Global Accord supports local community ministries in numerous ways, and when Intentional Intimacy International applied to be a receiving ministry, the Global Accord committee voted unanimously to participate in the renovation of the retreat center's activity cabin, releasing vital time for Intentional Intimacy's continuing work to strengthen the family unit.

Global Accord and its team of 19 volunteers met at Intentional Intimacy's retreat center - Clear View Retreat - in Lancing, TN. The renovation event began at 7 a.m. on April 11 and ran for 14 hours. As the day progressed through warming weather, the cabin was nearly completed to host arts and crafts, reading, games, and other activities for children and families visiting the retreat. The team worked on porch roof repair, electrical, flooring, insulation, and other projects. This massive undertaking of planning, preparing, and constructing, was made possible with funds donated by multiple donors of Intentional Intimacy.

Global Accord volunteers are hard-working, impressively talented craftsmen and women who willingly give their time and talents. As Rena Lunders stated, "If I had planned to sit around, I would have stayed home." Wendell Sealy, President of Global Accord remarked, "It is always amazing to see how God puts together exactly the right people with the skills and talents needed for a particular project. It is also a wonderful blessing to watch and participate in a projects progress and know that, at the end of the day, the work that was done will make a difference in people's lives." While Jim Nestle of Intentional Intimacy added, "The hearts of these volunteers are seen in the power of their work and dedication to service. They truly place others' needs before their own. While we were crushed - from a tree and an unfinished building, they deployed hope which will in turn provide a place of respite for those grieving and often without hope."

Intentional Intimacy and Global Accord are both currently participating in The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's The Big PayBack on May 5, which is a Middle Tennessee community giving event for nonprofits, religious organizations, and schools. For 24 hours on May 5, The Big Payback will be the most inclusive, most collaborative giving event in Middle Tennessee history. "It will be an easy, fun and a meaningful way for all of us to show our local pride and give back," said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. "Nonprofits do life-changing work every day across Middle Tennessee and it's time for us to come together to support their efforts and recognize the positive impact they have on our neighbors, in our own backyards."

For more information about donating to either organization, visit TheBigPayback.org on May 5 or the individual websites globalaccordusa.com or intentionalintimacy.org.