Spire Summer 2020

vision mission ONE CUP AT A TIME Hope RESTORING

W hen Bluefield College alumni, Meghan (Garrett) (’06) and Jeremy Hardy (’08), served on a four-week mission trip to China through BC’s Baptist Student Union (BSU), Jeremy knew ministry, especially serving the homeless, would eventually be a calling for their family. Through a recent venture in the coffee business, the Hardy’s are helping restore hope in Wilmington, NC, one cup at a time. Both involved in BC’s Praise Singers, Meghan and Jeremy met at Bluefield College in the fall of 2005 through the music department. The couple married in 2006 and served as youth ministers at Westminster Presbyterian Church until 2013. The Hardys knew ministry would be a career calling. Following their missions trip to China, Jeremy read, The Irresistible

educate, equip, and empower the body of Christ to reach those in need through the hope of the gospel. “When we moved to Wilmington, there were one other part-time missionaries and the founders serving within the organization,” said Meghan. “Jeremy started as an urban missionary and took over as Executive Director not long after.” Meghan is currently the content manager for VH. Plugging into VH’s year-round work with individuals facing poverty and homelessness, the Port City Project is an urban missions experience designed to educate, equip, and empower individuals to love their neighbors. Individuals and groups get to join in on weekly community meals and see how God is at work in Wilmington. The Port City Project plans missions projects for groups and individuals that meet specific needs of

Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Clainborn. The book focused on Clainborn’s faith and his time spent living among the homeless in his neighborhood of North Philadelphia. “This fueled something deep within me,” said Jeremy. “I told Meghan that we were going to go live with the homeless and she laughed in response.” But five years later, the couple took their youth group on a mission trip to Wilmington, NC, to serve with the non-profit organization, Vigilant Hope. “After three years of taking youth teams to Wilmington, we both undoubtedly felt God’s calling to move and become urban missionaries with Vigilant Hope,” said Meghan. “To be a bridge between the church and the homeless communities.” Founded in 2006 by Daniel and Hannah Walters, Vigilant Hope (VH) is a modern missions organization that exists to

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