“One of the things I am most thankful for is your staffing model, both in your professionalism and teaching good leadership for generations to come. Sure, the work we do and the time we spend in camp is great. One of the things I can take home with my youth is your model of servant leadership. Since the youth themselves have been leaders out on the work sites and watch your staff in front of groups, I can then put the youth in leadership roles back at home. It gives them a different picture of Christian vocation, something other than being a pastor. It gives them ideas of other ways they can serve the church.”

Phil Brown, Youth Director at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, GA

“I spend so much time planning and leading at my church that I miss out on being a part of worship. Mountain T.O.P. allowed me and my youth the opportunity to be poured into.”

James Marks, 1st time YSM participant in 2009, Craft Memorial UMC – Columbia, TN

“Our youth gained awesome, individual experiences from the YRGs at Mountain TOP by the way those groups gave them great friendships and challenges apart from our church and allowed them to grow in Christ and in relationship with others. This allowed them to come back together as our church group and have so much to share about their experiences that it encouraged and excited the group as a whole.
Many church camps have awesome experiences through the way they do camp or the way they serve, but Mountain T.O.P.’s way of splitting groups up to grow with others and serve the community together with new friends demonstrates the truth of the church in our world, it’s about Christ and His body moving no matter how they are clumped together!”

Andrew Attwood, Calvary UMC – Brownsburg, IN

"My journey to Mountain T.O.P. was one of excitement as well as sadness. I am so used to going on third world mission trips and to finally experience one in our own country was a blessing. I have always looked around and realized that there are families less fortunate than others, but hadn't ever realized that we do have people in our own communities struggling everyday to feed and provide for their family.
Working with the Bailey family is an experience that I shall never forget. Terry is a man of pride and you could tell he wanted a home to be proud of for his wife and three kids and helped in every way he could. We would leave his house each day, knowing that he would continue to work and accomplish things to help with the progress.
The family I joined at Mountain T.O.P. is one that I shall cherish forever. Absolutely AMAZING!!!"

-Kurt Houser, 1st time AIM participant in 2009

"My experience with Summer Plus has been an amazing journey. I was thrilled when the children arrived on Monday morning and several of the kids ran up to me and hugged me saying they were excited that I was back this year. My first year with Summer Plus was a very special year. Not knowing what to expect I was in awe about each of the children and the stories that they shared with me. I cried every evening when we did our sharing. These children come from all walks of life, and they opened up to strangers that they have not seen in the past. The friendships and the love they showed us was amazing."

-Jean Nulle, "Outdoor Crafts" workshop leader at Summer Plus

"Kaleidoscope....what a wonderful experience!!! This was my first time to work with this program and it will not be my last. I worked with several budding artists, but I would like to tell you about one in particular.
I opened each class with an upside-down drawing to music. When it concluded, all students participated in creating artwork. Madison looked at me and asked if she could draw on a board upside-down using the same subject and the same music. It was the first time I had been asked this question. Delighted, I set up an area on my easel for her to perform and started the music. She performed the upside-down art beautiful and fearlessly!!! I began to tear up as she created this piece of artwork to the music. Madison demonstrated upside-down art at the celebration Friday of that week and did magnificently. Her mother approached me after the program and was so excited about her daughter's talent. I cannot wait until next year. Thank you, Mountain T.O.P., for such an emotional and rewarding week. I am moved."

-Dana Helms, "Upside-Down Art" workshop leader at Kaleidoscope

"The bottom line is God worked in amazing ways and shed grace so heavily on me this summer at Mountain T.O.P. Not only did I witness incredible life changes in campers and in my staff, but my own life was transformed forever because of our God. I have such a stronger desire to walk with Christ now, take daily pauses with God, and spread the Good News. Thank you Mountain T.O.P. but even more importantly, thank you God."

- Mark McGlothlin, Summer Staff 2009

“I saw God that weekend. He was in the eyes of a 3-year-old girl, who, 10 seconds after meeting me, jumped into my arms and hugged me. He was in the smile of an 8-year-old girl, who grinned for two whole days and told me she loved me, a complete stranger.”

