Here at Greenhouse Project, we are absolutely thrilled to start our second season of outdoor community barbecues on the streets in Chester!

Just a few days ago, we blocked off our street and invited our neighbors over for free hot dogs, hamburgers, a water ice truck, waterslide moon bounce (yes, you read that correctly!), slip-n-slides, and most importantly, a chance to worship God through music and hear a life-changing Gospel message.

Each time we meet for these events, God uses ordinary moments to accomplish extraordinary things.

This month, we were honored to welcome Buddy Osborn, Senior Pastor at Rock Ministries as our guest speaker.

A story of remarkable redemption

Raised by a single mother in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood alongside eight siblings, Buddy was introduced to the realities of “street life” at an early age. By his teenage years, he had already experienced more violence and hardship than most people encounter in a lifetime.

At thirteen, Buddy was introduced to boxing, and the sport quickly became his passion.

By sixteen, he was considered one of Philadelphia’s top young fighters. After winning the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves, he competed across the country and internationally as a member of the USA National Boxing Team. But success in the ring could not fill his emptiness inside.

By age twenty-eight, the former boxing champion was facing life in prison on federal racketeering charges. He would ultimately spend years behind bars before being released in the early 1990s. Then everything changed.

After returning home, a friend shared the Gospel with him.

On December 31, during a phone conversation with that friend, Buddy surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. What followed was a totally transformed life marked by purpose.

From Life Story to a Living Testimony About Christ

Buddy is now the founder of The Rock Ministries in Philadelphia, where he shares the hope of Christ with those who are struggling, hurting, and searching for a new beginning. Through discipleship, outreach, and boxing programs that provide safe spaces for young people to grow, Buddy continues to demonstrate the life-changing power of the Gospel.

During this Community BBQ, Buddy shared a powerful message from John about Jesus's desire to heal and restore those who want to be made well. His testimony reminded us that no one is beyond God's reach and that the Lord delights in redeeming broken stories for His glory.

Buddy shared with everyone that God wants to use your story as a testimony that points others to Jesus. And God was certainly moving among us.

By the end of the evening, six people gave their lives to Christ!

Two Very Special Baptisms

We also baptized five people, including two especially meaningful moments as I baptized my son, Max, and Pastor Ryan baptized his oldest daughter, Adeline. They were sacred moments we will never forget, and thank Jesus for the witness to our neighbors!

This was one of the most encouraging and fruitful community BBQs we’ve hosted so far!

These gatherings exist for one reason: to build relationships that create opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every conversation, every hamburger served, every prayer offered, and every song sung is done with the hope that people will encounter the saving grace of Jesus.

Beat the Heat, Come Join Us!

Simple ways you can be part of the story God is writing this summer:

Pray for the six new believers who began their journey with Christ that evening, as well as for every family and neighbor who attended.
Save the Dates:
Join us for our next Community BBQs on Thursday, July 16 and Thursday, August 13 from 5pm — 8pm. Free parking on and around E 23rd Street.
Come for the food and the fellowship, and most importantly, come to see what God will do in our Chester neighborhood. We believe God is writing a new story in our city — one life, one family, and one block at a time.