How Piedmont Church’s “Love Does” Ministry Is Transforming Its Community
THE CHURCH
Piedmont Church in Marietta, Georgia
THE CHALLENGE
Find new ways to help the community.
ONE BIG IDEA
Partner with local organizations to help those in need.
Several years ago, Marlon Longacre, associate pastor of community engagement at Piedmont Church in Marietta, Georgia, served with United Way.
“A guy there said he wanted United Way to be the first call for help [someone in trouble made],” he says.
That statement got under Longacre’s skin. That’s not what I want, he sensed God respond. I want the church to be the first call for help.
This attitude has guided Longacre’s passion ever since, so Senior Pastor Dwight “Ike” Reighard asked him to oversee Piedmont Church’s “Love Does” ministry, a monthly effort to serve the community. Each month has a specific theme; for example, August centers around “Undie Sunday” where people bring in underwear, socks and T-shirts that are distributed to shelters and a local foster home.
The congregation is encouraged to “give above the tithe,” with all that is collected being channeled into Love Does projects. According to Longacre, the church has raised about $2.6 million for Love Does since 2018. These undertakings are carefully coordinated with people and organizations that are on the front lines of service—“all the people that are in the community every single day,” says Longacre.
The Five C’s
Love Does projects are guided by what he calls the five C’s:
- Change the way you think and serve first before taking initiatives within organizations.
- Commit to root causes by understanding someone’s real need.
- Champion an organization’s efforts by shaping everything to support their mission.
- Cooperate with the community and join in with what’s already happening.
- Count on God and the resources of his people.
A key ongoing project is installing sensory rooms in local schools and hospitals. A sensory room is a specially designed environment to help those with sensory processing issues regulate their reactions to stimuli. Each room costs about $2,500 and includes special chairs, lighting, wall fixtures and equipment. Volunteers from Piedmont do all of the installation work with 50 rooms having been completed so far.
Church member James Porter has helped install two sensory rooms. “After hearing Marlon discuss sensory rooms, I immediately wanted to get involved. Having an autistic grandchild made it personal [for me]. I have never seen a church do what Piedmont does via Love Does.”
