One Team, One Dream: 2026 Vision
At midnight on New Year’s Eve, in many communities, people go outside to ring in the new year with noise. Banging pots and pans. Fireworks. Noise makers.
In Chester, the tradition is a bit more dangerous... many people shoot guns.
It’s like nothing I had experienced before. It’s our reality. Some people get excited—but at the same time, it can be totally horrifying.
As a former drug addict, a convicted felon, and a Chester resident, I’m used to living in dangerous places. But guess what—I still get scared sometimes.
Life is no longer just about me. We have little kids. Our neighbors have children too.
This year, we hid our kids in the center bedroom, kept them low, and prayed. Shots rang out for hours before and after midnight. I couldn’t help but wonder what other households were doing—just hoping no one would get hurt.
A Cleansed Morning
But something happened when we woke up on New Year’s Day, 2026.
When we glanced out the window, there was a beautiful white blanket of snow. Where we regularly see broken-down buildings—where there is usually trash, parties, and gunshots—we saw something completely different.
Everything in our city was covered in a pristine, sparkly sheet of white.
Snow is one of my favorites. When it snows, everything becomes quiet. People restrict travel, and for just a few moments, everything feels perfect—clean, beautiful, even majestic.
Things that are broken are now covered and clean.
It felt as if God was providing a powerful illustration of His cleansing salvation and His promise that He is making all things new. Especially in contrast to the unsettling moments felt just hours earlier.
A New Hope for 2026
This new year, 2026, we step forward with renewed hope.
Even though we have faced adversity and difficult times, we remain hopeful because of God’s promises and faithfulness. When we look back over the past five years, we are reminded of just how much transformation has already happened. Revisit our Impact Report for actual numbers!
In the same way we went from a dangerous night to a cleansed morning, God made the theme for 2026 clear—one that comes from a past that promises a future.
We are one team, with one dream.
Our One Dream
Our big dream is that every heart and every home would be radically transformed.
We do this by building long-term, lasting relationships through the Gospel.
This year will be the most exciting yet. In September, we shared our need to launch a new headquarters.
Yes, we need a new building.
Yes, we will need new financial partners.
But our One Dream will happen because of our one-minded team.
Here’s the secret: you are the team.
The Greenhouse Effect is a story of God and His people—and I love that. Church partners. Donors. Volunteers. Friends. A collective group saying “yes” to what God is doing in Chester.
What It Will Take to Grow
For us to grow and thrive in God’s work, our One Dream, One Team needs three things:
1. Deeper Connections
Nonprofits and churches can be in danger of mission drift—forgetting where they came from or where they’re going.
We are committed to going deeper.
As we’ve grown, we’ve been intentional about spending time with our neighbors—hanging out, praying together, knocking on doors, and building real relationships. We’ve always known we can’t reach all 35,000 people in Chester. But the lives that are changed can go on to influence others.
We call this discipleship—spiritual parenting.
It’s why we’re here.
It’s non-negotiable.
Our Greenhouse communities will always be about depth, not width, even as we grow. That’s why we live where we serve—because no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.
Going deeper isn’t a strategy—it’s a way of life.
2. New Infrastructure
We are in the process of purchasing a 4,000-square-foot building, with hopes of adding a second floor, just a short walk from our current spot.
Our heart is for deep connection, and to do that well, we need the right tools and systems. We envision our new headquarters operating like a true community center.
This space would allow for:
Safe indoor basketball and sports activities
Classrooms for tutoring and after-school programs
Rooms for counseling
Office space for staff
Since sharing our need for a new building, our programs and outreach have continued to grow. Sundays alone have increased from an average of 40 people to 60.
Now is the time to double down—to create a centralized location and build the physical foundation for the next 20 years of Christ-centered transformation.
3. New Serving Teams
We are praying for a volunteer revolution.
There’s no way this vision happens without like-minded people who are willing to cross denominational and physical boundaries to reach those in need.
We need your help!
Not just financially—though a capital campaign is coming—but by sharing serving opportunities at Greenhouse Project with everyone you know.
With more volunteers:
After-school programs could expand to multiple days a week
Friday and Saturday night outreach could become a reality
So here’s the new jingle:
”Tell your friends… Your sister. And your mom… Check out ghproject.com”
(yes—we own both .org and .com).
To grow and thrive, our One Dream, One Team needs deeper connections, new infrastructure, and new serving teams—and yes, new financial support. Current partners can help by inviting others to join us in prayer, serving, and giving.
What This Means for Greenhouse
God is calling us into uncharted territory for expansion.
This new headquarters is more than a building—it will be a community center for youth, a place of healing for those in recovery, a sanctuary for our church family, and so much more.
The journey ahead will be long and costly. We can’t ignore that. But since day one, we’ve been a debt-free ministry, trusting that where God guides, He provides.
And for over five years, He has been faithful—every step of the way.
So today, we’re asking you—our faithful partners—to join us in prayer.
Pray for God’s provision.
Pray for favor with city officials, zoning boards, and planning committees.
Pray for wisdom and endurance at every step.
Life can feel like a puzzle—unexpected challenges, missing pieces, and random patterns. Yet by faith, we walk with supernatural peace, knowing God is working all things together for good and for His glory.
A Final Blessing
At the end of each year, we text our friends and family a blessing. This year, it was this:
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12
This prayer of Moses reminds us of God’s eternity and our own frailty. It calls us to mindful living, to recognize the preciousness of time, and to seek wisdom for the days ahead.
People are precious to the Lord—and to us.
With your continued partnership, we will keep building lasting relationships that bring real transformation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are one team, with one dream—for 2026 and for eternity.
Come help us grow.