Adults in Ministry (AIM) allows Mountain T.O.P. to take on and complete vital structural repairs and renovations of local homes that would not be possible otherwise.
Adults in Ministry seeks to bring adults from all over the country together to the Cumberland Plateau. We are theologically focused, integrated into our local community, committed to transformative experiences for all, intentional about working with (not for) local families, and able to help you plan your trip. Our days are created around rhythms of work and rest, service and worship. No construction background? No problem! You don’t have to have any construction knowledge in order to participate.
Registration for our Baker Work Weekend is now open! Learn more about the Adults in Ministry program, Mountain T.O.P.’s service philosophies, and the logistical details of the weekend by reading our Core Guide!
Connect
Dates & Prices
baker work weekend
May 2nd - May 4th
PRices
Returner: $225
Former Staff*/First-Timer/Student: $185
*Additional scholarships are available for former staff. Please contact info@mountain-top.org for more information.
Local Volunteer Days and Baker Work Weekend are free of charge.
Payments & Refunds
Our weekend fee is $225. If you are a former staff person or first-time participant, the fee is $185. There are no payment deadlines at this time; however, a registration is not complete until we have received payment.
We will offer a 100% refund on any cancellations that are due to COVID-19 related issues.
If you want to pay by check, please select “Pay by check” option during registration.
CAPACITY
Participants must be 18 years of age or older to participate in Adults in Ministry events.
programming & meals
For lunches on the worksite, kitchen staff will put together sandwich supplies in a cooler for you to bring to the worksite.
Meals in camp will be served family style.
cleaning procedures
As a camp community, we will be following enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures as outlined by the American Camping Association. All PPE required for cleaning will be provided by Mountain T.O.P.
medical procedures & illness
We request that all participants please monitor yourself for the 48 hours before you come for any communicable illness symptoms.
preparation materials
In order to serve our community with dignity, we ask our volunteers to prepare themselves both spiritually and logistically. Please take time to read through our Core Guide, which introduces you to our service area and Mountain T.O.P.’s philosophies of service, as well as includes the required paperwork for participation.
All participants need to complete the following:
Adult Self-Screening Form: complete and send to Jacey prior to arrival. Everyone must have a background check on file with their church or Mountain T.O.P., current within the last three years. If you need Mountain T.O.P. to run a background check for you, please submit a payment for $10.
To pay for your background check by card, be sure to indicate in your online registration that you would like Mountain T.O.P. to run a background check for you when prompted.
Medical Information & Statement of Activities and Release: TWO copies must be brought with you to camp and submitted during registration.
The importance of our weekend schedule
Please try to arrive at Camp Cumberland Pines by 5:00 pm, Central Time, on the Thursday of your weekend. The preparation we do on Thursday evening lays the foundation for the rest of the weekend, so it is helpful if all volunteers are present by this time. Further, we start earlier on Sunday morning because we know that some need to get on the road as soon as possible. We appreciate if all participants do stay through Closing Circle on Sunday morning. This is especially helpful in our camp cleaning efforts as we, together, prepare our facilities for future volunteers and keep our facilities safe. Each weekend, Mountain T.O.P. is offering an optional Community Field Trip lead by staff to a pre-determined surprise site in order to connect with our community and learn about the service area! It is free of charge, and your location will be communicated to you before the end of September!
thursday
3:00 pm Optional Community Field Trip
5:00 pm Registration, including medical screenings
6:00 pm Dinner
Community Orientation
Worship
Field Orientation
Ministry Production Team (MPT) Breakdown & Project Assignments
Friday & Saturday
7:00 am Group Morning Devotional
7:30 am Breakfast
8:00 am MPTs meet & leave for project sites
5:00 pm All MPTs return to camp
6:00 pm Dinner
Sharing
Worship
Fellowship time
sunday
6:45 am Group Morning Devotional
7:00 am Breakfast
7:30 am Camp evaluation
Clean-up
Closing Circle
8:15 am Departure
Previous Projects
Adults in Ministry (AIM) projects are ones that affect the structural integrity, energy efficiency, dryness, and handicap accessibility of a home. These projects include: siding replacement, roof replacement, foundation repair, bathroom remodels, and hallway expansions.
