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We Need Your Financial Support For 21 years, God has allowed us to operate with no salaries and no debt—something almost unheard of in the nation. We say this humbly: we are not aware of another organization our size that has done this. Sacrifice starts with us. Our students also live that out—helping prepare, clean, and serve so ministry happens without staff. Because of these sacrifices, nearly every dollar given goes to ministry, discipleship, and missions. This year...

We are so thankful for the parents and community who trust us with their students and support what God is doing here. Because of you, students have a place to gather every week to open God’s Word, talk about Jesus, and grow in their faith. Since school started in August, we’ve already met together 10 times — 9 in small group Bible studies, and 1 in local Sunday morning street evangelism. On a regular monthly basis, we also give students opportunities to put into practice what...

Celebrating 9 Years of Building 229! Nine years ago, The River Church entrusted Building 229 to 1NeedNow, Inc. (The Walk Youth Group). This building’s story stretches back more than six decades—built in 1960 by Temple Baptist, passed to The River in 2007, and gifted to us in 2016. Though these churches weren’t formally connected, they were bound by a shared faith in Jesus and trust in His Kingdom work. Generations before us prayed, served, and gave faithfully, not knowing how God...

This past weekend we had another incredible opportunity to gather with our middle school students for our 6th Annual Lock-In! It was a time full of community building, laughter, worship, and an impactful lesson about the importance of community—how God created us to live out our faith not in isolation, but alongside others who encourage and strengthen us. The truth is, students are going to form community somewhere. Our hope is to provide them with a Christ-centered community of...

We were riding in the van on Sunday when we noticed a group of people gathered on a porch. As we got closer, we realized it was a church. Curiosity led us to approach, and to our surprise, they welcomed us with open arms, drawing us into the warmth of their fellowship. One of the leaders quickly told us she wanted us to meet the pastor. When the pastor came out, her face lit up at the sight of us. With tear-filled eyes, she embraced us tightly. Through her emotion, she shared that her...

This past Sunday we celebrated the start of our 21st year of ministry! It was such a blessing to hear powerful testimonies from students who served on our New Orleans mission trip this summer. We’ve included several pictures in this post, but the first two tell a special story: one from this past Sunday, and one from 21 years ago when we first took seven students to BigStuf. From those humble beginnings to today, God has been faithful every step of the way. By His grace, we continue to...

6th Annual Middle School Lock-In When: August 23–24 (Saturday–Sunday) Time: 7 PM – 10 AM Where: Building 229–229 Clark Rd For: 6th–8th grade Cost: $20 (cash, check to 1NeedNow, Inc., or Venmo @oneneednow) – you can bring money with you tonight or Venmo Food Item to Bring: • Boys: snack item (Rice Krispies Treats, Chips, Goldfish, Cookies) • Girls: breakfast item (Pop Tarts, Honey Buns, Muffins, Assorted Donuts, Mini Cinnamon...

Yesterday, our students showed up and worked hard for nearly four hours to help us get ready for our 21st year of ministry. They moved couches and bunks to sweep and vacuum underneath, organized the game and t-shirt cabinets, deep-cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms, filled soap dispensers, moved mattresses and carpets, and even hauled off junk to the dump. It was amazing to see their hearts to serve—no complaints, just a willingness to do whatever needed to be done. We’re so grateful for...

This ministry exists because people like you make it possible. As we begin our 21st year, we’re stepping into one of our biggest seasons yet—monthly local outreach, 4 major mission trips (San Francisco, NYC/Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and New Orleans), and another life-changing week at BigStuf. Because of your generosity over the years, students have met Jesus, served boldly, and learned to love others the way Christ loves us. Your giving has helped shape a generation—and it’s still...

One of the things we’re most grateful for in our ministry is the culture of service our students have embraced. Whether it’s a youth event at Building 229, a mission trip, or preparing for Bigstuf, they consistently show up not just to attend—but to serve. Recently in New Orleans, we watched them go above and beyond. They didn’t just straighten up—they thoroughly cleaned every room, like the deep cleaning a whole family does before hosting Thanksgiving. They pulled everything...

Thank you to everyone who donated sport chairs for our New Orleans mission trip. Because of your generosity, we were able to give out dozens of chairs to individuals who had been sitting on crates, cardboard, or the pavement. These chairs weren’t just practical—they were reminders that someone sees them, values them, and cares. One moment that will stay with us happened beneath a tree. After grabbing lunch, our group was heading back toward street ministry when we noticed a man...

Today we walking around City Park and we met a woman named, Rhonda. She was a woman struggling with addiction. As we prayed for her, I felt the Lord prompting me to give her a hug. She melted into my arms. A little while later, I ran into her as she was sitting on a bench. She saw me watching our kids interact with another woman and she said: “I don’t remember the last time someone wasn’t afraid to hug me,” she said. “I know I smell. I know I have sores all over me from the...