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Dalton is called the Carpet Capital of the World due to the large number of flooring manufacturers in the city. Dalton is located in the northwest corner of Georgia about twenty miles south of the Tennessee border. The city and surrounding areas have a high Hispanic population (around 40%). Due to the current economic situation, we also have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

God has given Grace Presbyterian Church a vision for reaching Dalton and the surrounding areas. A key aspect of this vision is bringing in mission teams to work in the local community. We began hosting mission teams in the summer of 2007 and the ministry has been growing steadily ever since. We are a multi-cultural church with a medical ministry, a construction ministry and a strong outreach to the Hispanic community.

We encourage you to partner with us in these ministries to spread the Gospel in Dalton and the surrounding areas. You will find the work tiring but very rewarding. We always have projects underway and welcome teams any time of the year.

Visiting teams have a variety of work options.

We use construction teams to repair and build homes for the elderly, handicapped and destitute. There is a great need for skilled laborers in everything from framing to roofing to the licensed trades, but if your team does not have skilled laborers we can still use you. We perform all aspects of home construction so there is always a place for everyone. Each job site has a team of 6-10 people. This helps keep everyone busy and productive. Since our construction manager can only be at one place at a time, each team is required to bring at least one person who is able to oversee a worksite. Children twelve and under are not permitted on our worksites.

Many teams come to help us with outreach in the community. These teams help in a variety of ways by hosting VBS programs, Backyard Bible Clubs, or themed day camps. These activities typically target the Hispanic population, especially children. We have a medical ministry that performs house calls, and we encourage medical teams to come and help with this ministry. We also have teams that help other ministries in town such as food banks, thrift stores, crisis pregnancy centers, homeless shelters and prison ministry. We will be glad to help you organize and plan your outreach.

Most teams that come to Dalton do both construction and outreach. Construction work is done in the mornings and afternoons, and outreach programs take place in the evenings. We are more than happy to customize a trip that will best help you meet your trip objectives and also allow us to address the ministry needs in Dalton.

Three meals a day are provided by the congregation of Grace Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate special diets. Those on special diets will need to make their own provision for meals.

Driving is the best means of transportation. If you want to fly, the two best options are the Chattanooga Regional Airport (CHA) located about thirty minutes north of Dalton and the Atlanta Airport (ATL) located about 100 miles south of Dalton. If flying, please rent cars or vans at the airport. It will be necessary to have vehicles for travelling to and from the jobs sites each day.

The maximum capacity of our housing is forty people. Smaller groups are also welcome but groups fewer than 10 will only be able to reserve a week if we can pair you with another team for the week. We recommend that youth groups have a 3 to 1 student/adult ratio for Jr. High and 5 to 1 student/adult ratio for Sr. High.

Children are welcome if you are bringing a family group, but children twelve and under will not be permitted on the worksites. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Some of the most skilled and energetic workers we have are seniors. Those who are unable to do heavy labor can help with other aspects of the project such as keeping the worksite clean and safe or helping with kitchen duties at the church.

We have a newly constructed team mission house located on the Grace Presbyterian campus. The house is air-conditioned and accommodates forty people. There are two large bunkrooms (with bunk beds and mattresses), and each room will sleep twenty people. Each side of the team house has four showers, four sinks, and four toilets.

The church is available for your use during the week and includes a gymnasium and meeting rooms. There is also an athletic field.

The cost for each person is $325.

A $500 deposit is due with your registration form.

A second deposit of $50 per person is due 60 days prior to your arrival and is nonrefundable.

The remaining balance is due upon your arrival.

Deposits are ONLY refundable 60 days prior to your arrival.

Deposits paid for those who do not attend will not be applied to your final balance.

We do foundations, roofing, flooring, painting, finish carpentry and yard work. Requests for help are always coming in so you will need to be flexible as we assign tasks and arrange priorities.

The Church is Christ’s body and we have a mandate to offer compassion and healing to our neighbors. We are called to serve and leave the results to our sovereign God. Since the church is a permanent establishment in the community, your week of service is just the beginning of a relationship with these families. We will continue to follow up and minister to these people.

We have a tool truck and trailer, and a large supply of tools for one job site. However, you should bring a tool belt with hammer, pencil, tape measure, utility knife, etc.

Many of those we help are referred to us by social workers, personal contacts or other ministries. City and county officials also point us to needs in the community.

Most of the homes we work on are in Dalton and the surrounding areas. We have worked on more than 100 homes since 2008!

Most of the homeowners are elderly and/or disabled and cannot help. However, there are times when family members are willing to help, and they just need encouragement and guidance.

You should appoint a person or persons to lead in short devotions each morning before you leave for work. Some groups have had amazing experiences of sharing and/or prayer with the homeowners, and we have had many children and adults pray to receive Christ as their Savior as a result of our outreach. Remember—by serving others, you are being Christ’s body. This is no small responsibility. We often have a “prayer chair” at each job site where team members will take a 10-15 minute shift praying for the homeowners, the team, and the work.

Construction only teams: Breakfast is at 7:00am. Teams arrive at the job site at 8:00 am and return to the church around 4:30 – 5:00 pm. Supper is served at 6:00 pm. Bag lunches are eaten at the work sites.

Construction and Outreach Teams: Breakfast is at 7:00am. Teams arrive at the job site at 8:00 a.m. and work until early afternoon. Bag lunches will be eaten at the worksite. Dinner is served at 5:30pm. VBS or Backyard Bible Clubs are held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Weekly schedule: Teams should arrive on Saturday (after 5:00pm) or Sunday, and depart the following Friday or Saturday (by 10:00am). We are willing to accommodate teams who are unable to spend a full week with us, but our set costs require us to charge you for the full week. We do not do construction on Sundays. Prior to beginning work, all teams will be given a full orientation. Some teams take a half or full day off during the week to rest and sightsee. Some R&R opportunities include hiking in the North Georgia mountains, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River, and sightseeing in Chattanooga and Atlanta.

YES! The majority of teams have come from Presbyterian churches, but we welcome everyone in Christ’s body to put feet on the Gospel. This is a project where we can celebrate the unity of the Church.

Yes, everyone needs to have his own health insurance and you will need to bring proof of insurance with you when you come.

Safety is the highest priority. Bring work gloves, sturdy shoes or work boots (flip-flops and sandals are not permitted on job sites), safety goggles, and any other items you need to avoid injury. Please make sure tetanus shots are updated.

You need to bring your Bible, sleeping bags or sheets, towels and toiletries. Kroger, Kmart and Walmart are nearby. You may want to bring spending money for souvenirs or sight-seeing. Valuables such as cameras, laptops and jewelry are generally safe at the mission house, but any risks to valuable goods are completely your own.

Outreach teams are generally limited to summer weeks when our target children are out of school. These weeks are limited, and we suggest that you contact us well in advance if you have interest in one of these weeks. We are available to host construction teams year round, but planning for the projects is critical and we need at least a month’s notice so please contact us as soon as possible.