Newsletter Archive
Things to Remember this Holiday Season...
It does not seem possible, but Christmas will be upon us in just a few short weeks. Local churches will be filled with sights, sounds, and feelings of Christmas Cheer. As we all know, Christmas is a time for family, loved ones, and, most of all, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Imagine for a moment being homeless for Christmas...while many are rushing around buying presents and decorating their homes, over 750 individuals are unsheltered each night, according to Opening Doors Point in Time Count in 2023. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Pensacola, Escambia, and Santa Rosa, there were over 10,000 individuals living in a place not meant for habitation in Florida in 2022. These numbers are overwhelming to think about this Christmas, but sleeping on cold, wet concrete tonight is a sad reality for many.
Show Kindness to the Brokenhearted.
When you see a homeless individual sitting/standing in the median, make eye contact and smile at them.
Small Actions can make a Big Difference.
We recommend not giving money to panhandlers, but a snack/drink is a small way to let someone know they are not invisible.
No One is Exempt from Addiction or Homelessness.
We believe that addiction can affect anyone, from the businessman to the grocery store cashier.
Addiction is a sin problem, and we can all fall into the trap of believing a substance will cure something that only God can fix. Many believe that all homeless individuals have a substance use disorder...while this is true for some, there are a variety of other reasons why someone may be homeless this holiday season. We believe that most fall into one or more of these five causes of homelessness. 1) Mental Health Crisis: there is a lack of care for those with serious mental illnesses, and this can cause many losses in an individual's life. 2) Divorce: when a spouse is the sole provider or manages to gain control of many assets, the individual can become hopeless and end up in a desperate situation. 3) Distrust for the government, a typical result of chronic homelessness that often makes it difficult for the individual to take the steps needed to return to society. 4) Death in a family can leave an individual depressed and unable to do the things needed to succeed. 5) Addiction, which will steal everything from an individual faster than any of the other causes of homelessness.
It is important to note that only some people who find themselves unsheltered will fall into one of these five causes, and some may fall into more than one. The thing to realize is that a simple conversation with someone experiencing homelessness can answer many questions.
Ways to Help through Ministry Village…
Physical Items or Give a Monetary Donation
Follow the link below!
Register to Volunteer at the Ministry Village
Follow the link below!
Specific Prayer Needs
Follow the link below.
Plan to Attend Our Event This Saturday 12/9/23
October Newsletter
Meet Carey, (pictured above to the right). We met Carey almost a year ago. He was in a hard situation and had lost hope. Carey visited the Ministry Village office to receive a hot meal and our weekly "go bag." As the weeks went on, Carey continued to visit the office. Our staff and volunteers were able to encourage him and see his hope restored. Carey recently found a job with a company building infrastructure on military bases in Florida. A few weeks ago he headed to Jacksonville, Florida, in this rental car that his boss helped him get. Carey will earn money and work hard in Jacksonville for the next few weeks. Help us pray for Carey as he travels and begins this new season of his life.
Meet Janet,(pictured above to the left). This Ministry Village Volunteer faithfully donates baby items for single mothers and other items for our Charis House ladies. In the upcoming months, Ms. Janet will begin tutoring our Charis House ladies so they can get a GED if needed or attend college classes in the future. Ms. Janet began to donate baby items as a way to remember her recently deceased sister, Joan. Her sister was a Labor and Delivery Nurse for many years, working at Shanes Hospital in Gainsville and as a traveling nurse. Joan was a humble woman, married, with three adopted children. Joan loved the Lord and children until her very last breath.
We remember Joan and are grateful for Janet's willingness to carry on her sister's legacy.
In October, Woodmen Life Financial Services presented $10,000 to Tender Hearts Caring Hands and Charis House Women's Addiction Recovery Program. Pictured to the left are some of our staff and the representatives from Woodman Life Financial Services. One of our volunteers observed our outreach with our homeless community and the ladies in our program. This volunteer recommended that our ministry receive this money for our efforts in ending homelessness and addiction. We immediately used this money to purchase a storage container for our Shower Ministry. This container will serve as a storage space for some of our supplies.
Our Shower Ministry volunteers and staff operate out of a garage, utilizing every inch to serve clothes, hygiene, hot food, and other needs of our community. Biggest thank you to Woodmen Life Financial Services for choosing to award our organization with this donation.
Charis House Women’s Substance Abuse Recovery Program
We have received 82 applications since August. Currently, 9 ladies are in our Program.
On September 10th, we celebrated three of our Charis House ladies,
Kim
Stinson,
Kimmy Johnson, and Nicole Dibono, they completed 12 months in
our
addiction recovery program.
This was a wonderful day, with many tears,
as our ladies were able to rejoice with their families and friends. Many of
our
Charis House volunteers and Olive counselors were able to congratulate
these ladies at the reception after the Sunday morning service. A special
thank you to Chef Bob and his staff for preparing a wonderful meal and
gorgeous cake for this event.
Kim Stinston lives in Jay, Florida, close to her two beautiful children, mother and stepfather. She is working a full-time job and recently got her License restored so she can drive to work.
Kimmy Johnson is currently living in our Phase 2 transitional home. She is working part-time and attending school with Southern Columbia.
