The Meaning of Service
Earlier this year, We Will Go’s leadership team sat down to collaborate and define our core values. One value that we all agreed on unanimously was service but not for the reasons you might think. We are an organization that depends on volunteers to help our programs operate each day, and we encourage people to come serve with us all the time. We all agreed that service should be a core value because of how serving others has impacted each of our
lives. Mark 9:35 says “He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and a servant of all.” Jesus encourages us to serve each other, like he did time and again.
One day, almost 4 years ago, I decided to work at We Will Go full-time after participating in We Will Go’s food distribution program. I was in graduate school and my post-grad plans were falling apart. I was looking for an outlet to give back or help someone in an effort to re-center myself. That day I came to volunteer, I met a grandmother who had what seemed like a mountain of problems stacked against her. Her daughter was battling addiction, she and her husband had taken in their grandson, and her husband had just been diagnosed with cancer. I asked her how I could pray for her, and she simply asked me to pray that her husband would not die. What struck me most was that she saw all these problems, but her main prayer was to not have to face them alone. She definitely had more faith and strength than I did. She helped me realize that there are people in my neighborhood with real problems that need help now. Serving that day helped me think about how I could share the love of Christ in my everyday life. My mindset and goal since I was in high school has been “I want to do something that helps people.” I am very grateful that We Will Go provides me with that opportunity.
More recently, we have been working through how to best staff our food distribution program. During the summer months, our Camp Hope program takes a lot of manpower, which tends to leave our food program understaffed. A lot of times neighbors will say things like “this is amazing, I’d love to come help sometime.” We started following up and sharing the need. I have been absolutely amazed by the response from our community! We have had several neighbors who receive food from our pantry sign up to come back and volunteer with the feeding program. Each one of them said that they do not have money to give, but they do have time. Service is something everyone can do, in a way that is significant to them.
Students Serving Students
The attributes which I naturally expect from children are curiosity or extreme honesty, but typically not service. Most of the children I encounter at We Will Go are spending their little lives on a mission to acquire adventure, extra candy, or more play time outside. This past week, two students approached me asking if I could put some ‘real food’ in our afterschool Point Shop. Point Shop is a place for students to spend the points they earn for positive behavior throughout the semester. I reminded them of the fact that they receive healthy snacks every time they come to afterschool. I was humbled, as I listened to the students share their requests, not to receive, but to serve. They were quick to admit that, at times, they had made fun of another student because she did not look or smell the same way that the other students did. After taking time to connect with her, they realized she did not have enough food at home, and the two students wanted to do something about it. With a little help from our Essential Food Department, our Point Shop is now stocked with a variety of kid-approved lunchboxes with grocery staples in each one. Now, our students will be able to unashamedly receive food when they are in need. There isn’t an embarrassing package or isolating line just for the ‘underprivileged’ students. Right in the midst of the toys and the candy, children can choose something that is fun and exciting, while simultaneously meeting a tangible need.
We have an incredible opportunity to impact the lives of many students just like the ones you heard about in this story from our afterschool program. We Will Go’s Education Department is gearing up for our annual summer learning program, Camp Hope. Camp Hope is filled with opportunities to serve and to give. We need people just like you to invest and believe in the children who are signing up for Camp Hope this summer. As we enter our eighth year of programming, we are asking you to help us give ninety children the chance to experience the Good News through mentorship, literacy, swimming lessons, healthy meals, field trips, and more. Students will get to grow and develop with their classmates and Camp Counselors throughout the seven weeks of Camp Hope. Learning how to swim, getting extra points for completing our summer reading books, singing at the top of our lungs, and exploring Mississippi’s own ‘safari’ at the McClain Lodge are among some of our favorite things to do during the summer. Camp Hope has been impacting the lives of students and families for the past seven years, and with your help, we know that our eighth year will be even more of a success!
How Can You Be a Part of Serving
Service can look different for everyone, but it can impact all of us. We Will Go strives to create opportunities for all different types of service. Sponsoring a child for Camp Hope, donating canned goods, or volunteering in a program are a few examples of the many opportunities for you at We Will Go. Engage JXN is a ten-month in- person service opportunity for young adults that we would love to tell you more about. We have ongoing needs for volunteers to participate in our afterschool program, food distribution program, and serve Saturdays. If serving in person is not an option for you right now, we would love for you to think about financially serving in a way that is significant for you. Your financial donation will help us hire more educators, purchase bulk quantities of food, and help meet the needs in our community. Please consider how you can join with us to further our mission to engage our community with the love of Christ.
