Your Generosity Has
Made Room for Everyone
in Chattanooga!

By Sandra Ferguson
Herald, December 2007

In God’s house, there are many rooms…a place for everyone!”…. “There are many lives waiting to hear the redeeming words of the gospel, or to be lifted from hopelessness by the hands of loving servants. But they will be lost to you without the generous response of disciples who share from their own bounty that others may know the joys of the kingdom.—John 14:2 adapted, and Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a

For several months this year, congregations, families, and individuals had the remarkable opportunity to help create a place where there is room for everyone to come and experience the peace of Jesus Christ in the urban core of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Combined with matching gifts from several families, the Saints’ amazing response provided $605,851. This will renovate Chattanooga’s current center; add space for a safe, welcoming place of worship, recreation, and education; and provide facilities for the Church Planting Center, where planters will be trained to open new congregations in diverse settings throughout North America. And respond you did! More than 2,900 contributors and eighty-three congregations heeded the call to plant Christ’s peace with the Chattanooga Kids.

“I spent two years in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Those months changed my life forever. Never would I view ministry the same way. Never would I think of the gospel in the same light.” These words from Centralia, Illinois, pastor Faith Johnson underscore the adventure that was the 2007 designated-giving initiative: “Chattanooga Kids: Planting Christ’s Peace.”

With each offering, testimonies poured in about how the blessing of giving to help another congregation changed the lives of those who participated. Sergio Juarez, co-pastor of the La Nueva Esperanza en Cristo congregation, and Mike Hewitt, financial officer of the Southern California Mission Center, reflected on the response by the La Nueva Esperanza en Cristo congregation. Its members gave nearly all the small, urban-core congregation had to their brothers and sisters in Chattanooga.

“During the last two years, internal problems in our congregation have been minimized through our need to reach out to the youth in our community. La Nueva Esperanza en Cristo has made many friends in our community and this has given us the opportunity to proclaim Christ to more people. Through this outreach we decided to open a youth center on the second floor of the church. Money, of course, is an obstacle and the youth center has not yet been made a reality, though we are working toward this goal.
“However, something interesting happened recently. Through some of the information shared by our church, we discovered that another of our congregations has an opportunity to reach out in their community and that they want to build a community center for the youth. We know how many families struggle to keep their kids out of trouble—we experience that same struggle. And we understand how important a community center will be to answer their needs. Even though our dream is similar—a youth center—we are blessed to be able to share for this current need.

“Recently I asked our members if they would like to share our piece of the blanket with the Chattanooga ministries and their answer was an overwhelming yes! One of the youth wanted to know what they could do to help. I told them, ‘It’s up to you.’ One youth volunteered to sacrifice the money they had saved to buy hamburgers at our retreat at Buckhorn and even to give their savings. Others responded, saying, ‘We, too, will give.’

“Another youth wondered if we could share some of the money we had already raised for our youth center. There was a positive response and the question, ‘How much?’ One said, ‘$100.’ Another said, ‘$200.’ And another said, ‘$300.’ I knew if we didn’t decide soon, all the money for our youth center would be gone. This wouldn’t be bad for the Chattanooga Kids, but it would create a greater delay for our center.

“We collected our offerings and added them to the $300 from our youth center money—$613 for us to send a piece of the blanket to our friends in Tennessee. Let’s hope that blanket gets even warmer for the kids of Chattanooga.”

Plans are progressing for the building start in Chattanooga, with an expected construction time of four months. Craig Lenfestey, director for church planting in the Mid-South Mission Center, said, “The Chattanooga Kids are very excited and are eagerly awaiting the building renovation to be completed. Their dream of having a gym is within reach. Thanks to the generous response of so many, we have moved forward in getting contracts signed to begin construction.†In a letter to me, one contractor wrote, ‘We are excited about the potential of your expansion and its positive neighborhood impact.’”