Kimmy hopes to complete an associate's degree in Business Administration in the next 2years. Nicole Dibono is currently living in our Phase 2 transitional home. She is working full-time as the intake coordinator for the Charis House. She is also attending classes with City Vision University. Nicole hopes to complete a degree in Addiction Counseling in the next 2years. Nicole Dibono is currently living in our Phase 2 transitional home. She is working full-time as the intake coordinator for the Charis House. She is also attending classes with City Vision University. Nicole hopes to complete a degree in Addiction Counseling in the next 2years.
It is through your support and prayers that these ladies, have a firm foundation in Christ and are able to see a future career.
Most Excellent Way
Weekly Meetings are held at Olive Baptist Church.
Open to anyone affected by addiction.
Tuesday & Friday
7 pm - 8:30 pm
Bargain Center Thrift Store
Offering valuable items at bargain prices.
Now Open Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
We reached our goal for Million Dollar September, and we paid off the ELC building. This is important for our organization to move forward and see more lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ.
The Early Learning Center is a great outreach to our community.
Events coming soon.
Join us on December 9th at 4:30 p.m. for an exciting evening of jeeps, food, and games for all.
All Jeeps will meet at Pensacola’s Casino Beach under the beach ball water tower. The Jeeps will travel from the beach to Olive Baptist Church, where we will have a best-decorated Jeep contest, food, and games. If you plan to enter your Jeep in the run, please register online so we can plan accordingly. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please email mvomarketing@ministryvillage.org.
Ministry Village's first-ever Gala.
This event will be focused on overdose awareness and how the MVO aims to end overdose in Escambia, Santa Rosa & surrounding counties. This will surely be an exciting evening with an elegant dinner, silent auction, and exciting games. All money raised will help fund our current Charis House ladies and efforts to implement the curriculum used to ensure relapse prevention. The Charis House is completely free for all clients and is totally donation-funded. It costs $37,500 for a client to complete the 12-month
Charis House Program.
We are so excited about these upcoming events to raise awareness of women’s addiction recovery. Addiction is a severe stronghold that affects all people in every place. “In 2022, there were 1,085 opioid overdoses in Escambia County. Halfway through 2023, there were already 1,134 overdoses reported, by EMS. The county has not released how many of those lives were saved, but they administered Narcan almost 1,000 times.” - WKRG CHANNEL 5 NEWS
Newsletter August & September
CHARIS HOUSE ADDICTION RECOVERY GRADUATION DAY
Our women's addiction recovery program is preparing for Graduation Day. We have three ladies scheduled to graduate on September 10, 2023. This an exciting time for the women who have completed our 12-month residential recovery program. The Graduation will take place on the morning of September 10th in the main sanctuary at Olive Baptist Church, at the 11 o'clock service. Directly after the 11 o'clock service, there will be a small reception for the families, friends, and teachers of the women graduating.
If you are a Charis House volunteer please email chitouch@ministryvillage.org for information about the graduation reception.
The word “charis” means grace favor and kindness in the Greek language. Charis House Women’s Addiction Recovery was founded in 2007 by Ms. Debbie Jefcoat. This program began as a 90-day treatment center, in which Ms. Jefcoat realized many of the ladies were not successful after completing the 90-day program. Eventually, the program was extended to a year-long, treatment to give our ladies the time needed to be successful.
As time progressed the Charis House program grew into a 3-Phase addiction treatment center that allows women to be set up for the most successful transition into being productive, Christ-centered, members of society.
Today the Charis House can be broken down into 3 phases, all of which are completely optional for any woman stuck in addiction.
Phase One is a primary care for 9-12 months residential treatment.
The main focuses of this phase are individual recovery, personal relationships with God, and community living.
Phase Two is offered to those who have completed Phase One and desire more foundational support.
The focus of Phase Two is budgeting, financial skills, developing a support system, employment skills, and vocational training. Phase Two is a six-month transitional program.
Phase Three is offered to clients who have completed both Phase 1 & Phase 2.
This is a transitional living home providing additional support, community engagement, and more financial skills.
In the past two and a half years our program has seen 15 women graduate, all of those women are still sober today.
If you know someone struggling with substance abuse please call (850)475-1116 for more information, or follow the link below.
Bargain Center
Thrift Store
The Ministry Village Bargain Center provides a safe environment for the women in our residential treatment program. While volunteering at the Bargain Center the women in our program are able to learn valuable skills for the workplace. Once the ladies enter phase two they have the opportunity to begin a career at either the Bargain Center or the Main Office.
The Bargain Center also provides great merchandise at bargain prices for the community.
Hours:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tues. - Sat.
Donations are accepted by drop off or pick up for furniture.
For pick up please call (850) 912-8222
Tender Hearts Caring Hands - Warrington Campus
Tender Hearts Caring Hands serves the community in various ways, all with the aim to point the broken-hearted towards Jesus Christ.
We operate 5 days a week at the Olive Baptist Church Pensacola Campus and 1 day a week at the Olive Baptist Church Warrington Campus.
Each Monday our Warrington Campus volunteers hand out food to the homeless, and those in need of groceries. As we do 5 days a week at the Pensacola Campus.