An Engaged Community
Our partners and volunteers play a crucial role in impacting our city. Without the support and donations from our partners, what we do would not be possible. We plan to invest even more in our community in the coming year and we need your help to do that. Would you consider becoming a monthly supporter or making a one-time gift to impact the lives of children and families in our community? Thank you to all that continue to support the work Christ is doing through We Will Go in Jackson.
Essential Food and Education
Every year, we are blown away by the growth in impact of our programs at We Will Go. Our continued mission is to be neighbors willing to engage our community with the love of Christ. We have seen a 23% increase in reading fluency in students participating in our Education programs this year. There was also a 43% increase in Bible literacy scores in the last year. We have been able to pray with students who have asked to accept Christ. Not only are our students improving in literacy, but their knowledge of the Bible has dramatically improved.
Our Essential Food program has seen incredible growth from feeding ten thousand people in 2021 to feeding over fifteen thousand people in 2022. We have also been able to assist families in need throughout the Jackson water crisis. There have been pallets and semi-truck loads of water distributed from our facilities to families in our community due to the support of our donors and partners.
The Blessings in 2022
Jackson, MS has been in the news quite a bit lately. For local residents, many of the issues that are being brought to national attention are not new items. Jackson is a common conversation topic. This conversation tends to have notes of frustration or even anger. Sadly, many people have even given up hope.
There was quite a bit of frustration in Christ’s day as well. Israel was occupied by Rome. The average Jewish citizen had quite a bit of understandable frustration in the state they found themselves. I can imagine there was quite a bit of party gossip and water cooler frustration in 30 BC Israel. The Israelites were desperate for hope; they were looking for a messiah. The Messiah that came looked nothing like they thought, and he did not do any of the things they thought he was “supposed” to do.
Christ was not a military leader. He did not lead a rebellion against Rome. He sat with widows, children, and fishermen. He sat and listened. Jesus showed that the physical condition was not unimportant, but that the spiritual condition far outweighed the problem of the Roman occupation. The condition of the heart was far more dire. He used tangible means to open doors to talk about deeper heart issues.
In Jackson, we have the opportunity to meet many tangible needs in our community as well. Many elderly, children, and struggling citizens that we work with are looking for hope. Many people are tired and frustrated. We are able to provide tangible help in the form of groceries for families struggling in our community. Pallets and truck loads of water have been given out in the past weeks. We will provide groceries for over fifteen thousand people this year. Meeting tangible needs helps us address real issues opening the door to talk about a greater issue that we are passionate about. There is an answer to the frustration and anger. There is hope, but it may not be in the form we expect.
Many parents and children also find themselves frustrated. There are amazing educators in our city, but it is not news that our public school system faces many obstacles. We have the opportunity to come alongside elementary students and provide literacy and Bible lessons for each child in our program. We have had 215 children participate in one of our education programs this year.
Whether it is summer camp or afterschool, we have opportunities to build relationships with and hear the stories of children in our city.
There is an answer to the frustration in our city. The answer may look a little different than the one for which many people are looking for. The answer looks a lot like pulling up a chair and talking with real people about real problems. The answer looks a lot
like reading with a child or handing a bag of groceries to an elderly
person. The answer looks like neighbors being willing to engage their community with the love of Christ.
Engage JXN
So many people see the need in Jackson and want to help. They see the communities in neglect and the neighbors who just need a helping hand. Our mission statement is one that anyone can be a part of: we are neighbors willing to engage our community with the love of Christ. That looks like our staff coming in weekly to keep our programs running, camp counselors working with our kids, and volunteers jumping in to contribute. But what if there was an option somewhere in between volunteer and staff?
Our Engage Jxn program allows you to immerse in a lifestyle of active faith longer than just a short volunteer experience. From August 15, 2022 - May 15, 2023, you can sign up to live in the community you're serving. Every week, you can join in with our programs, connect with our neighbors and fellow staff, and learn what being involved in practical missions looks like. With a weekly Bible study, 3 day retreat, and time to make friendships with those in the program, it can be a great experience for those looking to see the impact of serving Jesus in practical ways on a daily basis.
