DISCOVER Hawkins County VOL. 8
Goshen Valley Volunteer Fire Department Pig & Chick Restaurant The “Home of Swine Dining”
Swift Alumni, Former Teachers Keep Alive the Legacy of Historic African-American School The Hale Family of Rogersville
Achieved National Fame in the Last Century
Of One Accord Ministry Celebrates three decades of service ... feeding the hungry, helping the less fortunate of East Tennessee — page 8
The Journey Home
President James K. Polk and Kentucky Sen. Henry Clay have ties to Hawkins County
Alexander Peter “A.P.” Stewart Tennessee’s highest ranking Confedrate officer
Wild Mountain Rides Motorcycle Touring Maps
Includes 2018 Rogersville/ Hawkins Chamber of Commerce Membership Listing
8 Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Of One Accord Ministry celebrates three decades of service
FEEDING THE HUNGRY, HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE OF EAST TENNESSEE Thirty years ago, Of One Accord Ministry began in a bedroom of a Rogersville home as a result of an enormous need that had been seen by several churches in the area. Those same families had gone to different churches in search of food. Learning of this ongoing need is when Sheldon Livesay felt led by God to begin a local ministry to help feed people in the community. The Area Church Council turned a food pantry over
to the ministry and the rest is history; Of One Accord grew from there. During the first year of operation, 171 people were served, but by the end of 2017, the ministry had grown to serve more than 115,000 people. In 1989, the ministry moved into a small building to increase its capacity to provide food to families in need throughout Hawkins County. The following year, Of One Accord moved into a larger space on the corner of Church Street and Main Street in Rogersville. Not only did this space allow more room to collect food, but also allowed other programs room to flourish. The ministry expanded by doing work for seniors, providing home repairs for those in need, developing a Christmas program for children, and more. Continued on page 11
Sheldon Livesay
OF ONE ACCORD MINISTRY FOUNDER, DIRECTOR
Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Rogersville
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THE SHEPHERD’S CENTER • THRIFT STORE
Senior Meals
Lunch Box Summer Feeding Program
Backpack Distribution
Christmas Food Boxes
Food Pantry
Christmas for Children
Photos by Sheldon Livesay
10 Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Marketplace
CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS HOUSING FOR MISSION TEAMS FACILITY FOR GROUPS
Church Hill
FOOD PANTRY
Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Church Hill
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FREE MEDICAL CLINIC
From page 11
hours to provide services to 1,382,193 people. That is nearly one person served per donated hour! These hours and services In 1996 the ministry expanded to serve people in come to a grand total valued at $49,524,111. Hancock County, including the establishment of a The ministry continued expanding its services thrift store and food pantry. Today, the food pantry The to include a drug recovery program. The Mission in Sneedville feeds nearly one-third of Hancock in Sneedville is Hancock County’s only drug County’s residents who are without jobs. contributions recovery program. The program allows people In just two short years, the ministry of many people, with drug addictions to meet weekly for a expanded yet again to open its third food businesses, hot meal and one-on-one encouragement pantry in Church Hill. In the year 2000, Of One and organizations counseling. An average of 35 people attend Accord opened Church Hill Medical Mission. this program each week. Some of the attendees In 2001 the ministry’s thrift store, The have made Of One are also inmates of the Sneedville jail. FortyShepherd’s Center, purchased a larger building Accord successful in five people have left the program for long-term in Rogersville, formally known as the Heilig its ministry during treatment in a rehab facility. Fourteen people Meyers Building. This Main Street property the past 30 years, have completed the long-term treatment and currently serves as the ministry’s headquarters. remain on the road to recovery. Of One Accord purchased the Market Place Livesay was quick Of One Accord’s service locations are staffed Building on Main Street in Rogersville in 2012. to point out. and each program has a director to maintain the The ministry utilizes this space for its Christmas day-to-day functioning of the ministries. programs in the winter and houses mission teams in Sheldon Livesay, Founder and Director, connects the summer. The facility has another space that can be between the board and each program to ensure that the used by local groups. During the last nine years, the three food pantries have original vision stays on track. He also helps oversee finances, distributed one million pounds of food each year. Over the course of 30 years, more than 400 volunteers a year have donated 1,383,193 Continued on page 13
12 Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Sneedville
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER • THRIFT STORE
THE MISSION DRUG RECOVERY PROGRAM
Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Sneedville Thanksgiving Distribution of Food
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The Crusade
Spring Fest! continued from page 11
