" And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
-Romans 12:2
What We Do
"But what happens if I fail?" In Renew, we strongly believe we need to teach men not just how to respond when they're doing everything correctly, but how to respond when they fail or falter. It is easier to remain steadfast and faithful when you're on a remote property with no distractions or the busyness of life. But how will you respond to temptations, or the stresses of life, work, and family? Downtown Renew is a place to put into action the faith that was developed at Farm58. We refer to it as 'Phase 2'. Here we walk alongside the men as they are re-integrated into the world, life, work, family, and temptations. We teach the importance of transparency and accountability. We model vulnerability and true fellowship. We show a daily dependence on Christ.
It is a place to build upon the foundation they received at the farm and then start to build up that into a lasting home.
Matthew 7:24 says, “Everyone who hears these words and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, and the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on the rock."
A true renewed life doesn't just keep its faith to Sundays but reframes their whole life from the lens of the gospel. We walk alongside the men and teach them to budget, maintain their dwelling, have appropriate fellowship with others and within the church body, and to pursue jobs and family through a godly focus.
The men move off the farm and into one of four duplexes in Chattanooga. There they share an apartment with three others. They are expected to clean, grocery shop, prepare their own food, attend bible studies, and work at the church. Their work week is Wednesday- Sunday, with their Sabbath being Monday, and their day to clean, shop, and prepare for the week on Tuesday. Their time is filled throughout the week with bible studies, counseling, classes and volunteering at numerous places in our community and beyond.
They experience more freedom in their coming and going, while still being supervised by a live-in staff member. This gives them the opportunity to encounter temptations, with the guardrails of Renew and discipleship still in place so they can practically work out addressing those weaknesses with mentorship readily available.
Above all we want to continue in the journey that was started at Farm58. Our prayer is that throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Renew, that each man has time to establish a firm foundation with the Lord and then have time to work out his faith in fear and trembling, so that when the time comes for him to graduate from Renew he has been fully equipped in both his relationship with the Lord and his engagement within the body of Christ.
