The Missionaries for America Program, Inc., began in the year 2000. It grew out of a concern that our young people were not being given the necessary tools and inspiration to reach out to their own community. In the Summer of 2000, our first M.A.P. team was assembled from Arkansas, California, Illinois, Louisiana, and Tennessee. They spent a month together learning to become missionaries to America and becoming great friends. They began in Arkansas by studying the Bible and training to teach others. Their travels took them to Pennsylvania and Indiana where they worked with two congregations. One of their stops on their journey took to Lenhartsville, PA, where they briefly participated in a family reunion. They were able to see the home of Alexander Campbell in WV, Hershey Park and the Little League Headquarters in PA, the (baseball) Bat Factory in KY and Niagara Falls. Many hearts were touched because of the loving-kindness of this group of 10 young people.

M.A.P. became a non-profit entity during the year 2001. The original Board of Directors consisted of Steve Beck, Sonny Childs and Joshua Mays. They were also the officers at that time. The M.A.P. team in 2001 was assembled from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Louisiana. They also spent a month together as they studied and trained for the Lord. Their travels took them to Kentucky and Pennsylvania. These 7 young people used their various talents to reach out to many children by teaching Bible classes and conducting a V.B.S. They had the privilege of spending many of their AWE time moments in various state parks. They were also able to experience Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Gettysburg and Lancaster, PA. One of the highlights was spending time with two Amish families and enjoying their hospitality.

During 2002, Joshua Mays resigned from the Board and as an officer. Norman Childs and Cindy Childs were elected as part of the Board and Cindy also became the Secretary/Treasurer. The M.A.P. Team consisted of 10 young people from Arkansas, California, Indiana and Kentucky. They spent 2 weeks together in Bible study, training as missionaries and growing in the Lord. They travelled to Indiana where they were able to reach out to other teens and children by teaching Bible classes and sharing the AWE time with them. Part of their trip was spent in two historical living villages, a peaceful state park and Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN.

The year 2003 brought about several changes. The first was bringing Don Williams on as the director/coordinator of M.A.P. He was very helpful in getting our name out to different areas of the country. One of the other changes was taking two M.A.P. teams to two different states. The first team consisted of 10 young people from Arknasas, Indiana and Kentucky. They spent two weeks together as they travelled to Pennsylvania and Indiana. This team impacted the lives of many children in these two states as they helped conduct a V.B.S. and a youth rally. They were also able to briefly visit Niagara Falls.

The second 2003 M.A.P. Team was assembled from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. These 8 young people made a huge impact on the lives of the people in Louisiana as they taught a V.B.S. at one of the congregations and participated in a Bible camp. On their return trip, they spent time in a Louisiana science museum.

Some changes occurred during 2004 which did not deter us from continuing the journey. Because of lack of funds, Don Williams was no longer able to be our director/coordinator, but he graciously accepted the responsibility of serving on the Board. In May, a work day was held where several Christians from the community came to work at the M.A.P. headquarters to help prepare the grounds for the M.A.P. Team. Nine young people from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia formed the 2004 M.A.P. Team. They were all willing to do what was asked of them as they spent two weeks together in Bible study and training. They travelled to Louisiana where they knocked on every door of one community and taught a V.B.S. One of the highlights of their trip was seeing some of the wildlife of southern Louisiana, including alligators and a giant sea turtle.

During the summer of 2005, Logan Heeke worked for M.A.P. by preparing the grounds for the Team to arrive, teaching classes and travelling with them. The year 2005 will be remembered as the largest M.A.P. Team assembled (up to that point) with the most flexibility. There were 17 young people from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia. They spent two weeks studying the Bible and growing in the Lord. They travelled to Illinois to knock doors and help conduct a V.B.S./Gospel meeting. Their flexibility was shown by helping fix a septic system, surviving two power outages, sleeping on the floors (boys at the church building and girls in two different homes), and only having access to two showers. In spite of what they had to overcome, there was very little complaining and a lot of hard work. Some of the highlights of the trip were eating at Lambert's in Sikeston, MO, horseback riding (for some of the girls), visiting the George Rogers Clark Museum in IN, and spending a day at Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN.

The year of 2006 brought about even more changes.  Tim Parrott, from Denham Springs, LA, worked with us as our first-ever apprentice.  He was with us during the whole month of June.  The M.A.P. team assembled during the third week of June.  There were 14 young people from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and West Virginia.  This team will be remembered for their enthusiasm and passion to live for Christ.  Their first five days were spent in Arkansas studying the Bible, preparing lessons/sermons, and becoming a team.  Don Williams was unable to be with us because of the passing of his father, but Randy Dorsey was able to step in and help as he ran errands, prepared VBS lessons and drove the Sandstone Drive Church of Christ van.  We had two girls from the Little Rock area and several from the Paragould area who joined the team in their Bible studies and other activities while in Arkansas.  The guys had the opportunity to speak at the Union Central Church of Christ (Paragould, Arkansas) before heading to Pennsylvania.  The team stayed all night in Sellersburg, IN, where the church provided meals, sleeping space and showers both coming and going to PA.  Don and Deanne Williams joined the M.A.P. team in Greensburg, PA.   While there, the team distributed over 900 flyers to the houses in the community around the church building and were a great encouragement to the congregation.  Some of the other places they visited were Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, MO, the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA, the science museum in Pittsburgh, PA, and Idlewild Park (the home of Mister Rogers Neighborhood). 

The year of 2006 brought about even more changes.  Tim Parrott, from Denham Springs, LA, worked with us as our first-ever apprentice.  He was with us during the whole month of June.  The M.A.P. team assembled during the third week of June.  There were 14 young people from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and West Virginia.  This team will be remembered for their enthusiasm and passion to live for Christ.  Their first five days were spent in Arkansas studying the Bible, preparing lessons/sermons, and becoming a team.  Don Williams was unable to be with us because of the passing of his father, but Randy Dorsey was able to step in and help as he ran errands, prepared VBS lessons and drove the Sandstone Drive Church of Christ van.  We had two girls from the Little Rock area and several from the Paragould area who joined the team in their Bible studies and other activities while in Arkansas.  The guys had the opportunity to speak at the Union Central Church of Christ (Paragould, Arkansas) before heading to Pennsylvania.  The team stayed all night in Sellersburg, IN, where the church provided meals, sleeping space and showers both coming and going to PA.  Don and Deanne Williams joined the M.A.P. team in Greensburg, PA.   While there, the team distributed over 900 flyers to the houses in the community around the church building and were a great encouragement to the congregation.  Some of the other places they visited were Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, MO, the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA, the science museum in Pittsburgh, PA, and Idlewild Park (the home of Mister Rogers Neighborhood).