In July of this year, 431 Ministries’ Board of Directors sought the Lord, as always, for the next steps for the building. In February 2023, the roofer we had contracted walked off the job with a $45,000 deposit, never to return. To complete due diligence, we had to remain silent as we worked first to negotiate with him, then weighed all of our options before we moved forward with legal proceedings.
At the board retreat, the emotional decision was made to sell the building. Partly because of the damages that were done due to the negligence, but also due to the time it was taking away from serving the women; the heart and center of 431 Ministries. So, the building on 431 went up for sale at the end of September, and went under contract within 24 hours.
Since the funds raised for the roof were designated funds, it was our duty and legal obligation to offer those specific donated funds back. We contacted each individual, business, church or family who gave to the Nehemiah Project to redirect or return the funds and have received responses from most. We will continue to reach out to those who have not responded to the best of our abilities.
The building was one more element of pruning this year that 431 Ministries went through. While emotional, we believe firmly that it is for the purpose of the tremendous growth that the Lord is preparing us for.
The Nehemiah Letter
Thank you for your generosity in contributing to the Nehemiah Project - our hope of putting a new roof on our building at 3549 Highway 431. We are so thankful for your giving towards a physical location where 431 Ministries could serve women coming out of crisis.
We have an unfortunate update to share. As you may remember, we had contracted a roofer last fall to begin the roof replacement. During the process of removing the old roof, he raised concerns with a small hole in the block dividing wall. The roofer stopped work until we could address his concerns. To do so, a structural engineer was hired and we received his report stating the initial concern would not prevent installation of a new roof. However, the engineer’s inspection report did note other, more serious, issues. Those issues brought into question the structural integrity of the joists and some sections of the walls. At this point, the cost of the repairs needed to continue on with this project are beyond the scope of 431 Ministries and would distract from our mission.
We stepped out in faith last year to raise the funds in 52 days at the Lord’s leading. He was faithful in providing the full amount, and used your generosity to increase our faith. We learned that when He asks us to do the impossible, He will provide. Even when the end result doesn't make sense to us. After much prayer and seeking the Lord's guidance, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to not proceed and instead part with the building. This decision was an emotional one given the history and was very difficult to make, but we trust in God's guidance and have peace in the direction He has planned for the ministry!
With all this in mind, since your donation amount was designated for a specific project that we can no longer complete, we need to offer it back to you at this time.
We will begin returning the funds shortly and have attached the correspondence we need to begin the return or re-designation process. If instead of a return, you would like to re-designate the funds to another area of the ministry, you may do so by replying to this letter and stating your decision on the attached form. The signed form may be returned in the postage paid envelope included or a photo can be emailed to me at rachel@431house.org.
We ask for your continued prayers as we move forward in serving the underserved women in Middle Tennessee. We greatly value your prayers and support because without you, we wouldn’t have the same impact that we have been able to have.
Thank you for your understanding and if you have questions or need further clarification, please email me or give me a call at 931-431-8363.
Rachel Peck, Executive Director
431 Ministries
Each of our ministry components flow to and out of the values that we hold within our Side-by-Side Program. Starting with intentional discipleship, our Known Seen Loved Branch uses learning events to cultivate community, our Hope in Healing Branch tends to the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of widows and orphans, and our Haven of Hope Branch is focused on the full restoration of young women so that they don’t have to end up in a cycle, requiring the services of another program.
Furthermore, recognizing that 2.4 out of every 10 households in Maury County are led by single mothers, we are working to create resources for discipleship that can be used locally and at large, to address the needs of this vulnerable population. A key part of our strategic plan is focusing on church partnerships and advocating for the needs of these women within our local congregations.
The question was asked at our board retreat, “if you could and would believe God for anything, regardless of the amount of time or money, what would it be?” We had a bucket list of things that are growing out of this conversation and yet all of a sudden we knew it was clear that the answer was the roof for our building. It had sat vacant for a year, but now was the time to call our community to action and raise a roof!
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We went into the project with a quote for $145,000 and a belief that if the Lord wanted this to happen, He would provide miraculously. We also believed He called us to do so within 52 days.
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At the end of the 52 days, we weren't quite to $70,000, but were still amazed at the amount. In comparison, it had taken us 3 years to raise the $65,000 to originally purchase the building. We began praying again, asking God to make it clear how we were supposed to move forward.
