It is an honor to be a part of the Jefferson County community on a greater scale. As an outreach ministry, we understand and can relate to the common life stressors that make it challenging to live out one’s true purpose.
So, to all of you, from our heart to yours, we share our story, our history, and our plan on how we are committed to helping you.
Our church’s beginning starts with our Bishop, Dr. Lorenza Rutledge. As a grandson of a field worker, Bishop Rutledge left school in order to provide for his family at the age of twelve. He later went on to re-enroll in school and taught himself how to read in the tenth grade. At the age of 17, he met his wife, graduated from high school, and became a junior minister in Gainesville, Florida. In May of this year, he received his doctoral degree from Destiny Bible College.
Bishop Rutledge was commissioned to begin International Development Churches, EPC after 17 years of full-time ministry work. In 2006, just four years after our beginning, we implemented our outreach efforts here in Monticello. We began to work in the county, providing food, clothing, and various resources that people needed at no cost. We have fed hundreds of people across Monticello without government assistance. Our goal here is only to complete the vision GOD gave us to assist and help people.
In 2015, Pastor Leona Ross was assigned to come to ensure a consistent presence. She has partnered with the local teen center, offering monthly services and need based assistance to the community.
We have made a proposal to the school board to purchase the old Howard Middle School. We are interested in the facility for the various purposes:
1. To commission an entire building to preserve the history of Monticello and the contributions of the Howard Academy Alumnae – it is important for us to enhance the legacy so many families have built here. It is important for us to express that we would never erase, misrepresent, or mishandle. We merely are interested in furthering our community service efforts in the spirit of the foundation that has been laid before us.
2. We would offer comprehensive services in the form of food banks, disaster relief items, job placement opportunities, and training. The facility would host other vital programs relating to computer accessibility, tutoring, and utility referral services.
3. We also desire a permanent location to implement our staple programs:
a. Every Gift, Every Child, Home for the Holidays, Back to School Bash, and an on-site City of Refuge agricultural training center.
These events/programs are free of charge thanks to our corporate partners and sponsorships. We wanted to write this letter, because we felt it was important to share and inform the Jefferson County Community of our plans. We humbly ask for the opportunity to expand our services and fellowship with you. We are a compassionate people simply interested in providing resources to help build and assist the community. Jefferson County matters.
In the spirit of Humbleness,
The International Development Church EPC Family