ORCHARD PARTNERS

What do you do when you are a really great tennis player who really loves Jesus? That was where Elizabeth Brooks found herself years ago. Today, she is reaching tennis players for Christ at her local public tennis center through the evangelistic and prayer ministries of Love-All Tennis Ministry.

Cru Urban Partnership is a ministry led by Tom Fritz and is designed to link Cru and Orchard in ways to more effectively engage the urban African-American community.

When John Decker, a commercial real estate developer in Atlanta, had a friend go to prison, he decided to write him a letter. That friend, a Christian, asked John for some devotional resources for himself and for other prisoners who wanted to know about Jesus. Hebrews 13:3 was started to resource this movement, which, to date, has provided devotional materials to over 15% of the population of the correctional facility* that this ministry serves. (*Name is withheld for confidentiality purposes.)

“Sauti” is a Swahili word for VOICE; Sauti One aims to bring together Africans in the diaspora to give back to Africa. A Kenyan native, Team Leader, David Jey Mbiro, wanted to provide an awards ceremony for African talent that is untapped and underutilized and provide support, guidance, and leadership to help the artists realize their potential. Learn more.

Led by LaTroya Hester, Media Woke provides workshops and courses that teach Christ-centered media literacy which helps Christians develop the skills to evaluate entertainment media to guard against influences and move you toward Jesus and your faith goals. Learn more.

Lead by Reginald Beaty, the goal of Faces of Change is to help change the faces of the parishioners in churches as they self-assess their own moral compass by asking the following driving question: “We are all born with a moral compass- what happens to it as we evolve and live through life”—- what shapes your (our) moral compass?

On the second Saturday of each month, Second Saturdays partners with select Atlanta nonprofits to build community and awareness through serving.

Second Saturdays has been partnering with nonprofits in and around the city of Atlanta since 2009. They come together monthly with friends, families, co-workers, and neighbors to work alongside these organizations as they serve our community. Learn more.

Led by Ben Davis, Noble Clay is a gym that provides personalized functional fitness to all members of the four metro Atlanta neighborhoods it serves. They do this by providing world-class training and creating a motivating, dynamic environment filled with like-minded people of all ages and body types. Learn more.

Led by Rob Harden, The TLAB is a mobile video and virtual gaming, plus music production truck. The TLAB exists to provide a fun, entertaining and inviting space where people of all ages and resources can bond and experience camaraderie. They do this through a technologically advanced environment where specialized skills and instruction in the arts can be made accessible to the community in greater Metro Atlanta and the surrounding area. Learn more.

Led by Tega Faafa, Naked and Unashamed is a podcast focused on creating a space to hear the stories and experiences of others and to get extremely vulnerable, taking a step towards that Genesis 2:25 life. Naked and Unashamed does this by encouraging others to take off their masks and filters, shed their shells, and wear their most vulnerable self, void of guilt and shame.

Led by Todd Miechiels, The 3:15 Project is a cooperative that gives Christians greater courage and faith through the knowing and sharing of their story. By partnering with organizations and harvesting others’ stories of God’s love, The 3:15 Project seeks to share hope with more people than previously possible. Learn more.

Led by Josh Clemons, OneRace exists to displace the spirit of racism and release a movement of racial reconciliation across Atlanta, the Southeast, and the nation. Learn more.

Atlanta Breakfast Club exists to provide a safe space for collaboration, fellowship, and unity for black Christian leaders and influencers in Atlanta.

The biblical imperative for caring for children in need is clear. That is what John and Deena Theiss thought. Although John and Deena live busy lives as an airline pilot and a medical doctor, respectfully, they also saw a need to recruit foster families to serve children in need. They then felt led to provide ongoing care for them. Living 1.27 accomplishes both of those goals, operating primarily out of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA. Learn More

Eric and Nancy Matundo have a deep desire to help marriages grow stronger and deeper. Spring of Life was launched as an event focused ministry to fulfill this desire. Learn More

In order to help children at Woodson Park Academy, a Title 1 school in northwest Atlanta, achieve their greatest potential in school, we oversee a feeding program giving weekend snacks to over 650 children in this school with 100% of its population falling beneath the poverty line.

One Talent provides opportunities for girls to: recognize their abilities, enhance their technology skills and awareness, participate in educational and career development activities and experimental learning experiences (inclusive of cultural and social opportunities). The girls have a platform to showcase their talents (inclusive of their oral and written skills). One Talent Inc. encourages its participants to reach for higher heights, take the road less traveled, and dare to go above and beyond expectations. It is the goal of One Talent Inc. to instill as many positive influences as possible to help our youth channel their gifts and talents in the right direction. Learn More

Lead by Team Leader Johnny Brown, Iron 2 Iron seeks to reunite estranged fathers with their children. Through extensive leadership training, in-school programs, and one-on-one discipleship, they re-engineer the hearts of men who have not mastered the skills needed to be a Husband, Father, and Men. Learn More

Founded by LaTonya Gates-Boston, PAWkids is an after-school enrichment program committed to partnering with the parents of Grove Park for the holistic development of their children spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Learn More

Led by Christy Smucker, The Mom Community (Mom Co.) is a residential program for young moms and is focused on community and wholeness. Through providing a Christ-centered home, a peaceful environment, supportive services, and staff who care personally about each mom, women are given an opportunity to grow into healthy, stable living. While living life together, Mom Co. staff has the opportunity to share how the gospel brings hope to every part of their lives.