Since January 2023 the Warrington Campus Tender Hearts Caring Hands alone has provided 81 families with groceries, 467 Homeless individuals with weekly Go Bags, and over 500 hot meals.
Ministry Minute
This month we want to focus on a volunteer who has dedicated his time each week to helping our homeless individuals with bicycle repairs.
Meet Mr. Jeff a Pensacola native, who enjoys helping people in his spare time. Years ago Jeff had an accident that left him brain-damaged, he worked hard to get back to the position of being independent. Today Jeff lives in a home not far from our office, he is very involved with the ministry called Streets at Ensley First Baptist. Jeff began volunteering and repairing bikes at the Ministry Village a few months ago.
Our homeless individuals are in need of reliable transportation to get back and forth to the various jobs these individuals hold in the community. While Mr. Jeff is a huge help with repairs, we are encouraging the community to donate bike parts, bike locks, and bike tools. You can drop these items off at the main office.
Upcoming Events
Million Dollar September - Early Learning Center
As we jump into September please remember our goal to raise 1 Million Dollars by the end of September to pay off the Early Learning Center building. You can donate to the ELC on our website or the Olive Baptist Church offering basket during Sunday Morning Service.
The Ministry Village Early Learning Center is a staple in the community, providing childcare to children ages 3 months to 4 years old.
The teachers provide children with a variety of play-based, intentional activities that facilitate age-appropriate learning and independence. Each teacher either holds an early childhood certification or has formal education in early childhood concepts. Our Voluntary PreKindergaten Program kicked off on August 10th with 50 students currently enrolled. This is from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and free to all Florida's 4-year-olds. Three of the Ministry Village board members teamed up with the Route 66 Sunday Morning Connection Class, to welcome our new families are their first day of Preschool.
The "boohoo tent" was placed to offer children and parents a first-day-of-school photo opportunity, prayer and a small gift.
Ministry Village 7th Annual Clay Shoot
Thank you to all our Clay Shoot Sponsors, and the numerous volunteers that have helped put this event together. Pictured to the left are some of the Clay Shoot supporters from last year.
Because of supporters, last year’s event raised enough to fund all expenses for an entire year in the Charis House women’s addiction recovery program for 5 women and countless meals for the many needy families and individuals who visit our Tender Hearts Caring Hands food pantry!
Last year's competition held record attendance - hosting nearly 130 shooters and more than 30 teams.
Register now and follow the links below, for an amazing day full of skeet shooting; breakfast and lunch are provided for all shooters. Silent Auction will be available at the event as well.
The 7th Annual Clay Shoot will be held on October 7, 2023, at the Santa Rosa Shooting Range. Breakfast and Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The Mandatory Safety Meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided following the shooting competition.
We currently have 22 teams registered for this event, and nearly 90 shooters.
Register before September 9th for your company's logo to appear on the event t-shirt and station sign.
Registration for two 4-person teams and 8 event t-shirts. Quail hunt for 2 to Churchhouse Branch Quail Preserve. Your company name on a station sign, company logo on the event t-shirt, & other marketing materials.
Registration for two 4-person teams and 8 event t-shirts. Your company logo on event t-shirt and other marketing materials.
Registration for one 4-person team, 4 event t-shirts. Your company company logo on event t-shirt, and other marketing materials.
NEWSLETTER JUNE & JULY
Ministry Village at Olive Inc. is able to reach the community of Pensacola FL, with various ministries:
Tender Hearts Caring Hands, Charis House Women's Recovery Program, Bargain Center Thrift Store, Most Excellent Way, and Ministry Village Early Learning Center.
As we wrap up July, this is a look at what the Ministry Village has been up to in the months of June and July. We want to take the time to thank you for your continued prayer and support as we aim to make a lasting impact on the community you live in.
Ministry Village at Olive Community Blood Drive
Special thank you to everyone who participated in the Blood Drive on June 20, 2023. Through the help of our community partners LifeSouth Community Blood Center, we were able to raise $400 to be used towards the Charis House women's recovery program annual retreat.
Each year our ladies' recovery program is able to take a weekend retreat to the beach. This opportunity allows the ladies to get more in tune with God's creation. During this time the ladies and our Charis House staff are able to make lasting memories in a fun, sober environment. Our ladies were able to do activities like, a dolphin cruise, eat at various restaurants, and of course lots of beach time.
Ministry Village 7th Annual Clay Shoot
The Ministry Village 7th Annual Clay Shoot will be held October 7th, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity for businesses in the community to give back. This event benefits women in recovery and people struggling with homelessness. Each sponsor package listed below has various marketing benefits for your business.
All sponsorship levels include marketing opportunities and 4 man-team admission to the event. The event will include breakfast and lunch for each participant. To purchase a sponsorship or register for the event, please select the link below.
If you have questions about sponsorships or need help placing your order, please call our Executive Director,
Drayton Smith at (850) 475-1106.
Million Dollar September
The Ministry Village Early Learning Center has set a goal to reach 1 million dollars by September. This money is needed to pay off the Early Learning Center building. The Early Learning Center has the capacity to hold 161 children ages 3 months to 4 years. The ELC is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. This ministry was founded with the community of Pensacola in mind.
