Pastor Travis Johnson from Life Pointe Church presented the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) with a giant check for $1,500 to help facilitate their March 23rd Educational Trip to New York, courtesy of the “Buy a Tree. Change a Life” program. Councilwoman Patricia Fairclough, Chairwoman of the Mayor’s Youth Council introduced Pastor Johnson, his son Blake, and the members of the MYC for this special presentation during March’s Council Meeting.
Every year, during Christmas, the Life Pointe Church community comes together to raise funds for a good cause by selling Christmas trees, hence the name “Buy a Tree. Change a Life”. It all started three years ago with a touching adoption story. A family that adopted a little girl from Africa was desperately trying to adopt her older sister as well, but just couldn’t afford it. “Buy a Tree. Change a Life” succeeded at raising the money for the adoption and reuniting the siblings.
In only three years, “Buy a Tree. Change a Life” has grown exponentially, spreading their efforts not just through Homestead, but the rest of the county and the world. Last year they had eight sites where they sold trees, from Homestead to Atlanta, creating a revenue of $110,000 to help children globally and locally.
This year, they chose to fund the Mayor’s Youth Council Educational trip, for “what better recipient than the Youth Council, our leaders of tomorrow. We love to invest in our community, and these youths will achieve greatness. They will one day change the world” as Pastor Johnson said. He also presented Councilwoman Fairclough with an Experience Book, on behalf of Life Pointe Church, as a token of appreciation for her support.
“It’s very heartwarming to know we have organizations here in Homestead that are willing to invest in our children,” said Councilwoman Fairclough. “On behalf of the Mayor’s Youth Council, we humbly thank you for your donation. The future of these young men and women is bright, and the fact that you are funding their educational experiences, like this trip to New York City, says a lot about our community partners.” She ended the presentation by encouraging everyone to buy a tree this Christmas—it might just change a life.
