April 22, 2025 • 40 mins
What happens when faithful people say "yes" to serving an overlooked neighborhood? In this conversation with Addie Jarrett, Executive Director of Neighborhood Life House, we discover how a historic building from 1871 became the epicenter of transformation in North Joplin, MO.
The story begins with prayer walks and 200 people gathering to ask God what He wanted to do with a church building that was closing its doors. Sixteen years later, that simple act of availability has blossomed into comprehensive weekly programming serving children and families in a community where 85% aren't connected to local churches and 80% face food insecurity.
Addie shares beautiful stories of children who first asked "Who is Jesus?" in Kids Club now growing into teenagers committed to ministry careers. We hear about creative outreaches through art, dance, music, and basketball that provide multiple entry points for neighborhood youth to experience Christ's love. Most powerfully, she recounts how consistent relationship changed the life of a mother who moved from atheism to faith through the ministry's faithful presence during her family's darkest moments.
What makes Neighborhood Life House extraordinary isn't elaborate programs or substantial resources – it's the power of showing up consistently in a place many overlook, believing that small acts of faithfulness yield harvests "thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown." This conversation will challenge and inspire you to consider how your own "yes" might transform the lives of those just beyond your doorstep.
Ready to support this vital kingdom work? Visit neighborhoodlifehouse.org to learn how you can volunteer, donate, or pray for this ministry cultivating gospel presence in North Joplin.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kim McIntire (00:08):
Hey everyone, welcome to the it's Time to Rise
Up podcast.
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give us a review on ApplePodcast.
Welcome to the episode today.
Today I'm so excited to haveAddie Jarrett in the studio.
(00:53):
Welcome, addie.
Thank you so much for having me.
You're so welcome.
Addie is the executive directorof a nonprofit ministry in
Joplin called the NeighborhoodLife House.
It's doing a great work in thecommunity of Joplin and she's
here to tell us more about whatthe Lord is doing in that place.
But first I would love for youjust to introduce yourself and
(01:17):
tell our listeners a littleabout who you are.
Addie Jarrett (01:19):
Yeah, so my name is Addie, and Joplin area has
been my home for my whole lifeand so I have been a part of
Christ Church of Oronogo forabout 32 years now, and that's
my church family and was raisedin the church.
(01:40):
I joke and say I was a Buickbrought up in church kid.
I joke and say I was a Buickbrought up in church kid.
I love that and I'm just reallygrateful for my family pointing
me to the goodness of our Godand showing me what it looks
like to serve His kingdom in andthrough His name and with His
Spirit at work in and through us.
(02:00):
And I'm grateful for theopportunities to have been able
to serve the kingdom at a youngage as well, and just mentors
and spirit-filled leaders whohelped and encouraged me along
the way to step into ministryroles later in life as well.
And so I was raised up in thechurch, felt the call to go to
(02:26):
Ozark Christian College to studythe Bible and to study what
(02:50):
ministry could look like and howto serve the church His church
as best as we can.
And then, after I graduated, Ifelt the call to step into
ministry outside of a churchcapacity, so I started at
(03:10):
Neighborhood Lifehouse almostnine years ago this summer and
that's amazing About a year anda half after I started there I
met my now husband and throughour church Bible study group and
that's a funny story in itself,but we were in the same group
of about 12 young adults andbecame really good friends and
(03:36):
studied the Bible alongside ofeach other through that group
and then fell in love and gotmarried about a year later.
And so now we have atwo-year-old daughter named Andy
Grace, and she keeps us busy,but we see joy personified in
her and we know that she'salready shining His light and
(03:59):
going to bring a lot of peopleto know His goodness and serve
His kingdom.
Because of her story and howshe came into our family, we
know God has good, good plansfor her, absolutely.
Kim McIntire (04:12):
I fully agree.
I got to meet your sweet littlegirl what a couple months ago.
Yeah, she's just beautiful andshe looks like she's full of joy
.
Yes, two years old and full ofthe joy of Jesus.
What a gift.
She's full of joy.
Yes, two years old and full ofthe joy of Jesus.
What a gift.
Well, I'm excited to hear allabout what's happening at
Neighborhood Lifehouse, butfirst let's just talk about the
(04:34):
beginnings.
Addie Jarrett (04:35):
Yeah, how did Neighborhood Lifehouse come to
be, and I know you probably havea lot to share about this as
well, because you were a part ofthe leadership team and service
team before I came on board.
But it's just cool to see howGod has worked through that
building Like.
(04:56):
It is a very old building andit has been a place where
ministry has happened for over70 years, and so just thinking
about the legacy of faith andthe kingdom workers who were
serving in that building evenbefore Lifehouse became a
(05:18):
ministry 16 years ago in 2009,is just really really amazing to
think about.
Ago in 2009 is just reallyreally amazing to think about.
And if those walls could talk,I know there would be so many
countless stories of peoplecoming to know the Lord and
being encouraged to step intoministry and step into their
God-given calling.
(05:40):
It was a house built in 1871.
It was a house built in 1871.
And I know that after that itwas Ozark Bible College in the
1940s through 1960, early 60s,and my grandma went to Bible
College there, and so she toldme where her dorm room was, and
(06:00):
so it was in one of the atticspaces, so I got to go up and
see where my grandma had herdorm room with a couple of her
gal friends and saw some of herdesks that she might have sat at
when she was studying Hebrewsand Old Testament scriptures,
and so just really cool that Godbrought me to a ministry where
(06:22):
my grandma was studyingscripture and studying going
into ministry so many yearsbefore.
Talk about legacy yeah, it'sjust really, really amazing to
think about all the people whowalked through those doors and
the ripple impact that they havemade for the kingdom Sure.
And then after that it was NorthJoplin Christian Church and I
(06:47):
hear still about from neighborswho some of our older neighbors
who went to VBS and were part ofsome kids programs at that
church and just the legacy thatthat church and the impact that
that church has had on theneighborhood.
I can still see the impact now,absolutely, and even so many
(07:08):
years later, absolutely.
In 2008, they were just facedwith closing the church's doors.
They didn't have as much newgrowth and then they approached
Jay St Clair and some otherpeople and said, if we gave this
building for $10, could you allpray about what ministry could
(07:33):
look like and how to serve theneighborhood and continue
bringing the gospel into thisneighborhood that's often
overlooked, neighborhood that'soften overlooked, and so I don't
know how long ago you gotinvolved, but I would love to
hear some from you on that tooWell, I know after they went to
(07:53):
Jay and I believe CollegeHeights leadership Jay, I
remember just in a service atCollege Heights said if you have
a heart to see God do somethingin this building, come and pray
.
Kim McIntire (08:08):
And I'm pretty sure it was a Sunday night and
when my husband and I got therewe were shocked.
I mean there were carseverywhere.
Addie Jarrett (08:17):
I think over 200 people showed up.
Kim McIntire (08:19):
We got into the sanctuary and I'm sure at least
200 there to pray on a Sundaynight, with a last-minute
invitation, and I knew I wasteaching in a school that at
that time was located just a fewblocks away and I'd been
praying about Lord.
How do I just share the love ofChrist openly in my classroom,
(08:45):
in the public school classroom?
I really just want to preachthe gospel to these kids.
You know, and I did indifferent kinds of ways, but I
knew that in that moment,somehow this is going to be
connected to teaching andpreaching the gospel to kids
that may not ever hear itotherwise.
Yeah, and that is what happened.
(09:07):
And so shortly after that, wehad a cleanup day.