Most Excellent Way Support Meetings
The Most Excellent Way is a loving group of men and women affected directly or indirectly by drugs, alcohol, or other life-dominating sins. We utilize Biblical principles to overcome the guilt, frustration, hopelessness, fear, and shame associated with addictive behavior.
We believe that through meetings like this members will grow in their faith in Christ. They will become healthy, joy-filled, and productive children of God with the support of others who understand what they have lived through.
The Most Excellent Way Meetings at Olive Baptist Church have grown to more than 40 people per meeting. We recently celebrated 3 individuals remaining sober for 12 months.
The Most Excellent Way is to,
Be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Grow in faith and knowledge of Christ.
Gain a better understanding of the sinful nature which leads to addiction and obsessive behavior.
Learn and apply Biblical principles for living joy-filled, productive lives.
Provide support to those who desire freedom from drugs and alcohol dependency and other self-centered behaviors.
Pray for one another.
Love one another.
1836 E. Olive Road Pensacola, FL 32514 | Tuesday evenings 6:45 - 8:20 Friday evenings 6:45 - 8:20
Most Excellent Way
1836 E. Olive Road Pensacola, FL 32514 | Tuesday evenings 6:45 - 8:20 Friday evenings 6:45 - 8:20 Most Excellent Way
Women’s Substance Abuse Recovery Program
The Charis House Substance Abuse Recovery Program is completely free for every woman entering the program. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please call (850)473-4466(ext. 3)
This is a 9 - 12 month residential treatment center with a traditional home setting. We focus on individual recovery, a personal relationship with God and community living.
Tender Hearts Caring Hands
On Tuesday & Thursday, we open our doors at 8 a.m. allowing the homeless in our community to get a hot meal, take a shower and receive clean clothes. For our employees the day can start as early as 4:30, we prepare meals each day for the homeless community, whether that's as simple as a sandwich or as difficult as a home-cooked ham. We allow the individuals we serve to spend time at our office until noon. During this time we are able to encourage and provide life-changing opportunities. There are currently 14 individuals who received services on a weekly basis with some kind of employment. Individuals who had received services regularly are employed by companies like Navy Federal, Whataburger, Florida Blue, and various private construction contractors. Most of the individuals employed are no longer seeking our help regularly from our ministry.
On a typical shower day, the Ministry Village Tender Hearts Caring Hands feeds 50 people and provides 25 showers. In the month of June, we provided a total of 123 showers to individuals without any means to shower elsewhere. Ministry Village Showers of Blessing reaches the homeless community in Pensacola Tuesday and Thursday morning 8 to noon.
Bargain Center Thrift Store
Ministry Village Bargain Center is a nonprofit thrift store located at 92 E. Nine Mile Road. All of the proceeds from the Ministry Village Bargain Center go directly back into our Charis House and Tender Hearts Caring Hands ministries. We aim to provide affordable clothing and other household necessities to the community of Pensacola.
The Bargain Center accepts donations Tuesday thru Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NEWSLETTER April & May
MILLION DOLLAR SEPTEMBER
From now until September we have set a goal to reach 1 MILLION DOLLARS, which we need in order to pay off our Early Learning Center building.
One of our Early Learning Center employees had this to say about why she likes working at the ELC
“I love my job. I felt led by God to come be a part of the MVO ELC's team. I am thankful to be a part of a great team of teachers, Director, and volunteers. The management of MVO and the Executive Directors (past and present) have been wonderful to work with. Helping children and families is a passion of mine. I had chosen a different career path starting out, but God has always led me to administration in childcare. The ability to pray and openly express my Christianity is such a bonus. MVO is a wonderful place with a great mission.” -Paige Morton Assistant Director at the Early Learning Center
The ELC opened to child care in 2018 and is dedicated to helping children grow both physically and spiritually. The Early Learning Center is able to accept 161 children ages 3 months - 4 years. The ELC is opened Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. This is a ministry to help the community of Pensacola in both a physical and spiritual way.
Volunteer Banquet
On April 30th the Ministry Village held a Volunteer Banquet to honor all those who make our mission possible. The photo below is a reminder of the original vision for the MVO. This blueprint was designed to be the 2020 vision of the Ministry Village at Olive. This is not a charity, this is a ministry and we recognize that the only way to see lives changed is thru the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The greatest blessing of the whole evening was seeing what Jesus has done in the lives of those we have the privilege of serving at MVO. Three individuals who have personally been affected by the Ministry Village at Olive were given the opportunity to share their stories. Ministry Village is dedicated to taking the time for healthy gospel conversations with our clients.
Blueprint for Ministry Village Design in 2008.
Ministry Minute
Meet “Tom and Kim”, they have been sleeping in their truck for over a year. We met this couple at our Shower Ministry on a Tuesday or Thursday morning. They faithfully came, to take a shower and get a hot meal. Through the shower ministry, we were able to get to know Tom and Kim more personally. Tom and Kim struggle as many do with drugs and feeling hopeless. Our shower ministry employees encouraged this couple and invited them to Most Excellent Way meetings. Now Tom and Kim have been sober for 6months and thru the help of Ministry Village, both Tom and Kim are full-time employees.
