The Avenue Initiative Story
In 2018 our leadership felt a serious need for real, sustainable, generational empowerment to happen amongst marginalized communities in Gainesville, Georgia. We were and still are aware that Christians have been known to offer “blanket fixes”, which cover deeper generational issues. Even with the best intentions this can cause hurt and mistrust with the Gospel, God and Christians.
So our imperfect attempt at both caring for these communities and avoiding surface level shallow programs was to simply build deeper relationships with vulnerable and marginalized peoples while seeking to create avenues where they can receive tools to flourish and navigate in the midst of their circumstances. By God’s grace this is what we did. We have been able to build a healthy Youth Development Program, care for kids in the Regional Youth Detention Center and advocate for the homeless.
Cards of Hope
Handwritten letters every month to every youth living in the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center.
We have collaborated with Press on paper co. to empower ordinary people to use their words for a extraordinary purpose.
Ministry at the Gainesville RYDC
The Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center is made up of youth who have found themselves in terrible situations. Often they have come from less than ideal living scenarios and with little to no guidance have committed crimes ranging all over the spectrum. The staff at the RYDC is made up of fantastic people with a huge task in front of them. The youth have all committed crimes, the law is the law, yet they are still kids in need of love and encouragement. This where we desire to fill the gaps.
Wether through zoom leadership classes in the age of COVID or one on one mentorship our heart is to connect people in the community who desire to serve with kids living at the RYDC. Our Executive director, Micah Grindle, is a member of the Advisory Council for the RYDC. With these connections we hope to see many kids empowered physically and spiritually in the future. If you have a desire to be a part and start the on-boarding process get involved by emailing us at info@globalenvoy.net
Youth Mentorship
Since 2018 we have seen multiple students in our mentorship programs become the first person in their family to graduate from high school, join the military, enter the work force and even empower others. We have done this through life on life mentoring, tutoring, job coaching, resume building and much more.
Highways & Hedges
H&H is our outreach and advocation ministry to the homeless in Gainesville. This is an every day ministry that involves our team consistently caring for our brothers and sisters without a home. We believe in building relationships and fighting for people as long as it takes. God does not give up on us, therefore will not give up on the least of these.
Monthly Meeting
The fourth Sunday of every month we have held a worship service for our homeless community for many years now. We have seen people grow, reunite with their families, find a career, get a home, and most importantly come to believe in the hope of Jesus Christ. With these meetings we desire to connect the homeless will local bodies of believers where they can dive into deeper community with those who can love them.