In 2012, a small group of individuals representing a diverse range of churches and ministries in Xenia gathered to discuss the need for a central place where homeless individuals or those struggling with addiction and poverty-related challenges could seek help. That night, we prayed for guidance and a place to collaborate so that we could be the hands and feet of Christ in our community. A building was offered to us just four days later, and thus, the Jeremiah Tree was born. 

 

Over the years, we connected hundreds of families to various programs and agencies, helping them find a place to call home. We provided food, utility assistance, help obtaining birth certificates, clothing, transportation, medication, and housing. We also connected clients to addiction and mental health services, medical care, government programs, job opportunities, and legal assistance. Alongside these services, we offered compassion and friendship, prayed with our clients, shared in their tears, and introduced them to the God who loves them unconditionally. Through this journey, our lives have been profoundly changed as we witnessed God transforming the hearts and lives of those who had lost hope.

 

In February 2016, we opened the TreeHouse, our residential discipleship program designed for men seeking to break free from the cycle of addiction. With the help of Jeff Carter as our Director, we were able to help men in a smaller house setting as opposed to a larger medical/institutional setting that most drug and alcohol programs are in.

 

In 2017, we launched the GreenHouse to support men transitioning out of the TreeHouse as they sought employment and reintegration into society. We have seen God's work in the lives of these men, even as the opioid epidemic continues to impact our community. In 2018, after the opening of Bridges of Hope's ministry to the homeless, the Board of Directors decided that The Jeremiah Tree would focus solely on providing a full-time, life-intensive experience to direct men trapped in addiction toward the transformational power of Christ.

 

In 2022, the Board made the decision to sell our TreeHouse property in Xenia due to numerous issues that made it impractical to maintain. The sale allowed us to acquire six acres of serene, rolling land with a house just outside Xenia. This new location, called the Homeplace, offers an excellent environment for rest, renewal, and a fresh start for those recovering from addiction. At this location, the vision of our current Executive Director, Rev. Kenny Garrett, began to take shape,  where a Discipleship Program transformed into a Discipleship Home.  

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In 2023, we re-established the GreenHouse as a Discipleship House. We have often wished to provide such a space for residents after completing the Jeremiah Tree Discipleship Program, and the GreenHouse does just that. To ensure that our men receive adequate discipleship and opportunity for personal growth, we have extended their stay at the HomePlace to 6-12 months. The men at the GreenHouse attend church, work, undergo random drug tests, and typically stay for 6-8 months. In the HomePlace and the GreenHouse, we guide men toward Jesus and encourage them to seek Him for who He is rather than merely for the freedom from addiction that He can provide.