The Story of Phyllis, The Shepherd, and His Village

So, exactly did the Village start with a dinner napkin and $60 in the bank?

Hmmmmm.🤔

(I know, right!)

So to do that we need to rewind the clock back to 1991, thirty-three years ago, when Phyllis was Personnel Director at a local church.📖

It was another day and another meeting, so Phyllis had thought. When suddenly, this ordinary meeting about meeting the needs of a vulnerable population, took an extraordinary turn of events.

BANG!!!!

A proposal from a church member was put on the table.

STAY TUNED, AND CHECK OUT PART 2, FOR MORE TO THIS STORY.

(Wait, whaaat! What kind of proposal was this?)

WE RETURN TO YOUR PROGRAM ALREADY IN PROGRESS

So, NO, the church member did not propose to Phyllis, but HE DID propose to the church the equity in an apartment community he owned.

WHAM!!!

Phyllis sat intently at the table; her wheels were spinning. 🤔 🛞

The church member went on to share his heart for the homeless and his desire to put hope in their hearts.

At that time, long-long ago, this population was being well served as there were several thriving ministries exceeding the needs of those without a home.

Phyllis, blessed with a heart for single moms was inspired with a question. ❓❓❓

POW!!!

NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR.

-It's a Phyllis Alderman thing and not the single thing that stopped her!

Text the name "Phyllis" to 727-205-0403 to give $60 in honor of her LASTING LEGACY.

WE RETURN TO EPISODE 3 IN THIS AMAZING 6 PART SERIES

of The Story of Phyllis, The Shepherd, and His Village.

We pick up this story where we last left off with Phyllis inspired with a question. ❓

"Would you consider single mothers homeless?" She asked.

Startled by her question, the church member sat back in his chair as he thought about this for a moment. 🤔

His own wheels were spinning. 🛞🛞🛞🛞

For Phyllis's sake, let's hope it is in the right direction.

Sinking further into his chair, he marveled at this magnificent thought.

So, he thought. And he thought. A-n-d he thought some more.

"Why yes. Yes, I would", he replied.

Phyllis sinking into her own chair, as she watched the clock and, well, her legs couldn't reach the floor, quickly pulled herself up as she heard his response.

BULLSEYE!!! 🎯

From that day on, the formation of a ministry to help single mothers and their children face their future with confidence was born.

BUT WAIT! THE SAGA CONTINUES.

-It's a Phyllis Alderman thing and not the single thing that stopped her!

Text the name "Phyllis" to 727-205-0403 to give $60 in honor of her LASTING LEGACY.

So we fast forward to 1992 with the start of the first Shepherd's Village building located downtown in the sprawls of a thriving metropolis. 🏢🏪🏨🏦🏬

(Wait, there was more than one? Shhhh, yes, be quiet and eat some popcorn.)

(We continue.)

At that time, "the first" Shepherd's Village building served single moms, single dads, a-n-d the tenants who had not moved out yet when SV took ownership of the apartment community.

(oooh this is getting good.) 🍿🍿🍿

Phyllis on mission, made it her mission to share the good news of Christ with every person who lived under the roof of The Shepherd and His Village.

SWOOSH!

"If you get in the shower, you are going to get wet!" Phyllis liked to say.

Things were going and growing great for this mighty ministry, until that fateful day, when the surrounding neighborhood became riddled with drugs, thugs, and crime.

The Village had become unsafe.

WE WILL HAVE MORE AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

-It's a Phyllis Alderman thing and not the single thing that stopped her!

Text the name "Phyllis" to 727-205-0403 to give $60 in honor of her LASTING LEGACY.

Now we return to The Story of Phyllis, The Shepherd, and His Village.

If we look back to our last episode, we learn that the FIRST, yes, the first, Shepherd's Village building had become unsafe.

Oh no! What is Phyllis to do?

The parents that God had put in Phyllis's care had now suddenly become vulnerable and susceptible to the sinful community around them.

So, she prayed!

OH YEAH!!!!!

As some time passed and things continued to get challenging for the Village, a strange series of events developed.

It started with a phone call from an unrecognized phone number.

"Who could this be", she exclaimed!

"Phyllis, this is Random Realtor from the church, and I have a property I want to sell you", he declared.

"It's a prestigious property. Closer to the church. In a safe and secret neighborhood. I want you to come take a look at it," he continued.

"Why, Random Realtor from the church, this great, but Shepherd's Village only has $60 in the bank. Thank you and goodbye", she ended the conversation.

That night did not go very well for Phyllis.

COME BACK IN TWO HOURS AS WE CONCLUDE THIS STORY.

- It's Phyllis Alderman Thing and not the single thing that stopped her!

Text the name "Phyllis" to 727-205-0403 to give $60 in honor of her LASTING LEGACY

THANKS FOR COMING BACK TO THE LAST EPISODE IN THE STORY OF PHYLLIS, THE SHEPHERD, AND HIS VILLAGE.

We hope you have been enjoying the story.

As we conclude, we find things did not go very well the night Phyllis turned down Random Realtor from the church.

(If you are just joining us, NO, she did not get a marriage proposal!!! Go back to the initial post to catch up. We will be here when you get back.)

(Moving on.)

That fateful night Phyllis tossed and turned in her bed wondering what she had done.

"Did I just say no to God's plans?", she thought to herself.

As the morning finally arrived, she quickly called Random Realtor to learn more about this mysterious offer.

Random Realtor answered his phone and agreed to meet Phyllis at a nearby coffee shop.

While sitting with Random Realtor her phone rings from a once again unrecognized phone number.

"You want to do what? That property isn't even for sale!", she shouted.

Then her phone rings again. It's from another unrecognized number. SNAP!!!

"Excuse me, you want to make me an offer of how much to buy the building?", she excitedly asked.

In an answer to prayer, a bidding war began over a property that wasn't even for sale AND Random Realtor even dropped the price of his property.

Just like that, lickety-split, Random Realtor signed over the equity to the prestigious property on a dinner napkin and Phyllis gave him, the $60 in the bank.

Thanks to a village of support like Random Realtor and people like you, Phyllis has been able to help single mothers and their children (like her, like our staff) face their future with confidence!!

HOLD THE PHONE, THIS IS NOT THE END! THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.... as we continue throughout the remainder of this year and next, to share her LASTING LEGACY.

- It's Phyllis Alderman Thing and not the single thing that stopped her!

Text the name "Phyllis" to 727-205-0403 to give $60 in honor of her LASTING LEGACY