Sharing God’s Goodness 2024 Grant Nominees

Please review the ministry videos and descriptions below, then vote.

Alpha and Omega Outreach, Inc.                                                      

Founder/Director – Wanda Officer                           

About our ministry:

Established in 2000, Alpha and Omega Outreach, Inc. is a dynamic ministry for youth from the Chattanooga area between the ages of 6 to 17 years old. The program was initially birthed to mentor youth from single-parent families predominantly within African American communities. Opportunities are offered to all youth, regardless of their family situation, ethnic, or economic background with the prayer that participants will learn the great purpose that God has for each of them. Its mission is clear: to promote the spiritual growth of youth by ministering to their mind, body, and spirit through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since the program’s inception, over 500 individuals have experienced the love of Christ in a holistic way. The program is built on a Christian Foundation, focusing on the positive character traits of respect, honesty, unity, endurance, and perseverance. Bible Study is conducted on a weekly basis and Vacation Bible School is offered throughout the summer at Carver Community Center. An after-school program in partnership with Baylor School takes place during the school year.

Our Request:

• Uniforms for 50 boys & girls
• Giveaway boxes for a back-to-school event (and year-long pantry) to include:
  • Food Items
  • Hygiene Items
  • Bookmarks with scripture and printed encouragement

Changing Direction for Success

Director: Gerry Davis

About our ministry:

A faith-based ministry designed to be the hands and feet of Jesus in real life, Changing Direction for Success offers practical ways that deter area youth from taking a destructive life path. The motivating scripture for this ministry is Hebrews 13:16 “Do good and share…because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifice.”  The program assists and serves at-risk youth and their families by conducting weekly mentorship opportunities in four different city schools.  Other offerings for participants (and their families) include:

• monthly enrichment activities
• sponsorship of city-wide summer and fall youth camps
• seminars on finance, computer, and reading literacy
• funding for groceries, shoes, uniforms, and basic utilities
• transportation to non-emergency medical appointments

Our request:

Support for a Christmas Award Ceremony as a capstone for the year for participants and their families to:

• offer students a unique and meaningful experience
• inspire the audience through a local speaker
• motivate and honor those who serve as valuable image bearers of Christ
• celebrate program successes
• recognize participants in front of their peers and others

Funding will go toward venue, food, decorations, speaker’s honorarium, and gift certificates for participants.

Chattanooga Purpose Center of Orchard Park Seventh-day Adventist Church

Director: Charlotte Brand, Pastor: Troy Brand

About our ministry:

The mission of the Chattanooga Purpose Center is to empower the local community by demonstrating God’s love and sharing the gospel through a variety of services and programs. Programs offered to area youth and their families include:

• An anti-poverty class: Getting Ahead in a “Just Getting’ By” World
• Financial management class: “Faith and Finance”
• Summer Camp enrichment: STEP Program
• Quarterly Adult Bible study: four separate guides
• Mentoring program: Pathfinders, a national program of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Pathfinders’ classes focus on household arts, spiritual development, vocational training, character building, leadership development, and more.

Our request:

Support for an etiquette banquet for youth ages 10 to 14 that will help reinforce the value of a redemptive relationship with Jesus. The event will center around:

Got Her Covered

Founder: Jenny Vassell

About our ministry:

Got Her Covered ministry is committed to increasing access to feminine hygiene care, through providing care packages, cultivating social initiatives, mobilizing helpers, and innovating sustainable resolutions that will shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls caused by period poverty. The ministry is dedicated to ensuring that school-aged girls in low-income households in Cleveland and Chattanooga and homeless women in Bradley County have sufficient hygiene supplies. Without access to period care and education, girls are often forced to stay home from school during their periods, which leads them to miss anywhere from 10-20 percent of school days. Sometimes, they drop out of school completely. Volunteers assemble “bags” the second Thursday of every month

Our request:

• Age-specific hygiene supplies that will be provided to elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

Hamilton County Marriage Initiative (HCMI)

Leader: Pastor James E. Jones, Stoney Point Baptist Church

About our ministry:

Organized in late 2022, Hamilton County Marriage Initiative (HCMI) is led by local ministry leaders, missionaries, pastors, community leaders, and media personalities to significantly reduce the divorce rate in churches in North Hamilton County by 2026. HCMI’s primary service area is pastors and couples in local churches, especially African American pastors. The pastors are establishing and implementing marriage enrichment programs for couples within their churches. These enrichment groups meet regularly so that participants may learn marital skills, gain Biblical knowledge about marriage, and access marriage resources via workshops, seminars, and conferences. HDMI uses existing strong collaborate relationships with other Christian ministry partners and trainers throughout Hamilton County to keep costs of the retreats and classes affordable for couples. Other key partners include Hamilton County Judges, who identify marriages in crisis.

Our request:

• Resources for retreats, including Bible study materials
• Couples’ assessment
• Refreshments for classes
• Conference and workshop fees

Messiah’s Table at Washington Hills United Methodist Church

Leader: Pastor Terryl James

About our ministry:

Messiah’s Table is an impactful outreach program for children who attend Washington Hills Methodist Church, which is also offered to children and teens attending the nearby Washington Hills Community Center. Many kids come to the Center hungry, not only because of socio-economic conditions, but also because of the timing for school lunch with elementary and middle school kids. Currently feeding and instructing 25-30 kids during the bi-monthly classes, the program teaches discipline, direction, Christian values, and family dynamics. Culinary skills taught include food prep, food variety, cooking, and serving. Also taught are food purchasing, food storage in proper temperatures, measurements, and food presentation. The message of the Gospel is shared at every class or event.

Our request:

• Food for weekly meetings
• Support for a Christmas dinner for church members, family, and friends
• Honorariums for local chefs to provide their food specialty
• Table settings and decorations

R.E.S.T. of Chattanooga: Relief, Empower, Strength to Triumph

Founder: Wendy Sheppard

About our ministry:

Established as a non-profit in 2023, R.E.S.T. was born out of a profound recognition of the need for sustainable resources to address the complex challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness. The founder envisions a community where homelessness is eradicated, and everyone can access safe and stable housing, essential resources, and necessary support. The primary service of R.E.S.T. is helping secure disability payments or SSI assistance. This service is tailored to the needs of the individuals, often including those who are disabled or suffering from mental illness.  The program offers a strong lifeline to those in critical need, as the founder shares her faith with every client. Through strategic partnerships, including the free services from a local law firm, the founder and one other volunteer facilitate enrollment of the homeless in benefits that provide housing, insurance, health care and more. R.E.S.T. is making a significant impact on the lives of those in crisis.

Our request:

• Funding for a pick-up truck to transport clients to the doctor, to the grocery store, to move into an apartment, and much more.

The Purpose Outreach Center – “UnPlug”

Executive Director: Mark Butler

About our ministry:

The Purpose Outreach Center inspires many cultures to achieve excellence in every area of their lives, ministry, and careers. Through teaching, fellowship, and biblical principles for success, the center enriches the lives of individuals to maximize and fulfill their potential. The “UnPlug” program and the curriculum, developed by the center, focuses on the critical need for social media “first aid” and harm reduction. The program delves deeper into fostering digital literacy and resilience among youth. Using a comprehensive approach, the program guides participants in immediate response strategies and in proactive measures to cultivate a culture of responsible digital citizenship. “Unplug” lays the groundwork for a more resilient and empowered generation capable of harnessing the potential of digital technology for positive social change.

Our request:

Supplies for a fall 2024 workshop to present “UnPlug” to the community, including:

• Student and facilitator workbooks
• T-shirts
• Lunch/Snacks
• Pens