Board Members
The Ministry Village at Olive is managed by a board of directors. This Board is able to get involved with fundraising events, and important growth in the ministry.
Ministry Village at Olive Board Members 2023
Clif Colley - Chairman
Justin Tyner - Vice Chairman
Jim Harris - Treasurer
Mitch White - Secretary
Morgan Robinson; Sherry Griffing; Harland Cason; Keith Harrod; Bryce Burch;
Tonya Portmann; Terrell Kelly; Renee Miller.
Thank you to our Ministry Village Board Members.
April & May Statistics
As the population of needy in the community of Pensacola continues to grow so does the need for the gospel. Here is a look at our numbers for the past two months.
In April & May Tender Hearts Caring Hands provided:
687 Hot Meals
252 Showers
885 Homeless food bags
289 Family Food Bags
68 Financial Assistance
The Charis House Women's Recovery Program is currently housing 5 ladies.
We recently had 4 ladies re-enter society from our Phase 2&3 programs, they are all in the Pensacola area and regularly attend church. Pray with us as we wait on God’s guidance for new ladies, and for our ladies who recently re-entered society.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ministry Village Blood Drive
The Ministry Village at Olive has teamed up with Life South Blood Center to have a community Blood Drive on June 20th from 10 am to 6 pm.
If 100 please donate blood on June 20th, Life South Blood Center will donate $700 to the Ministry Village. The Ministry Village is going to use this money toward the Charis House Women's Substance Abuse Recovery Program Annual Retreat.
Each year our Charis House ladies are able to go to the beach for a few days. This is important for our ladies to experience sober fun, for many it is the first time they are able to have a trip with positive memories. If you would like to reserve a time slot to donate blood on June 20th please follow the link below.
7th Annual Clay Shoot
Our annual Clay Shoot supports our Women's Substance Abuse Recovery Program. The cost for one woman to complete one year in the Charis House is more than $37,500. The first year of our program is completely free for all clients. Also, 53% of the women who complete the Charis House program remain sober after their transition to life outside of Ministry Village for 2 years or more. You can register for this event by choosing one of the options listed below or going to the events tab on our website.
A Year at a Glimpse
The Ministry Village at Olive aims to reach the needy in the community with both physical and spiritual support. It’s no secret that prices have reached overall high, from gas to groceries, it has become nearly impossible for a struggling family in Pensacola, Florida. That is when the Ministry Village at Olive is able to step in.
In 2022, our numbers nearly doubled in every ministry. The Tender Hearts Caring Hands ministry assisted one hundred and forty-five families financially, nine hundred families received food from our pantry, and provided three hundred and ninety-nine showers to our transient community. The Most Excellent Way averaged twenty-eight per meeting in attendance. The Charis House Women’s Recovery graduated five ladies from our program.
Tender Hearts Caring Hands works daily with the community to reach physical needs like financial assistance, groceries, showers, and hot meals. Our facility is the only place in a ten mile radius that an individual experiencing homelessness can come to take a shower and get a free hot meal. The shower ministry is available Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. - noon. We provide towels, soap, shampoo, and clothes to those showering. During this time our employees have the opportunity to build a relationship with these individuals and provide a gospel conversation. In January 2023, we provided over one hundred showers. This is a vital work for our community which is only possible with your support and prayer.
The Most Excellent Way meets Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7 - 8:30p.m. This meeting is broken down in two separate ways. A leader will first share a topic that the Lord has laid on their heart. On Tuesday evenings they will share one of the beatitudes. Then the group is opened up to share time, when those attending are encouraged to share on the topic or about something else on their heart. Each meeting is began with the reading of the b-attitudes and concluded with a group prayer. This is a nationally used recovery meeting program that began in Wisconsin and has been meeting at Olive Baptist Church for 30 years. This is a vital work for our community which is only possible with your support and prayer.
Charis House Women’s Recovery Program is a community style recovery center for women facing drug and alcohol addiction. We have seen many women come and leave our phase one program in 2022. We were blessed to see five women successfully complete the phase one program this year. While this number sounds low, addiction is a tricky thing, to recover it requires willingness not only from the program but also from the individual. Today five women have been restored to their families, and no longer have to worry where their loved one is or what she is doing. These women have received the tools they needed to confidently return to society. Today each of these women have jobs, many still in our phase two and three program working towards vehicles and places of their own to call home. This is a vital work for our community that is only possible with your support and prayer.
Bargain Center Thrift Store is located at 92 E Nine Mile Road, our hours are 9a.m.- 5p.m. Monday thru Saturday. We accept donations until four p.m. Monday thru Saturday. If you would like to schedule a pick up for furniture you can call the store during business hours at (850)-912-8222. Your donations and business is greatly appreciated. The Bargain Center provides a safe and stable place for our Charis House ladies to work and volunteer. All of the Charis House phase two ladies currently work at the Bargain Center throughout the week. This allows them to build a resume, save money and learn a healthy work routine. This is a vital work for our community that is only possible with your support and prayer.
We appreciate all your support and prayer.
