Double Impact has an Advisory Board who help with plans, ideas and a broader Vision of Gods calling for us. Board members are;
Matt Adams, Andy Brashier, Ashley Colclasure, Ethan Colclasure, Tom Davis, Lori McCullough, Tot McCullough, Robert McNeilly, Mary Craig Parrish, Nate Parrish, Mike Shampain, Pam Shampain, Andrea Wingo, Gene Wingo, Chad Tuck, Micha Lacher, Adam Floyd
DOUBLE IMPACT seeks to provide;
multi-generational mentoring and mission opportunities for those who want to impact their world.
Our Mission: Double Impact seeks to empower all generations to stand firm in their Christian desire to serve the world through mentoring and missions.
Our Vision: Double Impact will prepare all generations to serve their community and world guided by Christian values through providing mentoring and mission opportunities.
MENTORING PROGRAM:
A mentor by definition is a trusted teacher or counselor. Double Impact has a multi-generational vision in which our goal is to establish mentor relationships between adults, young adults and college students and for their relationships to grow not only closer to each other, but closer to Christ through sharing with each other, as well as the community.
Mentor relationships can be whatever the mentor/mentee decides within that relationship. Whether you meet once a week, month or quarter- the choice is yours. The beauty of the relationship will be found in listening to one another and in serving together.
Your mentor/mentee will live in the same city, and have a good bit in common with you professionally, personally, or both.
If you would like to be a mentor to someone younger than you, or be mentored by someone older than you, please let Double Impact know. We will send you a short questionnaire in which to use to best match you.
MISSIONS:
The purpose of Missions is to imitate Christ by serving and loving the communities outside our own. Double Impact has established relationships with local and international mission organizations including Mexico and Russia. We are seeking to deepen these relationships and widen our vision along with the volunteers who serve with us.
LOCAL MISSIONS:
Double Impact currently volunteers at Nashville’s Rescue Mission which feeds 200 – 750 of Nashville’s homeless community nightly. This is a perfect opportunity to be able to schedule volunteer time on a consistent basis. We need 5 or 6 people to serve dinner from 5:00pm to 6:30pm on two Wednesdays a month. There are many other homeless that do not get served in our community and as Double Impact grows in volunteers and funding, it is our desire to take food to them. We would like to pass out water or popsicles on hot days and hot chocolate or hot dogs on colder days. We hope that we will establish relationships with our homeless friends through this love and service.
UNITED STATES MISSIONS:
It is our hope to have a group of “on call” volunteers to serve at a moments notice for disaster relief as our nation finds itself facing tornados, hurricanes and floods. Imagine, being able to take a group of “worker bees” and make a difference in even one family’s life would mean the world to them and be a monumental moment for us to share Christ’s love with them in their greatest moment of need. When we have enough volunteers to add this aspect of service, we will be able to offically serve this need.
WORLD MISSIONS:
MEXICO: Working through Amor Ministries based in San Diego, we have taken 15 groups to build houses for families living in between Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico. These families are chosen through ministers in Mexico. The families are many times calling the space between four garage doors nailed together and a makeshift roof a home. Amor Ministries coordinates the efforts between volunteers and the Mexican ministers to build a 10’ x 20’ home for these very needy families. We currently go on two building trips a year but would like to add to that as groups seem to keep forming. (Even a family can make up a group to go and make a difference.) It takes 10-15 individuals to build a home and typically takes three days to complete. We camp at the Amor campground at night as well as prepare our own food. There is nothing better than sitting around the campfire after dinner and realizing how blessed we are for the opportunity to make such a significant difference in a family’s life and certainly come home with blessings and a difference in our own lives.
We cannot even talk about Mexico and the impact it makes without mentioning our best amigo Grant Bannen. Each time we eat Mexican corn, build a campfire, or complete a house we think of our very dear friend, who found peace and life in the very gift of this trip. He loved going and serving year after year and demonstrated how it can bring joy to those this trip helps as well as those who serve. Grant was called to rest on February 18, 2008 and we know he is in the presence of our Lord probably helping build houses for others who aren’t there yet!
In his memory, we have established a fund to support any volunteer who could not otherwise go for lack of funding. Each trip costs around $800.00 plus airfare per person. The cost includes hotels in San Diego, food in Mexico, Amor ministry fees, (building supplies,tools,water in Mexico) van rental, transportation costs, and camping supplies.
