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For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?” And the king will answer them, “I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
—Matthew 25:35-40 |
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REACH, Inc., 312 Hyde Park Avenue, Eutaw, Alabama 35462 (205) 372-0113 PHONE (205) 372-0115 FAX |
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REACH Inc. is a self-help, non-profit, 501(c)3 organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, was formed to help underprivileged and abused children, misguided teens and young adults, court-appointed first offenders, unwed mothers, the homeless, and welfare recipients looking for a hand-up not just a hand out. This organization was organized within Greater Christ Temple under the divine leadership of Bishop Luke Edwards.
Land was purchased by the church to build shelters not only for the members, but with the intent of housing the needy as mentioned above. Edwards’ concept of the famous speech “I have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was shown to him in a vision by God when he was a young boy, playing marbles in his yard with his siblings. As he grew up, he felt strongly that God allowed him to view that as a sign to one day deliver His people and bring that DREAM to reality.
Years later, Edwards received the call to the ministry and set out to accomplish his boyhood mission. He became the pastor of Christ Temple Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan. There he built a boys and girls home and operated a carwash business to support those shelters. The members of the church in Michigan, though dedicated to the teaching of the word of God and relentlessly upholding the truth in their heart, were independent and financially well-off with factory jobs and didn’t understand the concept of owning everything collectively to have the DREAM displayed effectively.
Early in 1971, after making several trips to the South, Edwards obeyed the voice of God and extended his ministry to Meridian, Mississippi to preach and teach to a people that were 95% welfare recipients. These people were saved and accepted the concept of owning collectively because they understood the fact that togetherness could bring on riches never imagined.
Eventually, the homeless came and found shelter rent-free. The unwed mothers came and experienced guidance for their lives as well as living quarters for their entire family. Later on, the juvenile courts began sending first offenders for shelter and rehabilitation, believing that they would become assets to society instead of statistics. Drug abusers and alcoholics came, found refuge from their habitual livelihoods and became clean and sober.
In September 1977, REACH, Inc. was formed through an assembly of Pentecostal churches to continue on this great mission and to give donors a tax write-off so that this effort could be shared abroad throughout this great country. The organization began as an economically independent institution, and thirty years later it still operates without any assistance from the government, banks, grants, or celebrities.
REACH has suffered many disappointments through set-backs, obstacles, external and internal problems. Regardless of the negatives, the members stay focused only on the accomplishments and thrive on the benefits of continuing and collectively living THE DREAM. Though few, we realize that we are examples to the world. We will not surrender, neither will we fold, no matter the circumstance; we rise above it all, more determined than ever to reach our goal of making lives better.
Collectively, the members own their communities, convenient stores, restaurants, a K-12th grade academy, heavy equipment necessary for clearing land and building homes, over 4,000 acres of land stretched between Mississippi and Alabama, hundreds of head of cattle, horses, Western Union, and U-haul outlets.
Greater Christ Temple of Eutaw, Alabama and Christ Temple of Ypsilanti, Michigan have a bond under the divine leadership of Bishop Edwards. These churches, through example, have made a great impact in this society—and made it possible for other churches to follow. |