Last month, Kaylee Gunnoe ’26 traveled to McDowell County, West Virginia, as part of an Azusa Pacific University Global Engagement trip, where she spent time serving and connecting with the local community. Through hands-on service and everyday conversations, Gunnoe gained a deeper understanding of the challenges the community faces and what it looks like to show up with compassion and a willingness to help.
Gunnoe originally hadn’t planned on being a part of the McDowell County trip, but felt a strong sense of conviction through her church, which led her to go. “I was getting hints related to the Great Commission, getting out of my comfort zone, and following God’s calling, even if I was hesitant at first,” said Gunnoe. “Because of that, I ended up signing up.”
Upon arriving, Gunnoe and the rest of the team had the opportunity to hold two Bible studies on opposite sides of the county. “We introduced ourselves and did a testimony panel, sharing about how we all abided in God, and how important it is to immerse ourselves in a Christian community,” said Gunnoe. Being scared to testify, Gunnoe journaled out her thoughts that she wanted to go over in her testimony. “While that was helpful, it led me to not focus on what God truly had for my life,” said Gunnoe. “It compounded into this overwhelming sense of control, and I didn’t feel good about it.” Because of this situation, Gunnoe knew she had to surrender herself to God to truly impact the lives of those around her. “This time was different. As soon as I began sharing about how I have abided in Christ, the apprehension and the anxiety I felt on the first day were gone,” said Gunnoe. “I felt this overwhelming sense of peace and comfort in knowing that I wouldn’t say everything perfectly, but that God would be the one planting the seeds through my testimony, not me.” Gunnoe knew that her time in McDowell County was limited, but that God would always be present and moving through the community’s lives.
Gunnoe and the team also helped organize and prepare meals for a food pantry called God’s Outreach Center in Crane Creek Hollow. “It was led by a woman named Tildy, who I had several conversations with,” said Gunnoe. “We talked about why she started it and how she wanted to glorify God through it.” Tildy was a prime example of how God’s light works in people’s lives. “The conversations I had with her showed how much she trusts God and how much she is willing to surrender to follow His calling for her.” Despite struggling to acquire the food pantry and provide the food, Tildy continued to persevere. “Through God’s strength, her pantry today is doing amazing,” said Gunnoe. “There is an abundance of food, and the community can count on her to support them.”
Tildy’s food pantry is a big pillar of the community within Crane Creek Hollow because of the suffering economy. “The money made in West Virginia doesn’t stay in West Virginia,” said Gunnoe. “When coal is mined and processed, it gets sent out of the county, leading to little money being earned by the residents of McDowell County.” Due to the economic situation in West Virginia, many of the residents suffer from poverty and broken homes. “There is a lot of drug abuse here, which leads to overdoses and deaths within families,” said Gunnoe. “A high percentage of kids within the county have single parents or live with grandparents. They do not have a traditional family structure.” This leads to a lot of distrust in the community, especially in relation to religion and the church. “A lot of people are scared of Christianity because traditions are different here,” said Gunnoe. “Our host, Paul, told me that one of the little girls he leads Bible study for told him that she is scared of church because of negative experiences in the past.” Due to experiences like these, many children are turned away from the church, and the county is very divided.
Gunnoe’s host, Paul, also greatly impacted her time. “He was able to talk to everyone within the community and be helpful whenever there was a need,” said Gunnoe. “Seeing firsthand the brokenness throughout the county, I saw him try to alleviate it in any way that he could.” Seeing how he acted, Gunnoe was pushed to think of ways to bring reconciliation between people and the church. “The Body of Christ cannot be full without everyone together,” said Gunnoe. “The division and hostility were very evident between the different denominations, especially how that hostility pushed people away from wanting to know Christ.” Gunnoe was inspired by this to shine God’s love through her daily interactions. “First impressions matter so much, and what I do illustrates who God is,” said Gunnoe. “If I don’t act like Christ, people are going to assume that’s what Christianity is about. Being able to show God’s love and follow in Jesus’ footsteps of serving is what I want to do.”
After returning home, Gunnoe realized that she had been taking many parts of her life
for granted. “We have it so good, and that has led me to really think about how complacent
I have become within how I serve or who I talk to,” said Gunnoe. Although Gunnoe
loved the opportunity to serve across the country again, she knows there are plenty
of ways to serve from her own backyard. “Mission trips don’t need to be out of the
state. You can pursue a mission by setting up a Bible club and inviting people to
share their testimonies about how He has worked in your life,” said Gunnoe.
This McDowell County mission trip truly changed Gunnoe’s perspective on her life. Although she has gone on several mission trips before, she has noticed how her faith has strengthened throughout each one. “You need to be prepared for what God has for you because crazy stuff can happen. You need to be rooted in your faith while being flexible enough to change your perspective.”
Gunnoe’s experience in McDowell County reflects the heart of APU’s mission to meet communities with humility, faith, and a willingness to serve. Through moments of surrender, honest conversations, and witnessing both hardship and resilience, Gunnoe discovered that impact is not defined by distance but by obedience and compassion. Her journey is a reminder that meaningful change begins with a posture of availability to God’s calling, whether across the country or within one’s own community.