We are planning two trips for early June and if you have a group that would like to schedule at another time, let us know. If you are interested in helping others go, please donate to Double Impact and indicate the Grant Bannen Memorial Fund on the “for” line.
RUSSIA MISSIONS:
What began as a church sisterhood between a Nashville home church and a church in Tula, Russia is now a cherished relationship with the people in that area of the world. As we traveled there on behalf of the sisterhood, we saw needs there that continue to challenge us as well as changes that encourage us. Let me tell you about some of the things that tug our hearts to make a difference there:
The grandmothers in Russia are called babushkas. The babushkas have held families together with amazing strength because the men typically leave their families and drown their lack of being able to provide into the vodka that is cheaper than pure water in Russia. These strong women find themselves on a pension that is not enough to provide the food or medicines that their simple life needs. Through an outreach of the Tula church, we have friends here that donate to help provide needs for these precious ladies. We have started the “Adopt a granny” program for the needs in Russia and one day expand it to have a “Adopt a Granny” in the USA as Double Impact grows.
There are three orphanages in Russia that we go visit when we are there. We have learned that the best way to help the orphanages is to help families who are but one meal away from having to send a child to it. Double Impact has established relationships with such families and seeks to send 30.00 a month to these families. They buy school supplies, transportation (bicycles to go to work) groceries and medicine. We go through the outreach that makes sure the funds are used to better the family.
While visiting the orphanages, we learned that the girls especially do not value themselves and that their insecurities are often taken advantage of. Not only is that sad, it is dangerous. Russia has the highest rate of growth in terms of HIV/Aids in the world.
Each time we go, we talk to the girls about being “too special” to give themselves away. We would like to talk to the boys about respecting girls as well. Talking about Sex/Abstinence in Russia is like the 1950’s in the USA, very hush- hush, so it has to be done gently. It is our desire to be able to provide materials about abstinence as well as special rings for the girls who make the promise to save sex until marriage. These rings would be given to them through the ministers’ wife who has also committed to following up with the girls on a consistent basis.
We plan one trip during November to Tula, Russia where we visit with the orphanages, babushkas, our church friends and the needy families. We will also talk to the girls about abstinence and hopefully the boys. We will be gone for almost two weeks. If you would like to go or be involved with any of the needs mentioned, please let us know. The cost of the trip is +-$2,00.00 plus airfare. This includes most meals, transportation, and lodging. We plan this trip in the winter because it is more affordable. It may be cold, but the love brought back in hearts will warm you even more.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
First and foremost, we need your prayers. Pray for the continued vision of Double Impact. Pray for support, both in the community as we spread our mission and deepen relationships with those we serve. Pray for mentor relationships to develop and thrive. Pray for financial support and stability. Pray for those students and adults who participate in mission trips and service. Thank you for your heartfelt prayers.
Volunteer your Time! Whether you serve food to the homeless or take time to go to Russia, you can be such a blessing to others by giving your valuable time.
Mentor relationships-Become part of a mentor relationship, whether as a mentor or a mentee! We hope that these relationships will be a blessing as you invest in another person and share life’s joys and challenges together. Be willing to be poured into as well as pour into someone else. We have named this valueable mentor relationship "The Timothy Project" based on the relationship of Paul to Timothy as he taught him how to carry the torch after Paul left this world.
Financial support is needed and any gift is appreciated. Double Impact is a 501(c) (3) and exists as a result of financial support from the community. Your gift goes to support Double Impact’s Missions. As previously mentioned, you can also designate to a specific need. Your donations my be sent by check or by using PayPal by clicking PAYPAL . Also another method of support is by using Good Search when using the internet to buy goods and services. It is very easy and cost you nothing. Again all you need to do is click www.goodsearch.com and enter Double Impact into the charity you want to support.
Thanks so much for your much needed help!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Please check all that you are interested in:
__Being an advisory board team member
__Being a Mentor
__Having a Mentor
__Serve food to the homeless
__Donate for food for the homeless
__Be on a Disaster Relief team
__Getting a group together to go to Mexico
__Going to Mexico in June
__Donate to the Grant Bannen Mexico Fund
__Going to Russia in November
__Adopt a Granny/babushka
Our Mailing address is:
Double Impact
2200 Harding Place #8
Nashville, Tennessee 37215