Greenhouse Project Turns 5!
Today, we celebrate!
Five years feels significant. Though our ministry is still young, we can no longer say it’s just begun. And what a full five years it’s been!
To begin, my heart is full of gratitude—first to Jesus, and also to every friend, volunteer, and partner who has been a part of what we’ve been doing these last five years at Greenhouse.
What began years ago as a dream—quite literally—has grown into a testimony of God’s provision and transformation here in the city of Chester.
In 2020 when we first opened our doors at Greenhouse Project, many churches and ministries were shutting their doors. Though we didn’t have all the answers (we still don’t!), by faith, Emily and I—joined by a faithful few—began walking the path of urban ministry. Over the last five years, God has provided for our every need. We’ve built lasting relationships, preached the Word, and witnessed countless lives and families changed by the power of the Gospel.
Only God could do it, and we are thankful to join in the work!
Over the years many people have asked me for advice on launching a new ministry. Since I love opportunities to share what worked (and what did not), I decided that for our five-year anniversary, I’d write a list of FIVE THINGS I’D DO ALL OVER AGAIN.
And as I was reflecting, I decided that I had to begin with the five things I’d NEVER do again. My hope is that whether you’re just starting a ministry, operating a thriving church, or maybe you’re a neighbor here on the block, that learning from our mistakes, and reading about God’s hand on our ministry, blesses you!
FIVE THINGS I’D NEVER DO OVER AGAIN
1. BUILD SMALL
Our heart has always been to live side-by-side with the people we serve. But knowing what we know now, and seeing the needs that we have up close, one thing we would have done earlier would be to secure a bigger building! Who knew that having one bathroom in our church house would be a problem… Now we know!
We host many weekly events and all the programs that would greatly benefit from extra space. I acknowledge that ultimately this is a good challenge. God’s Word is like a seed, when it’s planted and watered, Scripture promises that it can grow to 60 or 100-fold. We’ve certainly seen that growth here firsthand!
2. LAUNCH WITHOUT LEGAL ADVICE
We learned a new word over these five years: ZONING. In short, since our fellowship is technically a “place of worship”, we had to retain legal counsel to apply for a variance with the Chester Zoning Board to continue to use our house as a ministry. At the same time, we were seeking approval for our state licensed recovery house.
I’ve learned to start conversations with the planning department and seek legal approval first. I’ve heard so many people say “it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission” but I disagree in this case. It is actually better—saving time, hassle, legal issues—to have the permission first!
3. START SIDE PROJECTS
“Watch your side quest!” is a phrase we use a lot around here at Greenhouse Project. Since each day has limited time and focus, we’ve learned to be mindful about distractions that pull us away from the main mission.
One example is our beloved community garden. While this project fits into our ministry model in a lot of ways, the physical upkeep, planning, and preparing ended up requiring more time than we had to give (side note: Thanks to Kim and Tyler Rodkey, our community garden is still active!).
I’ve learned the tangible value of counting the long-term cost of side projects. If we want to increase our impact, we have to laser-focus on what we know God has called us to do. For us, that’s focusing on the preaching of the Word, addiction recovery, and community outreach like the Food Outreach and Homework Club.
4. PRACTICE WEAK FAITH
Some might say that we have great faith to living and running a ministry in Chester, but I can look back at the times where my human faith has faltered. I thank God that His good grace abounds! When we were buying the first ministry house, we had an opportunity to build a second-floor addition.
I remember saying out loud, “We don’t have the money to finish the bottom, how can we do the top?” About a year later we completed the house without debt with enough funding to start full-time staff! Hebrew 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
I’ve learned to seek God in faith, trusting His Word and His will over what I can see in the natural.
5. PEOPLE PLEASE
It’s true. You can’t please everyone! Having a ministry in Chester—or anywhere—brings in a lot of opinions. While it’s not always easy, and we certainly care for our community, we can’t concern ourselves with every comment made about our ministry. We are working for God, to serve Him, and build His Kingdom first and foremost.
While we’re happy—and often blessed—to hear feedback, true obedience should be done with a pure heart that aims to please God, not working toward human approval alone.
Now that I’ve gotten that list out of the way, let me get to the good stuff! I’m not shy to say that God has blessed our ministry. It’s all about Him. With the Lord’s help, here are…
FIVE THINGS I WOULD DO ALL OVER AGAIN:
1. PREACH JESUS
This ministry was birthed from a place of holy discontent. After 10 years of serving in urban ministry, my heart was broken. Success seemed to be measured by fundraisers and free stuff, and I was struggling to see lasting transformation in the people I served.
