Big Creek Missions began in 2002 when students in the Chilhowee Baptist Association recognized the need to serve the wonderful people in Appalachia. Through partnerships with multiple churches, the Association began a mission trip that would offer a quality trip (at a low cost) to local students while reaching out to people in one of the neediest areas of the country.

In 2004, over 100 adults and students from the Chilhowee Association traveled to Leslie County to serve through daycamps, construction, and sports ministry. For one week, these volunteers lived at the Big Creek Elementary School in Leslie County.  They completed several home repair projects, and led one daycamp location for the children in Hyden. 

In 2005, 160 students from 12 different churches in East Tennessee partnered and served in Leslie County.  Our teams moved down the road to Stinnett Elementary, and served throughout Leslie County, providing multiple home repairs and one large daycamp in the town of Hyden.  

In 2006, we were amazed at the number of volunteers who chose to serve with us in Leslie County.  450 students and adults served over a two week time span. Based out of Stinnett elementary again, the volunteers served through ommunity ministries, construction ministries, and childrens ministries.   Dozens came to recognize the Hope that Christ provides.

2007 was an unbelievable summer.  Because Big Creek Elementary had recently closed, the school board asked if we could move back to Big Creek.   We had a huge task on our hands preparing the school for our volunteers - but our volunteer staff was able to pull it together just before the arrival of the teams.   During this month of ministry, almost 700 students and adults served in Southeast Kentucky. The ministries expanded into Clay County, Perry County, Leslie County, and even Laurel County.  God has shown his amazing work... We were able to partner with several churches in Hazard who enabled us to expand ministries in that area. Dozens came to know Christ as a result of the Christ-centered ministries of these students and adults!

2008 - This was a HUGE year of change for Big Creek.   Big Creek Missions was able to obtain a long term lease on the old Big Creek School and call it our new home!   Hundreds of volunteers came to the center during the spring of 2008 to begin renovations.    In 2008, over 1200 volunteers served during the summer months, and well over 1800 volunteers gave their time to serve at our ministry center through the entire year. Dozens of homes were repaired, and hundreds of residents lives were touched. Through various ministries, we can definitely say God used Big Creek to impact people's lives. Some traveled from as far away as Florida, Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire! It is safe to say that each volunteer returned home with a renewed passion for missions and ministry.

In 2009, God has continued to bless this humble ministry center. With hundreds of volunteers and supporters from across the country, we continue to see lives changed. It's not only the lives of people in the community, but the volunteers lives have been changed.

That is the biggest transformation of all.  Big Creek has changed a lot in the past few years.  But,  the biggest change of all has been in the hearts of the volunteers who have served at Big Creek.    The volunteers who have served at Big Creek in the past couple of years have recognized that missions is about Christ changing US first - then using us to impact others lives.  We humbly recognize our need for Christ, and truly want to be a bright light in this community reflecting the His light.