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Family Values

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Campaigns, DRIVES, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Love Beyond Walls Story, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Needs, Organization Update, Plant Love, Poverty, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, Sole Beauti, Vision, Volunteerism

Standing Up for Something!

This year has been really emotional for a number of reasons! Firstly, I think our country has been awakened to the fact that people matter. No matter what color of skin, all people matter and should NOT be treated unfairly, unjustly, or dehumanized.

We’ve seen the homeless epidemic rise, people battle and struggle with job loss, multiple youth lose their lives to police brutality, and poverty continue to place its firm grip tightly around those that are plagued by it.

Second and last, we’ve heard the underlining clarion call for people to unite band together, and take responsibility in their communities. If we have learned nothing else from the events that have taken place this year, we have learned that more people are needed to take a stand for something. Whether it be poverty, violence, employment, etc… more people are needed to stand up and become a bridge for those who are in need.

Right now, #lovebeyondwalls is on a mission to reach communities, those faced with poverty and (young and old) people who want to overcome and make their lives over. Our hearts have not only been broken for the recent killings that have happened in the news, but toward community, youth, and the family structure.

A few months ago, a church gave us a bus to transform into a makeover bus to reach communities and people. It has been a dream of our organization not only to reach people, but to use it as a platform to launch a program to teach people skills needed to function in life. We’d pass along this skills to help people take steps toward having a full life makeover!

In fact, we are so serious about launching this vehicle, we are going to attempt something that’s extremely hard in an effort to bring awareness to the growing need to help families, youth, and those who are homeless in the city. Additionally, we want to mobilize people to get involved in helping us create real solutions. We are going to take a stand to launch something to help make the lives of people over!

Below is a quick clip of what…

 

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Engagements, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Love In The Trenches, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, , Sociology, Vision, Volunteerism

Sponsor a Makeover!

You can sponsor a makeover today by clicking the image below!

Mobilemakeover

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blankets & Socks, Blogging Journey, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, DRIVES, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, Vision, Volunteerism

One Day – Two Serve Locations

This coming Saturday will be pretty huge for how we share love in the city! For the firs time, we will disperse to separate serve teams out into the city to serve both downtown and in College Park for Thanksgiving!

Not only will we have an opportunity to share love with those who are homeless, but we will also take love to under resourced families in College Park! We are calling this #loveonthego

oneday

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community, Community Service, Diversity, Engagements, Family Values, Give Miles Away, Global, Gospel, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Love Beyond Walls Story, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Partnerships, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, , Story, Transform, Vision, Volunteerism

10 DAYS – BUS CAMPAIGN!

The starter, @terencelester is 10 DAYS AWAY from launching our next major campaign with a bus our org was donated to serve the less fortunate! He says, “Some may call crazy, but I call it I call it #lovebeyondwalls…”

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LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Family, Family Values, Fatherhood, Fighting for the Hopeless, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Partnerships, Plant Love, Resources, Serving, , Struggle, Transform, Vision

The day I was let go!

Everything is perfect right… You are taught, “Get a job… Be consistent in that job… Get tons of education… Apply what you’ve learned… Pay your bills on time… Take care of your family (if you choose to get one)… AND everything will work out for you as long as you are a smart, positive, productive, and a moral citizen…” Right? Wrong!

Life has a way of taking even the simplistic desires of our heart(s) and flipping them upside down…leaving you to wonder, “Is something wrong with me?” or better yet, “Am I not doing something right?…”

How do I know? Well, life was going well…I was working on staff at a church, caring for my family, and started Love Beyond Walls in my spare time… Well, seven days after Easter of this year (2014) I was called into the church office (where I was on staff), and laid off for starting Love Beyond Walls. I think the phrase was, “I think you should go do that 100% because you are not a fit anymore…” 

If you haven’t figured it out yet, this is where life flips everything upside down…and I was left on the bottom… My heart stopped…In fact, I’m in tears writing this because I felt ashamed to share it at first.

Initially, when I started #lovebeyondwalls I was only devoting part-time energy to it, and had tons of volunteer help (still have a great team). In fact, the organization’s success is not because of me, but because of the team my wife and I have around us…

But, soon LBW began to grow,  gain a little attention and involvement, and suddenly I was told “You are not a fit anymore…It’s not what we do…”

But wait, isn’t this the church’s mission? Love God, Love People, and Serve the least of these? It is….But, at some churches (NOT ALL) it is more about what goes on inside the four walls of the church instead of the people outside the walls that need the love of God, and the good news (not apologizing for stepping on toes, but it is true).

