In February 1925, the Reverend Hiram Frakes observed a murder hearing in the county courtroom presided over by one of the members of his church. The judge was faced with yet another case from a notorious section of the county–the Laurel Fork Valley–aided by its own kind of law of fear and violence. When witnesses refused once more to place the blame for certain killings, the judge could take no more. In frustration, he told the residents to "go back and kill yourselves off."

Moved by this incident, the Pineville Methodist pastor decided to shift his ministry toward these valley people. There were elementary schools of variable quality around, but the nearest high school was 30 miles away. With no land or money, Rev. Frakes made the trek and shared his dream to provide a school for all children with whoever would listen. Incredibly, the people with a proud tradition of land ownership affirmed that dream. Uncle Scott Partin gave 16 acres; Bill Henderson donated all 68 acres of his land, and several others contributed portions of their holdings. 

Rev. Frakes went to his bishop, Theodore Henderson, laying the groundwork for financial support. Bertha Reil, a deaconess and graduate of the Chicago Training School, heard about Rev. Frakes and came to be the first teacher of the school. The cabin where she stayed remains a Settlement landmark.

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​As the Settlement shifted its emphasis from child care and education, they began to focus more heavily on improving the housing situation in the community. Thus, the growth of their Work Camp Program. First, and primarily, it serves as an opportunity to educate persons in mission and the needs that exist among the less fortunate in our society. Secondly, Work Camp often serves as the bridge between dreams and reality for families of the Laurel Fork Valley of southeastern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, while giving groups the opportunity to witness for Christ through home repair. The Frakes Campus is open year round for work camp opportunities, and the White Oak, TN facility (which opened in the summer of 2001, and is 17 miles from the main campus in Frakes, KY) was open during the summer months. The White Oak Campus was closed in the Spring of 2025. The Frakes Campus can house over 200 work camp participants in the dormitory or in a private house with several bedrooms.

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In addition to its Work Camp Ministry, which utilizes volunteers from across the United States and Canada, the Settlement also hosts the following ministries:

• ANNUAL HOME BUILD – Built for a chosen community member in need of decent housing for their family; the Settlement is now in the process of building Home #39 in 2022. Volunteers dedicate 1-6 weeks of their time to build the complete house at different intervals during the summer and participate in fundraising for the entire cost of the home.

• YOUTH PROGRAMS – Community for youth of all ages including after-school tutoring, summer recreation programs, youth groups and educational and fun trips outside of the community

• SENIOR SUPPORT – Community for seniors including meal deliveries, social visits, an on-site Senior Center, opportunities to sell their crafts in the Settlement's local craft store and  weekly devotions on-site

• CRAFT STORE – Community for crafters, including the Settlement's seniors, women’s group and other locals and provides an outlet to sell locally made crafts to our workcampers and the general public

• OPPORTUNITY STORE – Store for community members to purchase clothing, toys, appliances and household items of all kinds at a greatly reduced cost. For instance, most items of clothing are $1 or less! All items sold in the store are donated by our supporters.

• CATTLE FARM – Beef cattle are raised to sell and to supplement the food supply in our dining hall, which feeds the staff and the workcampers, as well as some community members.

• GREENHOUSE – The Greenhouse provides fresh produce to the local Christian college as well as providing flowers and vegetable plants for sell to the local community.

• GROW APPALACHIA PROGRAM – Teaches and assists local families to grow their own produce to feed their families.  This program is financed by an annual grant from Berea College.

• MIHOW (MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER) – Provides a baby pantry, child development education and mentoring for young families in the community all free of charge. Also includes a home visitation program for pregnant women and young families.

• OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORT/OUTREACH – Provides monetary and social support for  the community by way of a food pantry, budgeting help, financial help for utility bills, hosts a women’s group and assists with transportation to medical appointments.

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