The Nehemiah Project
Like the rebuilding of the wall in Nehemiah, the 431 Ministries Community is rebuilding a roof in 52 days
one square foot at a time.
We know it's crazy. It sounds impossible. But our God is able!
From June 24-26, our Board of Directors met together to pray and determine what God wanted our next steps to be for 431 Ministries. We unanimously agreed that with the timing of Roe v Wade overturning, God was asking us to step out in faith and believe that He could pull a community together to raise the full funding in 52 days. You can read the full story of how it happened that weekend on our blog.
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. Just like the book of Nehemiah, we want to tell the story of how the Lord used His people to accomplish an impossible work.
The roof has 4745 sq ft that need to be rebuilt, so we are breaking it down into 1x1 sq ft blocks.
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 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.
From 1 block to 448, we have options for however God calls you to be involved. How many will you provide?
The Need
According to 2021 U.S. Census Bureau, out of about 11 million single parent families with children under the age of 18, nearly 80 percent were headed by single mothers. In Maury and Davidson county, 31% and 38% respectively of all households in each county are single-parent dwellings.
That’s a large number of families that have limited services directed towards them. 431 Ministries wants to change it.
431 Ministries walks alongside single moms and women coming out of crisis with three program areas: The Side-by-Side Program, Known Seen Loved Events and Hope in Healing Program. All three focus on Community Driven Support in a variety of ways, meeting women where they’re at to address their needs.
On june 23, 2021, 431 Ministries purchased a building… with cash!
Three years ago, a client we worked with attempted suicide for the third time in this building. A daughter of a single mom and child of poverty and abuse, her grandparents had taken her in and had tried for years to get her help. They had never been successful. This time, she was declared dead, and yet was revived on the way to the hospital.
The client came home and started going everywhere with Rachel. For one of the first times in her life, someone cared if she lived or died. She started opening up, sharing the extreme hardships of her life and how she wanted hope and a future. We shared that there was one answer to that longing and His name is Jesus Christ. After a few months of this care, she gave in to the soul questions and accepted Jesus as her true Kinsman Redeemer. The change was immediate and miraculous. Everyone who knew her knew there was a living change in her life and wanted answers.
The grandfather was astounded at the difference in her life and asked Justin and Rachel if they would consider doing it again, because he was willing to sell his property for what he had originally purchased it for in 1999. This was a 5000 square foot building split into two portions with so much potential.
431 Ministries immediately started fundraising, but the timing was not yet ready. We had to learn, grow and lean more into Him before we would be ready to take on a massive project. And yet, the vision stayed the same. In 2020, the Lord provided the final amount in an amazing way, through a local church and a local business. And as of June 23, 2021, it became ours.
Today, we’re watching dreams become reality, knowing it will take time, talent and treasure. But the Lord is faithful and He who begins a good work will finish it! As we look to the future, we see a cafe there, ready to employ ladies coming out of crisis. We see a counseling center, ready and available for immediate crisis needs. We see a childcare center, available for one-off situations or ongoing as the mamas get back on their feet.
