A.S.P. Theology Points

In 1969, the Appalachia Service Project was born out of a dream of the reverend Glenn "Tex" Evans. Through experiences in Appalachia and creative use of people's willingness to serve, Tex founded a way for people to touch each other with love while working to alleviate the consequences of poverty through a home repair project. Tex presented a set of theology points which he felt best depicted the manner that we serve. They are as follows:

* We rejoice in the gift of life, consider it to be possible only through the goodness, and the wisdom, and the power of God.

* We count ourselves to be Christians, even saying with Polycarp of old: "I worship the one true God and His Son I follow!"

* We see all people as our brothers and sisters, made in the image of God, having intelligence, a will, freedom, a sense of beauty, compassion, a sense of values, and creativity.

* We hold that every person wants, essentially, four things: to be loved, to belong, to own something, to create something worthwhile.

* We go to our brothers and sisters and we accept them right where they are, just the way they are. Earnestly, we seek to bear witness to awareness, concern, hope, and helpfulness - Christian Love!

* We count ourselves fortunate indeed, in our own opportunities and seek to give a good account of our stewardship.

* We seek to work in glad cooperation and mutual support with other workers being prepared to keep sensitive and helpful according to the needs of the hour.

* Gladly, do we serve Him who said in the fourth chapter of Luke, "He has sent me to set a liberty those who are oppressed and to open the doors of the captive."