About Us

The Orlando Initiative (TOI) is a young Christian community development organization that was birthed after spending time in a poor, high crime rate neighborhood, witnessing and helping people in dire conditions. In 2008, we started witnessing the Gospel to the residents and people who passed by the Orlando Mobile Home Park on South Orange Blossom Trail. In only a few months, more than thirty people were brought to salvation and faith in Jesus Christ, with very little effort.

The Orlando Mobile Home Park is one of three parks in a radius of less than a half mile. The Park has 200 residents. The new believers mentioned above began asking us for assistance and in a short time, we had transformed into a local resource center. The Park owner offered us an old mobile home that needing renovation, which now serves multiple purposes, including an office, computer room and space for holding Bible studies and counseling sessions.

In addition, there is a small chapel building on the property, which can hold more than sixty people. It has been completely renovated with the help of many churches and community volunteers. There are ongoing activities such as Bible studies, teaching, preaching, Christian movie nights with study/discussion groups and learning programs for adults and children.

It is fulfilling to be part of the small network of local ministries on the Orange Blossom Trail that focus on the same target group. We pray and minister together, often referring to each others’ ministries, realizing God has called us as a team to serve broken lives.

The Orlando Initiative offers a safe place for churches from different denominations and other organizations to come together in service to the poor in our community. We see ourselves as the mortar between the bricks to help build and restore lives and we welcome local businesses, churches, ministries and non-profit organizations that would like to partner with us.

The following services are available:

• After-school programs for first through third graders (Campus Crusade for Christ)
• Daily pastoral care and prayer
• Internet access for employment research, food stamps, computer classes
• Neighborhood improvement support through local and out-of-state groups
• Referrals to existing support systems in the Orlando community-at-large
• Spiritual development groups for women and men
• Chapel services and classes
• Food and Clothing outreach on Thursdays and Sundays with City Mission

Our Programs Are

After School Program:

S.A.Y. Yes! is an afterschool program for elementary students. It is in-your-life ministry that focuses on the whole child. The volunteers are carefully selected and trained by a child development specialist from Campus Crusade for Christ (Here’s Life Inner City). The program focuses on the whole child. They are committed to helping young people develop a dynamic, life long relationship with Jesus Christ and lead them to become all The Lord created them to be.

In many inner-city neighborhoods, Christians are feeling a need to open the doors of their churches during the after-school hours to minister to young children and teens who are left unsupervised and vulnerable. The Say Yes! program ministers to the physical, spiritual, emotional, social and intellectual needs of young people.

Language Classes:

Language barriers hinder the Hispanic members in the mobile home community from employment opportunities. Basic English classes are available to help them overcome these obstacles and help equip them in their job searches.

Language Classes:

Basic English language classes are available to overcome this obstacle and equip the Spanish speakers for better careers/jobs.

Leadership Training:

Leadership training is designed to build mature disciples who are totally surrendered and radical for Jesus. This training helps enhance members’ personal relationship with God and equip them for service to others.

Life Management:

The life management classes focus on practical living, which help at-risk people apply Christian character principles to bring about change in their lives. This program is adopted from a grass-roots work established by Joseph Holland, the founder of HARKhomes, a Harlem-based shelter for the homeless.

Life Skills:

Participants are taught to evaluate their financial situations, help them set goals and make wise choices. They learn to believe God for change, develop wholesome habits, decrease debt and seek financial stability. Study materials are practical, interactive and encourage accountability.

Spiritual Development Groups:

Spiritual development is a major goal of this ministry. Small gender groups are offered and are an effective program to lead participants to ways of serving friends and community. Each week, personal relationships are shaped and strengthened through prayer, scripture and fellowship.