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One day, a man stopped in while Justin was cleaning up and asked what the plans were for the building. He asked if we had gotten a quote from Dynamic Commercial Roofing. We hadn't, and after some back and forth, realized that we were of one accord with the owner. He believed in the work we were doing and asked to be considered for the job.
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When all was said and done, he offered us a quote for only $75,000, almost half the amount of what we had been planning on. And even more amazing, we got another $5500 donated anonymously the day we signed the contract for the roof.
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You see that's how it is. It just takes one person to say yes to doing the very thing that God is working on. He's not calling all of us to do all things yet He is calling each one of us to do something.
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Every connection, every conversation, every yes can have a lasting impact that you can’t even imagine. You never know where that ONE question will lead.
Our faithful givers allow 431 Ministries to keep serving women coming out of crisis, and we are so grateful for them!
"It just takes ONE person to say YES to doing the very thing that God is calling!" Such wise words from one of our incredible board members!
Would you say yes to supporting 431 Ministries with an end of the year gift?
You won't want to miss this interview with Kevin Beasley from Groove Life. He shares an amazing behind the scenes look into all of the details that led to the purchase of the 431 Ministries building, and we know God is doing amazing things through them. Thanks for being ONE of the many yeses!
Jacob and Sarah have served with 431 Ministries since 2020. They have been behind almost every photo and video we've done since then and we are so grateful for their help!
“Sarah and I started by getting to interview a handful of 431 volunteers and we loved all of them. And so we decided to start helping out more.”
When asked what led to them being such an integral part of the ministry volunteer team, Sarah responded:
"My heart has just always been drawn towards helping mothers and helping to empower them. And Jacob's background is similar, helping people out of crisis situations. Just the two combined were like, oh, these are the people for us to serve as a family."
As a family, they laugh that it can be chaotic at times with 2 kids under the age of 4, but being able to be an example of service to their children and having them involved is incredibly special.
Thank you for for being ONE of the YESes, Harrisons!
Sometimes it feels like God is asking us to do the impossible. In this interview, our founders will share the story of how one yes to something that felt impossible became the spark that started 431 Ministries and has already impacted hundreds of women and the generations the represent.
431 Ministries exists because one mom was brave enough to raise her hand and ask to be seen.
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She did it for her daughter. She did it for herself. And she did it because she knew that despite the manipulation she had just fled from that there were good people who could help.
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God used that mom to bring awareness to a problem that many of us had never recognized before. The fact that there was no domestic violence meant that most women's shelters weren't an option, and even to go to the homeless center downtown would have required her to leave her job - pushing her further into crisis.
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Ask almost anyone — it takes courage to ask for help. It takes bravery to be vulnerable and admit that things aren't the way you want them. And it takes guts to admit those things to a complete stranger.
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Sometimes there is hurt woven into our stories that doesn’t make sense. It’s hard to see past the immediate pain... but God. God used the hurt of one mother, and her bravery in asking for help, to impact many generations to come.
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431 Ministries would not exist if that mom didn't raise her hand to be known. To be seen. To be loved. Hundreds of other women have been served because of her courage. And we are so thankful to have been part of her story.
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Mom #1; we love you. Thank you.
by Rachel Peck, Founder and Executive Director
I’ve told our story more than 1000 times and it never gets old. The way that God answered the simple prayers that Justin and I prayed. The way that all the doors closed when we thought we were going in the right direction. The way that He completely turned our lives upside down over and over.
As I was reflecting back on the hundreds of moments that God orchestrated to lead us to do the work He needed us to do, I realized how many of them were “ONE’S.” One couple, one group, one person, one church, one business at a time who said “YES.” And all of those “yeses” built up into something incredibly special. The “yeses” became historical moments of a ministry who has seen a God who still cares for women, working on the front lines of His ministry.
This holiday season, we wanted to highlight just a few of the many “ONEs” who said yes. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, more of these that we didn’t get to share, and every single one has been pivotal to make a difference.
Thank you for being part of the story of 431 Ministries this year. May these ones who said yes inspire and encourage you as much as they do me.
It only takes one.
One mom raising her hand to be seen
One couple to say yes to the impossible
One family to serve together
One leader to bring attention to a program changing lives with Christ
One child to share the Gospel at an unexpected time
One board member to bring a word from the Lord
One building set apart for the Lord’s purposes
One person to make a connection to the right roofer at the right time
One woman to reach out for help
One grandfather to minister to the heart of a hurting child
One faithful giver to give monthly
One business to believe in the work God is doing in our Community
One church to choose to make a difference
One prayer warrior to pray over and over again
One mother to break generational trauma
One group of men to spend their time moving a mother and child to safety
One person to challenge another congregation to give
One Bible teacher to pour into a group of women hungry for the Word.
