Hope Inspires

December 21, 2022

Hope Inspires//Cindy Gardner It’s our joy to conclude our Inspire Campaign stories with someone who is a true inspiration to us, as well as to so many in the community. Cindy Gardner is the Follow-up Coordinator for Redeem’s Beautiful Exchange Boutique at Take the City. Her story really began when someone handed her a card they’d been given through a TTC outreach. She called the number, and the rest is now a three-year history. Today, you might find Cindy driving someone as far as Montgomery, AL to a treatment center, taking blankets out on the street, or with her host of volunteers, organizing donated clothes. The boutique, which was remodeled this year, has racks of clothes in all sizes, accessories, shoes, and handbags, as well as hygiene kits. “Not only do women come in from the street, where they can also get a shower and use the laundry facilities, but women who need an outfit for a job interview or other appointments can come in. Nothing is sold here– it’s all given away,” Cindy said. Her volunteers have seen the changes in the women who come through and have heard their stories. “It’s what it’s all about,” said one volunteer with tears in her eyes. “I cry even just looking around the boutique, because it represents giving God our best.” Cindy has a vision for the future that Redeem will offer its own rehab program one day. If anyone can see it done, Cindy, who does nothing without the Lord, has the inspiring faith needed that will lead to reaching more and more women. Inspired by Cindy’s testimony? Become...
Read more...

Family Inspires

December 7, 2022

Family Inspires Photo, l-r: Melissa McCormick, mother of the McCormick children, daughter Micah, daughter Brianna Tolley, granddaughter Adeline Claire Elise Tolley, son-in-law Zeek Tolley, Nancy & Rick McCormick, and son Ricky “Bubba” McCormick. Continuous praise, worship and prayer are part of the DNA of Take the City’s Harvest House of Prayer. There are over 30 regular participants who sacrificially commit to doing hour-long sets, and we love that the McCormick family is among them. They are unique in their contribution in that so many of their family participates as several are musicians and singers, including Rick, who is a pastor and the proud father in the clan. “You’ll like me,” Rick says when he meets someone in the prayer room, “but when you meet my family, you’ll forget all about me.” Fully engaged and gifted, the McCormick family’s worship sets are contagious.  “I want to do the invisible things,” said Rick. “It’s what real giving is. We started doing Thursday evenings because it’s sacrificial for us. We don’t want to give what doesn’t cost us anything.” It’s sacrificial in more ways than one– the McCormicks live 45 minutes away. Zeek Tolley, Rick’s son-in-law, who plays and sings, joined as a HHOP volunteer because “I felt the presence of God was easily accessible in the prayer room. It keeps me going even when I’m tired. It’s also helped me to learn how to worship when I’m by myself and how to usher in His presence.”  The family brings themselves to Him and lead others to do the same. It’s giving at its best. Are you inspired by this family? Sow...
Read more...

Hope Inspires

November 30, 2022

Hope Inspires Now halfway through its launch, first-time students Brooklyn and Emily have settled into their routines at Take the City’s Harvest Equipping School. The two young women, both 18, became roommates and fast friends.  Their journey through the school’s motto, Activated. Equipped. Commissioned., has been fun to watch.  “Being in an environment with people who are constantly living for Jesus and surrounded by so many inspiring people has been awesome,” Emily said.  “A highlight for me has been the guest speakers. I like to hear other people’s views,” said Brooklyn. It’s a challenge for either of them to pick a favorite among the diverse teachers and topics, but Brooklyn added, “Brandon’s [Harvest House of Prayer Director] passion for prayer and loving Jesus makes me want to learn more. He’s living it out.” Atlanta’s Arthur Breland had an impact on Emily. “He taught on evangelism, and we got to practice and bring hope. I like that we’re learning, but we also get to see it. We’re also encouraged to find what suits us best and are not expected to fit into someone else’s calling.” The school’s director, Kaleigh McKee, couldn’t be more proud of how both young women have immersed themselves, determined to get everything they can out of the experience. “There are many Gen Z who have turned away from the Lord,” she said, “but schools like ours bring hope that there are also many who will be a voice for their generation.” Inspired by the growth of these students? Become a monthly partner with us and sow into the next generation! Click Here to...
Read more...

Giving Inspires

November 28, 2022

Giving Inspires As Pastor Chuck and Jeanne Hasty sit across the table, their eyes light up as their minds turn to the neighborhood kids who have become an extension of their church. Grace Presbyterian ECO is known for its generosity and servants’ heart and longtime friends Andrew & Ellen Chalmers knew they’d be a perfect fit in coming alongside the Bradley Circle Project Lifehouse. “We wanted to partner with and build relationship and join God in what He’s already doing – not to necessarily recreate anything,” Jeanne explained. It didn’t take long for the church to find their place… or more accurately, places, and became very intentional about picking up kids in the neighborhood and bringing them to church. After-school tutoring showed itself as a need and the church responded with Tutoring Tuesdays. People with expertise in a certain subject began to join in. Rides are provided if necessary for the students, as well as snacks and even school supplies. The church discovered there were a lot of gardeners among the congregation and soon partnered with the neighborhood garden. MercyMed also joined in as consultants/advisors for the garden. Now that the kids are older, the Hastys’ pick them up for church youth group. The relationships that have developed over the past few years is evident. In the middle of a conversation with Pastor Chuck, a teenager let out, “I prayed for someone to be a father in my life and that’s how I think of you!”  During the holiday season, the kids have helped to provide 30-40 baskets at Thanksgiving and 24 at Christmas. They’ve also organized a coat...
Read more...

Unity Inspires

November 10, 2022

Unity Inspires Elizabeth Canty Apartments  The quiet of the morning in the neighborhood was interrupted by a car creeping its way down the road, leaving the booming echo of the music in its wake. A group of five young teenagers followed its call to admire both the stereo and the car. At the same time, Tre Rager and Ben Whittaker emerge from their vehicle with several others because it’s “Harvest Day” – a Take the City monthly outreach into communities to build relationships and share the gospel. One of the group shares that Take the City’s outreaches started in this same area 10 years earlier with block parties that featured grill outs and bouncy houses.  Today, everyone is focused on a man, gun tucked into his belt, and his daughter who were standing on the sidewalk. They had been in conversations before, so he waved and welcomed the group over. Since their last meeting, the man had gotten married and shared that they were doing more things together as a family than ever before. He was glad to see them today, he said, because they were getting ready to move. Ben and the rest of the TTC group pray a powerful prayer over him before they part ways. The leader within the community, who had been touched by the Lord a few years earlier, has learned how to lead a Bible study for the people to be equipped. “You have vision for your family and now you’re being strong for other families too,” Tre told him, offering to help in any way he could and encouraging him in his prayer...
Read more...

Tyrone

I learned about Take The City through a young lady at our church about 5 years ago and after going on my first outreach, I was HOOKED. I fell in love with the family environment, organic evangelism, and genuine love that I experience here.  The training, connections, and opportunities that I’ve been blessed with here have been nothing short of life-changing!  God bless my TTC family.