Need to read some good news from the holidays?
The Christmas service at The Worship Center Christian Church in Birmingham, Alabama marked a monumental moment in the church’s history. Bishop Van Moody and The Worship Center (TWC) family invited the staff from five local organizations to the Sunday, December 22nd worship service and surprised them by presenting each with a check in the amount of $95,000.
Bishop Van Moody and his family. (theworshipcentercc.org)
In a matter of minutes, these five organizations received nearly half a million dollars to fund projects that will impact the lives of countless women and children.
These organizations are:
• The Children’s Village – A group home for siblings
• The Lovelady Center – A prison reentry and drug rehabilitation program for women and their children
• Maranathan Academy – A school for critically at-risk youth
• Einstein’s Playground – An early childhood development center that also operates a free summer program for kids that addresses the summer learning loss that disproportionately affects low to moderate income families. College Students are also employed through this summer program as interns
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund) This organization provides scholarships and financial support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities thought Alabama and the United States
“These five organizations embody much of what we believe as a ministry, and we are astounded by the impact they continue to have in our community and in the lives of women and children,” stated Bishop Van Moody, Founding Pastor of The Worship Center. “It is an honor to be able to give them such an unexpected gift during a time when much of the world is focused on receiving,” “It brings me great joy to know that The Worship Center is blessing them with a combined financial gift of almost $500,000 to help them start or complete projects that will enhance the lives of those they serve.”
In addition to the monetary contributions, the church also contracted with a local woodsmith who constructed new beds and dressers for the boys and girls. Ministry volunteers adorned the rooms with new mattresses, comforters, and sheets. A plethora of toys were also purchased to make the children’s Christmas complete.
The gifts were the result of the generosity of church members throughout 2019. Last March, during his State of the Church Address, Bishop Moody shared his vision for the ministry as it related to stewardship, tithing and generosity: “Generosity demonstrates the love of God in a tangible way, and Tithing demonstrates that God has first place in our lives. As a ministry, we are going to tithe everything that comes into this ministry and that tithe is going to go toward our mission’s focus of serving our community.”
These five mission-oriented organizations have been the recipients of other special offerings funded by the generosity of TWC members, as the relationship between the ministry and these organizations was forged many years ago, a result of the church’s intentional missions focus in three critical areas: Education, Life Change, and Economic Empowerment.
“The Worship Center looks forward to furthering our relationship with these mission partners throughout the decade and beyond,” added Moody.
The Worship Center (TWC) is a nondenominational, multicultural ministry, led by Bishop Van Moody. TWC has three campuses, multiple services, and ministers to those locally as well as those as far away as Kuwait and South Africa via its online campus. Existing to Honor God, Unify Communities, and Build People by helping people Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Their Purpose, and Make a Difference, TWC is most widely known and recognized for its life-changing messages, service in the community, and commitment to transforming lives.