Legacy Housing of Ormond Beach, Florida is on a mission from God to end underage sex trafficking in their community.
Their programs are rescuing the most vulnerable population — at-risk, aged-out foster girls — and providing a free, quality home with life training.
But after this one video went viral, the ministry is reaping an eternal harvest like never before.
Pastor Rich Tidwell lives in Florida with his wife Brandi and their three children and is passionate about living out this life just as Jesus calls us to.
When we realize how much Jesus talks about “serving the least of these,” it is apparent that this goal is easier said than done. And perhaps many of us say alot more than we actually do.
But Pastor Tidwell seeks daily to teach and serve others, as God called him to do years ago.
He desires people to experience true unity with Christ, which he believes is possible if we respond to the mission Jesus left us as a whole — not cherry-picking the easy parts or denying the difficult commands.
He is active as a pastor as well as a Bible teacher, educating through his YouTube channel on all matters of life and godliness as God describes.
After his salvation, under the ministry of Ponce Church (led by his parents who are also pastors), he eventually began a branch church in Ormond Beach, called Ormond Church.
Tidwell is also heavily gifted in creative arts. In 2015, he wrote and published a spoken word video called She Surrendered that raised awareness of foster youths and prostitution:
The response was immediate.
The 10,000+ views on the video show how deeply the matter resonated with a mass of people worldwide. Hundreds of viewers shared the video and over $50,000 was raised to build Legacy’s first home to house aged-out foster girls.
With the finances now available and the prayers pouring in toward this goal, Tidwell says they were finally able to act on a vision God gave them long before.
“We then launched our first Legacy House and began our mission to prevent youth homelessness and sex trafficking in the United States.”
The vision is eventually to expand similar houses throughout the area and perhaps the United States.
And Legacy House isn’t just giving these girls a place to sleep, but a foundation upon which they can build an abundant life.
“We endeavor to help combat the increasing trend of youth homelessness and sex trafficking among the aged-out foster community by providing safe housing, life development skills, and Christian discipleship.”
All three parts to the equation are key to the successes they’re already seeing in several life stories.
Several testimonial videos can be found on the Legacy Housing website from girls who were taken in and transformed by Legacy, including a young woman named Hailey:
Of course, this transformation doesn’t happen in every encounter we have on this earth, but by being the hands and feet of Jesus, Legacy Housing embodies a love this world needs to know.
Because of the history these girls come with, the Tidwells are very focused on their academic needs as well. This aspect is crucial to the girls’ capacity to thrive in the world in positive ways, even objective of their personal level of faith.
“In addition we desire to see each of our residents achieve educational greatness, therefore our residents are required to take advantage of the scholarship opportunities available to them and continue their formal education while residing at the Legacy House.”
The Legacy team is not just the Tidwells. Jeff Chaison has 10+ years’ experience working as an executive for Community Partnerships for Children.
“Jeff is a veteran in Child Welfare Services. Listen to why he believes Legacy Housing is the solution to the age-out foster care crisis.”
Russell and Daniela Holloway have also been integral to the success of the Legacy project.
“Both care deeply about bringing healing to those in need here in Volusia County. Together they share why Legacy Housing is essential to our community and how we can all help bring healing to our orphan population.”
Russell is director of three successful counseling centers in the Volusia County area and Dr. Daniela serves the community in her position at Halifax Medical Center.
The Tidwells would love your partnership in the mighty work God is doing through Legacy.
Their mission is to eventually see God’s Hand work through Legacy Houses across the country.
Check out their website (legacyhousingproject.com) for more information about what God has done and continues to do in Ormond.
And there is also an option to donate on their site if you feel God pressing your heart to support this incredible ministry in Florida.