We are looking forward to where God is taking us in 2023.
Serving Our Community through the Early Learning Center
Ministry Village at Olive offers a variety of ministries with many opportunities to help individuals and families right here in your own backyard. We would love for you to join us as we strive to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus throughout our community. Over the past few weeks, we have highlighted the major ministries of Ministry Village– the Bargain Center, Most Excellent Way, Charis House, Tender Hearts and Caring Hands. This week, we put the spotlight on the Ministry Village Early Learning Center.
The Ministry Village Early Learning Center is celebrating its 4th anniversary this November! At the ELC, we are focused on providing Christ-centered high quality care and education for the youngest members of our community (ages 3 months to 5 years). We were thrilled to open our doors to our first ELC families on November 19, 2018, and this past May (2022), we celebrated the VPK graduation of some of our first generation of kids – little ones who started with us as babies and completed all of their preschool education at the ELC. It has been a tremendous blessing to be part of their lives.
These past 4 years have not been without their challenges. Like every other school and childcare facility throughout the world, the ELC had to figure out how to manage Covid protocols, striving to keep each child, family and teacher safe and healthy. The ELC became one of the only area childcare centers continuing to operate during the height of the pandemic. With other facilities closed, first responders and medical professionals needed a place to care for their children, and the Lord guided many of them to the ELC. In September 2020, Hurricane Sally caused significant flooding damage to the building, requiring the ELC building to close for repairs. As always, God provided a way for us to continue caring for our ELC families, and Olive’s Preschool Director Sharon Barnes reached out to provide space in their building for our classes. Sharon and her team of preschool leaders were a tremendous support to the ELC, welcoming our teachers, families and children with open arms. Thanks to dedicated contractors and hardworking volunteers, the ELC was able to return to its renovated building after several weeks of construction and completed safety inspections.
ELC Director Kristi Zagar is so thankful to God for all of His blessings throughout these past 4 years at the ELC. “Our staff has handled themselves so well, being put into so many difficult situations. The care of our children has always remained as their top priority. God’s love has emanated from each of them and has pulled us through these days. God has blessed us with amazing teachers who love Him and love each of our students. The challenges we have faced has helped make us better at walking in blind faith. God has us right where He wants us, and He will not leave us wandering in the desert. There is always a promised land coming over the horizon.”
Would you like to help the ELC serve our community? Here are a few ways you can contribute.
Teach! Mrs. Kristi is always looking for smiling faces with a heart for teaching little ones about God. As the program grows each year, the ELC is continually adding classrooms and needs certified teachers, assistant teachers, and substitute teachers. Check the ELC’s current job openings on their Facebook page, or reach out to Mrs. Kristi to let her know your experience and how you can help. Send your resumé to Kristi Zagar at KZagar@MinistryVillageELC.org.
Purchase select books/supplies to donate to the ELC. Mrs. Kristi has compiled a list of desired items that will help bring smiles and learning opportunities to the children we care for. Email her and ask for a few suggestions, or specify a dollar amount you would like to donate and let her know you’d like to designate those dollars to purchase books, toys or equipment for the preschool.
Follow us on Facebook and share the news about our preschool! Our Ministry Village Early Learning Center has its own Facebook page (@MinistryVillageELC) and website (MinistryVillageELC.org). If you follow us on Facebook, you can share our posts with your friends and help us spread the word about our facility.
Pray! We have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the children who enroll in our facility as well as their families. We sincerely appreciate your prayers as we work to provide a quality preschool education, lead these families closer to the Lord and make a positive impact in their futures.
Contact Kristi Zagar, Director of the Ministry Village ELC, at (850) 490-3436 or KZagar@MinistryVillageELC.org for a list of items you could donate to the ELC and for more information on serving through the Ministry Village Early Learning Center.
Follow the ELC on Facebook or visit their website at MinistryVillageELC.org for more information.
Serving with Grace at the Charis House
Ministry Village at Olive offers a variety of ministries with many opportunities to help individuals and families right here in your own backyard. We would love for you to join us as we strive to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus throughout our community. Follow this series throughout November as we highlight our programs and specific ways you can help. This week, we put the spotlight on the Charis House.
Charis House is our ministry for women struggling with addiction and seeking freedom from drugs and alcohol. Women live dormitory-style with other women and a House Manager, providing a home-like setting for a Christ-centered drug and alcohol recovery program. These women are away from their families for many months, and often struggle with loneliness and depression, even as they make great strides toward recovery. The Phase I program often takes more than 1 year to complete and costs more than $15,000 per woman. All their expenses are included – food, clothing, toiletries, living expenses, transportation, etc.
The word “Charis” means “grace”, or “the unmerited favor of God” - something we all can receive freely from God, and certainly something none of us deserve. Each of our house managers and program director work closely with each woman, providing prayerful guidance and strong leadership from the time each client enters the program until long after each woman has graduated. We also rely on our many Charis House volunteers, who carefully and devotedly seek ways to make our clients feel seen, loved, and valued, even on some of their darkest days.
How can you serve? Women volunteers are needed for the following opportunities.
