Bus being worked on as we speak! We can’t believe this is happening. May God use this to reach many people… More details to follow!
LBW Team
Help us to continue to make a difference. We’re participating in the 5th annual ‘IKEA Life Improvement Co-worker Challenge’ – a program that gives our charity the chance to win a makeover from IKEA (16th Street Location). This makeover will help us create a training space for those in the community that is functional, inviting and well-designed — a place our community can feel welcome and comfortable.
Participating is simple. All you have to do is go to www.IKEA-USA.com and vote for (#lovebeyondwalls). You can vote once a day from February 16th until March 2nd. It’s that easy! To vote, click the image below. Thanks for your support!
LBW Team
Chesley McNeil from @11alivenews surprised us with a check to pay for the wrap for the bus this AM. Super humbled that this news station decided to invest in our work.
LBW Team
This past weekend, we prepped the bus by blacking out the important parts! Can’t believe it is going in to be wrapped tomorrow. After it comes out, the first phase of construction will happen on the 21st.
If you are an electrician, contractor, or skilled worker hit us up, we need your skills (email volunteer@lovebeyondwalls.org)! One step closer.
We are collecting non-perishable food items to serve families in need. If you’d like to contribute, see the image below for details.
LBW Team
Yesterday, Terence got a chance to present to over 70 up and coming community leaders from Morehouse & Spelman College about #lovebeyondwalls, and what t means to make a difference in the world through service.
The talk took place in front of the group “Project House” (an organization led by the student body that organizes students to serve among the homeless population).
Below is a picture of Jairus Davis (E board Member) that invited us out and put this on at Dansby Hall.
LBW Team
This coming Saturday, we are serving those who are less fortunate in downtown Atlanta! If you would like to get involved please see the flyer below.
LBW Team
This past Monday, 75+ people gathered at the Love Beyond Walls Headquarters and began gutting the bus out, and prepping it to be changed. Below are a few pictures from this past MLK’s Serve Day!
LBW Team
I just want to give you a heads up… You are not about to read a Superman blog… More like a Clark Kent blog… Why? Simple. Because I don’t want to be another leader hiding behind a red cape.
If I can be honest, it’s been almost 4 1/2 days since I’ve been off of the bus, and it has been extremely hard readjusting to normally life. In fact, the first two nights were very restless and unsettling. Why? I couldn’t help but think about others out there suffering in the cold (who were experiencing what I experienced).
Although I know it isn’t my fault, I still feel compassion toward those who are without, and am pursuing ideas to help people permanently this year.
Yes, I have been able to get some rest, but have sill had to deal with some unfortunate life experiences as well. For instance, my wife and I had a grandmother to pass of cancer just yesterday, and our son got sick in the same day (having to be rushed to the hospital). Literally, while headed to be with family after a loss, we ended up in the ER with our son. This was a Clark Kent day…
Not only did these things happen, I had another grandmother get ill, and have still had to process tons of other opposition I faced while on the bus.
I think one of the greatest leadership misconceptions is that people think that you are supposed to be strong through every single thing. Here is a newsflash, no one is that strong. In fact, leaders shouldn’t put themselves in this type of imprisoning bubble. Sometimes leadership is about being Clark Kent. Why? Because it shows people that we are all fragile, and at any given moment can fall victim to life circumstances.
What has kept me during this transition; it has been God’s sustaining strength (Phil 4:13), family, and a few friends. In no way am I trying to over spiritualize where I am, but I am confessing that it has been my faith that has carried me thus far… Why share this part? Simple. Because I am not Superman. I don’t have a cape…I have faith in a God that’s strong, and able to do the impossible.
You are probably wondering if staying on a bus is still worth it to me? My answer is still, yes. Yes it was worth people being educated. Yes it was worth seeing a few brothers form a relationship with God. And yes, it has been worth starting the beginning of what is to come with the #mobilemakeovers bus!
Terence
So you want to be a wife? But, what if your husband has a heart for the homeless, vulnerable and poverty stricken…. What if he decides to live on top of a BUS for 30 days.. AWAY from you and your family!!!
Marriage is NO JOKE…can you really do what Pastor Enid Stewart says and “Give back to God whom he GAVE to YOU.”
As I think about the Mobile Makeovers Bus campaign or Love Beyond Walls in general… I always think about the reason why we started this organization. We started with a deep love and compassion to take love to those who are often times forgotten… some call them “the least of these.”
People have asked my husband why would he live on top of a bus for a month… Well, here is a little secret that most people don’t know… I was the person who told my him that if he wanted to get the bus going and really get the word out about the campaign he was going to have to do something out of the box, strange, or something that was not ordinary to get people’s attention in this busy world we live in.
He mentioned that we needed a large amount of resources to make over the bus and I said, “You’re going to have to live on top of the bus or something… It has to be radical where it makes a statement.” He responded, “You’re right. I have to stand up for what we believe in…”
Afterwards, we talked about the timeframe, and how it would happen. I didn’t know that it would change so many lives and so many people would get on board and support the cause. It amazes me to see the number of lives we are changing by following Christ. People say it was selfless, but we say it’s simply doing what is in our hearts.
During the time that Terence has been on the bus, I have received a lot of questions in reference to how did I do it or why did I let him do it? And my answer is simple, “I did it because I understand the passion that my husband has because he has been this was since we have been together.”
I covered him with prayer daily, sent encouragement to him through text messages, visits, and lots of phone calls. I knew what kind of person he was from Day 1 so there are not many things that he says out of the box that shocks me. I am grateful for all of my family and friends that have helped me along the way while he has been on the bus.
I wouldn’t have been able to do all that I have done without him taking care of home before he left to be on the bus just to be sure that we’d be okay. Additionally, he has set a great example for our children by living a message of giving.
It is an honor to be on this journey with my husband through Love Beyond Walls as we serve people through the Mobile Makeovers campaign. I am grateful to have a husband like Terence who doesn’t mind going to get anything! He has proven that he will stand up for the works that is supposed to be done for Christ.
This is what a wife does to support her husband.
Cecilia