One Practical Advisor to make a difference in a woman's life
One home to open up to a woman in need
One person to say yes to the Lord's leading
One Savior to defeat death and offer hope for eternity.It only took one.
How does God want to use you as the ONE that makes a difference?
Dear 431 Family,
As we move into the second half of the year, we continue to see big changes in our world, and we recognize how blessed we are to have a God who is with us through them all. Recently the Supreme Court made the monumental decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. At 431 Ministries, we rejoice in the recognition that the federal government has removed ending a preborn child's life as an individual right and has given responsibility of decision-making back to each state, We also recognize the work ahead of us in our own Middle Tennessee community.
While we rejoice, we can also grieve at the new brokenness that could come as a result of this decision. It could overwhelm the foster care system. It could cause an increase of children who are born but now face a life of abandonment, disinterest or neglect. It does bring up a variety of emotions in women who have had an abortion and those who believe abortion is their only option. But now, we get to step in and continue offering "hope and a plan" to women in this situation as well as many other crises in which a woman may find herself.
In June, leading up to our Board Retreat, we asked for your prayer, and we definitely felt the Lord's hand on this event. The Roe v. Wade decision was announced in the midst of the retreat, underscoring the fact that our work in the community was undoubtedly about to increase. It was clear to us that to prepare to serve the community's needs, we needed to replace the roof on the building that will serve as the future headquarters of the ministry. It was unanimously agreed that with the timing of the Supreme Court decision, God was asking us to step out in faith.Inspired by the Biblical story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days, we believed that He could pull a community together to provide funding for the project in 52 days - impossible by man's standards, but through its completion God would be credited and glorified. Through your generosity and God's provision, we were able to raise over $70,000! In comparison, it took three years to raise the same amount to purchase the building! We are moving forward with the roof replacement, and ask for your prayers as we do.
Even while we move forward with the roof, our services don't stop. In July, we hosted our first Job Fair and Career Advancement Event at Maury Hills Church. The event allowed almost 30 women who were looking to improve their skills in today’s workforce to do so, while searching for jobs or promotions. There were five companies in attendance looking to hire as well as three helpful resources that are available in the community. We held 11 unique breakout sessions to educate attendees on topics to make it easier to navigate the challenges of being a working single mom.
These sessions ranged from budgeting and financial planning, résumé tips and tricks, translating mom skills to job skills, continuing education, to information on nutrition and protecting mental health. We were also able to help many women get their résumés up-to-date and test their interview skills in mock interviews. We are looking forward to hosting this again next year! The feedback we received from vendors, teachers and clients all echoed how vital these events are to our community.
We held our second group Mentor and Budget Ally training in July and have now added seven mentors and five budget allies to partner with our growing list of Side-by-Side clients. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment for these volunteers who are on the front lines with our clients, and for our staff as we train and encourage the women and their program teams. The next Mentor and Budget Ally Training will occur onOctober 15, so if you are interested in learning more or taking part, please reach out!
We have seen two women graduate from our program this year, and many more have joined us. We continue to see such growth in each of our or Side-by-Side clients that we know that it can only be possible with God. The Bible Study we held gave women a chance to study 1st and 2nd Peter and see what hope the Gospel presents in the midst of hardships. We have seen exponential growth in attendance to our monthly Family Meals, and it has been such a blessing to see both the women and children spending time in conversation and getting to know one another and our volunteers. It is such a tangible way to prove they are known, seen and loved by 431, a broader community and their heavenly Father. If you are interested in attending one of these you can sign up on our website, see link below.
Finally, we had two other fundraising opportunities this summer. "A Community Thrives" ran from July 18 to August 12 and our Sidewalk Sale was held on August 13 and 14. Each of these brought in almost $4000, and we are qualified for a chance to receive an additional $100,000 through "A Community Thrives." We are so grateful for every donation!
As we look ahead to the final quarter of the year, it promises to be a busy one! We have our annual fundraising gala, A Masterpiece Gala & Gallery, coming up on October 1. This will be a wonderful date night that showcases the "Masterpiece Moments" from this year. You don't want to miss it. Reserve tickets at 431house.org/gala or sign up to volunteer at the event at 431house.org/gala-volunteer.