Donate food items or toiletries to be used toward weekly groceries. It costs a lot of money to feed a group of hardworking women. We have grocery money donated from families of previous residents as a way to give back. Some people even choose to have the money automatically deducted from their paychecks. The Charis House has an Amazon wish list with some of the items that are frequently needed. If you purchase from the wish list, items can be shipped directly to Ministry Village.
Drive Charis House ladies to/from school. Ladies in the program are not permitted to drive or have a car, but as they progress, many of them are enrolled in college courses, and the opportunity to further their education improves their confidence and self-esteem, leading to a stronger recovery. Giving them a ride to and from school gives them an opportunity continue the work they have started at the Charis House.
Drive Charis House ladies to/from work therapy at the Ministry Village Bargain Center. As part of their program, the ladies work at the Bargain Center, sorting merchandise, organizing the store, and helping customers. But, as mentioned, they are not permitted to drive, so if you can help them get to and from work, you will be providing them the opportunity to give back to the program that is investing in them, as well as allowing them to learn skills they can use in future jobs.
Lead weekly Bible studies/devotions with the ladies. We are always excited to have women with a Biblical passion to share with our group. If you have a topic in mind, let us know! If you just want an opportunity to teach a topic we already have on our list, we can do that too.
Volunteer to walk in the mornings with the Charis House ladies for exercise. Do you need someone to motivate you? An accountability partner that will be waiting for you to encourage a daily exercise habit? The ladies of the Charis House enjoy their morning walks and would love to have someone to chat with as they start their days.
Provide spa treatments, beauty treatments, etc. on-site at the Charis House as a special treat for the ladies. These ladies often come to us downtrodden and full of shame and sadness. Through God’s Word and lots of encouragement, we work to help them lift up their heads and learn to live as the Lord commands – as Children of the Most High God. Getting a facial, having their nails done – those are treats these ladies don’t often enjoy. If you are willing to help in this area, you will provide a bright light in their week!
Provide a cooked meal for the ladies and their House Manager. Grabbing takeout isn’t an option for the ladies of the Charis House. Our ladies take turns with household chores, and cooking meals for the house is one of them. What a blessing it is when someone surprises the ladies with a delicious entrée or an entire meal that they didn’t have to cook. You know that feeling, don’t you? Even just a few pizzas make a wonderful treat. Maybe your talent lies in gardening? We could use your assistance in our garden! Don’t underestimate how your culinary skills could help in our ministry!
Provide haircuts for the ladies. A fresh haircut can bring tears to the eyes of a woman struggling with self-esteem and confidence. It just feels good. Do you have this skill or know someone who does? Let us know and we’ll arrange a special day to help make these ladies feel their best.
If you are interested in serving the Charis House in one of these ways, or you have ideas of your own, contact Vanessa Bettis at 850-475-1116 or VBettis@ministryvillage.org for more information on serving through Charis House.
Come back next week to learn how you can get involved and give back through our Early Learning Center!
Serving Our Community With Tender Hearts & Caring Hands
Ministry Village at Olive offers a variety of ministries with many opportunities to help individuals and families right here in your own backyard. We would love for you to join us as we strive to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus throughout our community. Follow this series throughout November as we highlight our programs and specific ways you can help. This week, we put the spotlight on Tender Hearts Caring Hands.
Tender Hearts Caring Hands is our care and kindness ministry that focuses on serving individuals and families in Escambia and Santa Rosa County that have significant need. We offer a food pantry for families and homeless neighbors in need and financial assistance to those who qualify. We also offer our Showers of Blessings trailer for homeless clients to have a safe, clean space to refresh themselves each week. The holidays are certainly an important time for us to be able to meet these needs, but truly, there are hungry and homeless families in our area every month of the year. Throughout 2021 and 2022, the demand for our food services has increased greatly. We are seeing more families each week, and have to purchase around $2,000 in supplemental food beyond our donations each week just to meet their needs. Please prayerfully consider ways in which you can help us serve our community through Tender Hearts Caring Hands.
How can you serve through Tender Hearts?
· Donate shelf-stable food items regularly to the food pantry – bags of rice, canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta, canned fruit, etc. During the holiday season, consider donating special “holiday” type foods such as stuffing, canned pumpkin, canned gravy, cranberry sauce – the same types of foods your family is likely to eat during the holidays. Providing special items like these helps to add a little extra cheer to our hungry friends and neighbors during an otherwise challenging time.
· Donate easy-open food items that do not require cooking to be used in the food bags distributed to the homeless
· Donate travel-size hygiene items, bandaids, mouthwash, socks, etc. to be used in hygiene bags distributed to the homeless. An easy way to help is to bring in your hotel toiletries to the Ministry Village office after you return from a trip! These items are also vital to our Showers of Blessing ministry.
