Foundations Celebration Recap: A Community United in Faith
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, ATLAS Ministry and members of the community gathered at the site of our new building at 1440 Meadow Crest Road in Greensboro, next to the new Greene County Elementary School, to worship and dedicate the new building. For ATLAS Ministry and those we serve, this is more than just another building, this is a symbol of God’s goodness in Greene County. It was an exciting time of reflection and expectation as the community came together to celebrate what He has done and will do in the coming months and years!
As our Executive Director, Ryan Gibadlo, says, “God created us all with purpose... and if everyone was walking in that purpose, society would look completely different.” The addition of a second ATLAS Ministry building will allow ATLAS, with the support of our donors, to reach more kids and impact more families in Greene County, helping people walk in their purpose. Our goal is to serve 20% of all students in the county which we believe can create significant societal impact in Greene County through the steady deployment of Christ-centered leaders year after year.
The Foundations Celebration was a huge success, with many friends and family from the community in attendance, as well as several of our ATLAS students. One of our Early Leaders, T.J. Wright, led the group in prayer, then helped gather the younger students for a photo opportunity with hard hats and shovels. Our students were the first to sign the foundation.
Natalee Willardson, daughter of ATLAS team member Lexi Willardson, led worship during the celebration, and our Executive Director, Ryan Gibadlo, shared a message from a passage in Ezra 3, pointing toward Christ as the ultimate “foundation” for all of us. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident as everyone gathered to worship, pray, and write scriptures on the foundation of the new facility. In fact, one of the workers asked afterward if he could add his own scripture to the foundation, sharing how moved he was by the experience.
Adding scripture to the foundation of a new building is a visual representation of wrapping the building, its occupants, and its mission in God’s grace and faithfulness. Some of the scriptures that were written on the foundation are as follows:
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. ”
“He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. ”
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
The building is scheduled to be completed by July 2025. Please continue to pray over ATLAS Ministry, our team, and families as we prepare for the growth and the exciting times ahead! Thank you to everyone who attended the celebration, donated to the building fund, and prayed over the event and over ATLAS Ministry in general. We are truly grateful for the support from this amazing community.
We would like to extend special thanks to:
Brasfield & Gorrie, our awesome builders, and their help in making the Foundations event possible
Natalee Willardson for lending her beautiful voice to us for worship music
Lauren Brock and Melvin Rhodes for taking photos during the event
All of the employees, board members, friends, families, and students who have been prayerfully involved in making this all possible.
We are excited about what the Lord is doing in Greene County. We invite you to join us on this incredible journey by continuing to pray for Him to move. If you have never been involved at ATLAS, please consider joining this story. Individual and group tours are available. You can contact Lisa Brondyke at 706-453-0581 or email her at LBrondyke@atlasministry.org. You can also donate to atlas through a one-time or recurring gift at atlasministry.org/donate.
Join the mission to help children become Proficient READERS and Christ-centered LEADERS!
FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE FOUNDATIONS CELEBRATION, CHECK OUT OUR GALLERY:
