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Life Change

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Parenting, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Sociology, The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

DAY 31 & The Uniform Collection Begins

Today is DAY 31 in one outfit!

For the last thirty days I have only worn one outfit… Why? Because I decided to give up my closet so four Title 1 Schools who have students who struggle with their closets can have one! This is not a stunt, or some type of gimmick… I’m doing this because I encountered tons of kids who wear the same thing every single day because their families live in poverty. Therefore, I vowed to myself that not only will I walk in the shoes of these kids, but I would do something that benefit the schools that have students who struggle with this issue.

Many people know that Title 1 Elementary Schools require their students to wear uniforms….Therefore, #lovebeyondwalls is going to do something about it…

I, Terence have not only given up every single article of clothing I own, but for the next 60 days, I am rallying people to help us collect tons of uniforms (new or slightly used) to help several Elementary Schools, and to build closets for these schools…

How can you get involved? Simple. You can drop off  any of the items below at several of our drop-off locations, or you can give monetarily [HERE] — 100% of your giving goes directly to uniforms. Our goals is to furnish each of these schools with 50 uniforms a piece.

Below are the schools, there colors, sizes, and the drop-off locations you can bring them to:

SIZES

small (6-8)

medium (10-12)

large (14-16)

SCHOOLS

Mt Zion Primary 

PreK- Yellow polo style shirts

K5-Green polo style shirts

1st grade-Red polo style shirts

2nd grade-Navy polo style shirts

Pants/Bottoms: Khaki, navy, or black

EJ Swint Elementary 

Tops: button down or polo style-white,

Bottoms: Khaki or dress pants style, shorts or skirts-khaki, blue, black color

Fountain Elementary

Tops: Polo style or button down style—yellow, gold, blue, or white

Pants, shorts, skirts: khaki, blue

Riverdale Elementary

Tops: Polo style with collar–Red, black, white, navy blue

Pants, skirts, skorts, knee length shorts: Khaki, black, dark blue

LBW-UniformDonationsTerence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Overseas, Project THIRST, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Sociology, The Local Church, Transform

THIRTY DAYS & WATER!!!!

Today is officially the 30th DAY of #closetstrike! I have been in one outfit for 30 DAYS straight… Why? to help elementary school students.

While doing the strike, #lovebeyondwalls  has experienced some pretty cool things… We officially collected over 300 cases of water for those who are homeless in Atlanta.

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Initially, when we came up with the idea to collect water it was because I had found out that one of my  homeless friends I was working with was hospitalized due to dehydration.

I thought… I wonder why? Then it dawned on me that homeless people have very little access to public water! It is very hard access water and stay hydrated if you are homeless. Therefore, we decided to launch #projectTHIRST to keep those we encounter living on the streets hydrated with the basic necessity of water. Every human deserves dignity in a glass of water (no matter where they may lay their head a night)…

Therefore, over the last three weeks, we have distributed water to those who lack public access to water. It has been amazing!

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In a week or so, #lovebeyondwalls will partner with the Salvation Army (In Atlanta) & It’s Just a Dream to serve those in the Pittsburgh community of the 11th of this month.

To learn more about how to get involved in what we are doing email volunteer@lovebeyondwalls.org

Terence

 

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , The Local Church, Transform, Uncategorized, Vision

Days 26-27 Love Boxes in College Park!

Last week, we got a chance to partner with Warehouse of Hope, and provide groceries for 30 elderly residents that live in College Park’s Housing Authority community!

cp

We were amazed at the number of residents who are past retirement age that live in this community who struggle with food resources. We are looking to service 60 families (residents) a month who lack resources and means to purchase food. Why are we doing this? Simple to provide love, hope, and food to people where they are. It was good to pray with, love on, and show people that God is real and does love them.

It was a great experience to see that people who lacked resources get encouraged the through the gift of food!

Love-Boxes

Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Story, The Local Church, Transform, Uncategorized, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

Days 22-25 Love Pittsburgh

Today, is day 25 in one outfit! I’m literally thinking about so many now, but nothing more that helping the communities, families, and children that God will bring us before. On my 31st, I’ll release a series of videos explaining in depth how this campaign #closetstrike will benefit many schools and students!

One great event we having coming up is a partnership with the Salvation Army & It’s Just A Dream to provide love and hope to those in the Pittsburgh community. Below are the details!

LovePittsburgh-Instagram

Terence

 

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, , Story, The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

Days 15-16 Worth in lack!

On of the things I admire about Jesus is more times than often he had a unique way of seeing the good in people, and even helping them to see worth in their situations even when they couldn’t. A classic example of this is the man who was at the pool of Bethesda for a few decades (read John 5:1-15). This man was lame, had been paralyzed in one geographical location, and limited (hoping to one day be healed one day). Jesus walks up to this man, sees value in this guy, asks him a pivotal question, and tells him that he has power to take up his bed and walk.