· Shop our Amazon Wishlist! If you are short on time but big on giving, an easy way to help is through our Amazon Wishlist. We’ve selected some of the items that we consistently need. Just purchase through Amazon and the items will ship directly to our MVO office. Click here to shop
· Donate money – if you don’t have the time or inclination to shop for items to donate, making a financial donation to Ministry Village and Tender Hearts Caring Hands is a simple but effective way to provide for those in need. Financial donations allow Ministry Village to purchase gift cards for those who need gas in their cars to get to school or work, and grocery store gift cards so families can buy perishable items like milk that Tender Hearts can’t store. Financial donations also assist Tender Hearts Caring Hands in paying utilities for those who qualify, helping families who are struggling to keep their lights and water on, and their heat or air conditioning running – things many of us take for granted. Donate through our website at www.MinistryVillage.org/donate
· Volunteer time at Ministry Village office to organize the food pantry. With each food donation comes the need to arrange and rearrange our food storage. If you like to organize, we could use your help!! If you don’t like to organize but are willing, we can show you our system and would truly appreciate your time.
· Offer administrative support in the MVO Office, answering incoming phone calls, providing information to those who call about services, making copies, etc. If you enjoy clerical and secretarial work, we could use your skills a few hours a week!
· Volunteer time to “build” the food and hygiene bags Tender Hearts distributes to our clients. When we receive donations, we need hands to organize and package those donations, preparing them for our clients. A few hours a week is all it takes to make a difference.
Donations of food and hygiene items can be made at the Ministry Village office (1716 E.Olive Road) Monday through Friday from 8 am to 2 pm, or call to make arrangements. Contact Kathie Schuster at 850-475-1118 (KSchuster@MinistryVillage.org) for more information on serving through Tender Hearts Caring Hands.
Come back next week to learn how you can get involved and give back through the Charis House!
Giving Back through Ministry Village
Life is busy. Most of us have good intentions – we want to give back, support our communities, but we just can’t find the time and if we did, we wouldn’t know exactly what to do. Can one person really make that much of a difference? If we are honest with ourselves, we know the answer is yes.
As we move into the holiday season, the idea of giving back usually works its way to the forefront of everyone’s minds. It feels good to give back – we all know that. And the holiday season provides us with tangible ways to give – sharing food with those who are struggling – buying gifts for children who would otherwise go without. But as Pastor Ted Traylor often reminds us, people who need help around the holidays also need help in July. Helping others is not just a holiday activity…but this is a wonderful time of year to start.
Ministry Village at Olive offers a variety of ministries with many opportunities to help individuals and families right here in your own backyard. We would love for you to join us as we strive to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus throughout our community. Follow us over the next few weeks as we highlight our programs and specific ways you can help. This week, we put the spotlight on the Ministry Village Bargain Center and Most Excellent Way.
All volunteers through Ministry Village at Olive, Inc. must be properly interviewed and screened. Depending on the program and position, volunteers must also undergo background screening and be properly trained by MVO staff. While we are deeply appreciative for any and all support, it is our primary responsibility to those we serve to protect them and their privacy, and we do not take that responsibility lightly. Those interested in serving through MVO should contact the appropriate program manager to discuss opportunities and the necessary requirements. We appreciate your understanding.
The Ministry Village Bargain Center serves our community by offering gently used, high-quality merchandise at bargain center prices for the purpose of generating financial support for the Ministry Village at Olive programs and providing assistance to the community. Located at 92 E. Nine Mile Road, the Bargain Center serves customers from throughout the Gulf Coast. 100% of the net profits of the MV Bargain Center support our Ministry Village programs.
How can you serve through the Bargain Center?
· Donate your gently used goods to be sold at the Bargain Center – all proceeds are used to fund the work of the various Ministry Village programs. Ask your friends and neighbors to bring you their donations so you can deliver them to the Bargain Center!
· Do you like to shop garage sales? Leave the Bargain Center’s phone number (850-912-8222) with the garage sale organizer! Tell any “yard saler” you know to call the Bargain Center after their garage sale and schedule someone to pickup their leftover items as a donation! Or offer to come back and pickup the items yourself and deliver to the Bargain Center!
· Volunteer at the Bargain Center! Volunteers are needed to accept donated items at the warehouse, sort donated items, organize items for sale and/or work on the sales floor.
· Tell friends and neighbors who might not know about the Bargain Center the kinds of things we have to offer…which is a little bit of everything! Encourage others to shop with us, or organize a shopping date with a few friends and make the Bargain Center one of your stops!
Contact Julie Paden (JPaden@mvbargaincenter.com) for more information on serving through the Ministry Village Bargain Center.
The Most Excellent Way is our faith-based support group for addiction recovery, providing support to those struggling with addiction as well as their families. Groups meet weekly at Olive’s main campus and find hope by grounding themselves in Biblical principles alongside leaders who are trained in supporting others.
How can you serve with MEW?
Donate refreshments to be served at weekly meetings. Snacks always make everyone feel more comfortable and welcome in a group. Meetings are held on Tuesday and Friday evenings at Olive’s main campus.
Become trained to lead meetings or participate in meetings as an encourager, providing much needed support and prayer leadership.
Become trained to serve as a mentor to a man or woman who is struggling with addiction challenges. Some people just need to know they have 1 single person they can call who will just listen – someone who is pulling for them – someone who believes in them. You could be that person.
Contact Scott Heald (SHeald@MinistryVillage.org or 850 475-1112) for more information on serving through Most Excellent Way.
Come back next week to learn how you can get involved and give back through our Tender Hearts Caring Hands ministry!
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