Leslie County, Kentucky
"It doesn't matter who you are, you need Jesus." - Dana Watson
With the mission of spreading Christ's love, Leslie County, and the other surrounding counties, are a mission field ripe with opportunity to serve the body and soul.
Feeding the Body:
With more than 30% living in poverty in the county, many go each day without food or basic services to ensure their continuing health. "Food insecurity" is a measurement defined by the USDA for a lack of access, at times, for enough food for an active, healthy life. According to the most recent data, 1 in 5 people in Leslie are food insecure. 19.2% of children in Kentucky are considered food insecure. While 74% of the county is below the minimum income for SNAP and other food benefits, many depend on the help of others. Through Servant's Closet's Food Box Program, many have healthy shelf stable food to ensure they have their next meal. Learn more about food insecurity and search the most recent statistics at : FeedingAmerica.org or http://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2016/overall/kentucky
Education can be the key to rising out of poverty and braking the cycle of insecurity that many families face. With poverty at 30%, many students do not have the ability to afford basic supplies and needs to support their education. Supplies like backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and paper can be the difference a child needs to make it through the school year. Through Servant's Closet's network of school giveaways, we maintain access to supplies for students year round.
Children grow like weeds, even without poverty level wages and scarce employment, many struggle to cloth their children with proper clothes and shoes. Through community and school giveaways, children and families are able to get access to shoes and clothes. Our donation boxes in schools allow administrators and teachers access to new shoes, clothes, coats, etc for children immediately.
Feeding the Soul:
While meeting basic needs are the way of ensuring that the people of Leslie County have healthy lives, the soul is our main focus. The outreach that we provide gives us the opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ. We live by the mission of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
While only having 11,000 people in the county, nearly 7,800 or almost 70% are unreached. In order to facilitate sharing the gospel, community involvement is key. Providing to the needs of the community is the most effective door into the homes of the unreached. Mission trips from outside churches and groups also allow for an influx of believers to provide for the community needs and for much needed prayer and support to reach even more.
Daily, while providing to the body, The Servant's Closet builds trust among the community, allowing for the path to friendship and an introduction to the true reason behind the service.
Learn more about Leslie County:
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/leslie-county-ky/#economy
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lesliecountykentucky/IPE120217
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_County,_Kentucky
https://lesliecounty.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx
https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2016/overall/kentucky