Mountain T.O.P. 50th Anniversary Keynote Address by Ed Simmons

Hello Friends!

What an honor and joy it is to be gathered here today—friends, family, volunteers, current & former staff and partners— all members of the Mountain T.O.P. family spanning generations. We are here to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone. Today is more than a celebration of 50 years—it's a moment to pause and thank God for all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do through this extraordinary ministry.

As I look out upon those gathered today, I take great joy in seeing the Bass Family. George Bass, our founder and first executive director, heard God speak about a people that needed to hear and feel the love of Christ and through those words developed the vision for Mountain T.O.P. So, seeing Rene & Gail here warms my heart. I’m sorry Trish could not attend. We would not be here today without their incredible leadership, sacrifice and commitment. No one will ever know the extent of their investment to begin and grow this life-changing ministry. Thank you for your gift of this ministry. It has made and continues to make a difference for Jesus in all who share this experience. 

I am also thankful to share this celebration tonight with my wife, Glynn, and daughter Diana. They, along with my son Stephen and their families, invested and sacrificed much to help this ministry continue and prosper. They share a bond with the Bass family that few will ever understand.  

I am curious who is here tonight and your connection to this ministry. Please stand and remain standing as I mention how you are connected to Mountain T.O.P. – past & present

• Bass Family

• Simmons Family

• Willems & Keel Families

• Summer Staff

• Support/Full-time Staff (including kitchen and maintenance staff)

• Board Member

• Fisher of People Hall of Fame

• Volunteer/Camper

• Day Camp Camper

• Summer Staff Partner

• Contributor

• Community Partner

Well, I guess I can stop right now. You all already know the impact this ministry has had for Christ for 50 years. Please give yourselves a round of applause. It is these hearts and souls that have built the legacy of Mountain T.O.P.

I will do my best in the next few minutes to honor this legacy to reflect on 50 years of life-transforming ministry.

George identified two scriptures that would be the foundation upon which the ministry would be built. The first is from Matthew 4:18-20. It serves as a foundational reflection of Mountain T.O.P.’s mission.

One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw two brothers. They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen. "Come. Follow me," Jesus said. "I will make you fishers of people." At once they left their nets and followed him.

Just as Jesus called Peter and Andrew to leave behind their ordinary tasks and follow Him, Mountain T.O.P. invites people into a life of intentional service and discipleship. Volunteers, staff, and community members step away from their routines to respond to a higher calling—to meet people’s needs through Christ-centered community. It's about following Jesus and becoming agents of His hope and healing in the world.

Jesus took ordinary fishermen and transformed their purpose. Similarly, Mountain T.O.P. empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things—whether it's a youth discovering their voice as a leader, a homeowner regaining hope through a new roof, or a volunteer deepening their walk with Christ through service. This calling happens early in Jesus’ public ministry. It’s significant because it sets the tone for how Jesus would build his community—not with religious elites, but with everyday people willing to follow him in faith.

“Similarly, Mountain T.O.P. empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things—whether it’s a youth discovering their voice as a leader, a homeowner regaining hope through a new roof, or a volunteer deepening their walk with Christ through service.”

— Ed Simmons

Jesus doesn’t just call people to believe—he calls them to change their life’s direction. The invitation to follow him is also an invitation to a new purpose, where their talents, background, and identity are used in service of God's work.

To help remind our volunteers of this purpose, George chose the Fishhook. It has been the symbol for Mountain T.O.P. since the beginning. The fishhook is a unique part of this ministry – one that helps bring into focus our purpose. Tens of thousands have been given to volunteers. For us, it is a reminder of Christ’s challenge to drop our nets and go fish for people.

In my time as a volunteer and Executive Director I was blessed to witness hundreds of Friday Fishhook Services. The message of commitment and challenge was given by a very diverse group of summer staffers and support staff. I, too, had the privilege to give that message. I often told folks that witnessing campers respond to the call to go fish for people, was the real paycheck. I left most services in tears. 

My own relationship with this ministry began in the late 80’s and significantly influenced my own personal faith journey. That first experience was at a camp held at Fall Creek Falls. I met some folks on the staff that became important, life-long friends. That camp was led by Director Gail Bass Castle. It also included Marshal Graves and Paul Harcey. All three have played a significant part in my ministry and faith journey for over 30 years. Little did they know how just one week with this Texan employed in the oil and gas business would end up shaping what became a 40+ year ministry career. 

I want to take a minute to talk about this small block of wood that hangs around my neck. It too has played a significant role in this ministry since the beginning.

The wood chip is a humble material, reflecting the humility and servanthood that lie at the heart of Mountain T.O.P.’s ministry. Just as Christ came not to be served but to serve, the wooden name tag reminds participants that they are there to serve others in a simple, selfless way—without fanfare or ego.

