Pikeville, Kentucky
Mission Trips

In the heart of the Bluegrass State of Kentucky, we find the beautiful Pike County. Pike County is known as Kentucky's "Mountain Treasure." Pike County is Kentucky's largest county in terms of land area and has a population of 68,736.

History

Pike County was founded in 1821 and was named for General Zebulon Pike, the same explorer who discovered Pikes Peak. You may have heard of Pike County as they are known for the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud. This feud was an Appalachian vendetta between two families that lasted from the 1860s up to the 1890s.

Pike County is true to the Appalachian way of coal mining and has trademarked itself as "America's Energy Capital" because of its immense reserves of coal and natural gas. They are a leader in the nation's coal & gas production and are continually developing strategies to further lead the nation into more comprehensive energy plans. Pikeville, a town within Pike County is the 3rd largest banking center in the commonwealth and is considered an economic hub in Eastern Kentucky.

Natural Environment

The state of Kentucky is home to over 90,000 miles of streams which makes it one of the most expansive and complex stream systems in the nation. Including the immense expanse of rivers, Kentucky is home to many great parks, including Breaks Park which borders Virginia. Breaks Park has a breathtaking view that will leave you in awe of our Creator as you experience what is known as the "Grand Canyon of the South."

Lifestyle

While many people residing in Pike County enjoy modern conveniences such as TV, computers, phones, etc., there are still many who resist those conveniences and choose to enjoy the simple mountain life without those conveniences. While they are few and far between, there are some people who live in the mountains with no electricity, running water or vehicles; rather they rely on nature to provide them with the means to maintain life.

Kentucky is true to its heritage and Pike County hosts an annual, "Hillbilly Days"—a three-day festival that draws people from all over.

Needs

The median income per family in Pike County is $34,700 per year. Many of the people who live under the median income are elderly or disabled. Because of this, the elderly or disabled families, as well as other families who have fallen on tough times, fall through the cracks and do not make enough to pay for the labor of keeping up their homes. There is a large need for manual labor as well as skilled labor.

Religion

Pike County is home to many small mountain churches. Religious roots travel deep in the hearts of the older generations especially. Evangelical Protestant churches such as The Free-Will Baptist Church, Southern Baptist Church and other Baptist Churches are a high segment of churches in the area. The state of Kentucky is home to several seminaries which have influenced the religious culture of the area. In Pike County resides Pikeville College, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. EM will provide a physical or printable devotional journal.

Our staff will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Evening Gathering") and it is always a great addition to have musical worship. Our programming does not include musical worship as we can't guarantee that our our staff will have this ability. Please let us know if you have anyone who sings or plays guitar on your trip so that we can help to coordinate the musical aspect of worship when able. If teams aren't able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.

AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1
3-6pm Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation Meeting
8:30pm - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
11:30pm - Lights Out

Day 2-5
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15am - Group Prayer
8:30am - Teams leave for Sites
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Evening Gathering (as a whole group)
8:30pm - Team time

Day 6
7am - Breakfast
7:30am - Cleanup/ Packing
9am - Pictures and Good-Byes

Lodging

Teams in Pike County will stay in a local church. We partner with Pikeville Presbyterian Church for housing.

Sleeping

You will be sleeping on the floor and should plan to bring an air mattress or a mat. Team members should plan to bring light bedding or a sleeping bag and a pillow.

Showers & Bathrooms

In Pike County, teams will shower at a local YMCA (a 4-minute drive from the housing location). There will be bathrooms for your team at any place you stay and at most work sites. On the occasion that there are no facilities where you are working, teams will need to take breaks midday to use a public restroom.

Water

There is running water in Pike County. Teams will have access to it where they are staying and at most work sites. Teams should plan to bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated at work sites.

Electricity

There is electricity in Pike County that will be available where teams stay as well as at most work sites.

