March 13, 2024
Exciting Partnership with Johnson Elementary School: Interview with Mr. K
Abundant Life's Calvin Kellum and Faith Kelley sat down with Johnson Elementary School Assistant Principal, John Kronstain for a special interview on Abundant Life's on-site Tutoring Program at Johnson Elementary. "I think Abundant Life does the things that I need any outside agency to do- they come and they work in the schools but then they also have the connection in the community. So they're...
February 29, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Highlights: Sarah Kelley, Charlottesville Pastor and Activist
We end Black History Month on a high note with an honorable feature, Apostle Sarah A. Kelley, a Charlottesville Pastor and Justice Activist. Born in 1941 at the University of Virginia, Apostle Kelley is the Pastor/Prophet and Founder of Faith, Hope, and Love International Healing and Deliverance Center here in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has impacted many lives here in Charlottesville and...
February 8, 2024
Black History Month2024 Highlights: Benjamin Tonsler
For the second week of Black History Month, we will be highlighting one of the most prominent figures in Charlottesville history, Mr. Benjamin Tonsler. Benjamin Tonsler was born to parents, Edward and Martha Tonsler, in April of 1854 in Albemarle County, eleven years before slavery was abolished in Virginia. Though not much is known about his early life, we know that he learned how to read and...
August 15, 2023
Welcome Back, Angel Feero!
We are blessed to have Angel Feero back as the Young Women’s Program Coordinator! Prior to her sabbatical in Costa Rica alongside her husband, Richard Feero, and their kids, Angel worked as the Elementary Program Coordinator from August 2017 to June 2021. Angel, we are thankful for your return and pray over your time here and the relationships that you will further cultivate as you continue...
July 28, 2023
What an Amazing Summer for K-4th Grade!
K-4th grade Summer Programming consisted of lots of fun, laughter, and memories.
This was Calvin Kellum's first time coordinating the Abundant Life VBS program. During programming this summer, he was able to connect with the kids he knew already from John Tutoring and new kids that joined during the summer.
Each week they would travel to a different church around Charlottesville to learn about the love of God. Before leaving for the church, Calvin would ask the children if any of them would like to pray for the upcoming day they were about to experience. At first the children were very hesitant to pray in front of all of their peers, but there was always one student whose hand would jump up immediately his name was KJ. KJ loved to pray for safe travels, for fun, and for family and friends. He was what the group needed to give all the students confidence to participate and by the end of the, summer we had every single student raising their hand to pray each and every day.
Following the daily VBS sessions, the group ate a lunch together and then moved on to afternoon activities. They worked on reading and writing at the Abundant Life house with Calvin and Ms. Faith. They would read 2 books each day and wrote 3 sentences about a prompt that was given to them. After their work was done they would have lots of fun playing outside as well as painting, drawing, and making bracelets.
This summer was filled with excitement and great times learning about the Lord. We learned how to pray and why we pray, Calvin and the children can not wait for K-4 VBS 2024.
June 23, 2023
Art of Building Community Art Auction was a Success!
Thank you to each of you who came out to our Art of Building Community annual art auction fundraiser on June 8th! We were truly blessed by your presence, along with the beautiful space provided by First Presbyterian Church, and are so grateful to our artists and sponsors – all of which made this event possible. Thus far, we have raised $16,000 from the event, which is 75% of our goal to raise...