Newsletter, October 2023

Phase 2 update

We are delighted to share that phase 2 continues to progress nicely. Electrical is being completed soon to follow will be insulation and drywall. Once we get to the drywall stage, we are in to the homestretch of completing the project. We’re very excited about this! We’re also happy to report that the $50,000 summer challenge ended up with the total donation amount just over $172,000. Thank you so very very much for everybody and every church that participated in the summer challenge! You might recall that our budget estimate for phase 2 was $170,000.

Next Phase 3 and 4

As we are quickly completing Phase Two, on the second floor of 113 N. Wayne, our efforts are beginning to shift to Phase Three and Phase Four. Both projects will focus on the reconstruction of 115 N. Wayne Avenue.

Phase Three

Our original vision for Phase Three was to create a space for a local community medical clinic. Our efforts have been to locate a local medical partner to assist with this project. Without a medical partner, we believe it would not be possible to create the kind of clinic that would deliver the services needed by the community. Additionally, a medical partner would bring resources such as equipment, supplies, knowledge, and volunteers to help with this project.

As of September 2023, we have been unsuccessful in locating a medical partner for the clinic. Currently, the Lockland City Schools have efforts underway to generate a school-based health clinic, accessible to the community. Rather than proceed and duplicate the work of the school, we have developed an alternative plan for Phase Three. The front of 115 N. Wayne will be redesigned as a large meeting/assembly space. The space would include several offices for ministry partners, as well as office space for the Metanoia Center. We are hoping to add an interior doorway, to connect 113 to 115. This space will have restrooms equipped with showers to be used by ministry teams working with the Center during the summer months. This space will afford us additional seating and classroom space for 50 to 70 students involved in our programs such as English Language Class, tutoring, and MC Club. Each of these classes have seen significant growth and have outgrown space in 113. The “large gathering space” in 115 will meet the current and future needs of the Center’s growth.

Phase Four

Our vision for Phase Four continues to be a community laundromat. The laundromat will provide approximately 10 washers and 10 dryers. It will be a fee-based laundromat. The entrance to the laundromat will be on Walnut Street, as the back section of the building has its own address. The current garage door will be replaced with typical retail doors, for the patrons using the laundromat.

Today

Today we are working with our architect, Ken Popham, to develop and design the most efficient use for both spaces. Once we have the design, we will contact our general contractor for an estimate for Phase Three and a separate estimate for Phase Four. Once we have our estimates, we will begin seeking funding through fundraising and grants to complete these projects.

To keep up on daily activity follow Us on Facebook Here

About Us

 Jim and Phyllis are faith-based independent missionaries commissioned by Faith Bible Church, Cincinnati, Ohio serving with the Metanoia Center. Donations to their ministry may be made through the Metanoia Center, 113 N. Wayne Ave., Lockland, OH, 45215 or online by visiting https://www.metanoiacenter.net/donate.php. If sent by postal mail, please include a note with your donation indicating your desire to direct it to Jim and Phyllis Null’s Ministry Area.  The Metanoia Center is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 organization, thus your donation is eligible to be considered for tax exemption – please consult with your tax professional for details

Pray With Us

This Wednesday, 4 October Thursday and Friday Jim is scheduled to be admitted to UC medical downtown hospital for a feeding tube procedure. The plan is to admit him on Wednesday sometime. Then Thursday they will begin to apply the anesthetic and do the procedure. And on Friday if all has gone very well they’ll send him home. Assured by the doctors this is a fairly simple procedure, and under normal conditions takes about 6 to 10 minutes. However, ALS complicates things from the standpoint of the ability of the person to breathe and accept and recover from the anesthetic.
So please pray recovery from the anesthetic. And also please pray for Phyllis as she will be spending the time in the hospital with Jim caring for him and she will need emotional and physical strength during this time.
From Jim
Also, we met last week with folks to talk about an electric wheelchair. They told us it can take up to four months to get one. So they sized me up and customized a wheelchair to me and my needs and my abilities. It was pretty awesome, unbelievably comfortable and had some nice tech on it like flashing lights and that sort of thing. So they’ve ordered the wheelchair and we’re waiting for the process to go through approval with our doctor and then approval with insurance and then all the pieces to arrive. We are praying that it happens much much sooner than four months it would be great if it were before the end of October, but also if it was before Thanksgiving .
We so appreciate you praying for us. Thank you so very very much!

Serving With You Because of Him!

Jim and Phyllis
Galatians 2:20