Yes, you heard me… I was given a pink slip, and even told not to come back to the church anymore. Why? I hadn’t done anything criminal or out of line. I just wanted to love on people who I know that God loves, but do not have a voice. However, I have chosen to forgive the mistreatment I received.

In fact, it happened about five days before we launched a campaign called #closetstrike… A campaign where our organization raised awareness about children who attend title 1 schools, and have to wear the same thing every single day because they lack resources at home. I started wearing one outfit every single day (for 90 days), and had to deal with not having a job because of a lay off.

Not only has this been the most difficult journey of my life, it has been the most rewarding too… I have served others with love, compassion, and grace knowing in the back of my mind I could relate to them even more. How have I been able to do it… Simple. HOPE, FOCUS, SUPPORT, AND GOD’S STRENGTH!

Since my layoff, God has provided for my family, and the work we are doing through selfless individuals who see value in our work.

But, if I could be honest this layoff has been both a blessing and a challenge. It has been a blessing because I have been devoted more to building our organization and seeing more impact, but it has been a challenge because I haven’t been able to find more employment with four degrees in one of the worse states for the jobless (GA).

Why put this out there? Simple. It’s to let people know that God does still move in the midst of pain, and in the midst of loss. It is to let people know that you can persevere and build something even though HELL itself is suggesting you should stop and quit. The only thing that has keep me going has been my family and knowing that I am supposed to take hope and love to people who want to throw in the towel.

But here is the good news…We have grown a little more, and in about 15 days, I’m going to release one of the biggest projects we have ever worked on in our lives as an organization.

I can’t wait to write more about the journey I am weathering and our attempt to beat it by doing more good, and serving more people with the love of God.

Below is a picture of a bus we were recently donated… We will share our vision for how we will reach more with it in the coming days.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, DRIVES, Education, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Gospel, Great Commission, Interview, Journey, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Partnerships, Passion, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, The Local Church, Transform, Vision

Serving Families – Give Love Away!

So awesome that we got a chance to support Smart Kids Childcare Center in Lithia Springs with diapers and supplies! So awesome to serve!

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LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Campaigns, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, Current Events, Diversity, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Journey, Life Change, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Organization Update, Parenting, Partnerships, Passion, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, , Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Volunteerism

Awesome Foundation – Closet Strike Materials!

Yesterday (Labor Day), we recieved noticed that we won the September grant from the Awesome Foundation (Atlanta Chapter) for our #closetstrike campaign. We will use these resources to build closets for Title 1 students.

You can click the image below to read the story on their national site.

Awes

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In 501c3, 90 Days, Blankets & Socks, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Engagements, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, , Sociology, Story, The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision, Volunteerism

90th DAY – #closetstrike journey

You ever been under water in a swimming pool for a considerable amount of time, and all of a sudden you spring out of the water gasping for air? Well, that’s what today feels like…

It feels like I have literally been under water wearing this same outfit for 90 DAYS straight, and I can now prepare myself to get some air… Why compare having no oxygen to wearing the same outfit? Simple. Each day was a struggle, presented a new challenged, was filled with embarrassment, and became psychologically and emotionally taxing. There were many times I found myself wanting to quit, or break out in tears, or even spring out of the “water of shame” to get some air.

“AGAIN…..” I’d wake up and say to myself.

However, the focus of this journey wasn’t about me! It was to gain a clear understanding of what children who battle poverty fell…. It gave me deeper understanding of how children are impacted emotionally, socially, and even psychologically (those who lack resources). When a child has to endure poverty, shame, and even socially isolating circumstances, it becomes damaging to their self-picture. When a self-image is destroyed, it is hard for any type of hope or confidence to be present (especially in a classroom setting). That’s why I am really excited that our organization will be able to help a little! We are aiming to encourage both educators and students! #lovebeyondwalls will soon present uniforms to four schools we are partnering with to aid families and children.

90

Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blankets & Socks, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Engagements, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, The Local Church, Transform, Vision, Volunteerism

Days 85-87 – Awesome BBQ!

This past weekend, #lovebeyondwalls partnered with several people to pull off a BBQ in College View Hill Apartments on Saturday. We had over 30 volunteers, served over 250 people food, resourced 20 people with groceries, and led over 30 youth to faith.

A young man that worked with us named Demetrious Nimmons had each of those young people sign the basketball after declaring their faith in the Lord. Below is a collage of a few pictures from this past weekend. Also, this BBQ day made DAY 85 in on the #closetstrike journey!

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Terence

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