Now, don’t get me wrong, providing people with basic needs is the right thing to do, and we do it too. But God has given us a way to be radically transformed, forever. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Only the Gospel can change a life.
2. OPEN DOOR POLICY
Someone once told me, “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care,” and to take it a step further, Jesus said in John 13, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Long-term commitment has been our values since the beginning. This is why my wife and children and I live in the ministry house. In fact, the first two years of ministry—church services, counseling, Homework club, and more— happened in our personal home. After time you get to know people, their ideas, needs, and challenges. You begin to share resources like eggs, sugar.
Now, many of these people come to us when they need advice, help, and prayer. Our neighbors know we are here to share the love of Jesus Christ! The value in love is to care for others more than ourselves. How do we do that? All people are welcome. We love the unlovable, forgotten, broken, and marginalized as Jesus did.
3. LAUNCH YOUTH PROGRAMS
Speaking of our long-term commitment, when we imagine our ministry in twenty years, we envision the youth in our community serving alongside us. And already that is happening!
Just last year at one of our summer BBQs, nice youth gave their life to Christ and were baptized. Not only that, now they are active members of our church. It’s amazing!
And how did we reach the young people? Some of our neighbors were looking for homework help and tutoring for their kids. So we launched the Homework Club, with a core group of six kids. Not only did they love coming for snacks, Bible stories, and homework help, the kids loved to share with their friends and family!
Out of those relationships came summer camp and our BBQs as a way to stay connected and serve. As of now, we have about 20 students enrolled in homework club and have so many stories of transformation. Teaching Biblical values and decision-making skills to young people is something we will never regret.
4. LAUNCH RECOVERY HOUSING
Ready for some truth? When we launched, we did not want any programs. We especially did not want a recovery program. I served for 10 years in the recovery ministry and I was burnt out. But we did start free Biblical Counseling for local recovery houses.
These local houses offer very little support outside of safe living, so we saw a need and offered to help. Over a few years we saw the need for better care and biblical values. You’ve heard it before, but we truly believe that where God guides, He provides.
In the last few months, we’ve seen so many lives transformed through a commitment to following Jesus. We now have four state licensed houses with 31 male residents via Greenhouse Recovery. We have developed an amazing, rigorous discipleship recovery program. And the best part about working with people in addiction is they already know they are broken and messed up (I speak from personal experience!).
These men want to be challenged and transformed—they know what they are in for in our program! Of course this doesn’t mean it’s easy to do this kind of work, but that means we minister to people in their mess and get to see changes in real time.
5. BUILD A TEAM WITH SHARED VALUES
The first time I ever hung out with my now wife, Emily, was driving around Chester to look for a ministry house. Romantic, I know! But God had laid it on my heart to drive to 23rd Street, and as I shared that with Emily, she said that God laid that exact street on her heart.
It gets even better! When we were turning onto 23 rd Street, I said out loud, “I’m looking for a three-story red brick house”. Without hesitation Emily said, “As long as it has a red door”. We stopped at the first stop sign and to our left, there it was. A three-story red brick house with a red door. We stopped and prayed that God would allow us to serve Him on this corner in Chester all the rest of our days.
The most important piece for launching the Greenhouse Project was Emily and her mutual vision for this.
There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors and great wisdom in building a ministry with people who share biblical values. And here’s another thing: God brought us amazing leaders and advocates that helped shape and mold our ministry! It’s God who raised the financial support and God who brought to us people who have a shared vision for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to thrive in the most challenging area in Pennsylvania.
I wish we could write an article on each person who helped shape our ministry. The list of people and partners could go on and on. As we took steps of faith, God brought our board members, Pastor Donny and Rachelle, and now Pastor Ryan Vance and his beautiful family, and the rest is history.
It’s been a privilege to serve alongside people with a matching vision to serve God and see Him transform lives here in Chester!
So, what do the next five years hold?
Sincerely, only God knows! We long to see all of Chester transformed by the Good News, and we pray that God uses Greenhouse Project in the next five years to continue to impact the city.
Thank you to each and every one of you who has served alongside us these last five years—there’s so much to celebrate!
Thank you for your financial support.
Thank you for volunteering with Homework Club.
Thank you for attending church services and recovery meetings.
Thank you for linking arms at weekly Food Outreach and block parties.
Emily and I feel incredibly blessed that God has called our family to this ministry!
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
—Ephesians 3:20-21