Lynch, Kentucky…

A community bathed in mist and shadow on the woody margins of Harlan County.        A town where 10,000 people once gathered from around the world to extract high quality coal from seams underneath Black Mountain. A mining operation that set world records, and fueled wartime steel production.

But it was not to last.

Another war set in… the war on coal. Decisions made from afar devastated Appalachia, putting thousands of men out of work. As the drills, conveyors, and whistles went silent, community porches and meal tables were emptied of life. Christmas lights blinked out, and summer parades were no more.

In time, the community’s complexion was marred by rusting mine equipment, broken windows, and collapsed roofs. Drugs and rain seeped in, while hope for the future seemed to trickle out on the silt-laden waters of Looney Creek.

But just when Lynch’s story looked like it was ending, things started to get interesting. Behind the scenes, a handful of desperate prayer warriors would not let go.

“People want to live again instead of die!”  — Darlene Hall

“In the most unlikely person, and in the most unlikely place, that’s where God is going to show Himself… God is in the mix now. And when God shows up, you’ll know it!”  — Lonnie Riley

It all started with faith, and a little cookie dough.