and gather supplies for the day  

7:00 a.m. Leave for project sites  

9:30 a.m. Morning break and student devotion

11:30 p.m. Lunch and prayer time

3:30 p.m. Return to lodging site for clean-up and free time  

5:00 p.m. Dinner  

7:00 p.m. Evening program  

Free time and prep for bed  

11:00 p.m. Lights out

Do you provide spiritual growth programs?

Yes! You'll value and enjoy the daily programs. We take the evening programs seriously…this is where participants connect their Christian faith to their service. You'll appreciate fresh, fun, high-impact, interactive experiences that involve music, video, drama, stories, slides, and hands-on activities. Together, the evening programs and daily devotions help you shape your students' service experience into a spiritual growth experience. Also, if you play a musical instrument-bring it! There'll be opportunities for you to take an active role in the music worship for your mission.

How are the work projects chosen?

Home repairs are focused on residents who are elderly, disabled or victims of financial or social hardship. Social agencies screen applicants and recommend individuals for our program. This gives us greater assurance that we are helping those who sincerely need it, not those trying to abuse the system. These recommendations are passed on to our staff. We inspect the property for safety and security concerns, and ensure we can provide adequate services to complete the job with excellence.

What about safety?

Safety is first priority! We regularly go through a review and examination of all of our safety policies and procedures to ensure that we are functioning as safely as possible. We work to minimize the real dangers, but it is impossible to remove all of the risks. We have a very high safety record. That said, the activities that we do are never risk free. Many precautionary steps have been taken to keep everyone safe:

Only adults listed by their church as designated drivers are allowed to drive to work sites. 

Every work site is inspected for safety before the mission trip begins.

When needed, safety tips are included in project descriptions.

Ladder safety training is provided for all groups prior to work being performed on the job site.

Participants are not required to work in conditions that make them feel unsure or unsafe.

Safety goggles are required when appropriate, and power tools are only used by participants age 18 and older.

Safety gear is provided and must be worn at all times playing paintball. Field judges will be on hand to ensure all safety rules are enforced.

Protective clothing including shoes, hats, gloves and sunscreen may need to be worn.

Everyone takes frequent breaks during the day on the work site. We provide plenty of non-carbonated beverages to keep everyone hydrated.

Adult supervision (a minimum of 1 adult for every five teenagers) is present at each work site.

Local medical facilities are identified ahead of time with directions and phone numbers provided to job site leaders.

All adult leadership associated with Bethlehem Baptist Church and Community Changers has had a recent criminal background check.

All registered adults working with youth must acquire criminal background checks through their church, and verify a “clean” status to Community Changers staff during registration.

Separate adult shower facilities are furnished.  

What if someone gets hurt? Is there any insurance?

All participants need to have sufficient medical insurance in case of injury. Participants must list their insurance carrier and policy information on their registration application. Community Changers does not provide supplemental health coverage for this event.

How can I serve "behind the scenes"?

Some adults prefer not to work on the job site, but want to contribute service to Community Changers. We have many tasks that need to be completed throughout the week that's not on the job site.  If you have questions on how you can serve, please contact the director and we'll plug you in.

What transportation do we need to provide?

Your group is responsible for all transportation and transportation costs during the week. You’ll need to provide transportation for your group to and from your home church to Community Changers. Also, the vehicles you bring will be used to provide daily transport to and from work sites. Please ensure the number of seats and seatbelts in your vehicles match the number of people you bring on the trip. Vehicles with at least six seats and seatbelts are preferred. All vehicles, including chartered buses, must be available for transportation to work sites. Fifteen-passenger vans are ideal. You may be requested to remove or not use the back seat for passengers because of safety issues.

May I use my own vehicle to go off campus or to the work-site?

Students may not leave the campus in their own vehicle without the consent of the student's church leader and/or Community Changers Event Director. Students may not use their vehicle to drive to the work-site or transport other students to any location.
Crew chief's and crew encourager's may use their vehicle to transport workers, tools and materials to the work-site. If possible, everyone will use the transportation provided by Community Changers or participating church buses.

What about the food?

We try to provide your group with healthy food for the whole week. High sugar foods, high fat foods and other so-called "junk foods" are avoided as much as possible. The food as a whole is tasty, nutritious, and will be devoured by all! A breakfast and dinner bar is provided with a number of choices. A fresh lunch is delivered to your work site each day. It should be more than enough for most folks.

Can we bring snacks?

Occasionally participants with special medical concerns will need to bring along special food or snacks for their condition. You are free to bring snacks and keep them in your room. Please note, you won't have personal access to a refrigerator or ice. Snack items are also available in the cafe'.

What leadership is required from my church group?

Each church group is required to bring one adult leader for every five youth participants of the same gender. Leaders must be 21 years of age or older and must reside in the same room as their youth, assist with activities, and work alongside youth on a work crew. Leaders are not allowed to bring children who are ineligible because of grade level to participate in the project. No private sleeping arrangements or other arrangements are available for students with children or for couples.

As Crew Chief, do I need to be a contractor or carpenter?

Different jobs require various levels of complexity. Our staff members are not professional carpenters, but they do have general home repair skills. Most sites are pretty straight forward. The determination on the placement of Crew Chiefs is based upon your Registration Application. List your job skills and experience. The jobs are thoroughly inspected by our staff to ensure that no job is too big.

As Crew Chief, what tools do we need to bring?

Depending on the complexity of the worksite, it will determine the tools needed. The more complex worksites require a more extensive set of tools. Most jobs require general power and hand tools. A list of tools used for your work site will be furnished to you prior to your arrival to Community Changers. Some of these tools will be furnished by Community Changers and the sponsoring agencies. You will be given a detailed list of what you'll need to bring. Any questions concerning this will be directed to the Community Changers Construction Supervisor.

Can I take my work crew out to eat for lunch?

Some crew leaders choose to treat their group to a lunch out at a restaurant one day. We are happy to accommodate you at your own expense. Arrangements have to be coordinated through the transportation supervisor.  If you choose to eat out, we typically suggest Friday as an end of the week celebration.

May I bring my own paintball equipment?

Yes! Paintball will be played on Fun Day (Wednesday), weather permitting. We have a fast course, which allows two teams to play against each other. Paintball guns, balls, compressed air and safety gear is available at Community Changers. You may bring a gun that uses compressed air and your safety gear. We will furnish the paintballs and compressed air. Each gun will be adjusted to 250 fps for safe and fair play. Each team will be advised of the playing/safety rules. Field judges will be on hand to ensure everyone plays fair/safe. Any violation of the rules will disqualify you from any further play. If you plan to play, don't wear shorts and a t-shirt.

May we bring games to play during free time?

Sure. In the Solid Rock Cafe', we'll have video games, pool, ping-pong and so forth. Bring your board games or cards. This is your time to relax and enjoy fellowship with others. You can also use your free time to catch a nap.

What if my child gets homesick?

Occasionally, we'll experience a participant who gets homesick. We ask parents to encourage their student to remain strong and complete the week. When you join Community Changers, you make a commitment to your team and do your part in serving the resident.

Where do we shower?

We have separate shower facilities for students and adults. Showers areas are private and clean. We suggest taking shorter showers due to the amount of folks needing them and the limited amount of hot water available. You may take showers after you arrive from the work site and during meal or free time.