Carpenter’s Hands, a local ministry focused on community service projects, seeks to meet the practical and personal needs of Grant County and beyond.
Mia Slane, Abbie Cormier and Austin Snively are current students at Taylor leading the organization for Upland residents. They invest resources, volunteers and time in the physical and spiritual health of local communities.
The program operates under Taylor World Outreach, a division of the student activities office that connects students with local ministries and mission trips. The current focus of Carpenter’s Hands is home projects and construction work. Their first local partnership is with the Christian Center in Anderson, which assists the homeless and victims of domestic violence.
“We want to build connections with families and share the Gospel,” Slane, a senior public relations student, said. “We want to be dependable — someone they know and trust. There are physical needs but connection is the goal.”
The program is based off of a previous community service program at Taylor, which David Neel, Samuel Morris residence hall director, co-directed as a student. He said the program had a significant impact on the campus and community when it was active, with one of their largest projects being framing a home for Habitat for Humanity.
“Some of the guys on Sammy Two wanted to serve but they needed the opportunities and tools,” Neel said. “I told them, ‘This is what we did and it worked when we were here. Maybe it’s time to bring that back.’”
Neel encouraged the group’s reformation but directed most practical details to Taylor World Outreach.
Neel hopes that Carpenter's Hands will bless both the neighborhoods in the area and the students that serve them, he said. He emphasized the importance of Taylor students stepping into community service.
“It is hard not to take the posture of the Taylor towel when one is shoveling dirt in town or picking up litter,” Neel said. “This is an opportunity to grow in leadership and understanding of serving humbly.”
Scott Fenstermacher, assistant professor of kinesiology and clinical specialist, has connected students with service opportunities in Upland and abroad during his time at Taylor. Fenstermacher believes that Christians should be involved in serving others as “individual image bearers of Christ.” He has led Community Plunge in Hartford City for the past four years and the J-Term Dominican Republic missions trip for the past three years.
“Christ very clearly demonstrates servant leadership,” Fenstermacher said. “He washed his disciples’ feet and cared for the needs of the oppressed and marginalized. If we claim to be Christians our life should emulate service and care for others—not to earn our salvation, but in response to what He’s done for us.”
Carpenter’s Hands is a growing ministry. Their first project in mid-October was reframing a house in Jonesboro. They also have a repair project with the Christian Center scheduled for early November.
Slane, Cormier and Snively expressed excitement about providing opportunities for fellow Taylor students to serve their neighbors outside of campus.
“We’d love to help more people get involved," Snively said. “We hope to follow up with people, pray for them and show them the love of Christ.”
Connecting with the organization is not automatic participation in everything — just a way to learn about opportunities. Students interested in working with Carpenter’s Hands can email Abbie Cormier (abbie_cormier@taylor.edu) for more information. They can also look at the program’s Instagram page (@carpentershandstu).
Neel encouraged students to take these opportunities to serve.
“Upland and Grant County is a great place,” he said. “This is a good way to get to know the people calling Upland their home.”
