We love people where they are, for life.
Our Story
Greenhouse Project helps people grow in difficult places because every life is meant to flourish. We cultivate gospel-centered, long-term relationships and community support for those who are struggling. We are building urban renewal by living life with those who need help, providing safe environments for church fellowship, recovery counseling, life coaching, and family transformation.
How did this non-profit begin?
With one man's story.
After losing everything he had to drug addiction, John Clifford's life was forever changed in 2006 in a jail cell when he had a personal interaction with Jesus. Upon release, he came to Chester, Pennsylvania to rebuild his life. During this time, a local rescue mission accepted him into a long-term recovery program. While volunteering, he learned to help meet the immediate and physical needs of those around him through food, shelter, clothing, and other generous donations. After a decade of serving at the rescue mission, John realized that something was still missing: lasting transformation. He saw the same people coming in for aid or assistance time and time again, as if they were in no better position throughout the years. John’s heart broke for them. He sought to help provide access to true life transformation from the inside, out.
So in 2018, John and his wife Emily bought an abandoned house.
John, Emily, and other supporters with the same heart for Chester officially formed the Greenhouse Project. They bought a rundown house to use as the home base of the ministry. Over the next year, they raised a team of volunteers and donors to support the renovation of the property, now called 42House. In November of 2019, the house was completed and the Clifford Family moved in to officially live out their dream.
A note from John
Lasting transformation only happens in a community in which lives are shared. My life is living proof of that. I was given a second chance; people saw value in me while I had nothing to offer. Through God’s power and love from neighbors, I was challenged to give back and help the “next person.”
Many development programs meet urgent needs and aid those in crisis, but this alone does not create long-term healing and change. The heart of Greenhouse Project is to build relationships living with those who struggle in order to create a lasting impact.
Will you join us?
John Clifford
Pastor & President, Greenhouse Project
Watch more of John’s story here:
Who We Are
Mission
We live life in the struggle with neighbors because every life is meant to flourish. We cultivate gospel-centered, long-term relationships and community support for those who are struggling in Chester, PA.
Our ministry provides safe environments for life transformation through free recovery counseling, life coaching, food outreach, youth mentorship, and church fellowship.
Vision
Our focus is creating relationships living side-by-side with those who are struggling in order to create a lasting impact. We believe that the best way to influence change is from within. Our commitment to families and the community itself is long term, as we seek to disciple neighbors into purpose-driven individuals and self-sustaining families. The decision to walk life out with others is made regardless of circumstances.
Our simple approach is to live with, assess, and navigate solutions to the entire spectrum of challenges in Chester, PA. Through this, we expect to see poverty cycles broken and generations of people transformed. Our intention is to glorify God in our lives and influence others to seek Him in theirs. This type of commitment changes families, blocks, cities, and a nation.
Core Values
Our lifestyle revolves around these values.
1. Gospel Centered – We believe God is seeking people through radical love, so we focus our lives on the teaching of Jesus and how he radically loves people.
2. Family Focused – We believe all humans are created to thrive inside families. So we seek to strengthen and restore families and invite those without families into our homes and lives.
3. Community Based – We make long-term commitments to local communities and people. We develop authentic relationships as we live in the areas we support and create an atmosphere of hope.
4. Long-Term Minded – We seek out long-term solutions to a plethora of challenges. By identifying the big target, we can help focus on the small steps to reach the goal and long-term outcomes.