Mom Co. is working to support the health of women and children, reduce child neglect and abandonment, advocate for better birth outcomes, provide education and job opportunities that aid self-sufficiency, and surround women with community and friendship. Learn more.

Led by Danielle Bulloch, Capefree Connection is a ministry that specifically aims to reunite parents of children with life-threatening illnesses and special needs through fundraising events, parents’ nights out, educational seminars and resources that will provide them with information and access to much needed psychological, marital, and life/wellness professionals.

Melvin Glaize, an I.T. professional at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Dave Peterson, and employee at Chick-fil-A’s home office discovered a shared love for motorcycles and assisting people in crisis situations when they raised $15,000 to give to families impacted by the church shootings in Charleston, SC a few years back. Today, EFE leverages their love for motorcycles to serve people in crisis situations on an ongoing basis.

Led by Taylor Kern, Back to Life seeks to offer hope and exposure to the issue of suicide by providing education, practical help, and awareness. Suicide has affected families from all walks of life but it is a subject that is often avoided. Back to Life hopes to change that. Learn more.

Led by Team Leader, Cameron Harris, Breaking the Shackles exists to raise awareness, collect funds, and mobilize students to actively fight modern-day slavery (human trafficking), to glorify God and share His love with all people. Learn more.

Lead by Danielle Vicente and Candace Gaston, Calling OverFlow’s mission is to cater to the needs of the homeless in underdeveloped neighborhoods of Atlanta by providing basic necessities and an opportunity to encounter Christ through prayer and spiritual encouragement.

Founded by Jim and Linda Jones and directed by Gene Rogers, Alabama Childhood Food Solutions in Birmingham, AL is an all-volunteer organization that provides food to food-insecure children in five counties in Central Alabama. They have been filling this need in their community since 2011. Everyday their goal is to make an impact on hunger in Alabama and beyond by providing a sustainable community source of nutritional food and food education. Learn more.

Led by Akers Keynon, Jobs for Life addresses the root causes of unemployment, underemployment, and disengagement with work by uniting churches, businesses, and community organizations and facilitating positive transformation within lives and communities. By helping people not only find and keep meaningful work but to also thrive in their work, Jobs for Life strive to restore work back to God’s original design. Learn more.

Pillar of Legacy was founded by Daniel and Amber Lefiyele to bring the Word of Christ and sustainable change to a people who hunger for both. They both have worked in mission fields around the world, and now, with their children, are ministering daily to the people of Chisuma Village. Pillar of Legacy’s goals are to help the people of Chisuma develop a personal relationship with Christ and learn the skills and knowledge they need to provide basic necessities such as clean water, sustainable food sources and healthful practices. Learn more.

Led by Sandra Thomas, Beacon Mental Health Services is a team of licensed, professional counselors and a psychiatrist, who use their clinical training to foster and provide a safe harbor for healing. Beacon Mental Health Services believes in journeying with others on their path to live wholeheartedly and fully engaged lives. Learn more.

Led by Chris Miller, Be Compelled  is a non-profit organization that exists to aid in the moral development of under-resourced youth through athletic and personal achievement. They accomplish this goal by giving students eye-opening and thought-provoking experiences through strategic partnerships with organizations, coaches and world changers. Learn more.

The Way 2 Serve Ministries exists to share the love of Jesus in practical ways through home repair projects, bible studies, and discipleship. Led by Shane Kyles, The Way to Serve Ministries provides opportunities to serve that lead to forming and building relationships with those they help. Learn more.

Blueprint 58 is a ministry that exists to empower youth to grow into community leaders through mutually transformational relationships in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Atlanta. Learn more.

We are a community-based, indigenously-led Christian organization. Our focus is reaching inner-city youth in and around Atlanta’s Summerhill area. We spread the wisdom and love of Christ through our programs. By facilitating opportunities for personal empowerment, spiritual love, and academic enrichment, we’re on a mission to uplift our community! Learn more.

The WellHouse exists to honor God by rescuing and providing opportunities for restoration to female victims of human trafficking who have been sexually exploited. They do this through a safe, 24-hour residential environment offering spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical support services to trafficked women rescued from anywhere in the United States. Learn more.

