Foundation Annual Report 2019

Agape Development
Agape is the Greek word for love in its truest form – a love
that is authentic, intentional and long-lasting. Agape
Development approaches community development in the
Third Ward of Houston with this type of agape love and
servant leadership. They disciple their neighbors to become
Christ-following and independent community leaders.
Agape Development leads by listening to the community
first as primary stakeholders of their own restoration and
empowers their Old SpanishTrail /South Union neighborhood
for sustainability rather than dependency.
Agape Development assists all members of their community,
from young children to senior adults. Their programs for
children include the Backyard Bible Club, an after-school
program that allows children to have a safe-haven during the
school year to further education and friendships. The Agape
Shaved Ice Program provides neighborhood teens with job
skills and experience. In addition, Agape Development works
hard to help every adult find employment to support a family.
Many neighborhood adults work with Agape’s Property
Repair Team. This team provides high quality and affordable
handyman services to the Greater Houston area. In return,
the workers receive meaningful employment and living
wages.
Joe Gipson is a former member of the Agape Property Repair
Team. Many areas of his life were transformed by his work
with the team:
“Before I came to Agape, life was a struggle. I was drugging,
trying to sell drugs, not doing right at all. We were living day
to day, messing over people, not paying attention to the kids,
living a wild life. I’m a big picture person, the vision I have
for us now: it’s success for the family. I had never seen that
before. Now there’s more structure, my wife is going to Bible
study, and I’m meeting with the pastor and strengthening
our relationship. I was taught the wrong way for so long
and that’s all I knew. I got to work with Dane on a consistent
basis. He prays for me. He asks how my family is doing. I’ve
never had that before and that means a lot to me. They’ve
really helped me to re-arrange my life. I’ve made a complete
360 degree turn. Now I just want to be a spiritual leader,
pushing people toward this type of lifestyle. As far as Agape,
it’s more real than you can imagine. It’s an excellent program
in my eyes and I’ve come a long way. I want to bring other
guys in the neighborhood along and teach them what I’ve
been able to learn. When no one else cared, I felt like I always
had someone else in my corner here at Agape. Right now, I’m
just in a joyful moment. I’m living on time I never thought I
would see.”
COMMUNITY
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