We have so many other things coming up that we have included a bookmark so you can be praying for each of the events. We'd love to see you as often as you are available!
As always, we are so thankful for you, our committed volunteers, staff and donors who make this ministry so successful. We want you to continue to be involved in events, programming and one-off opportunities. Visit 431house.org/volunteer to check out all of the opportunities to serve with us. We also have a monthly volunteer opportunities email, so make sure you're on the email newsletter list by signing up at 431house.org/newsletter.
Thank you again for your support and commitment to ladies coming out of crisis in Middle TN!
“The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.”
“In the month of June, in the year 2022, while we were on the board retreat in the mountains of McCaysville, GA, we discussed the problem of the roof.”
It was to the date, exactly a year prior, (June 23, 2021) that 431 Ministries signed the paperwork to purchase our first location on Highway 431. It was a 2-year answer to prayer and we paid cash for the full amount.
A year later, our 6 board members met to pray and ask God to continue to give us wisdom and guidance to move forward.
One of our board members opened us up on Friday morning to the passage in Nehemiah. She felt strongly that the Lord was going to call us to something big. Something that would happen in 52 days.
We continued our discussions, praying for the Lord to continue to lead us forward into the plans and places that He had already been working in. As we wrapped up our morning session and shut down the TV cast, the news flashed across our screens: ROE V WADE OVERTURNED.
History had been made while we were praying, and we began to have our eyes open to all the Lord was preparing around us. Churches, ministries and individuals would be looking to us and ministries that ours that are already doing pro-life work that goes beyond the womb.
The next day, our big discussion was around the roof project on the building. The more we unpacked the dreams God was putting in front of us, the more we recognized what a barrier the unfinished building became. For consistency, expanding programs and more, the roof would HAVE to be completed.
We paused, took a deep breath, and realized that Roe v Wade overturning was a confirmation of the Lord’s timing, and that in order to serve the influx of clients that will be coming to us in the coming months, the project had to be done.
The time is indeed now.
From the day we closed on the building to our board retreat was exactly one year. We didn’t realize it until that moment, but from the day we closed, to the day we took possession and began demolition, was exactly 52 days. And 52 days from now, we believe we will have our roof fully funded.
Fifty-two (52) days was how long it took Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. Impossible by man’s standards, but through its completion only God could be credited and glorified.
We are asking our community to help us, one square foot at a time. Will you pray about how you can come alongside us, and help us finish the roof? We have 4,745 square feet to rebuild, and through His people, we know God can complete it.
Just like the book of Nehemiah, we want to tell the story of how the Lord used His people to accomplish an impossible work. We will have an 8 foot model of the roof with the individual squares showcasing the gifts that will be displayed on Hwy 431, on our website, and reside permanently inside the building when the project is complete.
Once you feel confident in how many square feet you are called to rebuild, you can make a donation through the below link.
May He get the glory!!
Dear 431 Family,
As the year continues, the changes in our world continue to be heavy. Housing and gas prices as well as general continued inflation literally keep our staff up at night as we pray how we can continue to make a difference with lower-income clients. We are grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness, for His promise that this world is not all there is, and we have continued to focus on gospel-centered programming even as we wrestle with this world’s problems.
Our Side-by-Side Program continues to grow exponentially. This wraparound program is our individualized, whole-person flagship program. To further grow and improve the care we can offer, we had our first group Mentor Training in March. This training focuses on trauma-informed care and how to bring everyday life and problems back to the gospel and the hope it offers. We currently have 11 clients partnered with newly trained mentors, with an additional 9 on the waitlist. The waitlist is dependent on trained volunteers (mentors and budget allies) ready to pair with a client, as well as funding for counseling and other services.
Please be praying for each of these women who have walked through incredibly difficult things, from spousal affairs, to death of a spouse, or emotional, physical or spiritual abuse. They are looking for hope and a plan and someone to help them put one foot in front of the other while their pain is so fresh. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the volunteers who are getting into the muck and mire of life, and for our staff as we train and encourage the women and their program teams. The next Mentor and Budget Ally Training will occur on July 16, so if you are interested in learning more or taking part, please reach out to our staff.
During March and April, we hosted our first Life Skills Class - "Spice it Up" with 431 Ministries. This budgeting, meal planning and food prep class served 8 ladies for 6 weeks, where they discussed healthy options that busy moms on-the-go can provide for their families. The response was extremely positive and we will be offering it again this fall.