Expanding Essential Food
We all know how vital food can be in bringing people together. From a plate of home cooked food to the groceries that make those meals possible, we have seen so much joy in our Essential Food program. We have a neighbor who has been coming to our building since it was the YMCA and her kids were in daycare. She watched them grow up in Jackson and has seen downtown change significantly. Every month now, she comes to receive food and prayer at the same building she used to bring her kids.
The number of lives and neighbors we see weekly is only growing. This summer, we plan to move our food pantry across the street to our much larger facility to house more food, pray for more people, and help more in the community. The equipment, freezers and refrigerators, shelving, and staff increase will be large but we are excited to be able to share Christ more in our city! With that growth comes need in the form of donors and people who want to sponsor one of our families monthly. There are also additional expenses with moving to our new facility. Learn more about how you can contribute on our website.
A Summer to Remember with Camp Hope
Working each week, our staff has seen reading levels, attention spans, and love for learning grow in our Education Program. May marks the end of this school year which also means the start of summer. Summer, which should be a time of sun and games, brings stress for many families. Without the classroom for their students, some working parents struggle with being able to find a constructive place for their child. A few years ago after seeing this need, Camp Hope was created centered around Christ.
From June 6 - July 29, 2022, we open our doors Monday through Friday to students for camp activities. With swimming lessons, crafts, Bible lessons, and snacks, it is the most exciting way to spend a summer. Our goal is for each of our 75 campers to be fully sponsored for $1,400 per student. In total, we are trying to reach $105,000 for a fully funded summer! We also challenge our kids that learning doesn't pause in May. Our daily routine includes summer reading and time for writing and learning.
Our summer staff break into groups to help support each child. Volunteer teams come bringing worship songs and crafts for the kids. For those who can't volunteer in person, you can partner with us financially. You can partner with us as a donor to ensure that each child has the books, food, and Christ's love to make their summer unforgettable.
Practical Faith Through Engage Jxn
Have you been looking for ways to serve in Jackson? To learn more about Christ while also learning how you can practically impact your community? We encounter volunteers and people in our city who are looking for ways to positively give back to Jackson. Rather than continue with your everyday life, there is a way you can help. There is a program offered in Jackson that makes it easy to engage with your community. Starting in August, We Will Go is offering a program that helps connect service with practical learning about giving back.
Engage Jxn is an immersive experience where you learn how your faith can be applied in every area of your life. Running from August 15 through December 21st, participants will be living in the community they serve. Being able to turn what you learn in church or from your Bible into something simple that you can do where you live is what this program aims to teach. Participants in the program will join in with our weekly programs as well as take a weekly seminary class. We hope that at the end of the semester we will encourage participants to take Christ into their neighborhoods.
How do you live out your faith and impact the neighborhood you live in? The message is simple: we are neighbors willing to engage our community with the love of Christ and you can too. For those wanting to learn alongside us and get involved with what we do, Engage Jxn is the program for you. We want to encourage all those signing up to take their faith and make it practical.
Receiving More Than You Give
With the food ministry, the group you might not see that is impacted is our volunteers. We have worked very hard to create opportunities for all types of volunteers from families to groups to individuals. Often they come believing they will be solving a problem with a neighbor but leave having encountered Christ. Recently, a mom came to volunteer and was grateful for a space where she and her children could serve together and learn about giving back. We also had a local business send its employees and they were excited to be able to give back to the community they work in. A common phrase we hear from volunteers is that they came to give to others but received more than they gave.
Last month, we had a man sign up to come and volunteer on a weekly basis. He was overwhelmed with where he was in life. With family issues, work stress, and kids in school, his pastor encouraged his congregation to go out and get involved. He found We Will Go and now comes monthly. Grateful for the opportunity to connect with neighbors who are going through similar struggles as him, volunteering has become a way for him to share and serve more. The Lord has encouraged him that he can make it through whatever he is facing and in turn, share that with those who come through our Essentials program.
Not all of our volunteers come weekly. We have groups from all across the country sign up and people who can only come for one day. The experiences they have are special in that every week we have new faces coming through our doors and new programs for people to plug into. Our Essentials program, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 11am and the second Saturday of each month, offers a look into the struggles of some in our community. In 2021, we have given groceries to 5000 people and want to assist 10,000 this year. We are excited for the future where we can feed more families and connect with more volunteers.
