This past Saturday, we showed our film at Ga Tech! Now, we have placed it on Vimeo for 7 days to give people a chance to view it who did not see it… In fact, you can view “Love In The Trenches” below. LBW Team
Love In The Trenches (The Love Beyond Walls Story) from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.
This AM I feel many different emotions… Excited… Hopeful…and many other emotions that I cannot describe… Why? Because tomorrow, we’ll show our first 20 minute film as an organization at Ga Tech in the LeCraw auditorium. I cannot believe we have produced a piece that is both inspiring and challenging.
The reason I have these different emotions is simple… We’ll highlight many homeless people we have encountered this year, but some of them have moved on to other states (off of the streets) and will not be able to see the piece at the first showing. However, I know many will view via (web) when they get a chance. I cannot wait to show our piece, and reveal the next campaign we’ll do to serve the under-resourced in Atlanta.
Lastly, we will release this piece via web 8 days after we show it at Ga Tech. Thank you to all of you who support our work in the city! We hope to see you there as our guest…
Terence
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…”
LBW Team
Last week, we released Brittany’s story, and got amazing responses! This week people started giving to this single mother with eight children. In fact, a generous couple gives away their furniture to help us start the process of furnishing her new townhome!
She was once homeless, and now is in need of a little help….You can help too! She still needs baby bunk beds, kitchen items, winter clothes for her kids, etc…
Read her story [HERE]
This past Saturday, #lovebeyondwalls teamed up with Vinings Church, and several volunteers to take love to those who are homeless in ATL. While out serving, the Love Beyond Walls team encountered a man who had been given very harmful drugs and had lost his memory. In fact, he wasn’t homeless but had been robbed and was living as a homeless person…. He was only trying to connect with his friends.
Long story short, he was visiting Atlanta for the games that were in town, and was able to reconnect with his friends from our time serving. Not only was this amazing, we encountered several homeless friends with amazing stories.
LBW Team
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.
Terence
This past weekend was awesome! Normally, we would have gone out to serve, but instead we got a chance to go out and support some of the people that are supporting us!
Friday, we attended the Carnival Voya put on to raise resources for the three organizations they have chosen to sponsor this year.
Saturday, we supported Pleasant Words, LLC for the annual women’s conference. It was an amazing time because during their lunch they honored LBW with support and encouragement.
Sunday, we were at Vinings Church in Smyrna, GA for their grand opening. They partnered with us to raise carrying bags for our #carryATL campaign. Additionally, next week (October 4th) they will go out with us to serve those who are in need.
Lastly, next month we will release our next big project. It will be one of the most daring things we will attempt to continue serving undeserved communities.
LBW Team
We got a chance to interview Brittany today! We helped he a month ago, and now she is no longer homeless — thanks to one of our volunteers Ms. Gloria!
She took her in, cared for her, prayed for her, and keep bringing her around… Now, we need help clothing her kids for the winter, and getting her some furniture for her new place! Can you help us #lovebeyondwalls?
Below are her before and after stories… Watch them, and let us know if you can help!
LBW Team
This coming Saturday (20th), a small group of fifteen leaders will visit our headquarters (in College Park), sit around tables in our idea room, and learn leadership, technology/communication, storytelling, and outreach lessons we’ve learned over the last 8 and a half months we’ve been around.
We are calling it leadersource 1.0 because we believe leaders should have small gatherings that teaches, trains, and resources them with vital information to do effective work in the 21st Century. Our passion is to create idea-based environments where leaders can study and have hands-on training… This type of environment is the best way for leaders to learn, and discover ideas that will help them in what God has called them to.
If we are honest, many leaders wrestle with (in the 21st Century):
So…….Whether it be non-profit work, church work, or a start-up small business there are unique things can be gathered from open dialogue.
Terence
So awesome that we got a chance to support Smart Kids Childcare Center in Lithia Springs with diapers and supplies! So awesome to serve!
LBW Team
Next week, we will take a lot of principles we have learned (through experience) and pass them along to other leaders (about 5-7). We want to teach leaders some of lessons we’ve learned about social media, storytelling, and launching campaigns.
How will this help? I’m glad you asked. It will help other leaders start the process of thinking through ways to make an impact in the areas they feel called to. Everyone needs a little guidance and help!
Also, I’m excited about giving the talk! If you’d like to attend, click the image below. I think we only have 3 more seats available.
Terence