We also started our first Bible Study on 1 Peter at the end of May, which will run through the end of July. Please be praying for the women who are attending this study, that a sweet community will be built among them and that the Lord is present in their teaching and learning.
One of our goals this year is to offer additional life skills classes and trainings to the community. We are prayerfully considering different classes to offer this fall, including a nutrition and workout class, an additional food security class, a formal Faith and Finances class, and a living and working with trauma class. We are always looking for experts in different areas to come alongside us to offer classes and Bible Studies, so if the Lord is placing a topic on your heart, please reach out to us to let us know where you may be able to serve.
This month, please be praying in particular for our Board of Directors and the planning retreat that they will be going on towards the end of June. Last fall, we prayerfully determined a 3-year growth strategy that our staff has implemented. This year, we have some big decisions regarding our building and continued growth and plans.
Please pray for divine inspiration, and that we would have our eyes open to where the Lord is already working. We never want to lose sight of the fact that this is His ministry and He loves and cares for our women and their children more than we ever could. Finally, a couple of additional items that our staff and volunteers are working on are:
a Career Advancement and Job Fair that will take place in July;
a donation sidewalk sale in August that we will have at the building for fundraising purposes;
the 2022 Hope in Healing Retreat for ladies who have lost a spouse to death or divorce that will happen at the end of September; and
our 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala
Each of these items could have several paragraphs of descriptions, prayer requests and volunteer opportunities, but we don't have room for all of them! So, instead, keep an eye out on your email for additional information and how you can get involved. And as always, please reach out to our staff if the Lord has put something specific on your heart. We are thrilled to offer a variety of opportunities to get involved, even if we haven’t done it before. In fact, the territory of potential clients is also rapidly growing, increasing our need for volunteers and church partners in Davidson, Wilson, and North Rutherford counties. If you know of a potential volunteer or church partner who is interested in joining us to make a difference, please let us know.
We are so thankful for you, our committed volunteers, staff and donors who make this ministry what it is. As always, we want you to continue to be involved in events, programming and one-off opportunities. Visit 431house.org/volunteer to check out where you might be able to get involved. We also have a monthly volunteer opportunities email, so make sure you're on the email newsletter list.
Thank you again for your support and commitment to ladies coming out of crisis in Middle TN!
In Him,
The 431 Ministries team
Dear 431 Family,
We’re so excited to send out this update — it’s our favorite one every year! Our 2nd Annual Known Seen Loved Celebration was an incredible evening and it couldn’t have happened without our amazing partners and volunteers. We had 170 ladies, 71 children and over 100 volunteers in attendance.
The event’s expenses were covered by 28 local businesses and clubs who together gave over $14,000 to make this evening a reality! In addition to financial gifts, another $7,500 in physical gifts were given to give out over the course of the evening. What a night to remember!
With this being our second year doing this event, we were much more intentional about our follow up goals. We established a prayer team and had prayer cards at each setting, offering anonymous prayer or a follow up conversation. 24 prayer cards were filled out and 19 requested to be followed up with.
We also had Next Steps cards that could be filled out for more information. 53 ladies asked to be contacted when we hold future events and 11 ladies requested information about the Side-by-Side Program. Since the event, we had 8 more reach out directly through our intake form on the website, bringing our waiting list to 23.
With this number of women requesting services, we really need a Client Manager! In the meantime, a few key volunteers are filling the gap by reaching out and attending intake meetings with our staff. Please be praying for more volunteers for this unique role and for our Client Manager as we interview for this role!
Switching gears, back in October, our board met to pray about our strategic plans and programming. Since then, we clarified our messaging and created a Venn Diagram to make it easy to understand our programs and how they overlap. Our Side-by-Side Program, Known Seen Loved Events and Hope in Healing Retreats all still serve women coming out of crisis, but each area focuses on something unique. If you'd like more information about any of our service areas, visit 431house.org/get-help
Finally, we wanted to share some math that we’ve done this month. With some clarity around our programming, we have been able to streamline and understand what part of our budget goes to each program, so we can more specifically fundraise.
We determined that it costs $880 a month to serve a mom and two children through our Side-by-Side Program.
