Overview

Contact Information
Street Address
229 Clark Road. Thomasville, GA 31757
Email
info@1neednow.com
Co-Founders
Chris and Amy Cooper
General Information
Years of Establishment
21 of youth ministry. 12 for 1NeedNow, Inc. (501c3 nonprofit christian organization)
Number of Paid Staff
0 (no salaries)
Number of Volunteers
10+
Number of Youth Served
145 regular youth attendees
Age of Youth Served
6th-12th Grade
Programs/Activities
Youth on Sundays, Local outreach on Sunday mornings, Small bible study groups on Monday and Wednesday nights, Bigstuf in Panama City Beach FL, New Orleans mission trip, NYC-Brooklyn mission trip, San Francisco mission trip, Los Angeles-Hollywood mission trip, and Weekend Retreats & Lock-Ins

Greatest Need of the Population Served
According to the Barna group, Millennials are leaving the church. Nearly six in ten young people who grow up in Christian churches end up walking away. The unchurched segment of Millenials has increased in the last decade from 44% to 52%.

The greatest need of the population served: 1 - Jesus, 2 - Community, 3 - Purpose.

How does "The Walk Youth Group" Leadership define and measure success?

1. Jesus - we measure success each time a student recognizes and acknowledges their need for a relationship with Jesus Christ, whether it is a new or renewed commitment.

2. Community - we measure success each time a student or a group of students depends upon each other to grow and maintain their relationship with Christ. In so doing, they set an example to those in their world and cultivate an environment where others want to learn more about the Jesus that they serve.

3. Purpose - we measure success each time we see a student discover and use their individual gifts and talents for God's glory. For example, some of our teenagers are small group leaders, lead bible studies weekly, lead local, national, and foreign relational mission work, help prepare desserts on Saturdays before youth, lead Sunday school classes at their church, lead worship and/or lead in whatever leadership role God lays on their heart. We believe that the earlier a student discovers their gifts, the more likely it is that they will use their servant heart to not only be the Church now but also when they graduate and leave our ministry.

Our greatest joy has been having a multitude of opportunities to watch many students actually accomplish the above as they have grown in their relationship with Christ, build a relationship with Him and each other and spread this to others using the gifts and talents God has given them. We want to help equip churches with passionate and gifted students that are in love with Jesus.

How does "The Walk Youth Group" Leadership define and measure effectiveness?

Providing hands on training to a plethora of teenagers that do relational ministry regularly in our community on Sunday mornings in the name of Jesus, 12 small group leaders, 70 Bigstuf attendees, 43 New Orleans mission trip attendees, 12 NYC-Brooklyn NY mission trip attendees, 12 San Francisco CA mission trip attendees, 12 Los Angeles-Hollywood mission trip attendees help teenagers discover their spiritual gift and then equip them with the tools necessary to use that talent for God's glory.

How does "The Walk Youth Group" Leadership define and measure sustainability?

As many of you know, we have a very modest budget. We do not receive any compensation nor do we have a building payment since our building was gifted to us. Over the years, we have desired that donations go directly to ministry so more youth can attend camp, mission trips, D-Now weekend, and other activities.

After obtaining the building in the summer of 2017, we raised almost $50,000 for renovations and repairs without any public fundraising. Most of the work at Building 229 has been done by our students and families along with many in our community that have volunteered to provide services for free or at a reduced cost. These building improvements will help us reduce our monthly costs going forward since most major work has been completed. We have zero debt.

How It All Started

Our story began over 20 years ago at a small Southern Baptist church located between Tallahassee and Thomasville. At the time, we were teaching preschoolers in Sunday school when the church asked us if we would take the youth group to Bigstuf, a Christian camp in Panama City Beach, Florida. We had never led teenagers before, but we agreed to take seven students—and that decision changed everything. During that trip, we discovered a deep love for investing in the lives of teenagers. When we returned, the church asked us to take over the youth ministry. We gladly accepted and began hosting gatherings both at the church and in our home.

Why We’re Called The Walk & 1NeedNow

As more students began attending—especially those from Thomas, Grady, and Leon counties who didn’t have a church home—we moved our meetings fully into our house to create a warm, home-style atmosphere. When the time came to name the group, the students came up with two names that captured the heart of the ministry. The Walk reflects our desire to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. 1 Need Now expresses our heart to meet the daily physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others.

What Our Gatherings Look Like

We now meet once a month—sometimes twice—on Sunday afternoons during the school year for about two and a half hours. We originally met in our home, but now gather in our dedicated youth building. Each meeting begins with food, desserts, and games, followed by worship and a Bible-based video lesson in the Big Room. Afterward, students break into small groups to discuss the lesson and how it applies to their lives.

We also hold weekly small group Bible studies. Middle school students meet weekly for topic-based Bible lessons led by student leaders normally in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade. These older students are mentored and equipped to lead well. High school small groups vary each semester—some follow a theme or topic, while others walk through an entire book of the Bible. Our most recent group just completed a full study of the book of Revelation.

Local Outreach and Community Ministry

Outreach has always been central to who we are. Locally, we serve once a month and more often in the summer. This includes praying for people in laundromats, hotels, restaurants, bus stops, and neighborhoods throughout Thomasville and Tallahassee. We spend time building relationships with families in subsidized housing communities. We also organize a Christmas outreach and partner with One Heartbeat Inc. (formerly Project Backyard) to pass out meals to families on Thanksgiving Day.

One individual during Tallahassee outreach recently shared, “We met a man at a bus stop who said he hadn’t prayed in years. He let us pray over him, and afterward he said, ‘I didn’t know people still cared like this.’ We didn’t preach—we just listened, and God did the rest.”

Life-Changing Summer Trips

In the summer, we also take students to Bigstuf and New Orleans. This year marked our 20th year attending Bigstuf and our 17th annual mission trip to New Orleans. In New Orleans, students serve the homeless, pray with people in the French Market and on streetcars, wash feet, and go wherever God leads. Often, one group will spend an entire afternoon with just one person—ministering to them and being ministered to in return.

One student reflected, “God brought me on this trip to show me how ungrateful I had become. Seeing people with almost nothing still smiling and praising God reminded me how much I have to be thankful for. It changed my heart.”

Another said, “Even though I didn’t always feel confident approaching people, I knew I was supposed to step out in faith. When I did, I saw God work through me in ways I didn’t think were possible.”

One of the most powerful moments happened when we met a woman named Rhonda. She melted into a hug from one of our participates and later said, “I don’t remember the last time someone wasn’t afraid to hug me.”

Our Financial Model and Mission Opportunities

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian organization. We do not take a salary, carry any debt, or hold fundraising events. Because of this, nearly every dollar goes directly to ministry.

As a result, we’re able to offer major mission trip opportunities each year to New York City–Brooklyn, Hollywood–Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Bigstuf in Panama City Beach. These experiences allow students to grow in faith, serve others boldly, and see the Gospel lived out in real ways.

Gratitude for Volunteers and God’s Faithfulness

None of this would be possible without the help of an army of volunteers. From small group leaders and mentors—every role matters. We cannot begin to thank those who give their time, energy, and love to invest in the next generation.

We are humbled to witness God’s hand at work and the eternal impact He is making in the lives of so many students.

Adult Small Group Leaders (occupation) – Main Volunteers

Rob Blodgett (Local Pastor)

Amy Cooper (Pediatrician)

Chris Cooper (Volunteer Leader and Coordinator of 1NeedNow, Inc.- The Walk Youth Group)

Alaina Bradshaw (Parent)

Gabrielle Norris (Nurse Practitioner)

Lauren Strickland (1st Grade Teacher)