The Start of a New Semester
This summer, Camp Hope has given the summer of a lifetime to many kids in Jackson. We have seen growth in reading and friendships all summer while we took field trips, did daily activities, and worked on summer reading. Sadly, camp has to come to a close which means school is just around the corner. Many of our campers will transition into our Education program in the fall as well as new students from schools in the area. This semester is already proving that it will be exciting as we have new partnerships and new adjustments to our program.
In the last year, learning has looked different than it ever has. With online learning and heavy health concerns, we worked hard to keep the kids in our community on track with our after school tutoring programs. This fall, we are excited to continue as we partner with Jackson Public Schools to assist students from Timberlawn Elementary as well as Pecan Park Elementary. With a combination of electronic equipment, books and supplies, and our hardworking team, we hope this semester will be the best yet.
One of the positives to come from this last year of change was the growth in students we saw signing up to come in the afternoons. We know that our students do not have access to the supplies or support they need and we hope that this year, we will be able to impact even more kids in our area. How can you get involved or assist in ensuring a better education for these students? You can partner with us by sponsoring a child on our website or by coming to volunteer alongside our staff. This semester, our goal is to register 90 students in our after school program. There are always opportunities to further a child’s education and no investment is too small. Whether it’s buying a pencil for a child to finish a math problem or sponsoring a student, we can help encourage brighter futures for the kids of Jackson.
Giving Back With Engage JXN
We are often faced with the question of 'How does your life match your beliefs?' Or have people who are interested in making service and missions more of a part of their lives who are looking for clarity in what God has called them to. Engage JXN is an immersive experience of how your faith applies in every area of life. This experience will strengthen your faith, encourage you among other believers and give you a chance to have hands-on ministry opportunities to serve Jesus on a daily basis.
One of the unique aspects of Engage JXN is the practical side of the program. Not only will those enrolled be assisting with our Essentials, Education, and other programs, but they will be living in the community they are serving. This direct approach makes the neighbors you interact with and the issues you’re helping with an everyday part of your life.
Engage JXN will also be a mix of practically giving back to the community as well as learning. We Will Go has partnered with Wesley Biblical Seminary to offer a weekly class to go alongside the day to day service in Jackson. Engage JXN also provides community within the program with weekly meals together, fellowship, and weekly Bible study. The program runs from August 16 - December 17, 2021 and will have another section offered in the spring. College students or post college graduates that have a desire to learn and engage with their faith are encouraged to apply. Engage JXN hopes to encourage you to seek Jesus in all that you do.
Helping the Needs In Our Community
Every week, we have our returning neighbors come to receive food but also have new people sign up. Our doors are open to everyone from families to single parents to the elderly which means we never know who will come to get groceries. This past month, we had a neighbor who had never been before come to get a bag of groceries and left, having impacted our team. Olivia Hamilton, the Director of Essentials, was there to welcome and assist with this woman’s needs and shares the story. “As this lady was leaving, I [Olivia] noticed she was crying. I stopped to ask her if something was wrong. She said had been sitting in the grocery store parking lot deciding if she should spend the last of her money on food or gas to get to work. At that moment, her neighbor called to tell her about We Will Go. She came straight over and we were able to help her today.”
This is one neighbor of the hundreds who come through our doors. Each person comes with their own story, family, and issues. This neighbor was so overwhelmed and blessed that she didn't have to choose between going to work and receiving food. Olivia helps to facilitate giving in our Essentials program so that we can help even more families in our area. She states, “In our food program, we strive to help anyone who is hungry and never turn someone in need away. You never know what someone is going through. You never know the crisis someone might be in. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like much but, I know that blessing someone or giving groceries can make a difference in our neighbors lives.”
Transitioning to Camp Hope
This past year, we have enrolled students from Jackson Public Schools in our afternoon Education program to assist with tutoring. We have seen students achieve and excel in their work and are excited to help them end the school year well. As their work comes to a close at the end of May, we are transitioning to our summer program, Camp Hope. The kids that will be coming will not only receive help with their summer reading, but will also have the opportunity to go on field trips, play games, learn to swim, and have a lunch meal provided that they would have received at school.
Mariah Pitre, the Director of Education, has helped facilitate this past year of tutoring and partnering with volunteers for Camp Hope. She has helped our students as their school year comes to a close and move into summer reading and fun activities. With our summer counselors coming in to start orientation and setting up for Camp Hope, we are looking forward to a summer with 56 children who will spend their weeks making friends and learning. Most of our campers were in our afternoon Education program and will continue in the fall semester. We also have a multitude of volunteers coming to lead out in making summer 2021 the best it can possibly be for the kids enrolled.