This includes:
Weekly counseling services for all three
2 weekly support groups of her choice
Weekly supportive services of any kind (could be connections, mentoring, showing up to court, advocating on her behalf, etc)
Our goal this year is to serve 20 ladies, doubling what we were able to do last year. Right now, we have monthly commitments to serve 3.3 ladies and their children in the Side-by-Side Program. While we have a lot of business partners for the Known Seen Loved Events, our prayer is that you consider committing to a monthly gift of $50 or $100 so we can continue to grow the Side-by-Side Program, which is the heart of our ministry.
We are so thankful for our committed volunteers, staff and donors who make this ministry what it is. The Lord has continued to bring new opportunities and partnerships that keep us going, and we are really excited to be more focused on our Side-by-Side Program this year. As always, we want you to continue to be involved in events, programming and one-off opportunities. Brooke Harris is our new Volunteer and Event Coordinator and has been doing a wonderful job at keeping our website updated with all upcoming volunteer opportunities. Visit 431house.org/volunteer to check out where you might be able to get involved. We also have implemented a monthly opportunities email, so make sure you're on the email newsletter list. Thank you again for your support and commitment to ladies coming out of crisis in Middle TN!
In Him, The 431 Ministries team
If you have not heard, 431 Ministries made a video series showing how God cares for broken women. We would love for you view this at your convivence.
This series focuses on God's perfect view of woman and how he is their number one provider and protector. The series dives into some of these stories where the Lord reaches down from heaven to touch a very specific woman. Our prayer is that we can learn from His tenderness, His love and His faithfulness. Through this series, we want to show you that it is broken women that point us to Him, because in our brokenness, His wholeness is revealed.
Please view the videos available below.
Dear 431 family,
It’s hard to believe that the end of 2021 is upon us. The last part of the year always seems to fly by, and this year was no exception. We are so excited to share this year’s impact report and next year’s vision!
This fall, we sat down with our full team of staff and board members to fully identify our vision, our values and our guiding principles to compliment the mission we already have. We put down on paper that our vision is to provide a place where any woman can find authentic community, compassion, dignity, and full restoration in Christ so that she has no doubt she is known, seen, and loved. With this written vision in mind, our biggest goal for 2022 is to continue to offer opportunities for even more women in our community to be known, seen, and loved.
One of the areas we will continue to expand into is serving ladies who have lost spouses, either through death or divorce. This year, we hosted our first Hope in Healing retreat as a safe place for women to grieve. With minimal options in the area, we will be expanding this to provide a grief Bible Study, so if you or someone you know would benefit from this topic and study, please reach out for additional information.
Another goal we are prayerfully moving towards is the expansion of our staff. We are actively praying and preparing for the addition of a Case Manager to handle the everyday follow up and goal setting for everyone in our Side- by-Side and Connections program. We know the addition of this person to our staff will allow us to more fully serve the women. Many of the women we work with have never been pursued in Godly love, and that would be the Case Manager’s job. Our prayer is that we are able to raise the majority of her salary during our end of year campaign to be able to bring someone on in January.
Finally, another large goal in 2022 will be to get our new building up and going. This will be broken into several stages, with the first one being to replace the very broken current roof. This project will cost us about $100,000, and we will begin fundraising in the new year for this specifically after finding out what grants we have won. Please be praying for the Lord’s timing on this. We feel very confident that it is crucial to prepare for the clients and their immediate needs first, before we tackle the construction project. The purchase of the building took three years, so we would not be surprised to have another three year wait, but we need the patience to do so if that’s the case!
As we finish the year, we know things are very different than in years prior, and that also means that we will continue to see and work with additional needs. As you consider giving this holiday season, we ask you to prayerfully consider making a monthly commitment to the work of 431 Ministries. We included a commitment card for you to fill out and send back, or simply scan the QR code and sign up online.
For parents and grandparents, we ask you to consider setting aside a small amount to give to your children or grandchildren specifically to give away and offering a list of options for them to choose from. We’d love to be on that list, and other places you should consider are ReRoute Ministries, The Well, COTC’s Wraparound Closet, the Refuge Center for Counseling, and Freedom’s Reigns Ranch. We work with all of these locations to provide a full wraparound of care for our women and their children.
If you are not in a place to give this season, please consider adding us to your Amazon Smile and Kroger giving. We get a portion of all purchases you make from both locations and you don’t have to do anything except sign up!
Thank you so much for supporting us. We are so blessed to have you be part of our community and we are grateful that you are along on the journey with us! May the rest of your year be filled with peace and joy as we celebrate the great gifts the Lord has provided for us.
