Sharing Ministries

Habitat for Humanity partners with people in our community, and all over the world, to help them build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage enabling Habitat homeowners to achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families.

For over 20 years, Laurel Youth has been organizing Habitat for Humanity trips for our high school youths to learn first hand the power of helping others and experiencing other communities. We have had nearly 300 youths chaperoned by over 100 adults actively participate in the building of Habitat homes in Indiana, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arkansas.

A local organization started by Rev. Jack Travelstead, Midwest Missions provides humanitarian relief by distributing kits, resources and supplies in response to disasters.

The tie between Baby Fold Camp and Laurel has run strong for over 3 decades.

Baby Fold, founded in 1902, offers a variety of programs that prevent neglect, offer therapy, and education to children and families who face exceptional challenges. Each year 45 of their children with severe emotional disorders are given the opportunity to attend Baby Fold Camp at Lake Bloomington. Some may struggle with managing conflict and forming relationships. Most have trouble with their behavior and may express this by physically or verbally acting out, which often-times prevents them from attending traditional camps.

Being a camp counselor provides teens an opportunity to follow God’s call by showing love and support to these children through a variety of planned activities. Since 1992, Laurel has sent over 100 of our teens to serve as youth counselors at Baby Fold Camp, and the youth at Laurel have raised over $40,000 to help offset camp expenses.