You weren't on staff yet Walkedto the neighborhood praying,
went in groups praying, justwalking through the blocks.
You know, walking around theblocks, walking around the
school, saying God, what do youwant to do with this building?
Who do you want to bring?
(09:27):
Our answer is yes, and so itwasn't too long after that, jay
invited my husband and I to beon the board, and then
programming began and they hireda director At that time it was
Katie Hargrove and I startedvolunteering at a Tuesday after
school program called Kids Club,which I believe is still going
(09:49):
today.
Yeah, for sure, I served in thatcapacity for, I believe, 12
years and seasons change, but myheart for that ministry hasn't
changed.
I love the ministry that you'redoing, and so what I believe is
, I believe that there are goingto be listeners who are tuning
(10:10):
in, who are prayer warriors, whoare maybe looking for a place
to volunteer, a place to investin the kingdom financially, and
so that's what I'm excited forthem to hear from you what's
taking place in this facility inNorth Joplin.
(10:31):
And so why don't you just talka little bit about?
You know, when I startedvolunteering, we had a Tuesday
Kids Club.
That was the primary ministry.
Yeah, volunteering, we had aTuesday Kids Club, that was the
primary ministry, and then itjust it seemed like every other
year we would add another day ofministry or a event you know,
through different seasons.
So this is your time to justtalk about, like, what is
(10:57):
happening Monday throughSaturday and even Sunday.
I know there's some big thingshappening on Sundays at
Neighborhood Lifehouse.
Addie Jarrett (11:04):
Yeah, I love that Kids Club is the program that
kicked off Lifehouse in 2009.
And that is still a program thatwe have.
And I know when Jay was sittingon the porch praying about what
it could look like and prayingfor God to give him a vision of
(11:25):
what ministry could be, he wasseeing kids running around the
street playing without any adultsupervision, and that's what
started that stir.
To what if we did something forsome students and kids to
provide a safe place for them tobe after school where they
(11:45):
could come and eat and have aBible lesson and have adults
that are asking about their dayand praying with them and
pouring the love of Jesus intothem?
And I know that College HeightsChristian School, which is now
New Heights Christian Academy,but College Heights Christian
School, which is now New HeightsChristian Academy sent us a
group of high school studentsbefore spring break that's
(12:07):
Missions Week and they did a VBSand that was in 2008.
And this is what's crazy to meWithout Lifehouse being an
established ministry, 30 kidsshowed up without even knowing
what this ministry was about,and so they had that VBS and
(12:29):
then kicked off Kids Club thatnext fall, after the ministry
was established as a nonprofitand I just love that.
That's a continued program thatwe have.
And then New Heights ChristianAcademy still sends a group
every missions week right beforespring break and I love that
(12:51):
God has woven those details ofthose continued things that
first started.
You know the programs and theministry and that's something
that we still do.
I love that, almost 16 yearslater.
So we've been able to not onlyhave elementary programs but
we've been able to add middleschool and high school programs
(13:15):
and I know you were a part ofthe middle school group for a
while with the kids that you sawgrow up in the elementary
programs.
So we have a Bible study groupon Mondays for them and we split
up with mentors and they have aBible lesson and small group
material that they go throughand they keep the same small
groups for the whole year sothose connections are built,
(13:38):
they can follow up with waysthat they can pray for one
another.
They really know what's goingon in the students' lives and
then we have a meal with them.
About 85% of our neighborhoodthey're not connected to a local
church, so we bring Biblelessons and scripture into all
of the programs that we provideand almost 80% of our
(14:02):
neighborhood struggles with foodinsecurity.
So we provide a couple dinnersa week with our students and
snack bags and provide differentways like snacks with all our
programs so that we're helpingwith this physical need that is
so prevalent in our neighborhood.
(14:23):
And on Tuesday we've got KidsClub, which is the elementary
Bible club.
We've got a Bible lesson andgames that connect with the
lesson and small groups and thenwe serve them dinner on Tuesday
nights.
And then later on Tuesdaynights we have a group of Ozark
Christian College students whocome play basketball on our
(14:43):
basketball court outside toconnect with some of the youth
in the neighborhood who mightnot be coming to the other
programs.
So it's a really good entrylevel point that they can get to
know some of our leaders andthey pray over them and they
have like a quick five minutedevo and then they play
basketball for an hour.
So it's just a really easy wayfor those students who might not
(15:06):
feel comfortable fully cominginto our building yet they can
make some good gospel centeredconnections with mentors who are
consistent and praying overthem and loving them well.
And then Wednesdays we'regetting ready to start another
gymnastics class.
We had one last year where wewent to Helix Gym in Joplin,
(15:29):
which is a Christ-centeredgymnastics club and gym, and
able to have a class with that.
We're also right now working ondoing some fundraisers with our
middle school and high schoolstudents so they can go to
church camp over the summer.
So a lot of the organizationwe're doing on Wednesdays after
school with them.
(15:50):
And then we also have an artclass called Imago Dei, which
means Image of God Art Class,and that's for elementary kids
class and that's for elementarykids, so they have a Bible
lesson that goes along with afun and messy art project or
something that can remind themthat we're created in God's
image.
He makes masterpieces, notmistakes, and that since they're
(16:14):
created in His image, they cancreate beautiful things too, and
so that's something that we'vedone on Wednesdays as well.
And then Thursdays we have amusic class.
We've got a little youth gospelchoir and they sing some
worship songs together and alsolearn how to play some
instruments and some of thefundamental music stuff too.
(16:36):
And then we've got a Daughtersof the King dance class where
they come and we pray over them.
We have, we read some scriptureand then they get to learn some
fundamentals of ballet and someother fun dance stuff too.
I love that and we sometimesthroughout the year we have some
(16:56):
neighborhood outreach eventsand to connect with more
neighbors and just to show thelove of Jesus in our
neighborhood.
Kim McIntire (17:04):
It's amazing when do you draw your volunteer base
from?
Where would you say you mostlydraw those willing people?
Addie Jarrett (17:13):
Anywhere and everywhere.
But most of our volunteersbecause it's after school and
people's work schedules aretricky to navigate that with
Most of our program volunteersare from Ozark Christian College
we're just like a coupleminutes away.
But we also have a lot ofvolunteers who will come with
(17:33):
their small groups and maybeserve one of our dinners that we
provide the two a week.
They might commit to doing thatonce or twice or maybe every
second Tuesday of the month, soit's not as much of a time
commitment if it's hard to workwith their schedule and it's
only like about 30 to 45 minutesof serving a meal with our kids
(17:56):
.
But we also have some that comeand our building is old and
there's always repairs that areneeded and projects that need to
be tackled and yard work andcleaning.
So sometimes we have smallgroups will come serve or a
youth group that will come serveand tackle some of those, those
projects together for a serveday.
(18:17):
So those are all kinds ofdifferent ways that they can
serve.
Some of our other volunteerswill, just if they can't.
We have a few who can't servelike on a regular basis with our
programs but they want to beinvolved and so they, when they
can.
They just drive around theneighborhood, or walk around the
neighborhood, depending on theweather, and just pray.
(18:39):
Pray over the houses and ourstudents' houses and over the
neighborhood.
And that is the most importantway we can serve is through our
prayers.
It's the most powerful thing wecan do, it's true, and so we're
just grateful for all ourprayer partners who are, you
know, going to the Lord on theministry's behalf and on the
(19:01):
behalf of our students andneighbors.
It's so good Addie.