In Him,
The 431 Ministries team
S T O N E S O F R E M E M B E R A N C E
During our Night of Prayer to dedicate the building, we laid the first four stones of remembrance. We will continue this tradition with each story of the Lord's faithfulness.
Dear 431 family,
Praise God for the building that is now in the name of 431 Ministries! If you haven't been following us on social media, we officially took the keys on June 23, and began demolition on August 15. We had an open night of prayer to dedicate the building and pray for the future before we began renovations. During the night of prayer, we laid our first “stones of remembrance.” We wanted to have a physical reminder, just like the Israelites, of all the times the Lord has been faithful to us. Our prayer is that they serve as an encouragement not only to us but those around us who have heard the stories and believe.
Since then, we have had many different groups of volunteers come out to serve with us at the new building. We've removed trash, damaged flooring, and the old drop-down ceilings. We've scrubbed the walls and floors, and worked on the bathroom. The transformation that has happened already is absolutely incredible, and we couldn't have done it without you!
Please keep us in your prayers as we finish the remaining demolition.
Speaking of prayer, three years ago we started praying for God to provide an architect to draft our floor plans as we dream about all that will happen in the space in the future. Phillip Chuor from Finish Your Chores stepped forward, offering his talents as a gift, and we are so grateful. Just like us, he recognizes that this building is the Lord’s.
Please pray with us that the Lord continues to guide this whole project. We commit it to Him, knowing that He will accomplish all that He desires within the four walls. Our prayer is for His presence to be so powerful that guests, volunteers, and staff feel tangibly surrounded by His peace that passes understanding, His steadfast love, and His joy through all circumstances.
Another update, if you haven’t already heard through a different avenue, is that the main reason we have been working so hard on the building is to host our first-annual Fundraising Gala on September 30, 2021. Through several awesome moments, the Lord confirmed that this is the date, location and opportunity to do so.
If you haven't already, we want to invite you to purchase a table or half a table and join us at 5:30 on the 30 for hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner, activities, and a silent luxury auction. Our goal is to fill all 21 tables with supporters who are inviting potential new supporters and volunteers. We will be having it at our new building to give an exclusive first look at the future while raising funds to continue all the necessary remodeling. We know that those who see the building with their own eyes will see in it the potential we have for a plethora of ministry opportunities. We also know that in its current condition, the building cries out for tender loving care. It needs a lot of work from both professionals and volunteers.
We pray that many who attend will possess (or know someone who possesses) materials and/or professional skills that could be donated, given at cost, or provided lower than the going rate. If you’re interested in attending, or know someone that you think should attend, you can find out more and purchase your tickets at 431house.org/gala.
As we wrap up this month's update, we were going to share more about our program and how the Lord has used something as simple as a car ride to save a life, but less than 24 hours before this was finalized, a client posted an amazing personal testimony on her Facebook page. We couldn’t let this update go out without it, so we've included a third page that has the whole Facebook post (edited for spelling and grammar).
Please continue to be praying for all of our clients, new programming, events and opportunities that the Lord brings before us. Pray that we may keep Colossians 2:2-3 at the forefronts of our minds and that we are reminded that the purpose of our ministry is that these ladies are “encouraged in heart” and “united in love,” that they “may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
May He always get the glory. Amen.
“Angels Exist, and It's You.”
a 431 client
I never thought I could love again. I never thought I could trust again. I never thought anyone would ever get through to me again. I had assumed God had already exhausted all His options for my life, and I had accepted that. I never put much thought into someone who could know the whole truth about me and still could genuinely love me. The Lord has such a funny way of showing you that you were wrong about Him. That doubting His abilities and trusting your own mind instead of having faith can really keep you burrowed in some dark places.
I met you in a place in my life where I had nothing to offer you but my story and my determination
to desperately make some radical changes. I couldn't offer you a list of goals, or a list of accomplishments that I had already accomplished. I couldn't show you my house and this wonderful place I had created for myself. I couldn't tell you all about my faith that I had in the Lord because
at that time I didn't have any faith. I couldn't even offer you love because I didn't have any left to offer.
It wasn’t until I met you, a stranger, while at the lowest of my life with nothing left to give you, nothing to offer you — the only thing left that I could do was say "I'm going to do this one more time, I'm going to trust one more time. I'm going to believe one more time. I'm going to get up one more time. I'm going to choose to live one more time." And it wasn't for me, because if it was for me I would have already done it.
