A Shared Ministry Initiative of CBF Kentucky and CBF Tennessee

CBF field personnel Scarlette Jasper serves the least of these in the poorest county in the United States. According to a January 2019 USA Today article, McCreary is the only county in America where the majority of residents earn less than $20k annually. Just across the state line, Scott County is the poorest county in Tennessee. 

In 2018, consistent with CBF's commitment to engage rural poverty, CBF Tennessee partnered with Scarlette through our annual Volunteer State Mission Offering in an effort to expand her ministry across the state line into Tennessee. 

Since that time, Scarlette has made considerable relational and ministry inroads among the residents of Scott, offering many of the same ministry facets to residents that she offers across the state line in McCreary. In the last year, Scarlette has developed traction and networks that share Good News to those caught in rural poverty. But there is still a long way to go in this young work. 

That's why CBF Kentucky and CBF Tennessee are joining forces to send resources to the state line where Scarlette's community resource center is in desperate need of toilet paper, washing detergent, baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, tissues, and deodorant. 

Limited Access to Products and Resources

Scott County is a relatively remote place. At the time of printing, stores in Scott were not currently well stocked with the needed items. Most of the families to whom Scarlette ministers wouldn't have the resources (and often not the transportation) to purchase these items consistently - especially not now. Helping Scarlette restock her community closet is an opportunity for us to strengthen Scarlette's network, her ministry, and our witness to Jesus Christ in Scott. 

Here's What We're Asking You to Consider

In the days and weeks ahead consider:

• SHARING the story of Scarlette's ministry in Scott County and the list of items needed. You can learn more about Scarlette's ministry and access a video for sharing with your congregation here. You might also consider incorporating Scarlette into your online worship services to share about her ministry and these needs. You can request her contact info by responding to this email. Consider utilizing Scarlette's ministry to remind your congregation of the missional life to which God calls us, and by so doing engaging their need to help during this time of isolation. 

• ENCOURAGING families in isolation to direct ship one or more of the listed items to Scarlette via Amazon or Wal-Mart (or your preferred shipping outlet) OR if you are able to ship goods from your home with SECURE packaging and at no risk to your family, consider sharing a portion of a resource that you already have in abundance (ie. a Ziploc bag of Tide pods, several rolls of toilet paper, or that trove of hotel shampoos you've been collecting for years). Use the opportunity as a time of lockdown missions education for kids and grandkids.

• WRITING a brief note of encouragement for Scarlette. In the last year, Scarlette has lost the love of her life and gained a beautiful grandchild! Prayers and congratulations are in order as she remains steadfast to her call to be a witness for Jesus Christ through CBF's Together for Hope Appalachia Rural Poverty Initiative.   

Needed Items & Shipping Address

Scarlette is currently in need of the following items:

• Bathroom tissue - how many rolls are sitting in the closet at church?

• Cleaning supplies - any

• Antibacterial hand soap 

• Body wash

• Deodorant

• Laundry detergent

• Dish detergent

• Shampoo and conditioner

• Non-perishable foods including: bagged beans, rice, peanut butter, tuna, canned chicken, soups, etc. 

Mail these items to:

Rev. Scarlette Jasper
First Baptist Church
401 N Laurel Ave
Corbin, KY 40701 

Shipping alternative: if your church is in the Knoxville area and willing to gather your offering, CBF-endorsed hospice chaplain and Coordinating Council member Ben Neal is glad to transfer larger loads to Scarlette! 

Please consider how you might "spare a square" for Scott and Scarlette! And thank you for practicing resurrection and restoration in the time of Covid!