Kim McIntire (19:05):
Yeah, it was born with prayer.
It was born from prayer.
I should say I still rememberthose prayer walks and standing
on those steps at the front doorjust listening to Jay read some
scripture and send us out andthe fruit is being born now
right.
Like God's doing that and wow,I just am blown away that it's
(19:27):
been 12 years, 12 years, right.
Addie Jarrett (19:30):
No, it's almost 16.
Oh, my word, I know Sorry.
No, you were 12 years.
Kim McIntire (19:36):
I was there 12 years.
Yes, thank you for correcting me16 years of ministry there 12
years yes, thank you forcorrecting me 16 years of
ministry Coming up on, yeah,almost to the 20-year
anniversary mark.
Oh, wow, yeah, that'sincredible.
Okay, that's amazing.
Well, I know that with thiskind of ministry there are many
joys and also some struggles, soI feel like I've witnessed some
(20:02):
of your joys.
I've been there for somebaptisms, some Christmas
services, and I think those arethe times when you see more
parents come in.
Families are there present towitness either the Christmas
program or the baptism of theirchild.
That has to be one of yourgreatest joys, am I right?
Addie Jarrett (20:23):
Yeah, absolutely.
For people that you've walkedwith, seeing them go all in for
Jesus and wanting to follow Himfor the rest of their life is
the most amazing thing that youcan see and be a small part of.
I mean, you know it's all theHoly Spirit's work, but being
(20:44):
able to witness that and see itfirsthand.
Yes, what other joys have youexperienced other than I mean?
Those are two that stand out tome.
I seeing students grow up inthe ministry has been beautiful
to see and seeing them step intotheir God-given calling.
(21:05):
We took 11 students to see howI move last summer and it's a
youth conference and out of the11, three made the decision to
step into vocational ministryand kingdom work.
And one of them that I haveknown since she was fifth grade,
(21:40):
is about to disciple.
He is calling them to bedisciples makers.
And just knowing that, you knowthat analogy of like an acorn
being planted and it's not justgoing to produce one tree,
that's right, but so many moretrees and you think about the
legacy and the kingdom impactthat these students are going to
(22:03):
have in their families andchanging the trajectory of those
life cycles and those familychains being broken, and
thinking about what God is goingto do through these students.
Kim McIntire (22:20):
Yeah, that neighborhood.
I feel that you large, thelargest majority of that
neighborhood that receivesministry from Neighborhood Life
House is high poverty.
Not every family, but many arehigh poverty.
A lot of them are single familyhomes, single parent homes
rather Some multiple familiesliving in one unit, Some kids
(22:45):
going home because parents areat work.
So I think about how, when Ifirst started serving, how many
kids actually didn't know aboutJesus?
I remember doing a Christmascraft, like the very first year
in kids club, and a little girlsaying who's Jesus, and it just
(23:07):
struck me like there are kids.
Actually it was Thanksgiving,we were drawing our hands and
every finger represented youknow.
We traced our hand to make aturkey and every finger
represented something we werethankful for and Jesus was on
the first finger and the littlegirl said who's Jesus?
And I was like she's going toknow who Jesus is because of
(23:29):
LifeHouse.
Addie Jarrett (23:30):
It's incredible, and when you think of us being
in the Bible Belt and there's somany churches in our area, for
85% not to be connected to achurch.
It's a huge number.
It's huge and a lot of thesestudents, like you said, are
learning these Bible lessons forthe first time and hearing the
(23:52):
hope of the gospel for the firsttime in our backyard, yeah,
yeah, because people are willingto say yes, yeah.
Kim McIntire (23:57):
Or pray or send a check, or serve a meal, yeah.
Or read the Bible, mm-hmm.
Or play a game with a kid, orshoot hoops, mm-hmm.
Really, the gospel goes forthbecause of yes, mm-hmm.
And so what an incredible,incredible opportunity in the
backyard, yeah, in the backyard.
What are some of the strugglesthat you face, addie?
(24:19):
Maybe as a leader, but alsojust as a ministry?
Addie Jarrett (24:23):
What are, like, some of the hard things, mm-hmm,
seeing the darkness in theneighborhood and the spiritual
warfare going on, especiallywith some of our students who
have made big decisions tofollow Jesus and big decisions.
To have made big decisions tofollow Jesus and big decisions
to, you know, follow Him andlead others to Him, and seeing
(24:52):
them come under spiritual attackis heavy.
And so we're, you know, justcontinuing to pray that that
does not keep them from knowingthat God is good or try to take
them away from his plan for themand his calling on their lives,
and that you know we want thegospel to be on full display in
(25:18):
all the things that we do, inevery single detail, whether the
neighborhood's pretty transientfamilies in and out.
So, if they're here with us forseveral years or even if it's
just a short amount of time, wewant them to know that God is
with them, god is for them, godsees them, he loves them, he
(25:40):
knows them and he's calling theminto relationship with Him.
So, just, you know, loving themand pointing them to Him, no
matter how long they're with us.
And I know, like we had a coupleweeks ago, we had a couple
students who had just moved intothe neighborhood over Christmas
(26:00):
break and they got connected toour ministry and you could just
see the glow on their faces asthey were hearing these Bible
lessons and learning memoryverses over the past couple
months and just a couple ofweeks ago they had to move
across town and you don't thinkSouth Joplin is that much
(26:21):
farther but that means that theycan't get off the bus and come
to programs and they, you know,can't meet with their mentors
and their small group leaders,who are praying with them and
praying over them every week.
And so things like that,knowing that we are living open
(26:42):
handed and knowing that Godloves these students more than
we ever could, and he's got themand he is going to take good
care of them, and he is going toremind them and sustain them
and remind them that he is withthem, that's right, even if
we're not with them, that'sright.
So just trusting that— it's atrust journey, yeah.
Kim McIntire (27:03):
For sure, yeah, because you're not always
guaranteed to have.
You have had a lot of retention, though, and it's amazing to me
how many kids you know startedattending, like kindergarten age
, who now are in high school orgetting ready to enter into
college, and just that you'vebeen able to see the journey
(27:24):
from start to finish, and a lotof their maybe not very start,
but a lot of them start, youknow, elementary and then
elementary to middle school,into high school.
Yeah and wow, what an impact.
Addie Jarrett (27:41):
I just think, impact.
Kim McIntire (27:42):
The impact is you can't even speak to what it is
because we'll know in eternity,right the impact of a yes.
So do you feel like thefamilies are pretty supportive
of Neighborhood Lifehouse beingthere?
Do you feel that feedback fromthem?
Addie Jarrett (27:58):
I do, and we have been able to connect more with
the parents and there's a lot ofmamas in our neighborhood and
we've done things like momappreciation night where they
could come and we fed them ayummy meal and had a spa kind of
set up in our area where we hadhairdressers and a massage
(28:22):
artist, a massage person whocould rub their shoulders and
give them a facial and all thesethings that were letting them
know that we love them and wewere able to share scripture
with them and let them know thatthey are daughters of God and
they're loved and we are comingalongside them.
In this journey of being a mamaand doing things like that and
(28:44):
having baby showers for some ofour moms and just loving them in
tangible ways and building upthat trust over years have
helped us be able to make moreconnections with them and, you
know, be able to come alongsidethem as well.
With them and you know, be ableto come alongside them as well
For sure, not just their kidsand be able to point them to
(29:08):
Jesus too.
We had a mom several years agowho when I first started she
would have said she was anatheist and I, over time, you
know, build up that trust wouldconnect with her.
