God is Working in Hurley
KATIE RICARD, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY
“God is working in Hurley.” That’s the phrase printed across the T-shirts we receive at the end of our week there, and every year, I’m struck by how perfectly it captures the experience. St. James’s is incredibly fortunate to be part of a vibrant tradition, remaining one of the few area churches that offer dedicated mission trips for both middle school and high school youth. Even in a season as packed as summer—where our youth balance work, camp, and family vacations—they consistently choose to make this time for service. Every year, they return to Hurley with genuine excitement and open hearts, eager to be a part of the transformative work God is doing there.
After five trips to Hurley, it’s impossible to capture the magic of this place fully, but I’ll try. The community is nestled in the mountains and hollers of rural Southwest Virginia, where smoke rises off the hills after the rain. Green stretches in every direction; it is a rugged and breathtaking landscape. The people of Hurley are some of the kindest and most compassionate you will ever meet. In a county where 23% of the population lives below the poverty line—nearly double the state average—they will still send you away with shoes for your children or surprise you with an ice-cream cake on your birthday.
Our youth spent three full days doing home repairs. They rebuilt rotted steps for elderly residents who shared that they could never have afforded the repairs themselves. Our youth listened to stories of life in Hurley and what it was like to work in the coal mines. They played dominoes and made friendship bracelets with local children. They learned how to use drills and power saws, but more importantly, they built relationships, bridged cultures, and gained perspective on what truly matters in life.
It’s not what we have; it’s who we spend our time with. It’s the community we create and how we show up for one another in times of need. It’s loving our neighbor as ourselves and taking the time to listen to a story. Every summer, it is a gift to watch our youth experience Hurley and all it offers. God is working in Hurley—and everyone walks away changed.