Security

Pike County is a safe area in general. The facilities where teams stay will be locked throughout the night and Experience Mission Staff members will do a sweep to make sure the facilities are secure before retiring for the evening. There is minor petty theft in the area. For this reason, we recommend teams leave all valuables (smartphones, computers, jewelry, etc.) at home. If a team does bring some valuables, the best way to keep them safe is to store them in a locked vehicle during the day.

Food

A wonderful team of local cooks, alongside your Experience Mission Summer Staff, will be preparing and serving your meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style, and your team will pack their own lunches each morning. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate specific food restrictions? View EM's Food Policy

Transportation

Your team's transportation to, from, and while in Kentucky is not covered. You will need vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry. Using a school bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is not an option. Our work in Pike County can only accommodate standard 15-passenger vans or smaller.

EM's Health & Safety Plan:

Staff Certification
All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Medical Kits
Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site. In domestic locations like West Virginia, we ask that teams supply their own medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and Imodium as they deem necessary.

Emergency Response Plan
Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.

If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.

If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor), and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.

In the event that an accident occurs which is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, and local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.

All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.

Check out EM's current Covid Guidance

Experience Mission has specific policies regarding team registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.

View EM’s Mission Trip Registration Policy

INDIVIDUALS

All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip must be part of a team of at least six (6) people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM's IMMERSION program.

What age group can you accommodate in Kentucky?
We can accommodate late elementary and Jr. High/middle school students in this location as well as high school students, college students, and adults.

How much do Kentucky mission trips cost?
The cost for this trip in 2024 is $445/person. This includes all lodging, food, staffing, and trip-related expenses. Transportation is not included. Note that all construction projects are generally provided at no cost to families. Your fees help cover this blessing for homeowners.

What seasons do you offer Kentucky mission trips?
Mission trips to Kentucky are available during the summer. Check out this list of all available spring break trips if you are looking for trips outside the summer months.

What will volunteers do on a mission trip to Kentucky?
Ministry in Pike County is a mix of relational outreach and work projects. Teams can expect to work on home improvement projects with local families and volunteer at a local food bank, nursing home, pregnancy center, etc.

Will we work with children on mission trips to Kentucky?
Kids Club is not a part of mission trips in Pike County.

What paperwork is required for this mission trip?
Each team member will need to fill out a team member registration form and liability waiver, and all adults are required to pass a background check. Your mission trip support representative will contact you if any other paperwork is required.

Where will my team stay?
Teams will stay at a local church in vacant classrooms. Plan to bring along air mattresses and sleeping bags for added comfort! Depending on your team size, showers may be available on-site, or at a sister church a few minutes down the street. Large teams may shower at the local YMCA.

Are meals provided during Kentucky mission trips?
Yes! Meals will be provided by Experience Mission staff for the duration of your trip. Our mission trip food policy outlines the details of what we can accommodate for dietary restrictions and more.

How does transportation work during Kentucky mission trips?
Transportation is entirely up to groups to arrange. We recommend 15-passenger vans or smaller. We don't recommend relying on buses as a mode of transportation for this trip. Keep in mind that groups are often split into teams of 8-12 for construction projects. It works well if you are able to plan transportation accordingly.

When should I arrive?
Check-in is between 3 and 5 PM on the first day of your selected trip. Our staff will be awaiting your arrival. You can expect dinner and an orientation meeting to get you ready for the week that evening as well.

What should I pack for this trip?
A packing list will be available to you once you register for the trip. Generally, be prepared to bring along work clothes. All tools will be provided to you, but donations of additional tools are welcome!

Does EM have any Covid requirements for teams?
We ask that teams bring 1-2 masks/person and 2-4 rapid tests in the event that someone on your team becomes sick during the trip. Outside of that, we simply recommend that teams follow current CDC recommendations regarding travel, testing, and what to do if you're exposed or get sick. View EM's Current Covid Guidance

Does EM offer mission trips to any other Appalachia communities?
Yes! We also currently offer group volunteer trips to Beattyville, Kentucky and Richwood, West Virginia.

Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.