You know, wanted to be herfriend.
You know I felt like God wasputting her in my heart to be
(29:28):
her friend.
And four years ago, after herfamily was hit with some deep
grief and tragedy, lifehouse wasthere.
We were the ones.
They were her first calls andshowing up and meeting her and
her family where they were at inthat moment, God opened the
(29:49):
doors for more gospelconversations to be had, and
only God can do something likethat and her heart was softened
to His Spirit leading in thatmoment, to his spirit leading in
that moment.
And now she tells, like a fewyears later, she tells me she's
(30:11):
praying for me and loves Jesusand wants to serve him.
And when we were bringing ourdaughter home during our
adoption journey, she was theone who was writing prayer cards
and scripture.
And so that is just reallysweet too, because, as you think
about, we were helping her kidsknow the gospel and now she is
(30:35):
in turn helping my daughter knowthe gospel.
It's just really cool to seehow God works in that and how
the Holy Spirit leads us andbrings us into relationship with
our.
Father, so true.
Kim McIntire (30:53):
Well, I was really grateful that you sent an
invitation my way for a babyshower on a very icy day in
January or February, I think.
Yes, yeah, I can't remember ifit was January or February, but
a little one that I had in thirdgrade was having her first baby
.
Yeah, and you hosted a babyshower and I just think you know
, maybe her little one will beat Lifehouse in the future.
(31:16):
You know, I mean, it's just, Ibelieve that's going to happen
For the families who have stayed.
There have been some consistentfamilies who haven't left the
neighborhood and I think theimpact is going to be
significant.
So I'm so thankful for yousharing that.
Addie, I wanted to also talkabout what happens there on
Sunday.
Addie Jarrett (31:36):
Oh yeah, and Saturday night we have.
There's a church plant thatcurrently rents our space on
Saturdays.
Saturday night is just a bettertime for a lot of our neighbors
who might be working on Sundays.
So they have kicked off almosta year ago It'll be a year in
(31:57):
late May a Saturday nightservice in the Lifehouse
building so that a lot of ourneighbors who might not have
reliable transportation or mightnot be comfortable stepping
into one of our church buildings, has a space that's close to
their house.
That is a place that they'refamiliar with and comfortable
(32:19):
with and can connect to a faithcommunity that loves Jesus.
That's even outside ofLifeHouse, so there's more
kingdom workers and people wholove Jesus coming alongside more
of our neighbors.
Kim McIntire (32:34):
What time does that service start?
It is at 630.
630 on Saturday evenings, okay,and is it called Connect?
Yeah, connect Christian Church.
Connect Christian Church.
That's awesome.
So how are some ways ourlisteners could be praying for
your ministry at NeighborhoodLife House?
Addie Jarrett (32:52):
Yeah, I mentioned before that the gospel is just
so front and center of all thethings that we do whether that
be an event or, you know,programs throughout the week, or
you know, hanging out with afamily on the playground or the
basketball court that, no matterwho is on our grounds, they
(33:13):
know this is all about Jesus andfor Jesus and that they are
welcomed in to have a seat athis table.
And just that God continues tobring more neighbors to know him
through this ministry and thatwe will be obedient to whatever
(33:35):
he calls us to do and how,whatever programs or events that
he desires for this ministry tocarry out, for us to be able to
continue to make those gospelconnections with more of our
neighbors.
For sure, and I know he has setsome vision on our hearts.
(33:56):
As a board we meet every yearfor a vision casting meeting
where we spend a lot of time inprayer over the next year to
five years, and he's pressed onour hearts some dreams and goals
over the next five years withsome different things that we
feel him leading us to do, andso just continued vision and
(34:20):
direction from the Holy Spiritto do what he's calling us to do
.
Kim McIntire (34:26):
It's amazing what he's done in 16 years.
I can't wait to see whathappens in the next 16.
Addie Jarrett (34:31):
I'm excited we are about to finish up a kitchen
remodel.
We didn't have a usable kitchenspace and a house.
You know a lot of kids call alife house home and a home needs
a kitchen.
So, and with us providing mealsa couple of times a week and
having neighborhood events, youknow we need to have a kitchen
(34:53):
space, and a lot of our studentsare in high school or middle
school and a lot of them mightbe taking care of their dinners
at home or younger siblings, andso we are excited to be able to
, over the summer, start somenutrition and budget-friendly
meal prep classes with ourmiddle school high school
(35:18):
students and help them as theyget ready to launch into
adulthood.
And help them as they get readyto launch into adulthood, while
ultimately pointing them to thegoodness of Jesus through
providing meals and helping themknow how to do that.
Yeah.
Kim McIntire (35:32):
How many people don't have the lifestyle of
cooking?
I mean, really, that's prettyimportant that they have that
knowledge and learn about Jesuswhile they're doing it.
So two for one Feed yourspirits, feed your body.
That's so good.
Well, how can people find outmore about the ministry?
(35:54):
Do you have a website?
Addie Jarrett (35:57):
Yeah, we have a website and you can look it up
neighborhoodlifehouseorg.
Or we also have a Facebook page, neighborhood Lifehouse, and
Instagram is the same as that,so you can follow us on social
media and connect to us throughour website.
Also, there's a Lifehouse phonenumber if you want to call and
(36:21):
get more information, or maybecome visit and take a tour of
the building and see itfirsthand, if you're local, and
get connected in that way too.
Kim McIntire (36:33):
Yes, it's a historic building, so it has
some pretty cool architecture.
For anyone who's interested inhistoric buildings, it would be
a beautiful tour for you to take.
So well, thank you so much,addie, for being here.
It's been a blessing to hearyour heart.
I'm excited for what's in thefuture for the Neighborhood Life
House.
I'd just like to close us inprayer over your ministry, okay.
Addie Jarrett (36:57):
Yeah, it was so good to be here.
Thank you so much, Kim.
Kim McIntire (36:59):
You are so welcome .
It's so good to visit again too.
Father, God, we just thank youfor what you have done in the
Neighborhood Lifehouse Ministryand, God, we are believing that
your Holy Spirit is doing amighty work in the hearts of
students and volunteers andfamilies that make up this
(37:24):
ministry.
God, we ask that you continueto do a work of just planting
the gospel in these hearts.
God, that these seeds would beplanted, they would be watered
and grown by your Spirit andthey would produce a harvest 30,
60, 100 times what was sown.
God, may the hearts of thesestudents be the hearts of good
(37:45):
soil.
We pray also, God, that peoplewho enter feel welcomed in that
they have a seat at the table atthis ministry.
God, we pray, God, for thefuture vision of Neighborhood
Life House, that it wouldcontinue to minister Lord to the
families and the children inthat area.
And also, God, we just praythat your name would continue to
(38:08):
be glorified and magnifiedthrough this ministry.
We thank you for everythingyou've done, God.
We thank you for what you aredoing right now and what you
have yet to do in the future.
So, God, just continueincreasing the vision that your
hand of blessing would be uponit your hand of favor, God, that
(38:31):
many would come to know Jesusbecause people said yes to the
call.
Pray your blessings over Addie,her husband and her child, and
protection, Lord, and protectionover that neighborhood and
every life that represents thisministry.
God, guide their board in theirdecisions.
(38:53):
God, we just pray for wisdomand direction and counsel from
your Holy Spirit.
We thank you again, God, forall that you've done, and we ask
these things in the holy andbeautiful name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank you again for being hereand thank you, listeners, for
joining us for this episode.
