Compassion Inspires In the early morning hours once a month, as a truckload of Feed the Valley food pallets is unloaded, a neighborhood begins to emerge to help pack and distribute 150 food boxes. They greet Cody and Lilly Wing, the neighborhood’s missionaries through Take the City’s Project Lifehouse– strategically placed homes that reach the neighborhood community for Christ. A few years earlier, Steve & Kristen Bedsole discovered during COVID that food drives would be beneficial for the neighborhood. A local church, the Verge, with Pastor Chuck Odum, was inspired to come alongside and help. That’s when the Wings came on the scene. As time passed, the Wings realized that the neighbors desired a true community– they were already holding block parties, for instance– but weren’t clear on the next thing to do to make it a reality, until the monthly food drives inspired them. “We found the heart of the neighborhood, which was not just come, get, go,” Cody said. “When they saw we were committed, they began to not only pick up a box, but began to help to distribute them and set up/tear down. They started serving each other.” “Every month as we get together,” Lilly shared, “we pick one word we want to speak over our neighborhood and pray into that. They’re always ready to pray over what they want to see decrease and what needs to increase.” The sense of community addresses intangibles like loneliness and hopelessness and tangibly lifts the spirits of everyone involved. People are also drawn to the Wings’ Lifehouse and frequently visit. One adolescent boy came onto the porch, just... Read more...
Project Lifehouse - Let the Little Children Come Brandon and Kristina began showing the Chosen series as a form of outreach in their neighborhood. Before they knew what was happening, tons of kids were showing up each week and they had to switch up their plans! They started offering interactive games and a mini-Bible story lesson instead. As they kept going, the Lord began to soften the children’s hearts, and at the end of the eight weeks, four kids prayed the prayer of salvation. Since then, two girls have been showing up almost daily to hang out with Brandon and Kristina and their kids. They are yearning for more of the Lord, fun, and family, and that is exactly what Brandon and Kristina have to offer. The girls even went on a daytrip with Brandon and Kristina and their family to Callaway Gardens. The Lord is moving on these girls’ hearts, and they are experiencing joy, peace, and freedom. Please pray for Brandon and Kristina and their family as they continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their neighborhood and for these girls to know Jesus more and... Read more...
Serving in Project Lifehouse: Young Ave For the past 2 years, Maya and Nacie have faithfully served in the Young Ave Project Lifehouse, an outreach iniative of Take the City. They have brought love to the neighborhood, built connections between the neighbors, and created a safe place for kids to come to after school. There were many powerful moments from their time serving there, but here is one of note that will have sweet victory for years to come. When Maya and Nacie first moved in, there was hardly any grass. The ground was mostly sand and dirt. Grass simply wouldn’t grow. Within a month or so, one of the older boys whom Maya and Nacie had befriended walked up to Miss Maya. He wanted to make money so badly. Innocently, he asked, “Can I cut your grass?” Surprised, Maya looked at the boy. She said, “Dude, now you’ve got to see; the lot is vacant. There is no grass.” The boy begged, “Please! I need money!” She responded, “Okay, go fast and pray for the grass to grow.” The boy did not hesitate; he prayed the whole summer. Sadly, nothing grew. The year came and went and still nothing. However, unbeknownst to Maya, the boy kept praying, and in the summer of 2021, there was a bounty of grass, new trees, and even a little bamboo! Our Take the City Director went by and saw it. Wide-eyed, he asked, “What did y’all do to make the grass grow?” Maya and Nacie both laughed. “Nothing” they said. Later, the boy in the neighborhood returned and said, “Where’s my money?” ... Read more...
Over the last 4 months, we have been doing a food distribution in front of our Project Lifehouse once a month. During this time, something amazing has taken place. The community that the food distribution is for, are coming together to make it happen! One lady came through to get food, and then asked if she could stay and help! We said “YES” and she jumped right in! PRAISE THE LORD!! Our focus is not just to give out food, but to bring the neighborhood together and build community. We are seeing the beginnings of revitalization, as we partner with neighboring churches and with others around our community, especially our neighbors, Miss Pearly May and her daughter Jan. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the charge in bringing the neighborhood together each and every month. If you or someone you know would like to be connected with Project Lifehouse, call Louis Chalmers at... Read more...
Over the last month, there has been a lot of activity at the Young Ave Project Lifehouse home. Maya and Nacie have been busy connecting with their neighbors, especially the children. The children love Miss Maya and Miss Nacie; they come running over whenever one of them gets home. On July 4th, Maya and Nacie had planned to have a cookout but not all the plans came together in time. Wanting to still meet with their neighbors, Maya and Nacie decided to have a Tea Party. Maya went inside and turned on their speaker to have worship music playing through the screen door. The neighbors pitched in and helped set up tables and chairs while Maya and Nacie brought their mugs outside. The kids helped pass out cookies, and everyone sat down and enjoyed themselves. When the tea party was almost over and Maya and Nacie were about to clean up, an argument broke out between a woman and a child who was not her own. The little boy had hit her daughter, and she was angry. She had a right to be, but she was taking it too far. The mom shouted at him and let the boy have it. Then, all of a sudden, she stopped, grabbed her kids, and left. Miss Maya began talking with the little boy about the situation. He cried a little and felt sorry. Maya proceeded to guide the little boy across the street to apologize to the Mom and her child. After he apologized, the mom explained that she had just given her life to Christ two weeks earlier. All she... Read more...