Led by Gretchen Schwartz, Hire Powers is a ministry “dedicated to finding a job for every single person who desires a job, a job they can be proud of, regardless of their means, race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.” While not a staffing agency, they are a group of volunteers dedicated to using a combined 50+ years of combined experience in corporate recruiting to assist people with not only finding a job but also negotiating offers, answering questions, and acting as advocates for those who may not understand how to navigate the process. Learn more

With 10-15% of its program attendees making first-time professions of faith in Jesus Christ, this is the most fruitful evangelistic ministry in Orchard’s history! Claudia Lopez, an employee of Atlanta Public Schools, hosts special trainings for Spanish speaking women to learn how to become childcare providers in America. These trainings all conclude with a special presentation of the gospel.

Linda Michelle Trainer found hope and healing in Jesus Christ after years of being sexually violated by a family member. She started Elegant Doves to help people who have experiences similar to hers discover that same hope and healing. Elegant Doves encourages, educates and equips women and teen girls through workshops, support groups, mentoring, and crisis hotline assistance to overcome the effects of incest abuse and post-abortion trauma and break the cycle of sexual abuse in families.

Dottie Tidwell and Peggy Lientz lead this discipleship ministry for professional women in their 20s and 30s. This study encourages personal, as well as spiritual growth through Bible study and practical domestic insights and the group meets in the homes of the leaders.

Founded by Lisa Smith, EWOE is a ministry that serves teenage girls by providing academic enrichment programs, leadership development, and other student enrichment activities. Learn more.

Led by Stacey Howell, Every Woman Works offers a holistic approach that addresses each woman’s needs from the inside out through spiritual empowerment, individual coaching, job training, life skills, career development and mentoring. Learn more.

Led by Rachel Faulkner Brown, Be Still Ministries is a women’s ministry focused on women, freedom and rest in Christ. Through workshops, retreats, and curriculum it aims to create a hunger and thirst for the gospel of grace and for every daughter to know she is His favorite. Learn more.

Faith columnist, author, and international speaker, Patricia Holbrook leads Soaring with Him Ministries. Soaring with Him Ministries seeks to challenge, encourage and empower Christian women to build a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, so that they may be able to soar above any circumstances and carry out their God-given purpose in life to the fullest. Soaring With Him Ministries does this through their She Soars Conferences, faith-based blog, and books authored by Patricia. Learn more.

Led by Jennifer Watley Maxwell, The Ellipsis Experience is an empowerment organization that provides safe spaces for a woman or a teen girls to explore her personal story, manifest positive change and lean into God’s abundance and purpose for her life. Additionally, each spring they gather women and teens girls from across the country for “The Ellipsis Experience” conference, a weekend of discovery, transformation and fun. Learn more.

Led by Team Leader Rodnie “Swift” Graham, Becoming Us works to empower young men and women to build futures that they can be proud of. They empower by teaching young people their heritage and encouraging them to have a sense of self-worth because they’re not only loved by God but created for greatness. Through mentorship and educational resources, we provide guidance and tools necessary to build a future upon a solid foundation.

“They were just yelling about how angry Jesus was at all the sinners.” That is what Cam Buchanan heard as he walked through the campus of Georgia State University. Cam started The Real Movement as a venue for college students to show the “real” Jesus to other college students. Today, they operate on the campuses of Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of Georgia with a leadership team of over 30 college students. Learn more.

Lead by Mwamba Johnson; Vision Collegiate Ministries seeks to equip, inspire, and empower ethnic minority leaders on college campuses toward holistic Christian living. They do this through coaching, collaboration, and consulting.

Run by Corn Williams and Curt Swilley, Young Gunz is a brotherhood that holds 6th-12th graders accountable to grow in their faith, develop lasting friendships and become a servant-leader that will influence change.

Lead by Trace Hamiter, All Things Ministries is an evangelical, non-denominational ministry that exists to further missional outreach and the discipleship of Christ-followers in order to reach those who are far from God in all segments of our communities while also uniting local churches and ministries to these ends. We are driven by the grace of Jesus Christ to become all things and do all things through God’s strength and for His glory so that more people can experience the abundance of life in Christ.

While he doesn’t have a name for his minister quite yet, Davis’ hope is to bring a ministry of discipleship, positive community and healthy lifestyle to children and teenagers through the fun and challenging aspects found in functional fitness (CrossFit Kids) programming for youth. He wants to promote positive self-image and create good character, developed through overcoming obstacles together and accomplishing personal goals on a regular basis.

While his ministry is currently unnamed, James Taylor Jr.’s hope is to develop a ministry that will create a huge level of student athletes, who love God, succeed academically, and enjoy their sports journey. With a heart for young students from single parent, low income, and at risk homes, James Taylor Jr.’s ministry will develop sports teams for the sole purpose to create community, build relationships, and share the truth of Christ.

The Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta exists to create an inclusive community for individuals with a wide variety of both physical and mental disabilities such as Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delay, Cerebral Palsy, etc. They do this by providing purposeful activities for adults with disabilities to increase social interactions, community service, and healthy lifestyles. Learn more.