Creating positive change in the lives of children in the heart of our city
and the communities in which they live through the hope of Jesus Christ.
Sidewalk Hope is a mobile children’s church making weekly, year-round visits to low-income housing developments within the inner-city of Spartanburg, SC. Using a modified box truck with a drop-down side that converts into a stage and complete with media needs, Sidewalk Hope takes the gospel of Christ to children directly where they live. Each visit consists of praise and worship, Biblical teaching, scripture memory, games, incentives, a meal or healthy snack, and individual or group prayer time. Sidewalk Hope serves 250-300 children each week and is currently the only organization of its kind in the Spartanburg community.
OUR HISTORY
Late in 2014, a need was identified in our city for children who wanted to attend church, but had little to no access in getting there. After seeing a sidewalk ministry in New York, Chip Walters began earnestly praying and talking to others about creating a sidewalk ministry in the Spartanburg area to meet the needs of those children. With much prayer, the search began for a truck that would suit the purpose of ministering to large groups of children in the heart of our city, specifically within the Highland community. A specialized truck was located that would meet the needs of a mobile children’s church, and Hope Point Church graciously purchased the truck to start the Sidewalk Hope ministry and bring Chip’s vision to life. During this same time, we began designing our logo, establishing a Prayer Advisory Team, and planning how we could minister to the children in our community.
In the Spring of 2015, Sidewalk Hope began going into three Spartanburg housing developments known to be areas of concentrated poverty. Site visits were made weekly in each community, children’s church was set up, relationships were formed, and attendance grew. As Sidewalk Hope began to grow, more volunteers were trained and supporting churches came on board to co-labor in taking the gospel to children and their families right where the children live. In addition to the weekly site visits, a Discipleship School grew from a need for children who made a decision to follow Christ or who expressed an interest for more in-depth learning. Each year, thirty-six children in grades 1-8 completed a nine-month discipleship program.
We were thankful to receive our 501(c)(3) status in 2017, which enabled us to continue doing even greater work God called us to do within this city. The ministry has expanded to include not only the spiritual needs of His children, but also some of their physical and emotional needs as well through special events such as summer activities, VBS weeks, field days, Back-to-School Backpacks, Christmas Blessings, Truth and Treat, and benevolence needs.
In 2019, a fourth site was added to the weekly schedule. Approximately, 55 more children were able to hear how precious and valuable they are to Jesus and their Heavenly Father, and how they can have a personal relationship with someone who loves them dearly. The number of children coming to all four sites continued to grow. Sidewalk Hope remains in prayer and is always willing to go where God leads….
During the Covid pandemic, challenges arose with our program format of gathering large numbers of children together. However, God continued to provide a way for us to GO. We remained flexible in meeting the needs and maintaining the safety of our children, their families, and our volunteers, while still serving and sharing the hope and love of Christ. While the formal program set-up had to change during those years, God created new and innovative ways for us to share the gospel and nurture the many needs of the children during those times. One of our greatest blessings during those years was speaking more on an individual basis with the children we served, and building new relationships with the teens who also came out to enjoy a snack and just talk. When the restrictions ended and we were once again able to gather together in groups, the children eagerly came together to sit for their teaching time. Behind them stood a group of teens asking, “What about us?” Within two weeks, God brought multiple teen leaders to our program and the Teen Groups began their own special time of learning about Christ and the love and hope He offers to all.
Today, we continue to build on-going relationships each week with 300-350 children and approximately 80 teens. We serve 700+ children in total during the year through site visits and special events. Sidewalk Hope is committed to being a long-term presence in these communities and ministering to the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the children we serve ~ all to His glory.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Sidewalk Hope is to positively impact the lives of children in the heart of our city
and the communities in which they live
through the hope of Jesus Christ.
OUR VISION
The vision of Sidewalk Hope is for all children living in areas of concentrated poverty to have access to the Gospel and the hope it provides for a brighter future through the life-changing love of Jesus Christ.
By meeting children where they are, personally investing in their lives and presenting the Gospel in a fun, accessible way, we believe we can build long-term relationships that lead to a brighter future and better lives for the children in our city.
Join us and make a difference!