Jesus Therapy COOP
Issues
One of the growing epidemics in the City of Philadelphia and across metropolitan cities through the US and beyond is youth homelessness. Recognizing that multitudes of young people in today’s society could be termed as modern day orphans. Our goal is to provide loving and caring Christian living communities for homeless or orphaned young people. We also seek to further develop after school programs, camps, and sports outreach programs that infuse sports, arts and trades with spiritual enrichment to reach young people for Christ and give them meaningful experiences. We also provide living space for 7 individuals most young adults who found themselves going through hard times. While staying with us individuals have found gainful employment and are growing spiritually and holistically.
Solution
To Complete renovation of our Sports & Arts Urban Community Center & discipleship living facility.
The Beginning
We have completed renovation on about 70% of a 3,000 square foot space where we have launched, a recording studio, a Film Lab & editing suite to train youth and work on ministry projects. We also want to develop a Podcast Studio & Graphic design and other arts based studios to be used in training young people in the Digital Media Arts (Film, Music, Photography, Fashion) equipping them with a trade that can be used specifically for Christ glorifying purposes. We also have a space dedicated for trade development. The space will also be used for other ministry purposes to help in ministering to urban children, youth & young adults in other capacities ranging from free Christian counseling, Bible studies and events for the community as well as will house the Fishermen Ministry Group Inc offices. It is a multi-use space that is open in its design, in which events and services can be held to minister to children, youth and young adults. Many within our organization have invaluable experience as producers and signed billboard charting artists and producers in the music industry and through our experience and the equipment we have access to and experience on we are opening a recording studio within our first 5000 square foot site Jesus Saves! Sports & Arts COOP. Our highly skilled producers and engineers will train marginalized children, youth & young adults as well on in recording arts. Also, several of us are film makers and we will also use a portion of the space to train urban youth in the art of filmmaking from a Christian worldview.
Current Programs We Offer Youth.
Sunday Basketball Outreach
We serve over 70 youth from across the city of Philadelphia by picking them up from all areas of Philadelphia on Sunday mornings. First we take them to a YouthUp Sunday Worship Experience @ New Covenant Church of Philadelphia where our Founder Rev. Hans Nelson is the Director of Youth Ministries. Then after service we take them to the gym on the campus and they play organized and competitive basketball games and then we break with prayer and free hot meal. We also drive them home it is door to door service.
First Saturday’s OG’s vs. Youth Flag Football & Basketball
On first Saturday’s excluding holidays etc we pick up youth from across the city and engage in Flag Football and Basketball competitions where they play against grown men to help foster mentorship opportunities for the men to connect with youth and also just have fun and recreate.
Sports, Arts, & Trade Development Overnight Camps
We provide free Sports Arts and Trades overnight camps. Our first camp was a 3 day camp and we have sessions on trade development, music production, and free Tennis lessons and basketball competitions. We had group therapy and had Family style breakfasts where we invited city Fathers in to come and speak to the youth and pour wisdom and love into their lives. We also showed them our movie Jesus Saves!. The camp was free all we asked the youth to bring was toiletries and towels.
MLK Trade Development Days
On MLK Day we host youth and train them in carpentry, plumbing, electrical development etc. We invite numerous licensed contractors in to help instructor them and serve them on MLK day as youth also participate in community service projects.
Community Outreach Concerts and events
We have hosted and continue to host numerous large scale music, comedy, and film screenings or the community. Most have been free events. We had a Jamie Grace & Truth Youth and Young Adults Concert that was attended by 800 youth and young adults primarily. We hosted a Sinbad Family Comedy Show that was attended by 1100 and over the years we have hosted approximately 25 events dating back to 2001.
Hope Festivals
We have hosted Hope Festivals where we give out free food through partnerships, we gave free dental and medical screenings, free haircuts etc and share The Gospel in marginalized areas.
Upcoming Initiatives
COOP After school program for youth ages 13-18yrs old where young people receive tutoring to help them with all their core courses, college enrichment, also we will train them in trade development, film production, music production but from a Christ Centered perspective. We will also offer counseling services, and Bible study classes for their spiritual enrichment. It is a holistic program that we believe will positively impact the lives of inner city youth. We will feed them nutritious meals and also offer sports development all in a safe and supervised quiet and peaceful environment.
College Tours for High Schools
We are raising money to purchase a 12-14 passenger Van that we can drive inner city youth to college tours across the East Coast to help them gain exposure to college life and help them choose the right college for them.