Wearing a wood chip name tag is a visible sign that someone is part of the Mountain T.O.P. community—a family of faith bound not by status or denomination, but by a shared commitment to Christian service, partnership, and love. It breaks down barriers of age, background, and experience, signaling that everyone is known by name and equally valued. The wood chip nametag is recognized widely throughout our service area. It opens doors and provides opportunities for conversation and sharing.

Camper nametags are cut from local tree branches. For many years Bill Joy would make these blanks for use in our camps. He developed a jig where he could produce many at a time. 

This style of name tag is a symbol of someone on staff - support staff and summer staff or Board members. Over the years some have been given to key volunteers to recognize their sacrificial service. For more years than I know, Reed Bradford handmade these name tags. As with most anything Reed did, the process was meticulous and done with great care. A unique aspect is how the name was applied to the wood. The name was burned into the wood, not with a woodburning tool, but the sun. He took a magnifying glass and sat in the sun to carefully burn each name. I would guess that Reed made well over 1000 of these name tags. 

This particular name tag is very special to me. Reed made this for me in the late 90s when I was volunteering at Baker Mountain. I spent a lot of time there with my friend Scott from Texas while wiring the camp. Reed made us name tags to thank us and help us when we went into the community. I used this nametag every day during my tenure as Executive Director. I pressed a fishhook into it to remind me daily of our mission.

I am just one of many who claim that their faith has been influenced by their Mountain T.O.P. experiences. It is through this ministry that many see Christ’s abundant love lived out in real and tangible ways.

So how did this life-changing, life-beginning ministry start? 

Mountain T.O.P. is a ministry born from faith, driven by compassion, and sustained by God’s unshakable grace. Half a century of faithful service, tireless compassion, and unwavering commitment to our neighbors here in the Cumberland Mountains and beyond.

Fifty years. What a legacy. What a testimony. What a mountain moved by faith.

We are all present today because we experienced something holy through our participation at Mountain T.O.P. We are all connected by receiving and sharing Christ’s unconditional love and its transforming power. That includes campers, volunteers, summer staff, partners, and support staff. In other words, all of you!

Fifty years ago, a small group of young people from Blakemore United Methodist Church in Nashville, led by George Bass, dared to believe that their faith was more than words, more than worship and more than just singing a song. They believed that faith could swing a hammer, patch a roof, lift a neighbor’s burden, and offer a child a glimpse of hope. And in the summer of 1975, they stepped out in faith and acted on that belief. And from that simple, powerful beginning, Mountain T.O.P. was born.

They began with a vision—God’s vision planted in the hearts of those believers who looked at the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of this community and said “What if we put our faith into action? They didn’t wait for the world to change; they answered the call of Christ to be that change. They came not with grand plans or blueprints, but simply with open hearts and willing hands. They listened. They prayed. They showed up where they were needed. 

With humble tools and willing hearts, they stepped out in faith. What started as a summer outreach program quickly became a year-round mission of love, relationships, and repair—of homes, of lives, of spirits. They laid the foundation for a Christ-centered ministry rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope.

That summer changed lives. And so has every summer—and every season—since. Let’s just pause and let that sink in:

What began as a youth mission trip has grown into a year-round, faith-based ministry that has welcomed tens of thousands of volunteers and touched thousands of lives—through home repair, children’s programs, and leadership development, all grounded in the radical idea that Christian community and Christ’s unconditional love can transform the world.

It began not just with hammers and nails, but with open arms and servant hearts. From the very first home repaired, to the first child who felt seen and valued, to the first young leader shaped by this ministry, Mountain T.O.P. has never been about numbers—it’s always been about the people.

So today, we celebrate the impact and reflect with deep gratitude all that has been accomplished.

We give thanks for the families who have opened their homes and hearts to us. 

We give thanks for the volunteers, from all ages and walks of life, who chose to give their time, energy, and love.

We give thanks for the staff and leaders—past and present—who have faithfully guided this ministry.

We give thanks to the partners that have given funds, resources materials, and prayers that have supported this ministry in all aspects. 

And most of all, we give thanks to God who called us here, and who continues to breathe life into this mission every single day.

We are here today because Mountain T.O.P. never lost sight of its mission—to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of all people we encounter, through Christian community and faith-based relationships.

And what does that look like?

It looks like a teenager from another state picking up a paintbrush for the first time and realizing the power of service.

It looks like a single mom in our service area weeping with joy because her leaking roof has finally been fixed.

It looks like the senior adult able to leave their home safely for the first time in a long time due to the new porch and ramp built by loving volunteers.