(39:14):
Just a quick reminder that theRise Up Conference in 2025 will
be held August 1st and 2nd atthe Keter Center near Branson,
Missouri.
All the information aboutconference is found on our
website at itstimetoriseuporg.
I'm very excited to share thatwe have a discount promo code
(39:35):
just for podcast listeners, souse podcast 15 when you sign up
and get a discounted rate onyour conference registration.
I'm looking forward to meetingyou all at conference this year.
Once again, you can find us onour socials at Facebook or
Instagram at the officialunderscore rise underscore up.
(39:55):
May God's grace and peace bewith you all.
Hey everyone, welcome to the it's Time to Rise
Up podcast.
I'm your host, kim McIntyre.
We know there are so manythings you can do with your time
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Thank you for choosing to spendyour time listening today.
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We would humbly ask you tosubscribe, leave a comment or
give us a review on ApplePodcast.
Welcome to the episode today.
Today I'm so excited to haveAddie Jarrett in the studio.
(00:53):
Welcome, addie.
Thank you so much for having me.
You're so welcome.
Addie is the executive directorof a nonprofit ministry in
Joplin called the NeighborhoodLife House.
It's doing a great work in thecommunity of Joplin and she's
here to tell us more about whatthe Lord is doing in that place.
But first I would love for youjust to introduce yourself and
(01:17):
tell our listeners a littleabout who you are.
Addie Jarrett (01:19):
Yeah, so my name is Addie, and Joplin area has
been my home for my whole lifeand so I have been a part of
Christ Church of Oronogo forabout 32 years now, and that's
my church family and was raisedin the church.
(01:40):
I joke and say I was a Buickbrought up in church kid.
I joke and say I was a Buickbrought up in church kid.
I love that and I'm just reallygrateful for my family pointing
me to the goodness of our Godand showing me what it looks
like to serve His kingdom in andthrough His name and with His
Spirit at work in and through us.
(02:00):
And I'm grateful for theopportunities to have been able
to serve the kingdom at a youngage as well, and just mentors
and spirit-filled leaders whohelped and encouraged me along
the way to step into ministryroles later in life as well.
And so I was raised up in thechurch, felt the call to go to
(02:26):
Ozark Christian College to studythe Bible and to study what
(02:50):
ministry could look like and howto serve the church His church
as best as we can.
And then, after I graduated, Ifelt the call to step into
ministry outside of a churchcapacity, so I started at
(03:10):
Neighborhood Lifehouse almostnine years ago this summer and
that's amazing About a year anda half after I started there I
met my now husband and throughour church Bible study group and
that's a funny story in itself,but we were in the same group
of about 12 young adults andbecame really good friends and
(03:36):
studied the Bible alongside ofeach other through that group
and then fell in love and gotmarried about a year later.
And so now we have atwo-year-old daughter named Andy
Grace, and she keeps us busy,but we see joy personified in
her and we know that she'salready shining His light and
(03:59):
going to bring a lot of peopleto know His goodness and serve
His kingdom.
Because of her story and howshe came into our family, we
know God has good, good plansfor her, absolutely.
Kim McIntire (04:12):
I fully agree.
I got to meet your sweet littlegirl what a couple months ago.
Yeah, she's just beautiful andshe looks like she's full of joy
.
Yes, two years old and full ofthe joy of Jesus.
What a gift.
She's full of joy.
Yes, two years old and full ofthe joy of Jesus.
What a gift.
Well, I'm excited to hear allabout what's happening at
Neighborhood Lifehouse, butfirst let's just talk about the
(04:34):
beginnings.
Addie Jarrett (04:35):
Yeah, how did Neighborhood Lifehouse come to
be, and I know you probably havea lot to share about this as
well, because you were a part ofthe leadership team and service
team before I came on board.
But it's just cool to see howGod has worked through that
building Like.
(04:56):
It is a very old building andit has been a place where
ministry has happened for over70 years, and so just thinking
about the legacy of faith andthe kingdom workers who were
serving in that building evenbefore Lifehouse became a
(05:18):
ministry 16 years ago in 2009,is just really really amazing to
think about.
Ago in 2009 is just reallyreally amazing to think about.
And if those walls could talk,I know there would be so many
countless stories of peoplecoming to know the Lord and
being encouraged to step intoministry and step into their
God-given calling.
(05:40):
It was a house built in 1871.
It was a house built in 1871.
And I know that after that itwas Ozark Bible College in the
1940s through 1960, early 60s,and my grandma went to Bible
College there, and so she toldme where her dorm room was, and
(06:00):
so it was in one of the atticspaces, so I got to go up and
see where my grandma had herdorm room with a couple of her
gal friends and saw some of herdesks that she might have sat at
when she was studying Hebrewsand Old Testament scriptures,
and so just really cool that Godbrought me to a ministry where
(06:22):
my grandma was studyingscripture and studying going
into ministry so many yearsbefore.
Talk about legacy yeah, it'sjust really, really amazing to
think about all the people whowalked through those doors and
the ripple impact that they havemade for the kingdom Sure.
And then after that it was NorthJoplin Christian Church and I
(06:47):
hear still about from neighborswho some of our older neighbors
who went to VBS and were part ofsome kids programs at that
church and just the legacy thatthat church and the impact that
that church has had on theneighborhood.
I can still see the impact now,absolutely, and even so many
(07:08):
years later, absolutely.
In 2008, they were just facedwith closing the church's doors.
They didn't have as much newgrowth and then they approached
Jay St Clair and some otherpeople and said, if we gave this
building for $10, could you allpray about what ministry could
(07:33):
look like and how to serve theneighborhood and continue
bringing the gospel into thisneighborhood that's often
overlooked, neighborhood that'soften overlooked, and so I don't
know how long ago you gotinvolved, but I would love to
hear some from you on that tooWell, I know after they went to
(07:53):
Jay and I believe CollegeHeights leadership Jay, I
remember just in a service atCollege Heights said if you have
a heart to see God do somethingin this building, come and pray
.
Kim McIntire (08:08):
And I'm pretty sure it was a Sunday night and
when my husband and I got therewe were shocked.
I mean there were carseverywhere.
Addie Jarrett (08:17):
I think over 200 people showed up.
Kim McIntire (08:19):
We got into the sanctuary and I'm sure at least
200 there to pray on a Sundaynight, with a last-minute
invitation, and I knew I wasteaching in a school that at
that time was located just a fewblocks away and I'd been
praying about Lord.
How do I just share the love ofChrist openly in my classroom,
(08:45):
in the public school classroom?
I really just want to preachthe gospel to these kids.
You know, and I did indifferent kinds of ways, but I
knew that in that moment,somehow this is going to be
connected to teaching andpreaching the gospel to kids
that may not ever hear itotherwise.
Yeah, and that is what happened.
(09:07):
And so shortly after that, wehad a cleanup day.
You weren't on staff yet Walkedto the neighborhood praying,
went in groups praying, justwalking through the blocks.
You know, walking around theblocks, walking around the
school, saying God, what do youwant to do with this building?
Who do you want to bring?
(09:27):
Our answer is yes, and so itwasn't too long after that, jay
invited my husband and I to beon the board, and then
programming began and they hireda director At that time it was
Katie Hargrove and I startedvolunteering at a Tuesday after
school program called Kids Club,which I believe is still going
(09:49):
today.
Yeah, for sure, I served in thatcapacity for, I believe, 12
years and seasons change, but myheart for that ministry hasn't
changed.
