November 4, 2010

With a 24-year-old leader and teams whose emphasis is on street ministry, Servant's Heart Family Worship Center is one of the more distinctive Assemblies of God ministries. Thanks to a series of gifts, the ministry in a low-income area of Louisville, Kentucky, is also thriving.

Since 2007, two men have given a total of five houses to Servant's Heart, with a sixth donation expected soon. Servant's Heart is a mission of Servant's Heart Church West in Jeffersontown (David Heigl, senior pastor).

The homes are used for various purposes. One houses an AG missionary associate who moved here last December from Washington, D.C. Others have provided low- or no-cost housing for a Bible college student and people with financial struggles.

"It has given us an opportunity to invite others to come to the neighborhood and not be outsiders," says Jared Miller, ministry leader, who lives in an apartment behind the church. "There's so much opportunity, so much spiritual ripeness. That's why my wife and I moved here." Miller and his wife, Brianne, have three young children.

Four homes were donated by Louisville real estate broker Jim Jones. The Baptist businessman was impressed by the church's work in a neighborhood known as Portland.

"I'm 83 and getting ready to retire," says Jones, who owns 58 properties around the city. "I can't maintain all of them. I run into [Miller] quite often, and he seems really ambitious."

A self-employed contractor, Miller's Kingdom Advance Construction has hired residents to renovate some properties.

Other churches have joined the effort, with four AG churches from around Kentucky "adopting" rooms in the most recent acquisition. Missionary associate Steve Link and his family hope to soon move into that unit.

"It's a blessing," says Link, who has been staying in another donated home. "Missionaries have to raise funding. By not paying rent, it allows us to buy food, clothing and pay doctor bills."

The mission started five years ago after Servant's Heart Church in suburban Jeffersontown took over operation of the property. Among outreaches have been food and clothing giveaways, a weekly Royal Rangers program, and monthly prayer meetings.

However, Servant's Heart allows an African-American Baptist church to use the building Sunday mornings.

To spread the gospel, Miller, Link and other mission team members do prayer walks that include evangelizing, make regular visits to a liquor store to discuss Scripture with customers, and hold home Bible studies.

"For people in our neighborhood, we believe that stronger than Sunday morning worship time is a seven-day-a-week connection to the family of God," Miller says.

Assemblies of God News & Information Service
Ken Walker, Pentecostal Evangel