The Story of We Will Go Ministries
In 2000, David and Amy Lancaster were living in the suburbs and going to church every Sunday. They started to want more out of the Christian life. After going to their pastors and seeing just how they could get more involved, they were directed to short term international missions. Several mission trips later, David and Amy founded We Will Go Ministries. Considering moving overseas to do missions, they sold their home. After praying more about moving overseas, it became clear to both Amy and David that there was great need in Jackson, MS. Amy and David were clearly called by God in ways they did not expect. As Amy drove to downtown Jackson to go pass out canned goods and pray, the Lord showed her a future of her family living and ministering to the homeless and broken in Jackson. David had a similar experience with God giving him a vivid dream of driving through downtown and turning into his house. Coming home that night, she and David spoke and felt the same call to move into downtown Jackson which was severely underreached and neglected.
Driving down streets of condemned houses, businesses, and rooms for rent, David and Amy stopped at a little house on the corner of Congress and Barksdale that was leasing. The Lancasters moved to Jackson with no plan other than hearts to help those in their community. One of their first attempts at outreach was through a Bible study on Sunday nights hosted in their kitchen. The small Bible study quickly outgrew their kitchen and moved outside to their yard.
Needs began to multiply in their community, and Amy and David continued to meet those needs to the best of their abilities. From cold nights sleeping on the streets to the need for a meal, the doorbell continually rang with someone new hearing of what they were doing on Congress Street. The solution was to give away the clothing in their closets or to serve up the cans from their pantry. Soon, it also led to others wanting to help. Donations of food, clothes, and funds to fill the shelves and clothing racks began pouring in from churches and groups to the Lancasters. After a few years of growth, We Will Go grew to include a training program for people who also wanted to see change in Jackson and learn to impact their own communities.
Mixing Missions with Life
Every week, we have volunteers, long term staff, and neighbors walk through our doors, wanting to get involved with our programs. Some want a small commitment of a single donation or volunteer opportunity while others choose to engage on an everyday basis. What about those who want something in between? College students who are finishing their degree or families who have jobs but want to be more than a one time volunteer also want to join in despite their past commitments. Ruth Alexander, Director of Internships at We Will Go speaks about the Residency program. “The program is for everyone who has a job, school work, or other commitments who still want to serve their community weekly.” The Residency Program is a 6 month commitment that can start any time of the year. With times to serve across all three program areas, one serve Saturday a month, and every other serve Sunday, residency is a way to live in the community you are serving.
Ruth spoke more on the flexible schedule for those interested. “Residents will be plugged into a program area at We Will Go. Depending on your schedule and when you’re able, you’ll fit into one of our program times to help out!” From our Education, Employment, and Essential Food areas, there are many ways to get involved. Residency is for people who want to commit to having an even bigger impact on their city.
Residency brings missions and normal life together in a simple way. “It’s a program where people can continue to pursue their education, career opportunities, and life while learning to open your door and share with your neighbor. Residency gives the opportunity to see just how simple the Gospel is,” Ruth states. Figuring out how to love your neighbor through giving food, tutoring a child, or sharing with someone who might knock on your door doesn’t have to be complicated. Learning to do those things daily is something We Will Go’s Residency program offers.
Small Change Has a Large Impact
When the forecast called for small flurries and snow, our city was excited for a snow day. As it quickly turned into a week with no power, burst pipes, and the inability to leave home, many began to panic at the thought of no food and no heat. Sitting at the front of our building frantically calling each of our families, Olivia Hamilton, the Director of our Food Essentials Program spoke about the crisis. “The biggest thing that I was surprised by with the bad weather was that people reached out to us to say that they were willing to walk to us to receive food. I realized that in our community, food insecurity was a bigger threat than snow and ice.”
We had so many people walk from literally miles away because they needed essentials like bread, vegetables, and dry food. “At a time where almost every store and organization was closed, a lot of our neighbors were relieved that we were one of the few places that remained open,” Ms. Hamilton goes on to say. And our neighbors weren’t the only ones stuck in the snow. Our staff walked from their homes just so that we could open the doors and help the few neighbors that managed to make it.
What did this icy week highlight as an issue in Jackson? “This crisis showed how important having a backstock of food really is to our community. That's been the hardest part for us. We haven’t been able to drive to get more supplies to help those who are coming. Having food at the ready would potentially help ensure that in the future, there is always enough food for anyone who comes,” Olivia states.