I love the ministry that you'redoing, and so what I believe is
, I believe that there are goingto be listeners who are tuning
(10:10):
in, who are prayer warriors, whoare maybe looking for a place
to volunteer, a place to investin the kingdom financially, and
so that's what I'm excited forthem to hear from you what's
taking place in this facility inNorth Joplin.
(10:31):
And so why don't you just talka little bit about?
You know, when I startedvolunteering, we had a Tuesday
Kids Club.
That was the primary ministry.
Yeah, volunteering, we had aTuesday Kids Club, that was the
primary ministry, and then itjust it seemed like every other
year we would add another day ofministry or a event you know,
through different seasons.
So this is your time to justtalk about, like, what is
(10:57):
happening Monday throughSaturday and even Sunday.
I know there's some big thingshappening on Sundays at
Neighborhood Lifehouse.
Addie Jarrett (11:04):
Yeah, I love that Kids Club is the program that
kicked off Lifehouse in 2009.
And that is still a program thatwe have.
And I know when Jay was sittingon the porch praying about what
it could look like and prayingfor God to give him a vision of
(11:25):
what ministry could be, he wasseeing kids running around the
street playing without any adultsupervision, and that's what
started that stir.
To what if we did something forsome students and kids to
provide a safe place for them tobe after school where they
(11:45):
could come and eat and have aBible lesson and have adults
that are asking about their dayand praying with them and
pouring the love of Jesus intothem?
And I know that College HeightsChristian School, which is now
New Heights Christian Academy,but College Heights Christian
School, which is now New HeightsChristian Academy sent us a
group of high school studentsbefore spring break that's
(12:07):
Missions Week and they did a VBSand that was in 2008.
And this is what's crazy to meWithout Lifehouse being an
established ministry, 30 kidsshowed up without even knowing
what this ministry was about,and so they had that VBS and
(12:29):
then kicked off Kids Club thatnext fall, after the ministry
was established as a nonprofitand I just love that.
That's a continued program thatwe have.
And then New Heights ChristianAcademy still sends a group
every missions week right beforespring break and I love that
(12:51):
God has woven those details ofthose continued things that
first started.
You know the programs and theministry and that's something
that we still do.
I love that, almost 16 yearslater.
So we've been able to not onlyhave elementary programs but
we've been able to add middleschool and high school programs
(13:15):
and I know you were a part ofthe middle school group for a
while with the kids that you sawgrow up in the elementary
programs.
So we have a Bible study groupon Mondays for them and we split
up with mentors and they have aBible lesson and small group
material that they go throughand they keep the same small
groups for the whole year sothose connections are built,
(13:38):
they can follow up with waysthat they can pray for one
another.
They really know what's goingon in the students' lives and
then we have a meal with them.
About 85% of our neighborhoodthey're not connected to a local
church, so we bring Biblelessons and scripture into all
of the programs that we provideand almost 80% of our
(14:02):
neighborhood struggles with foodinsecurity.
So we provide a couple dinnersa week with our students and
snack bags and provide differentways like snacks with all our
programs so that we're helpingwith this physical need that is
so prevalent in our neighborhood.
(14:23):
And on Tuesday we've got KidsClub, which is the elementary
Bible club.
We've got a Bible lesson andgames that connect with the
lesson and small groups and thenwe serve them dinner on Tuesday
nights.
And then later on Tuesdaynights we have a group of Ozark
Christian College students whocome play basketball on our
(14:43):
basketball court outside toconnect with some of the youth
in the neighborhood who mightnot be coming to the other
programs.
So it's a really good entrylevel point that they can get to
know some of our leaders andthey pray over them and they
have like a quick five minutedevo and then they play
basketball for an hour.
So it's just a really easy wayfor those students who might not
(15:06):
feel comfortable fully cominginto our building yet they can
make some good gospel centeredconnections with mentors who are
consistent and praying overthem and loving them well.
And then Wednesdays we'regetting ready to start another
gymnastics class.
We had one last year where wewent to Helix Gym in Joplin,
(15:29):
which is a Christ-centeredgymnastics club and gym, and
able to have a class with that.
We're also right now working ondoing some fundraisers with our
middle school and high schoolstudents so they can go to
church camp over the summer.
So a lot of the organizationwe're doing on Wednesdays after
school with them.
(15:50):
And then we also have an artclass called Imago Dei, which
means Image of God Art Class,and that's for elementary kids
class and that's for elementarykids, so they have a Bible
lesson that goes along with afun and messy art project or
something that can remind themthat we're created in God's
image.
He makes masterpieces, notmistakes, and that since they're
(16:14):
created in His image, they cancreate beautiful things too, and
so that's something that we'vedone on Wednesdays as well.
And then Thursdays we have amusic class.
We've got a little youth gospelchoir and they sing some
worship songs together and alsolearn how to play some
instruments and some of thefundamental music stuff too.
(16:36):
And then we've got a Daughtersof the King dance class where
they come and we pray over them.
We have, we read some scriptureand then they get to learn some
fundamentals of ballet and someother fun dance stuff too.
I love that and we sometimesthroughout the year we have some
(16:56):
neighborhood outreach eventsand to connect with more
neighbors and just to show thelove of Jesus in our
neighborhood.
Kim McIntire (17:04):
It's amazing when do you draw your volunteer base
from?
Where would you say you mostlydraw those willing people?
Addie Jarrett (17:13):
Anywhere and everywhere.
But most of our volunteersbecause it's after school and
people's work schedules aretricky to navigate that with
Most of our program volunteersare from Ozark Christian College
we're just like a coupleminutes away.
But we also have a lot ofvolunteers who will come with
(17:33):
their small groups and maybeserve one of our dinners that we
provide the two a week.
They might commit to doing thatonce or twice or maybe every
second Tuesday of the month, soit's not as much of a time
commitment if it's hard to workwith their schedule and it's
only like about 30 to 45 minutesof serving a meal with our kids
(17:56):
.
But we also have some that comeand our building is old and
there's always repairs that areneeded and projects that need to
be tackled and yard work andcleaning.
So sometimes we have smallgroups will come serve or a
youth group that will come serveand tackle some of those, those
projects together for a serveday.
(18:17):
So those are all kinds ofdifferent ways that they can
serve.
Some of our other volunteerswill, just if they can't.
We have a few who can't servelike on a regular basis with our
programs but they want to beinvolved and so they, when they
can.
They just drive around theneighborhood, or walk around the
neighborhood, depending on theweather, and just pray.
(18:39):
Pray over the houses and ourstudents' houses and over the
neighborhood.
And that is the most importantway we can serve is through our
prayers.
It's the most powerful thing wecan do, it's true, and so we're
just grateful for all ourprayer partners who are, you
know, going to the Lord on theministry's behalf and on the
(19:01):
behalf of our students andneighbors.
It's so good Addie.
Kim McIntire (19:05):
Yeah, it was born with prayer.
It was born from prayer.
I should say I still rememberthose prayer walks and standing
on those steps at the front doorjust listening to Jay read some
scripture and send us out andthe fruit is being born now
right.
Like God's doing that and wow,I just am blown away that it's
(19:27):
been 12 years, 12 years, right.
Addie Jarrett (19:30):
No, it's almost 16.
Oh, my word, I know Sorry.
No, you were 12 years.
Kim McIntire (19:36):
I was there 12 years.
Yes, thank you for correcting me16 years of ministry there 12
years yes, thank you forcorrecting me 16 years of
ministry Coming up on, yeah,almost to the 20-year
anniversary mark.
