This year, BGAV’s Annual Meeting won’t only be about worship and workshops — it will also be about hammer swings, sawdust, and tangible hope. As part of the Mission Forward theme, participants are invited to roll up their sleeves and help construct a tiny home on site that will soon shelter a family impacted by disaster.

For years, Impact Disaster Response has deployed volunteers across the country to help families rebuild after floods, hurricanes, and storms. But sometimes, homes are beyond repair. “In today’s market, we might spend $35–45,000 to renovate a flooded home,” said Butch Meredith, BGAV’s construction coordinator for Impact Missions, “With tiny homes, we can deliver a brand-new, safe, and accessible house for less money — and get families home more quickly.”

That urgency is more than theoretical. After devastating flooding in Damascus, volunteers met an 86-year-old man who had lost his lifelong home. Instead of asking for help for himself, he urged them to care for his neighbors first. Stories like his pushed leaders to act. “God makes things happen in his time,” reflected Meredith. “We’d talked about this idea for a while, but that call pushed us over the hump and into reality.”

Working with a local storage-building manufacturer and county inspectors, Impact developed a model for a 14’ x 32’ tiny home with a bedroom, great room/kitchen, and fully accessible bathroom. The manufacturer delivers the shell, and volunteers finish the interior. The first prototype will be set up in Damascus in October.  The second, dubbed Tiny 2, will be under construction at the annual meeting in Abingdon.

Meredith said the strategy is a natural fit for BGAV’s skilled volunteer base: “It’s very similar to flood repair — gutting houses, drying them out, and moving into remodeling mode. With tiny homes, we can skip demolition and get straight to the work that matters.”

Glenn Maddox, BGAV’s national missions director, sees even bigger potential: “We’re hoping churches themselves will sponsor the building of houses at their locations. Imagine congregations finishing units on their property, ready to roll out when disaster strikes. That’s the kind of preparation that could transform recovery.”

How to Join the Build

Whether you’re a seasoned carpenter or have never held a hammer, there’s a place for you on the build team. Volunteers will receive tools, safety gear, and on-site guidance from experienced leaders.

Volunteer slots:

Monday, November 10, 2025
- 1:30–2:30  p.m.
- 2:45–3:45  p.m.
- 4:00–5:00  p.m.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
- 1:30–2:30  p.m.
- 2:45–3:45  p.m.
- 4:00–5:00  p.m.

What to wear: Comfortable, well-fitting clothes. All tools and safety equipment will be provided. Additional details will be shared in advance.

Registration required: Spots are limited. Sign up early to secure your place on the build team.

As Meredith put it: “Volunteer time is so precious and valuable, and we have amazing volunteers in BGAV. If we can deliver a quality home to those in need and make better use of those volunteer hours, it’s a win.”

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