Julie Reeves, AIM Camper

“Mountain T.O.P. is much more than a mission experience, MTOP focuses on developing the youth as a whole and strives to give them the opportunity to become Christian Leaders.”

Rick Stout, Director of Christian Education

"Hopefully, I can help others have the same incredible experience that I did."

Steve Frankenfield, BreakOut Camper, turned Summer Staff member, turned Youth Leader

Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project) is an interdenominational, non-profit Christian Mission affiliated with the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, dedicated to rural life ministry in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee.

The Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee is an area distinguished by natural beauty, rich cultural textures, and a history of economic injustice and persistent rural poverty. The people of this region meet their many physical hardships with faith and resourcefulness. But the constant struggle against the indignity of poverty often gives rise to feelings of shame, loneliness, and despair that can be even more devastating than the lack of physical resources.

Mountain T.O.P. takes a holistic approach to the physical, spiritual, social, and emotional needs that people face in this part of Appalachia. While the problems here are complex, our approach is simple. We believe that the heart of Christian ministry is about forming relationships through the love of Christ—a love powerful enough to overcome hopelessness, to fight injustice, and to break through the cultural, racial, and ideological barriers that divide us.

Specifically, Mountain T.O.P. seeks to empower those it serves through a philosophy of partnership. Every aspect of how our camp operates is made possible through partnering with the community, local businesses, friends of the ministry and participants. For example, any family or individual we work with is given the opportunity to contribute to the project, whether that is through providing a meal for the work group or providing materials for the project. We try to be intentional in saying we work “with” a family instead of “for” a family. We find it makes the most sense to approach ministry as a partnership, so that ownership is divided among everyone involved. Ministry then becomes what can we do with one another versus what can I do for you?

Likewise, we have immersed ourselves in the same communities for over 35 years. We make it a point to form relationships with our neighbors and to stimulate the local businesses that will sustain this region economically.

The Mountain T.O.P. Story:

After serving together at the Hinton Rural Life Center in North Carolina during the summer of 1974, several youth from Blakemore United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee wanted to take their experience into their own "backyard." After much prayer and planning, the Mountain T.O.P. dream was born. The backyard turned out to be the Cumberland Mountain counties east of Nashville. In the summer of 1975, the first Mountain T.O.P. camp was held at Beersheba Springs Methodist Assembly in Grundy County. Over 200 participants, representing 12 church families, were a part of this first camp.

Since that first camp week, the ministry has continued to grow. Initially begun as a youth camp program, Mountain T.O.P. now also offers opportunities for adult and college individuals and groups. As the ministry has grown, three things have remained constant. These are the foundational objectives of Mountain T.O.P.

Foundational Objectives:

* To help meet the physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs of the Tennessee Cumberland Mountain people.

* To actively encourage the Christian growth of the participants and staff who come to Mountain T.O.P.

* To develop the leadership skills of participants and staff.

In meeting these needs, Mountain T.O.P. has been able to inspire change in the lives of many. As we move toward the future, we strive to keep our hearts rooted in the knowledge that He who began a great work in us will see it to completion.

Foundational Scriptures:

In its beginning, George Bass felt strongly about challenging volunteers to see beyond a week of service at Mountain T.O.P. He knew that the higher calling was and still is to go into the valley below with a sense of urgency in spreading the good news of Christ. The calling of the first disciples, found in the gospel of Matthew, then became the foundation of Mountain T.O.P.’s spiritual direction.

"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen. And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him." - Matthew 4:18-20 (NRSV)

As a reminder of that call, the fish hook has remained Mountain T.O.P’s symbol for 35 years and is offered to every camper who comes through our gates.

Likewise, George saw the need for an organization where servant leadership could be experienced among staff and participants alike. To understand the true nature of a servant, one must look to Jesus as the example.

"Then the King will say to the people on his right, 'Come, my Father has given you his blessing. Receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made. I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me'....And the King will answer 'I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.' " - Matthew 25:34-36,40 (New Century Version)

Mountain T.O.P. seeks to provide a model of leadership that always points towards serving Jesus Christ.