From Sunday, July 27, to Sunday, August 3, 2025, West Lawn United Methodist Church will embark on a mission trip, serving with Carolina Rebuilding Ministry (CRM). Like past summer mission trips, this will be an intergenerational trip open to all skill levels. Those who have completed 6th grade and older are invited to attend and help make homes stronger, safer, and healthier while experiencing personal transformation. Whether you’re a skilled carpenter or have never swung a hammer, you can make a difference. 

Carolina Rebuilding Ministry (CRM) serves North Carolina’s northeastern counties—Washington, Chowan, and Bertie—where 1 in 5 homes are considered substandard. Residents living in these conditions often face poor physical and mental health, academic challenges for children, and financial barriers that prevent homeownership from being a path to stability. The increasing frequency of severe weather has further escalated the need for assistance, as storm-related damage often goes unrepaired, leading to mold, rot, and extreme health and safety hazards.

In response, CRM provides critical home repairs and accessibility upgrades for low-income homeowners. With the help of mission volunteers, CRM addresses the impacts of weather-related damage by repairing indoor plumbing, installing functioning heating systems, reinforcing roofs, replacing windows and doors, and restoring flooring. To support individuals with disabilities, CRM also builds pathways and ramps to make homes more accessible. Typical repairs include drywall restoration, subfloor replacement, re-roofing, wheelchair ramps, plumbing and electrical repairs, and weatherization improvements.

Founded in 2011 as a response to Hurricane Irene, CRM began as an outreach effort by the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church to assist with storm damage repairs. Over time, the organization expanded its mission to serve impoverished families, ensuring that homes are not just livable but safe and secure for generations to come.

Volunteers will stay at CRM’s Main Office and Volunteer Lodging, located at 819 Governors Road, Windsor, NC. The facility is fully equipped with heating, air conditioning, and indoor plumbing, including individual showers with hot and cold water. Volunteers will prepare and clean up their own meals in a fully stocked kitchen. The center also features spaces for lounging, meetings, and worship. Sleeping arrangements consist of smaller rooms with cots, and volunteers are encouraged to bring air mattresses if desired. CRM follows the United Methodist Church’s Safe Sanctuary policy.

CRM is led by experienced professionals, including a Construction Program Director, a Materials Handler, a Chief Operations Officer, a Volunteer Coordinator, a Senior Case Manager, and a Chief Executive Officer.

Projects are identified through an application process, where homeowners in the area submit requests for assistance. Once an application is approved, CRM conducts a home visit to assess the repair needs and interview the homeowner. The construction manager then schedules the project and ensures all necessary materials are on-site before volunteers arrive. While CRM provides tools, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own.

Our team will travel on Sunday and work Monday through Friday, followed by a day trip to the beach at the Outer Banks, before returning to West Lawn on the following Sunday.

Are you ready to join Pastor Chris and Youth Pastors Trisha and Steph on our summer mission trip to North Carolina?

DEADLINE for registration: June 30

$150 per person

Use discount code EARLYBIRD to receive $50 off your registration—valid until April 30. If registering multiple people, you must complete a separate registration for each person to apply the EARLYBIRD discount.

Youth who have earned scholarship money may apply up to $50 toward the mission trip. When completing registration, select "Partial Pay" to pay the balance by credit card or choose "Pay Later" to pay with cash or check.