Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Over 200 participants in this year's Jerusalem Project stand on the steps of Tabernacle Baptist Church just before leaving to start work Monday morning.

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Acts 1:8 is printed on the back of the 2013 Jerusalem Project t-shirts.

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Alison Coker gives instructions Monday morning as project participants split up into groups.

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UNION — Union County’s third-annual Jerusalem Project got its official start Monday morning.

The Tabernacle Baptist Church Family Life Center was filled with volunteers Monday for the kickoff of The Jerusalem Project, during which local churches bring youth together to work as part of a week-long project to serve others within their hometown.

“The Jerusalem Project” originated in 2004 in Cherokee County with 30-40 people and 4-5 projects. The Cherokee County project now has more than 700 volunteers and takes on approximately 40 projects. The Jerusalem Project began in Union County in 2011, and similar projects have also begun in Chesnee.

Locally, the project continues to grow each year, as there are more than 200 participants who will work this week in Union County. On Monday morning, participants gathered in the Tabernacle Baptist Church Family Life Center to become acquainted with the week’s game plan. Each participant had on a red Jerusalem Project t-shirt, and the back of the shirts displayed Acts 1:8, which is where the project got it’s name:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Project organizer Alison Coker explained that Jerusalem was the disciples’ hometown, and they were called to fulfill a need there. She said there is a need in Union County, and The Jerusalem Project is working to fulfill that need.

Each morning, participants will work on at least 22 homes in Union, building wheelchair ramps, making repairs, painting and doing yard work. Although some of the work plans were somewhat hindered on Monday due to a downpour of rain, Coker said plenty was accomplished.

Each afternoon, participants will work at various project sites such as Union County Pregnancy Center, Ellen Sagar Nursing Home, Oakmont of Union, Jacob’s Well, Union County YMCA, Union County Recreation Department, and others.

“I’m excited to see what God will do through the people whose homes we are working in,” Coker said, explaining that several homeowners have expressed that they have many religious questions.

Each night, all participants have dinner together and enjoy a worship service. Coker mentioned she is particularly excited about the participation of a church which is new to The Jerusalem Project this year — Wyatt’s Chapel Baptist Church. She said she hopes Wyatt’s Chapel’s participation will open the door for even more churches to participate in the future.

Look for more information and an in-depth look at the work being done in Union through The Jerusalem Project in next week’s editions of The Union Daily Times and at www.uniondailytimes.com.

Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@civitasmedia.com.