Photo contributed by Kalie Kelch
Photo contributed by Kalie Kelch
Photo contributed by Kalie Kelch
Life is better when done in community, which is the beauty of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its varied ministries. This summer, Maranatha Volunteers International and Georgia-Cumberland Academy (GCA) are working together to gut and rebuild 54 rooms in the girls’ dormitory.
The adventure began three days after graduation, when GCA faculty and staff joined forces with Maranatha volunteers to remove the cabinets, bunk beds, carpet, and drop ceiling. The project, supported by donors of GCA’s Forward Together Campaign, stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when people work together for a common goal — providing a safe, inviting space for students to worship, relax, study, laugh, and belong together.
Since 1969, Maranatha Volunteers International has worked across 89 countries and regions, mobilizing skilled volunteers to construct and renovate facilities for Seventh-day Adventist schools, churches, and camps. Due to the assistance of volunteers, it can cost a third less than a regular contractor.
“We want to make a difference, and helping a church or school save money is our way of giving back,” said Dave Wilbur, who is coordinating the GCA project alongside his wife Pam.
Pam and Dave Wilbur’s story with Maranatha stretches back more than 50 years to the very trip where, as teenagers, they first met and fell in love. Now retired, Dave draws on a lifetime of work as a general contractor to pour his energy into projects just like this one.
For Joy Thomas, this renovation is her eighth Maranatha project, but her journey to her first one is a story all its own.
After losing her husband 11 years ago, Joy found herself adrift. “The loneliness began to move in like a fog. I realized I could ‘let go’ and give up on life, or I could search for a way to be a blessing to others — a reason to live,” said Thomas. So when a Maranatha project at Mt. Pisgah Academy, just 20 minutes from her home, came up, she signed up. “I found in doing Maranatha projects an identity, fellowship, companionship, and a lot of exercise.”
GCA is grateful for Maranatha’s support and partnership. As a boarding school, the dormitories are central to its program, and the last time they were renovated was more than 40 years ago. “Gordon Bietz told us during our groundbreaking program that ‘when we invest in the spaces where the students live, play, and study, we show them that they matter to us — that they are important,’” said Serge Gariepy, GCA principal.
Sydney Sharpe has spent two years living in the dorm, and is excited to spend her junior and senior years in a newly renovated space. “I can’t wait to have more space in my room to hang out with my friends. I love living in the dorm because I always have someone to talk to and support me, and there is always something going on, so I’m never bored.”
God continues to move on GCA’s campus. The transformation happening is meaningful, mission‑driven, and already making a difference in the lives of students. A gift to the Forward Together Campaign is an investment in the life of a GCA student and their future. If you would be interested in impacting the next generation of students by ensuring they have a home away from home in a Christ-centered environment, please visit www.gcasda.org/campaign.
Georgia-Cumberland | August 2026
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