Friend, the odds are stacked here in Chester. Here are some new stats that shed light on the realities of our city and, beyond the numbers, a reminder that real, hurting people continue to need our help. Let’s keep going…

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (NIV) Life transformation happens at the point of believing Jesus at his Word.

My dear friend Lisa Merideth went home to be with Jesus one year ago tomorrow and, as this day approached, I felt sure about honoring her in a special way to our supporters. With a spirit of reflection and gratitude, here are three ways Lisa lived life that made a huge impact on others. I hope it encourages you to go bigger and bolder in your own life!

When God gave us the dream of a transformed Chester, a few specific assignments were very clear: share the Gospel, provide strong addiction recovery support and invest in mentoring and educating the youth. Join the club… our HOMEWORK club this year!

A recent large community event Let’s Talk About It invited me to speak on substance abuse, and it was like a moment of cultural shift. The attendees agree that now is the time to be open about mental health, addiction, emotions, and hard truths about living in Chester.

I would have witnessed at least 16 shots of gunfire just 10 feet away had I waited another 30 seconds. On any given day, at any time, something like this can happen on our block. This is the daily reality of living in our Chester neighborhood.

Here are some simple ways you can help make ‘back to school’ time awesome for the under-resourced kids in our neighborhood. Let’s go big with this one, and watch God grow your generosity all school year long!

Our days are usually full of heavy challenges, but today feels like a ‘win’ as we celebrate the baptisms of FOUR recovering addicts we’ve been discipling! Jesus, show yourself to them in powerful ways that their faith and perseverance might grow.

So many doors have opened lately with developments “behind the scenes” so to speak, including this one about our new headquarters… an answer to prayer about 5 yrs in the making!

It came so fast this time around, but our team is celebrating a Happy 2 Year Anniversary since going full time! Take a look back with us to see how God moved us forward and the impact of your support in Chester.

Coming off the year with the highest overdose deaths, we are working harder than ever to prevent this latest story of loss in our recovery community. Will you join us in the fight for true freedom from addiction?

Get to know Donny Martin and his wife, Rachelle. They’re about to endeavor on a huge reno project for their uninhabitable home in a crime-riddled neighborhood in Chester. Why are they saying ‘yes’ to this opportunity most would run away from?

As I celebrate an incredible 15 years sober, my hope is to bless and encourage others by sharing the most meaningful things I’ve learned about living clean.

This is a major theme in our counseling and addiction support. The past few months has had us fielding calls from more people than ever, and with bigger challenges. Parents who struggle with children in addiction can sometimes be the most heartbreaking scenario because there’s a unique, strong burden to help them thrive and keep them protected.

When we first bought our 42 House, George was one of the first people to visit, curious what we were doing there. I remember sharing with him in front of the dilapidated shell of a house that God loves to restore people. And just like how God was helping restore the house, He was calling us to help restore our neighbors too.

Located on the west side of Chester on one of the most challenged blocks in Chester, the 912 House is our second location that puts us with the most vulnerable in the city. The 912 House is, however, in uninhabitable condition and we’ve embarked on prayer meetings and demolition projects to prepare for the transformation this house deserves.