RUMFORD —A new Christian-based nonprofit from Ipswich, Mass., is already making a difference in Maine, from the River Valley area to Auburn.

For its debut mission last week, Beyond Sunday Missions brought 15 Massachusetts youths ages 14 to 17 to do light home repair in the River Valley.

They also helped renovate the junior high library at Holy Savior School in Rumford and spent three days organizing and bagging food at the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn.

“This is actually our first mission,” MaryBeth Harrington, the group’s fundraising chairwoman of Burlington, Mass., said. “We’re up here to help the community.

“We’re lucky,” Brenda Sassi of Holy Savior School said.

She said the library was in an adjacent room and the school is expanding it into the new room for the upper grades, while the other half is for the younger children.

Team leader and Missions’ treasurer Andy Murray of Amesbury, Mass., said the teens also removed a large chalkboard from one wall, plastered Sheetrock into the space and painted it.

“This is fabulous!” Sassi said, viewing the work. “They came Monday and haven’t stopped.”

According to its website at www.beyondsundaymissions.com, it’s an organization “that inspires and empowers those in need to improve the quality of their lives, now and in the future through home repair, outreach, and faith-filled presence.”

The organization’s purpose is Romans 12:2, which is printed on the back of T-shirts the teens and team leaders were wearing: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Beyond Sunday Missions was founded by Valerie and Pete Shippen of Ipswich and Mexico, Maine, Murray said. Valerie is the president.

Eleven years ago, the Shippens bought a home in Mexico to create a mission workcamp.

They wanted to invite high school- through college-aged young people to serve those who need assistance with small home repairs or yardwork.

Valerie Shippen is also a parishioner at Holy Savior Parish in Rumford, Harrington said. The couple sought help from its outgoing pastor, Fr. Phillip A. Tracy.

“So they got to know Father Phil and came to him and said, ‘This is what we want to do — we’re going to start a mission group to work in Rumford and Mexico and can you help us find places that need help?'” Murray said.

“Just this week, he’s given us six or seven projects to work on together, which is great. Little one-day jobs helping some of the elderly that live in town.”

When they’re not working, the Massachusetts youth have been spending time with youth in the Rumford community playing basketball every day, he said.

Additionally, the teens and leaders went to the Front Porch Cafe for breakfast on Wednesday in Dixfield and visited with locals. Then they took the day off and climbed Tumbledown Mountain and went to Coos Canyon in Byron.

Teen Nate Glaster of Ipswich said he joined Beyond Sunday Missions about a month ago to get his community service requirement completed for high school.

“And I want to help people out and put a smile on people’s faces,” he said. “So it will be just a good experience.”

“I’m doing it for fun,” co-worker Greg Mancini of Burlington, Mass., said.

“That’s the attitude,” Harrington said.

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