Jesus saw enough worth in the man even when the man was hopeless and had nothing! What does this suggest… Well, it suggests a number of things, but one main thing I see in the passage is that “lack does not determine worth.” There are many families in lack, and even more children who go without basic needs like clothes. But, because they are in lack doesn’t mean they do not have worth and value in the eyes of God.

Today, is the 16th DAY that I’ll go wearing one outfit on behalf of students, and children across the country and world that have few resources and little or no closets for #closetstrike. May God use this sacrifice to bless others, and push even more to live incarnationally.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Sociology, The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

Days 10-11 with #closetstrike

Today is DAY 11 of me wearing one outfit! It has been extremely hard wearing only one outfit. The thought that I have 79 more days to go frightens me. It frightens me because I don’t know if my closet will be restored at the end of my journey, I don’t know if people will be impacted, and I don’t know if it will even matter! Those are my true thoughts at this present moment! But, there are a few thoughts that are greater than those!

I wonder what it would be like to resources low income schools to help students who struggle with “family poverty…”

I wonder what it would be like to see families who will lack this coming school year be encouraged that they have support from their school and organization that cares…

I wonder what it would be like to help children who literally have no closets get a closet and adaquate clothing to survive…

I wonder what it will be like to teach students how to use technology and campaigns to solve societal ills by inviting people to get involved on the ground level…

I wonder how God’s love will inspire those through this sacrifice….

These wonders and my faith is what is driving me right now!

They are the fuel that God is using to push me forward… And guess what???? I’m not stopping until I see people reached for good. Therefore, I solicit your prayers as I continue to walk this road for those who do not have. Pray that #lovebeyondwalls continues to raise awareness, and move people to provide solutions!

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Terence

 

Terence Lester
In Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Home, Life Change, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Serve, , Transform, Vision

Progress with #plantlove

Every now and again, God does something truly amazing and literally leaves you speechless! You know what I mean… It’s the feeling you get when you don’t know how something is going to happen, and then God provides! Well, that’s sort of what happened with our office space. Back in February, we were introduced to the space and approved for it in March, and planned to move in during the month of April… Well, there were tons of things that needed done (structurally) and completed to make the office space user ready…

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Well, God not only provided the resources to get it together, but he sent a couple (husband and wife team) who committed themselves to serving and utilizing their “renovation” experience/knowledge to help us transform the space into a space that will be friendly to the community.

To this day, I am scratching my head about how God connected us, and how involved they are in the work….Not only are we grateful for them, they have become like family.

Below is a before and after shot of the lobby that shows the transformation that’s starting to happen… The office is starting to come together:

 

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Terence

 

 

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Transform, Vision

Days 7-9 #closetstrike

This morning makes 9 DAYS in one outfit. That’s 216 hours straight. When I woke up this morning, all I could think about is surviving day to day. As a matter of fact, when you have no other options survival is all you have. Lord, give me the strength to continue this journey to help children who have little in their closets.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Engagements, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Story, The Local Church, Transform, Vision

Days 5&6… #closetstrike

This morning had to have been the rough morning for me! Why? Because for the last six days, I have literally had on the same outfit every single day. I have done everything in it. I have gone to meetings, done work around the office, and have used this one outfit for every single thing. If I can be honest, it hurts knowing I cannot wear anything else …Also, it hurts knowing that I am confined to one outfit for every single event that I will partake in over the next 84 days (I can only imagine how students feel who go through this struggle).

In fact, this morning I visited a school in Douglas County (Chapel Hill High) because a student did a campaign to raise awareness about homelessness and partner with students and teachers on behalf of our organization #lovebeyondwalls. The news paper showed up (Douglasville Sentinel), and I was in the same outfit again. Below is a picture on Kamara (student), Jeff (editor), and myself (same outfit) discussing how students rallied around our efforts to reach the less fortunate.

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Nonetheless, while on this journey I have been humbled, and extremely appreciative of every single thing that I have had the privilege to own.

Being on this journey has shown me how ungrateful we can sometimes be when we have many options at our disposal. I encourage any/every/one to cherish anything God has entrusted them with (no matter if they do not think it is a lot).
Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

4 days down 86 to go…

This morning, I was determined to continue this #closetstrike journey! I am four days into the journey, and was pushed to continue by reading a stat posted by NCCP on children and poverty:

More than 16 million children in the United States – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $23,550 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Using this standard, 45% of children live in low-income families.

Most of these children have parents who work, but low wages and unstable employment leave their families struggling to make ends meet. Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Poverty also can contribute to poor health and mental health. Risks are greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young and/or experience deep and persistent poverty.

Research is clear that poverty is the single greatest threat to children’s well-being. But effective public policies – to make work pay for low-income parents and to provide high-quality early care and learning experiences for their children – can make a difference. Investments in the most vulnerable children are also critical.

This stat alone is motivation to work to build closets on behalf of students that #lovebeyondwalls will encounter in the next school term.

Terence

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