We have also had people reach out to see how they can help during these trying times. In speaking on different opportunities, Ms. Hamilton highlights a few. “People can always financially contribute to the food pantry by sponsoring a family or buying canned goods for our shelves. We always need volunteers when it comes to sorting and making up bags as well as with our food distribution.” There is also a new day for involvement in the coming months. Starting on March 13, 2021, the second Saturday of each month, we are going to add a third distribution day for those who need it. The day is specifically geared towards volunteers and neighbors who cannot come during the week but still would like to get involved or receive food donations. From 8:30am-12:30pm, people can sign up to receive food and volunteers can come to help with distribution on those Saturdays.
The Impact of Tutoring
One on one tutoring has become essential to our afternoon Education program. What started as helping students complete simple homework assignments after school has transformed into something bigger over the last few months. Our Director of Education, Mariah Pitre, has helped to grow the program to providing equipment, safe spaces, and tutoring for students who are now fully online. With most of our students coming from Jackson Public Schools, we have created close ties with the school system trying to find the best way to be most effective in Jackson. Recently, the opportunity to partner with Timberlawn Elementary School has arisen to help take in some of their students to our Education program. “We want to start partnering with JPS to assist their students with tutoring and supplies,” Mariah states after having met with school leaders. Timberlawn Elementary not only hopes to partner with us during the school year but also during summer months. “They’re excited to possibly direct some students to Camp Hope this summer,” Mariah says in reference to We Will Go’s yearly camp that provides activities and meals to kids in the community.
Mariah also spoke about the needs she has seen in our students attending our Education program. “I’ve been very thankful to see that what I do everyday matters. One of my third grade students was reading with me and I helped her login on her laptop to do her homework. An announcement popped up on her screen and she struggled to read that simple announcement. Seeing this student not only struggle to read but to struggle to navigate virtual learning was a shock to me.” Only 5% of students are able to receive special assistance at JPS schools. Those in charge of the schools are looking for programs to engage their students to grow in reading comprehension and online learning. Mariah spoke further about the need saying, “It left me to wonder how many other students are struggling? Students who are looking for help to complete their basic needs?”
The weekly routine of opening our building and sitting with students is one that is having a larger impact. It is also meeting a very specific need to keep struggling students from slipping through the cracks. “Being able to see how important it is to be sitting in that chair, reading alongside her, guiding her through her lessons was overwhelming to see,” Mariah says about tutoring. There is a weekly need of more volunteers, people passionate about education, or those simply willing to help to join in. Come and partner with us as we strive to grow and impact even more students.
Making Missions a Part of Everyday Life
Although there are many short term opportunities to serve with We Will Go, some people are looking to get even more involved. Ruth Alexander, Director of Internships, explains why the Internship programs at We Will Go were developed. “Living and working at We Will Go is trying to teach individuals how to make missions a part of everyday life beyond just short term volunteering.” We Will Go currently has a long term Internship program for 1 year, a Resident program for 6 months, and a program called Engage Jackson which runs from August 15-December 21, 2021. The Internship and Resident programs both help with our Essential Food program, after school Education program, and our day to day interactions with neighbors. Engage Jackson is a little different with a combination of our regular programs mixed with actual teaching from Wesley Bible Seminary. Rather than coming to serve for a few short hours and then driving home, you get to stay and continue to impact the community.
The desire to stay and help grow the community of downtown Jackson is what inspired our mission statement and what drives the programs. Ruth states, “Our mission statement of ‘We are neighbors willing to engage our community with the love of Christ’ is the heart behind these programs. We want to be consistent in supporting and sharing the love of Christ to those in Jackson.” So many times, we have made sharing the gospel and giving to those in need something that’s convenient for the giver. We give when we’re available or when we feel like it.
Being consistent in the community not only impacts our team members but also affects those in Jackson that we daily help with food, education, and spiritual encouragement. Giving our neighbors the reassurance that there are believers in this city that will be here to support and encourage them has created an environment of dependability. In describing what it means to model what Jesus did when he was on the earth, Ruth spoke more on staying committed and diligent. “Christ calls us to care about those around us and to not quit when it gets hard. It’s important to not only sow into a community but to stay. To continue to come back and maintain those relationships and pray for Jackson.”