Instead, I made a commitment to myself that I'm going to start from the beginning and I'm going to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The good, the bad, the horrific events
—my whole entire lifetime—because God is telling me it's okay. And I don't think I had really ever trusted that voice in the back of my mind (for obvious reasons) but I'm so glad I did.
You have been the biggest blessing to my life and I will never be able to put in words what kind of individual you are, what you have done to my life and how much you saved me. How thankful I am that God sent you for me! He knew what He was doing. You may not have known what He was doing, I may not have known what He was doing, but He knew exactly what He had in mind when He put us in each others’ paths.
The only thing you could offer me most days was hours on the phone, coming over to my house, making me leave the house, forcing me every time I started to step back, saying "just grab my hand, just take it." And I did and you took me to some miraculous, healing places in my mind that nobody has ever taken me. You have shown me a different way of life that I had never been exposed to, and you showed me the side of myself that I forgot was there.
I love you, I love 431 Ministries and everyone involved. You and your team changed my life forever.
[Mentor], angels do exist and it's you ❤
Every quarter, these updates get more exciting to share. God is doing some amazing work in Middle Tennessee, and so many of you have been involved!
If you follow us on social media, you have seen the amazing work that our interns did over the last eight months. Meredith Edwards and Chloe Callaway deserve a huge round of applause! They’ve since completed their internships, but we’re blessed to have THREE new interns for our Summer Internships! Emily Hudelson will be our Program Assistant, helping with the day-to-day client work, intakes, connections and prayers. Abigail Meier and Dara Carroll are each working in our marketing department, with Dara on our social accounts and Abi on our emails, website and anything else we can assign!
A PICTURE OF HOPE AND A FUTURE
Even more exciting is the addition of a new staff member! Daphne Toungette was called to join us in March as our Program Director and has done a wonderful job as we move into the next stage of growth. The Lord has already used her in mighty ways, and we know that she was called to fulfill a very special purpose.
One of the first clients Daphne got to assist was a young lady whose story spread far on our Facebook page. A series of God connections made us aware of her situation, and while she’s outside our standard criteria for clients, we felt very strongly that we were called to be part of her solution.
After all, 431 Ministries is called to tend to the needs of ALL overlooked and underserved women, and Hope fit that description.
In fact, Hope had a perfect storm of situations around her that prevented "normal" solutions to work for her. We made hundreds of phone calls and emails, reaching out to dozens of connections to find housing for Hope. Nothing came through. God shut all doors, knowing He had one special family in mind to help this girl.
In fact, it was literally because of you and your faithfulness in praying and sharing her situation that the DeSouza family heard about her situation and reached out.
We asked Emily DeSouza, Hope's new host mom, to share how things have been, and she wrote this beautiful update:
“A Place for Hope”
Emily DeSouza
Our family has been blessed to bring Hope to live with us this month. On the surface Hope is giggles, jokes, energy and a conversationalist. As we have heard layers of Hope’s story over the past couple of weeks, I have learned she is the product of hard choices that require a strength of character beyond her years.
When she felt trapped in circumstances beyond her control as a child, she chose to believe something better was around the corner. When she couldn’t read numbers due to needing vision therapy and was given a pair of glasses instead (despite not needing them), she chose to learn to do algebra in her head and write numbers with her eyes closed. When her safety was threatened this year, she chose independence without knowing how she would survive. When Hope dreams of her life as an adult with marriage and children, a family of her own, she chooses to finish school even though it’s no longer legally required.
Hope repeatedly chooses joy over despair, faith over disbelief, hard work over immediate gratification, perseverance over folding. I am reminded of this Scripture: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
(Romans 5:3-4)
She recognizes God’s hand on her life and can tell stories of how she knows He provided food when she had none and sheltered her to keep her alive. Hope dreams of being a mom and of working with young children in a school or daycare setting. I have seen her nurturing kindness in the time she spends with my children. The Lord has a beautiful future planned for Hope that is being brought to fruition by His provision and the help of her 431 community.
This is just one of the amazing stories that we get to be on the frontlines for. We have been reminded over and over this quarter that this service is a gift. By allowing the Lord to use our time, our talents and our treasures, we are given the unique opportunity to see Him work in mighty ways right before our eyes.
We earnestly believe that He's calling you too. We have side-by-side opportunities as well as events coming up that we would love your prayers for, your hands at, and your heart willing to serve — men and women! Keep an eye out for a postcard coming your way soon.
Thank you for being a part of the greater story in Middle Tennessee! We can't wait to share more in the next update!
