What does it look like when faith moves beyond Sunday services to transform an entire community? Amy Lancaster of We Will Go Ministries shares a powerful story of answering God's unexpected call to serve not overseas, but in downtown Jackson—their "Jerusalem."

The journey began when Amy and her husband David sold their home and prepared for international missions, only to hear God redirect them to Jackson's deepest needs. What started with simply giving neighbors sandwiches has grown into a comprehensive ministry that feeds 30,000 people annually, provides daily children's programming, and engages thousands of volunteers in meaningful service.

Against the sobering backdrop where one in four Mississippi children live in poverty, We Will Go creates spaces of hope by restoring abandoned buildings and offering practical assistance to approximately 900 families monthly—many headed by grandparents supporting multiple generations on meager fixed incomes. Yet their approach transcends mere charity. "We sit with every single neighbor and pray with them," Amy explains, emphasizing the dignity of relationship over transactional giving.

Perhaps most compelling is how the ministry dismantles barriers to service. "Maybe we've made it too hard," Amy reflects, encouraging listeners to simply "start with something." Whether reading to a child, tending a community garden, or replacing a fence, every skill becomes valuable in God's hands. The impact flows both ways, as volunteers—from church groups to corporate teams—often find themselves deeply transformed through these encounters.

Amy's own family embodies this transformation. All three Lancaster children, now adults with professional degrees, have chosen to return home and join We Will Go using their skills in accounting, ministry leadership, and media.

Ready to discover how your unique gifts might bring hope to your community?

Visit wewillgo.org to explore volunteer opportunities that match your interests and availability.

As Amy reminds us, "God doesn't have a plan B. His plan is to use me and you to be the difference in the world."