Lonnie and Belinda Riley
P.O. Box 282
Lynch, KY 40855
lbriley98@aol.com

GETTING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS

Mission Service Corps missionaries Lonnie and Belinda Riley returned to their childhood home in Lynch, Ky., to settle a mother's estate in late 1998. During their visit, their hearts were burdened with the needs of the people in this Appalachian Mountain area. In February 1999, they told their church family in Southaven, Miss., they would be leaving. God was prompting them to return to Lynch. 
Lynch, Ky., is not a place one goes to for what it can offer. When asked, "What kind of job will you find there?" the Rileys replied, "There are no jobs." When prompted further to tell how they planned to live, they said simply, "By faith." They sold their home in Mississippi and used the money to renovate the old Lynch homestead as a Bed and Breakfast. This allows them to have some income, and also to help house family, friends, missionaries, and whomever God sends their way. 

They soon established the non-profit ministry "Meridzo," a Greek word for Care. The Meridzo Center provides counseling on spiritual matters, as well as assisting with food, clothing, and other material needs such as home repair and utility bills. They also work with Manna House and Freedom Center, which also helps community residents with essential needs.

They have recently acquired an old hospital within their city which they have named Solomon's Porch. It had many renovations before being purchased and is still in need of many more. To Belinda and Lonnie, who are a perfect example of living by faith, they have no apprehensions of the work to be done. God will take care of all the needs. Solomon's Porch is to be used as a year-round Christian retreat center. It will also be used to house church groups or individuals wanting to come for a few days or for week-long missions service. They are planning on establishing a radio station on the top floor to reach many of the people in the remote back hills of Harlan County. 

Harlin County is one of the most severely depressed counties in Kentucky. The estimated population is 36,000, with 13,000 living in poverty. Unemployment and poverty rates are 150 percent more than the U.S. average. Forty-nine percent of those enrolled in high school do not graduate. In the 50-county area of the Appalachian Ministry, 51,097 households have an annual income of less than $10,000 with 48 percent of those incomes less than $5,000 a year. It is almost unbelievable that 16,691 housing units have no well or public or private water source; 25,885 households do not have vehicles; and 26,116 cannot afford a telephone. The absence of transportation and the physical isolation create serious accessibility problems for health care and emergency situations. The rural resident must pay 30 percent more for their food because of inaccessible large supermarkets. The old coal camp houses are almost 100 years old and are inadequately insulated and dangerous because of faulty wiring. Sagging floors, leaking roofs, peeling paint, and rotting clapboards are common. The fight for survival has left many exhausted, bitter, and hopeless. The Rileys try to meet the many needs, and their work is hard. They find themselves physically and emotionally entangled in the lives of these people. 

The Riley's have two daughters, Lisa and Amy; and one son, Brian. Brian works with his parents in their ministry. Lisa and husband, JR, live in Ohio, and Amy and her husband live in Mississippi. The Rileys have three granddaughters, Allisa, Gabriel, and Jesika and one grandson, Gavin. It is hard being away from them, but they have family gathering several times a year.

To the Rileys, each day is an adventure. They know God provides, and He is the strength in their life. Pray for recovery in the area-that there will be good jobs, education, and adequate housing and medical care. Even more than these, pray God would grant their community a Great Awakening such as never seen before. "Do it here, with the mountain people, O Lord. Pour out your Spirit upon us," said the Rileys.

The Rileys invite you to come to Appalachia. The majestic grandeur of the region will not disappoint you and just possibly you will catch a glimpse of the joys, struggles, and triumphs of the mountain people. 

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVE

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