Oh, wow, yeah, that'sincredible.
Okay, that's amazing.
Well, I know that with thiskind of ministry there are many
joys and also some struggles, soI feel like I've witnessed some
(20:02):
of your joys.
I've been there for somebaptisms, some Christmas
services, and I think those arethe times when you see more
parents come in.
Families are there present towitness either the Christmas
program or the baptism of theirchild.
That has to be one of yourgreatest joys, am I right?
Addie Jarrett (20:23):
Yeah, absolutely.
For people that you've walkedwith, seeing them go all in for
Jesus and wanting to follow Himfor the rest of their life is
the most amazing thing that youcan see and be a small part of.
I mean, you know it's all theHoly Spirit's work, but being
(20:44):
able to witness that and see itfirsthand.
Yes, what other joys have youexperienced other than I mean?
Those are two that stand out tome.
I seeing students grow up inthe ministry has been beautiful
to see and seeing them step intotheir God-given calling.
(21:05):
We took 11 students to see howI move last summer and it's a
youth conference and out of the11, three made the decision to
step into vocational ministryand kingdom work.
And one of them that I haveknown since she was fifth grade,
(21:40):
is about to disciple.
He is calling them to bedisciples makers.
And just knowing that, you knowthat analogy of like an acorn
being planted and it's not justgoing to produce one tree,
that's right, but so many moretrees and you think about the
legacy and the kingdom impactthat these students are going to
(22:03):
have in their families andchanging the trajectory of those
life cycles and those familychains being broken, and
thinking about what God is goingto do through these students.
Kim McIntire (22:20):
Yeah, that neighborhood.
I feel that you large, thelargest majority of that
neighborhood that receivesministry from Neighborhood Life
House is high poverty.
Not every family, but many arehigh poverty.
A lot of them are single familyhomes, single parent homes
rather Some multiple familiesliving in one unit, Some kids
(22:45):
going home because parents areat work.
So I think about how, when Ifirst started serving, how many
kids actually didn't know aboutJesus?
I remember doing a Christmascraft, like the very first year
in kids club, and a little girlsaying who's Jesus, and it just
(23:07):
struck me like there are kids.
Actually it was Thanksgiving,we were drawing our hands and
every finger represented youknow.
We traced our hand to make aturkey and every finger
represented something we werethankful for and Jesus was on
the first finger and the littlegirl said who's Jesus?
And I was like she's going toknow who Jesus is because of
(23:29):
LifeHouse.
Addie Jarrett (23:30):
It's incredible, and when you think of us being
in the Bible Belt and there's somany churches in our area, for
85% not to be connected to achurch.
It's a huge number.
It's huge and a lot of thesestudents, like you said, are
learning these Bible lessons forthe first time and hearing the
(23:52):
hope of the gospel for the firsttime in our backyard, yeah,
yeah, because people are willingto say yes, yeah.
Kim McIntire (23:57):
Or pray or send a check, or serve a meal, yeah.
Or read the Bible, mm-hmm.
Or play a game with a kid, orshoot hoops, mm-hmm.
Really, the gospel goes forthbecause of yes, mm-hmm.
And so what an incredible,incredible opportunity in the
backyard, yeah, in the backyard.
What are some of the strugglesthat you face, addie?
(24:19):
Maybe as a leader, but alsojust as a ministry?
Addie Jarrett (24:23):
What are, like, some of the hard things, mm-hmm,
seeing the darkness in theneighborhood and the spiritual
warfare going on, especiallywith some of our students who
have made big decisions tofollow Jesus and big decisions.
To have made big decisions tofollow Jesus and big decisions
to, you know, follow Him andlead others to Him, and seeing
(24:52):
them come under spiritual attackis heavy.
And so we're, you know, justcontinuing to pray that that
does not keep them from knowingthat God is good or try to take
them away from his plan for themand his calling on their lives,
and that you know we want thegospel to be on full display in
(25:18):
all the things that we do, inevery single detail, whether the
neighborhood's pretty transientfamilies in and out.
So, if they're here with us forseveral years or even if it's
just a short amount of time, wewant them to know that God is
with them, god is for them, godsees them, he loves them, he
(25:40):
knows them and he's calling theminto relationship with Him.
So, just, you know, loving themand pointing them to Him, no
matter how long they're with us.
And I know, like we had a coupleweeks ago, we had a couple
students who had just moved intothe neighborhood over Christmas
(26:00):
break and they got connected toour ministry and you could just
see the glow on their faces asthey were hearing these Bible
lessons and learning memoryverses over the past couple
months and just a couple ofweeks ago they had to move
across town and you don't thinkSouth Joplin is that much
(26:21):
farther but that means that theycan't get off the bus and come
to programs and they, you know,can't meet with their mentors
and their small group leaders,who are praying with them and
praying over them every week.
And so things like that,knowing that we are living open
(26:42):
handed and knowing that Godloves these students more than
we ever could, and he's got themand he is going to take good
care of them, and he is going toremind them and sustain them
and remind them that he is withthem, that's right, even if
we're not with them, that'sright.
So just trusting that— it's atrust journey, yeah.
Kim McIntire (27:03):
For sure, yeah, because you're not always
guaranteed to have.
You have had a lot of retention, though, and it's amazing to me
how many kids you know startedattending, like kindergarten age
, who now are in high school orgetting ready to enter into
college, and just that you'vebeen able to see the journey
(27:24):
from start to finish, and a lotof their maybe not very start,
but a lot of them start, youknow, elementary and then
elementary to middle school,into high school.
Yeah and wow, what an impact.
Addie Jarrett (27:41):
I just think, impact.
Kim McIntire (27:42):
The impact is you can't even speak to what it is
because we'll know in eternity,right the impact of a yes.
So do you feel like thefamilies are pretty supportive
of Neighborhood Lifehouse beingthere?
Do you feel that feedback fromthem?
Addie Jarrett (27:58):
I do, and we have been able to connect more with
the parents and there's a lot ofmamas in our neighborhood and
we've done things like momappreciation night where they
could come and we fed them ayummy meal and had a spa kind of
set up in our area where we hadhairdressers and a massage
(28:22):
artist, a massage person whocould rub their shoulders and
give them a facial and all thesethings that were letting them
know that we love them and wewere able to share scripture
with them and let them know thatthey are daughters of God and
they're loved and we are comingalongside them.
In this journey of being a mamaand doing things like that and
(28:44):
having baby showers for some ofour moms and just loving them in
tangible ways and building upthat trust over years have
helped us be able to make moreconnections with them and, you
know, be able to come alongsidethem as well.
With them and you know, be ableto come alongside them as well
For sure, not just their kidsand be able to point them to
(29:08):
Jesus too.
We had a mom several years agowho when I first started she
would have said she was anatheist and I, over time, you
know, build up that trust wouldconnect with her.
You know, wanted to be herfriend.
You know I felt like God wasputting her in my heart to be
(29:28):
her friend.
And four years ago, after herfamily was hit with some deep
grief and tragedy, lifehouse wasthere.
We were the ones.
They were her first calls andshowing up and meeting her and
her family where they were at inthat moment, God opened the
(29:49):
doors for more gospelconversations to be had, and
only God can do something likethat and her heart was softened
to His Spirit leading in thatmoment, to his spirit leading in
that moment.
And now she tells, like a fewyears later, she tells me she's
(30:11):
praying for me and loves Jesusand wants to serve him.
