Community Matters: Conway Pastor Making a Difference
By: Deedra Wilson
Updated: January 16, 2013
Community Matters to one Central Arkansas man who is reaching out to families that may need a little help.
Jeremy Johnson doesn't just work with his hands for fun.
"I've done a little bit of everything, but the main thing I've done and enjoy doing is mechanical, fixing things," he says.
He's had to find odd jobs just to eat, $20 for mowing a yard, buying his gas to have a heart-to-heart with his family.
"To where I could talk to my parents, they didn't have enough room for me to stay with them, so I rode down here to Conway," said Johnson.
It's where he would run into Pastor Phillip Fletcher, Director of City of Hope Outreach.
"They've helped me fill out applications for jobs, taken me to places where I could fill out applications, job interviews, helped me out with clothes, a place to stay and food," said Johnson.
The City of Hope Outreach, a personal mission of pastor Fletcher, is changing lives of families in Oakwood Village not just through spreading the gospel, but by creating Oakwood Learning Academy.
"So we just want to continue to be a supplement to what the kids are already going through and also be an assistance to the parents," said Fletcher.
When Fletcher works with people like Jeremy, it evokes deep thoughts.
"I think about how everybody has a desire for a better life, when I think about what a better life is, like a place to sleep, you know, being able to put food on their table, being able to provide safety and a level of just enjoyment for family or themselves," said Fletcher.
Using his skills and talent to help others will continue for a very long time.
Fletcher also built a community center where people can go wash and dry clothes for a quarter and it serves as a shelter.
Next door is a playground that was built for the kids with the help of volunteers.
Jeremy Johnson doesn't just work with his hands for fun.
"I've done a little bit of everything, but the main thing I've done and enjoy doing is mechanical, fixing things," he says.
He's had to find odd jobs just to eat, $20 for mowing a yard, buying his gas to have a heart-to-heart with his family.
"To where I could talk to my parents, they didn't have enough room for me to stay with them, so I rode down here to Conway," said Johnson.
It's where he would run into Pastor Phillip Fletcher, Director of City of Hope Outreach.
"They've helped me fill out applications for jobs, taken me to places where I could fill out applications, job interviews, helped me out with clothes, a place to stay and food," said Johnson.
The City of Hope Outreach, a personal mission of pastor Fletcher, is changing lives of families in Oakwood Village not just through spreading the gospel, but by creating Oakwood Learning Academy.
"So we just want to continue to be a supplement to what the kids are already going through and also be an assistance to the parents," said Fletcher.
When Fletcher works with people like Jeremy, it evokes deep thoughts.
"I think about how everybody has a desire for a better life, when I think about what a better life is, like a place to sleep, you know, being able to put food on their table, being able to provide safety and a level of just enjoyment for family or themselves," said Fletcher.
Using his skills and talent to help others will continue for a very long time.
Fletcher also built a community center where people can go wash and dry clothes for a quarter and it serves as a shelter.
Next door is a playground that was built for the kids with the help of volunteers.