ROOFING PROJECT
The 25 year shingles installed in the 1990’s on this 1960’s home were quickly approaching the end of their lifespan. There were known leaks around the two chimneys of the house and other spots that had been patched in the past. We installed all new metal over the roof and replaced flashing along the chimneys. The shingles were not removed, but instead 1x4 purlins were installed on top of the existing roof. Interior work included replacing the ceiling in the small addition, as that has seen the majority of the water damage.
SIDING PROJECT
Notice of structural damage with this home became apparent when the floor began to sink. Deteriorated siding had left part of the framing exposed as well as revealing damage to the rim joists. Leaking windows contributed to the overall state of disrepair. Over a span of 6 weeks, we made extensive repairs starting with the rim joists. New housewrap and HardiePlank cement siding were installed. The old, leaking windows were replaced with new, energy efficient, vinyl windows. In the near future, we plan to address the roof issues by replacing it with a new, corrugated metal roof.
SIDING PROJECT
The cedar shingles which were siding this home were originally scrap material when the home was built, and over time they have dried out leaving many large gaps and cracks. Combined with the lack of house wrap and sheathing on the gabled ends, this home was very energy inefficient. Mountain T.O.P.’s main focus was correcting this by first repairing or replacing the house wrap and sheathing where it was damaged or missing. We also replaced the cedar shingles with Hardie Plank cement lap siding and the old windows with a more energy efficient version.
Frequently asked questions
Didn’t find all the answers you were looking for in the Core Guide? Still have questions about what the weekend will look like?
Check out our FAQ below!
What are the sleeping accommodations like?
Participants stay in cabins on site. These two cabins have 10 rooms with either two sets of bunk beds or two twin beds. There are bathrooms and a common area in each cabin, along with a refrigerator, coffee station, and beautiful porch to enjoy. Participants are responsible for providing their own bedding and towels.
How are meals provided?
Breakfast and dinner are hot meals provided in our Dining Hall. The kitchen staff will prepare sandwiches for lunch to eat at the worksites. Participants will fill out a form requesting the number and kind of sandwich they want so our kitchen staff can prepare accordingly. All meals from Thursday dinner to Sunday breakfast are provided. Our kitchen staff can accommodate dietary needs and allergies, if you notify us ahead of time. We ask that if you have dietary lifestyle choices that you assist our kitchen staff by providing some of your own food. Please contact Jacey for further questions.
I don’t have any construction experience. Is this a good place for me?
Absolutely! This is why we create Ministry Production Teams (MPTs) so those with little to no skill can be taught by those who do. We see that there are four needs that need addressed: physical, social, emotional, and spiritual. While the physical needs will be met through the home repair work, we highly emphasize building relationships with the families. Taking time to get to know the family is important. Additionally, there are always small tasks to help with, including site clean up and safety coordination.
How are work teams assigned?
On Thursday evening, our staff will facilitate the breakdown of teams. Traditionally, our goal is to create teams with a mix of experience, skills, and backgrounds. This both ensures that every project will have the necessary knowledge to complete the tasks and that volunteers are stretched and meet new people. For this reason, we try to separate family members, couples, and friends when possible.
On any worksite, there is work for every skill level. Because we value meeting the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the family, we encourage Mountain T.O.P. volunteers to spend time building relationships with the families, from a socially-appropriate distance! Furthermore, each Ministry Production Team (MPT) has a Point Person. This person is a pre-designated volunteer that serves as a liaison between Mountain T.O.P.’s Service Area Managers and the rest of the team. The Point Person may have specific experience necessary for the particular project or a plethora of Mountain T.O.P. experience that can help the group feel comfortable on the worksite.
Where exactly am I going, and how do I get there?
The physical address for Camp Cumberland Pines is: 480 Old Hwy 56, Coalmont, TN 37313. We suggest using Google Maps for navigational purposes. You can search “ Mountain Top Service Project ” and it will direct you to the correct place!
find your friends!
When we have an Adults in Ministry program, we post those who allow us on here so that maybe you can connect with the participants of your weekend!