And when we were bringing ourdaughter home during our
adoption journey, she was theone who was writing prayer cards
and scripture.
And so that is just reallysweet too, because, as you think
about, we were helping her kidsknow the gospel and now she is
(30:35):
in turn helping my daughter knowthe gospel.
It's just really cool to seehow God works in that and how
the Holy Spirit leads us andbrings us into relationship with
our.
Father, so true.
Kim McIntire (30:53):
Well, I was really grateful that you sent an
invitation my way for a babyshower on a very icy day in
January or February, I think.
Yes, yeah, I can't remember ifit was January or February, but
a little one that I had in thirdgrade was having her first baby
.
Yeah, and you hosted a babyshower and I just think you know
, maybe her little one will beat Lifehouse in the future.
(31:16):
You know, I mean, it's just, Ibelieve that's going to happen
For the families who have stayed.
There have been some consistentfamilies who haven't left the
neighborhood and I think theimpact is going to be
significant.
So I'm so thankful for yousharing that.
Addie, I wanted to also talkabout what happens there on
Sunday.
Addie Jarrett (31:36):
Oh yeah, and Saturday night we have.
There's a church plant thatcurrently rents our space on
Saturdays.
Saturday night is just a bettertime for a lot of our neighbors
who might be working on Sundays.
So they have kicked off almosta year ago It'll be a year in
(31:57):
late May a Saturday nightservice in the Lifehouse
building so that a lot of ourneighbors who might not have
reliable transportation or mightnot be comfortable stepping
into one of our church buildings, has a space that's close to
their house.
That is a place that they'refamiliar with and comfortable
(32:19):
with and can connect to a faithcommunity that loves Jesus.
That's even outside ofLifeHouse, so there's more
kingdom workers and people wholove Jesus coming alongside more
of our neighbors.
Kim McIntire (32:34):
What time does that service start?
It is at 630.
630 on Saturday evenings, okay,and is it called Connect?
Yeah, connect Christian Church.
Connect Christian Church.
That's awesome.
So how are some ways ourlisteners could be praying for
your ministry at NeighborhoodLife House?
Addie Jarrett (32:52):
Yeah, I mentioned before that the gospel is just
so front and center of all thethings that we do whether that
be an event or, you know,programs throughout the week, or
you know, hanging out with afamily on the playground or the
basketball court that, no matterwho is on our grounds, they
(33:13):
know this is all about Jesus andfor Jesus and that they are
welcomed in to have a seat athis table.
And just that God continues tobring more neighbors to know him
through this ministry and thatwe will be obedient to whatever
(33:35):
he calls us to do and how,whatever programs or events that
he desires for this ministry tocarry out, for us to be able to
continue to make those gospelconnections with more of our
neighbors.
For sure, and I know he has setsome vision on our hearts.
(33:56):
As a board we meet every yearfor a vision casting meeting
where we spend a lot of time inprayer over the next year to
five years, and he's pressed onour hearts some dreams and goals
over the next five years withsome different things that we
feel him leading us to do, andso just continued vision and
(34:20):
direction from the Holy Spiritto do what he's calling us to do
.
Kim McIntire (34:26):
It's amazing what he's done in 16 years.
I can't wait to see whathappens in the next 16.
Addie Jarrett (34:31):
I'm excited we are about to finish up a kitchen
remodel.
We didn't have a usable kitchenspace and a house.
You know a lot of kids call alife house home and a home needs
a kitchen.
So, and with us providing mealsa couple of times a week and
having neighborhood events, youknow we need to have a kitchen
(34:53):
space, and a lot of our studentsare in high school or middle
school and a lot of them mightbe taking care of their dinners
at home or younger siblings, andso we are excited to be able to
, over the summer, start somenutrition and budget-friendly
meal prep classes with ourmiddle school high school
(35:18):
students and help them as theyget ready to launch into
adulthood.
And help them as they get readyto launch into adulthood, while
ultimately pointing them to thegoodness of Jesus through
providing meals and helping themknow how to do that.
Yeah.
Kim McIntire (35:32):
How many people don't have the lifestyle of
cooking?
I mean, really, that's prettyimportant that they have that
knowledge and learn about Jesuswhile they're doing it.
So two for one Feed yourspirits, feed your body.
That's so good.
Well, how can people find outmore about the ministry?
(35:54):
Do you have a website?
Addie Jarrett (35:57):
Yeah, we have a website and you can look it up
neighborhoodlifehouseorg.
Or we also have a Facebook page, neighborhood Lifehouse, and
Instagram is the same as that,so you can follow us on social
media and connect to us throughour website.
Also, there's a Lifehouse phonenumber if you want to call and
(36:21):
get more information, or maybecome visit and take a tour of
the building and see itfirsthand, if you're local, and
get connected in that way too.
Kim McIntire (36:33):
Yes, it's a historic building, so it has
some pretty cool architecture.
For anyone who's interested inhistoric buildings, it would be
a beautiful tour for you to take.
So well, thank you so much,addie, for being here.
It's been a blessing to hearyour heart.
I'm excited for what's in thefuture for the Neighborhood Life
House.
I'd just like to close us inprayer over your ministry, okay.
Addie Jarrett (36:57):
Yeah, it was so good to be here.
Thank you so much, Kim.
Kim McIntire (36:59):
You are so welcome .
It's so good to visit again too.
Father, God, we just thank youfor what you have done in the
Neighborhood Lifehouse Ministryand, God, we are believing that
your Holy Spirit is doing amighty work in the hearts of
students and volunteers andfamilies that make up this
(37:24):
ministry.
God, we ask that you continueto do a work of just planting
the gospel in these hearts.
God, that these seeds would beplanted, they would be watered
and grown by your Spirit andthey would produce a harvest 30,
60, 100 times what was sown.
God, may the hearts of thesestudents be the hearts of good
(37:45):
soil.
We pray also, God, that peoplewho enter feel welcomed in that
they have a seat at the table atthis ministry.
God, we pray, God, for thefuture vision of Neighborhood
Life House, that it wouldcontinue to minister Lord to the
families and the children inthat area.
And also, God, we just praythat your name would continue to
(38:08):
be glorified and magnifiedthrough this ministry.
We thank you for everythingyou've done, God.
We thank you for what you aredoing right now and what you
have yet to do in the future.
So, God, just continueincreasing the vision that your
hand of blessing would be uponit your hand of favor, God, that
(38:31):
many would come to know Jesusbecause people said yes to the
call.
Pray your blessings over Addie,her husband and her child, and
protection, Lord, and protectionover that neighborhood and
every life that represents thisministry.
God, guide their board in theirdecisions.
(38:53):
God, we just pray for wisdomand direction and counsel from
your Holy Spirit.
We thank you again, God, forall that you've done, and we ask
these things in the holy andbeautiful name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank you again for being hereand thank you, listeners, for
joining us for this episode.
(39:14):
Just a quick reminder that theRise Up Conference in 2025 will
be held August 1st and 2nd atthe Keter Center near Branson,
Missouri.
All the information aboutconference is found on our
website at itstimetoriseuporg.
I'm very excited to share thatwe have a discount promo code
(39:35):
just for podcast listeners, souse podcast 15 when you sign up
and get a discounted rate onyour conference registration.
I'm looking forward to meetingyou all at conference this year.
Once again, you can find us onour socials at Facebook or
Instagram at the officialunderscore rise underscore up.
(39:55):
May God's grace and peace bewith you all.
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