Accord make a difference in many ways. “While traveling throughout the county with our Christmas publicity, and sets goals for the ministry. programs, we often find people that we have once served “One of my goals is to always keep before our staff standing on the other side of the lines serving the families and volunteers, that each person is special with both Of One we are helping,” Livesay said, telling the Rogersville physical and spiritual needs and our goal is to treat Review that the ministry also tries to direct people each with dignity as God would have us,” Livesay Accord doesn’t who have accepted Christ toward local churches said. measure its success where they can learn the importance of their The ministry also extends globally with by the number of decision. outreach programs to Haiti, the Dominican people it serves or “We had a situation where a couple joined Republic, the Philippines, Africa, Mexico, a church and the husband was out of work,” India, and Bangladesh. Last year alone, the by the value of the he said. “Shortly thereafter, someone in the global mission program sent $28,200 in goods and services church offered him a job and another church monetary support, provided 91,008 meals, provided, Livesay member to offered the couple a very nice home helped build churches, supported medical said, but by the to rent. Pretty soon their whole situation had care, helped establish schools, and much more. turned around just because they became a part A total of 2,088 salvations were reported from number of people of a church family. We also see lives changed the ministries in these seven countries. that have given when mission teams come in the summer to help Of One Accord doesn’t measure its success their lives to repair homes for families. Many of our clients live in by the number of people it serves or by the value Christ. homes with no bathroom and some without running of the goods and services provided, Livesay said, but water. We have seen a lot of family’s lives change simply by the number of people that have given their lives to by giving them a safer place to live.” Christ. Over the course of the last 30 years, 2,610 people Of One Accord is extremely thankful for the donations and locally and 48,918 people overseas have given their lives to Christ partnerships with local businesses and organizations, he added. The through the help of ministries provided by Of One Accord. All of the different types of ministries provided by Of One continued on page 15
14 Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Medical • Dental • Vision
Photos by Sheldon Livesay
Discover Hawkins County • 2018
continued from page 13
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community needs through public support; serving those in need local Walmart, Food City, and Super Dollar provide a large portion with the love of Jesus. of the fresh food that is distributed. The Boy Scouts and the Letter Carriers have food drives each year to help support the ministry. In celebration of 30 years of service, Of The Second Harvest Food Bank and Operation Blessing also One Accord is asking donors to support the provide food. Kingsway Charities, American Helping Americans, ministry by becoming a 30-30 giver: give $30 a Mission of Hope in Knoxville, Speedway Charities, and many month to commemorate its 30 years of service. others consistently provide donations and support the programs Monetary donations can be mailed to P.O. offered by the ministry. Box 207, Rogersville, TN 37857. You can also The contributions of many people, businesses, and organizations donate by using PayPal on the website at www. have made Of One Accord successful in its ministry during the past ofoneaccordministry.org or by calling 423-92130 years, Livesay was quick to point out. 8044 to make a donation with a card. Future goals for the ministry include: finishing the Market If you would like to donate items, the thrift Place Building on Main Street to include showers and bathrooms to better accommodate mission teams; renovating a donated building store takes most any type of donation and can in Mt. Carmel so it can be rented as a source of income to pay the arrange pick-up for furniture if needed. The rent for the food pantry and medical clinic locations in Church primary number for the thrift store is 423-272Hill, building onto the back of the building in Sneedville to allow 4626. Ninety-seven percent of all donations and more space, and working harder to show the love of Christ to all proceeds from the thrift stores go directly to those who are served. served, and all donations are greatly appreciated. Livesay issued an invitation for people to become involved by supporting Of One Accord staff members and volunteers as they carry out the ministry’s mission of building a cooperative effort among area churches, agencies, and businesses to identify and meet — By Rita Dykes
16 Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Home Repairs
Photos by Sheldon Livesay
Discover Hawkins County • 2018
Volunteers! Volunteers! Volunteers!
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Over the course of 30 years, more than 400 volunteers a year have donated 1,383,193 hours to provide services to 1,382,193 people. That is nearly one person served per donated hour!
We thank you.
There is always a need for volunteers. Come join us.
Mission Statement
Building a cooperative effort among area churches, agencies and businesses to identify and meet community needs through public support; serving those in need with the love of Jesus!
Service Area
SERVING APPALACHIA EAST TENNESSEE
WWW.OFONEACCORDMINISTRY.ORG