It looks like a child attending Day Camp who learns, maybe for the first time, that they are loved deeply—by us and by a God who never lets go.

It looks like young adults being formed into leaders —not just to lead here, but to go into the world as builders of hope, bridges, and faith.

Because of Mountain T.O.P., children have discovered their God given potential. Homes have been made warmer, safer, and drier.
Young leaders have formed - many of whom are here with us tonight—who have gone on to serve, to lead, to love, in their own communities and far beyond.

This ministry is not just about fixing broken things—it’s about restoring dignity, building relationships, and proclaiming the Gospel through action.

And while tonight is about looking back, it's also about looking forward. Because the work is not finished.

I used to get frustrated in my early years as Executive Director with our seeming lack of progress at eliminating substandard housing and really changing the overall well-being within our service area. I then was reminded that our objectives were to meet physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs. Every one of those focused on the person. So, as long as there are people, this ministry is needed and relevant. 

There are still families living in unsafe housing. There are still children yearning for someone to believe in them. There are still young people searching for purpose, eager to know they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Mountain T.O.P. stands ready—not only to continue—but to grow, to innovate, and to lead in how we serve our neighbors through love in action. So, let’s keep going. Let’s keep serving. Let’s keep loving. There is still a lot of work to do!

Fifty years later, Mountain T.O.P. stands as a beacon of God’s love on the Cumberland Plateau and beyond. From minor repairs that restore comfort to major repairs that restore safety… from pouring into the lives of children to raising up young leaders… from moments of laughter around the dinner table… to quiet, sacred prayers on front porches—we have seen how Christian community can transform lives.

We have evolved. But we have never lost sight of our foundational objectives: to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of all people we encounter—through Christ-centered relationships, the unconditional love of Christ and the power of partnership.

Over these five decades, thousands of volunteers have come from across the country—some for a summer, some for a week, and many for a lifetime. They’ve come not just to give, but to receive. And that’s the beauty of Mountain T.O.P. —everyone is changed. Everyone is ministered to. That’s the mystery and grace of God's Kingdom.

We celebrate tonight not just the impact we’ve had, but the lives we've touched—and the lives that have touched us. We celebrate every homeowner who trusted us with their story. Every child who walked into Day Camp and found joy. Every youth who discovered their purpose while holding a hammer or leading a devotion. Every staff member who gave a season—or many—to pour into this work.

And yes, we remember those we’ve lost. Saints and servants who paved the way. We carry their memory with us. Their legacy lives on in every nail driven, every smile shared, and every prayer whispered over this mountain. Their fingerprints are all over this ministry. It is upon their shoulders we stand. It is their faithfulness, love of Christ and love for this ministry that stand as a powerful example for each of us. We would not be here today without the commitment of

• George Bass

• Reed & Deeda Bradford

• Tony Brawner

• Dotti Campbell

• J. Doehring

• Bill & Bobbi Joy

• Ben Neal

• Ken Swift

• Owen Warren

• Mary Margaret Willems
  

  … to name a few. I know there are so many more, but I worked closely with these saints and was blessed personally by their vision, leadership, friendship and wisdom. While they have all gone on to be with Jesus, they left and incredible legacy of faith and witness with everyone they encountered. All who knew them saw Christ in them and are better for it!

And as we look to the future, we do so with the same spirit that sparked this movement 50 years ago. Faith in God. Love for people. And the conviction that mountains can still be moved.

So, what’s next?

We stand today on holy ground—not just to look back, but to look forward. Because the need is still great. Families still need safe homes. Children still need mentors. Young people still need a place to find their calling and all we encounter need to know they are loved – totally & unconditionally. God is still calling us to respond.

The next 50 years will require new courage, new creativity, and renewed commitment. But we do not go forward alone. We go with God. We go together. We go in faith.

To everyone who has ever packed a bag, driven a van, led a devotion, swung a hammer, or offered a prayer—thank you. You are part of this story. And the story isn’t over.

As Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:9—“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Here’s to 50 years of Mountain T.O.P. And here’s to the future—bright, bold, and held in the hands of a faithful God.

I mentioned earlier that there were two scriptures that served as the foundation for Mountain T.O.P. for 50 years. The second is from Matthew 28:18-20. This scripture has been used since its inception to send our volunteers into the valley below. So, it seems appropriate to remind all present that our work is not done.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mountain T.O.P. has faced challenges, transitions, and seasons of growth over its 50 years. The promise that Christ is “with you always” is a reminder that the work is never done alone. Christ sustains the ministry, strengthens the workers, and touches the lives of those served.

So, friends, go and make disciples. There is still work to be done! Thank you and may God bless each of you and Mountain T.O.P.

Amen.