DETROIT, MI – Year after year, for the last 24 years LifeChangers has continued to involve youth, collegiates, and adults in changing communities and lives “One House at a Time”. This past July wasn’t any different as the young volunteers enjoyed a week of service, tearing down and building up, praising and worshiping, and even some daily recreation.
This was a NEW year, a year of change. Earlier in 2019 our housing was sold. St Robert Bellarmine school sold their property to a private school. We also had a need to transfer our worksites out of the Brightmoor area of Northwest Detroit. We began to pray, asking God for His direction for housing, worksites, and backyard Bible clubs. God was already ahead of us. Pastor Wayne Parker (Merriman Road Baptist Church) had recommended that we check with Warren Woods Baptist Church and Pastor Larry Allen. They were very kind and receptive to helping LCs out. After getting it approved through their church calendar, Pastor Allen gave us the green light. Pastor Allen also provided some names for us to contact as possibilities for support and involvement. As a result of a few contacts, we held one larger backyard Bible clubs at Faith Outreach Center church where Stephen and Kaye Elliott are Pastor and wife and who did an incredible job hosting the backyard Bible club all week. We invited children and young people from two large, neighboring Mobile Home Parks. Their church is known as the “Ice Cream Church” because it is literally an Ice Cream Parlor. They have a tremendous energy and a great facility. We look forward to their involvement in 2020 and beyond.
We connected with Pastor Mike Osminski in Warren who became a worksite provider. One of a few sites he referred us to was a handicapped single mother who had several needs at her home. During the week we were able to clean out her shed and paint it, clean her pond and reline it, hung drywall in the kitchen and paint and tile. A second house he referred, received a roof repair and insulation rehung in the crawl space of the basement. And many feet of fence was painted. Also, another widow received loving labor from the group as well. Trees trimmed, grass cut, electrical work and other odd jobs. Pastor Osminski’s church paid for all the repairs. He is excited to work with LC again in 2020. Work was also performed at Macomb County Habitat for Humanity supplies warehouse. The young people laid sod, planted trees and shrubs, established shelves, and set up clothing distribution.
Appreciation for providing meals goes to: Memorial Baptist church, Herb Harbaugh, Pastor; Merriman Road, Wayne Parker, Pastor; Colonial Hills, Mt Morris, Brian Southerland, Pastor; Temple of Faith, Rochelle Davis, Pastor; Middlebelt Baptist, Inkster, Woodside Church, Jeff Keith, Pastor.
Everyone said it was a lot of work, but very rewarding. “I can only imagine how great next year will be with all the base work that was accomplished this year” commented Bill Beasinger, Colonial Hills Baptist Church, LC Ass’t Director. We were fortunate to have recruited some Leaders in Training. Alex Meeks, David Clark Rose, and Sabrina Guglielnetti who invested a lot of energy in the program this year. They will continue on the Leadership Team for 2020.
We give a big THANK YOU to Greater Detroit Association for their continued encouragement and support. Thank you to all of the churches and members who continue to provide meals. For more LifeChangers info go to golifechangers.org or call (or text) Wayne Vann at 734-718-4923 or Alex Meeks at 734-620-9592.
Don’t forget to:
SAVE THE DATE – LIFECHANGERS – 2020
JULY 18 TO JULY 24, 2020
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wayne Vann and his wife, Pam, co-direct the teen/College missions camp, LifeChangers, which they started 24 years ago. They have 4 adult children, 2 great-grands and 14 grandchildren.