When John Albrycht became the youth pastor at Plentitude Baptist Church in Gray, Georgia, he was excited to see a group of high school boys in attendance. In his experience, by the time males reach their teens, more often than not, they drop out of the youth group. Something began “bugging” Albrycht. He wanted a way to keep these young men involved in church.

He came up with a plan to have the teens work on a car together. A project such as this would hold their interest while encouraging Christian fellowship as he mentored them. With a shop behind his house and a 1971 VW Beetle he was storing for a friend, the perfect plan began to unfold.

In the style of the popular television reality show Overhaulin,’ Albrycht and the group of young men worked on the restoration project for the next 12 months, unbeknownst to the owner. A list of needed parts was posted on the bulletin board at Plentitude Baptist Church. Using donated Volkswagen parts and funds, work on the vintage car began.

The restoration project was dubbed “Bugs4Christ.” Before long, the old Beetle became an object lesson in how to restore hearts and lives to the Lord. Albrycht wanted these lads to understand the mandate of Hebrews 10:23-25: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching!” He wanted the young men to feel the power of encouraging others by restoring and giving the gift of unconditional love.

The young men had the opportunity to do just that when the bug was reunited with its owner, Brantley. Brantley was invited to attend the church’s worship service on Albrycht’s first anniversary as Youth Pastor at Plentitude. Once there, he was handed the keys to his restored auto.

Since the first project that began in the Fall of 2006, the Bugs4Christ team has been involved in other restoration projects, although not all vehicles were VW “bugs.” The team restores other vehicles that have been donated to them.

 One of the youth group’s high school seniors, Skylar, wanted to get a job so he could purchase a car, yet he couldn’t get a job because he didn’t have a car. In another gift of unconditional love, he was surprised after a service and given the keys to his new vehicle, a 1989 Ford Thunderbird, donated by a family who chose to remain anonymous.

This summer from July 11-17, five members of the team will travel to Cuba, New Mexico on a mission trip. Bugs4Christ has teamed up with Sugarloaf United Methodist Church in Duluth, Georgia to serve the Navajo Indians at the Pueblo Pintado Reservation. Albrycht hopes to involve 10 to 12 Indian teenagers in the project to restore a 1973 VW Super Beetle in just seven days.

The Super Beetle, donated by a Warner Robins family, will be towed to the reservation. The majority of the parts needed for the restoration will be donated by a man in New Mexico who heard about the project on the radio station KLOVE. Many parts are still needed, however. At the end of the week the newly restored automobile will be given to a local family or teenager in need of a car.

One way the group is raising money to purchase VW parts is by hosting a Dinner and a Movie Night at Bradley Baptist Church where Albrycht is now a lay member. The fundraiser will be held at the church, which is located at 819 Highway 11 North in Gray on Saturday, June 12, 2010.

If you are interested in helping with this ministry, there are plenty of opportunities from attending the fund raiser to donating parts or money for parts. Albrycht asks that anyone who is interested in lending support begin by praying for those to whom the Bugs4Christ team will be ministering.

For further information, contact John Albrycht at (478) 986-0144 or bugs4Christ@windstream.net. Bugs4Christ can also be found on Facebook or by visiting the website www.bugs4Christ.webs.com.