Nehemiah Project

“I love all the children. They are all so special,” Ms. Lanning expresses about the group of teenagers working on her house for the week. She is a hundred and one years old and lives in one of the old Canton Textile Mill houses located in Downtown Canton. Her house has a fresh coat of paint and pressure washed siding. More than just the smearing of paint, she experienced love and laughter from the teenagers that were a part of the Nehemiah Project.

Nehemiah Project was founded five years ago by Daniel Roberts, youth pastor at Liberty Hill Church, and Patrick Hartigan, member of Liberty Hill Church. Together they envisioned an opportunity for teens to give back to their community and learn about the gift of service.

This year one hundred and eighteen teenagers from five separate churches came together to work on eleven different projects around Cherokee County. Canton First UMC, Ball Ground UMC, City On A Hill UMC, The Quest, and Liberty Hill Church sent young people on a mission of service for the week.  

Among the days of hard work, the group enjoyed nightly worship and sharing in their experiences each day. It takes many hands and minds to create and organize all the projects and coordinate with all the different youth groups. It was a week of giving so that some may receive. Those who received the most were the youth who participated in the Nehemiah Project. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each year is a unique experience and the teenagers and adults who sacrifice this week in service to others are always blessed in return.

If you would like to participate next year or have more questions about the Nehemiah Project please contact Daniel Roberts at youth@libertyhillumc.org or call 678.493.8920. Check out Liberty Hill Church - Canton on Facebook.