Martin County, KY
Martin County is the original site of Appalachia Reach Out and is home to our Main Campus. It was started in the early 50s by an educator from Michigan who felt God's divine leading to Eastern Kentucky. Martin County was formed in 1870 out of portions of the surrounding counties, with the eastern border being formed by the Tug River dividing Kentucky and West Virginia. Inez is the county seat. In 1964, President Johnson visited Martin County to declare the War on Poverty, as it was the most impoverished county in the United States at the time. It is now ranked as number 15.
Martin County produced some of the hottest-burning, most expensive, and cleanest coal nationwide. It has long been a staple of the region's economy and local pride, and the decline in coal production has devastated access to local jobs and communities' economic resources. While Martin County has faced the challenges of generational poverty, addiction, social stigma, lack of access, and unemployment, it is a community known for having active churches, strong family bonds, beautiful landscapes, a tight-night and hospitable community, and a rich history. Teams can take part in home repairs and construction projects, spending time at Celebrate Recovery, visting various addiction recovery locations, tutoring and loving on students in the elementary schools, participating in Vacation Bible School, preparing food for our summer feeding program, or helping with a county project or painting classrooms.
Bob & Marilyn DeJong
Martin County Work and Witness Coordinators
Ever since Marilyn heard about ARO at the age of 12 she dreamed of being a part of ARO's work. In 1976 and '77 she served in short-term missions. She then moved to ARO as a full time employee for a year. In the summer of ‘78, God, through His providence, brought Bob and Marilyn 500 miles from their West Michigan homes to meet in Inez, Kentucky at ARO’s vacation Bible school program. It was love at first sight and the rest is history! Since that first meeting, God has blessed them with over 40 years of marriage, 4 children, and 6 grandchildren. During most of these years, God called them to spend their time living in the small town of Lake Odessa, Michigan where they raised their family, attended Harvest Community Church, and were used by God to serve in the surrounding community. They own a gravel company called Great Lakes Gravel and
Sand, and smile at the thought that God has brought them from the mountains of Kentucky to literally put them in the pit (gravel pit) of Lake Odessa for over 30 years. God, through His divine timing and wisdom, has brought Bob and Marilyn full circle and is returning them to where they started. They are both honored and humbled to be called back to Kentucky to serve as ARO's Work and Witness Coordinators in Martin County.
