Agape Community Ministries...Love is Active and Engages Our Communities.
2023 ended in an unexpected manner. After almost 4 years serving as Executive Director for Kairos Church Planting, and having planted Agape Church of Christ and led this ministry for 13+ years, Ron resigned from his position as director, and Lori resigned as one of the Kairos coaches. While this was not part of our plan, it was a necessary move. Many good things happened during this time as I, Ron, led Kairos through Covid, initiated National Church Planting Sunday, began teaching a Church Planting Track at Lipscomb University, and strengthened the Kairos apprenticeship program while developing an online planter assessment ministry.
God has opened the door for us to develop a new ministry focusing on community leadership and ministry. We will focus this ministry on our domestic and sexual abuse ministries, community service work, and training ministry couples and church leaders. Agape Community Ministries will launch January 2024. This non profit will engage communities in three areas:
- Agape Love Doesn't Hurt = Faith based domestic and sexual abuse trainings, partnering with local and state abuse agencies, serving as an expert Intimate Partner Violence witness in our courts of law, and creating partnerships between faith communities and service providers.
- Love/Agape Our Neighbors = Agape Blitz will return with summer projects to engage youth groups, campus ministries, and local volunteers to build houseless villages and serve in communities.
- Agape Love Matures Through Practical Ministry = We will continue to train faith leaders, minsters, and others to do hands on ministry and mentor/disciples others by leading through example.
Donations have begun and we have secured grants and some funding. How can you help?
- Prayer = please keep us and this ministry in prayer. God has moved quickly and provided so much. We have also had local agencies request our help, training, and presence in the community. Pray that God will open hearts and we can again bring Jesus to those needing support and love.
- For our current donors...thank you for your support. Please continue to support us through Kairos in January. On February 1, 2024 we will have an active link where you can donate directly to Agape Community Ministry. God bless you for your love and help all of these years.
- Ron and Lori continue to raise support for our salaries, but we are also seeking support for organizational costs ($20,000.000/year).
For the past two months we have focused on recovery, rest, and prayer for this new direction. God has been faithful and provided through many of you, and through the peace that this time of year brings. Thank you for all your support and encouragement.
Over the next few weeks we will be finalizing our non-profit status, website, and email communications. We will also send out online links and mailing address for those seeking to support us and Agape Community Ministries. We also have partnerships and work reading to go in January...we appreciate your prayers as the Spirit continues to move in our community.
God bless you for all your love, prayers, and support. Happy New Year and we love all of you.
In Christ,
Ron and Lori Clark
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