OUR STORY
It would be impossible to thank everyone who has ever helped The LORD’s Child. The journey through the years has unfolded in ways that only the Lord could have orchestrated and, literally, hundreds of people are responsible for supporting, aiding, and volunteering with this organization. In 2007 Pastor Gene couldn’t have envisaged the numbers of people that God would use to bring His Kingdom to earth from Appalachia to Africa with this humanitarian cause.
The LORD’s Child was birthed in Pastor Gene’s heart from witnessing the poverty in Eastern Tennessee, not only as a child where he experienced it first-hand, but also upon his return to the area in his adult years. Abject poverty had not improved but spread like a virus; wider than he could ever have imagined. Pastor Gene sought the Lord for a name for the cause and the Lord graciously allowed His name to be used to lead the organization into many different parts of the world.
As The LORD’s Child continues its mission today, Pastor Gene has invited the gifts and talents of others to help lead, mold and grow the LORD’s Child into the organization it is today.
This timeline is just a small glimpse into the many people that have been served and have served for The LORD’s Child to accomplish God’s will here on earth.
The History of The Lord's Child
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2007
THE LORD'S CHILD IS FOUNDED
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In 2007 The LORD’s Child was founded by Pastor Gene Wolfenbarger and his wife, Karen. Pastor Gene and Karen saw the needs in their local communities and across the globe, the needs of orphans; social & traditional and widows and single parents. They pledged to help in anyway they were able.
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2008
2008 - IT'S OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL
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In 2008 The Lord lends His name to The LORD’s Child. The LORD's Child is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and opens its first official offices in Sevierville, Tennessee.
The LORD's Child continues to hold events to feed the imporverished communities in Appalchia.
The LORD's Child visits Uganda and South Afirca to open a school for childen in one of the poorest areas of this nation.
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2009
2009 - A YEAR OF GROWTH
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The LORD's Child continues to grow and hold events feeding hungry children and their families on location in the Appalachian Mountains.
Events are held at our larger facility on Middle Creek Road: Massive Easter Egg Drop and Easter Food Boxes, Back to School Extravanza, Thanksgiving and Christmas In Appalachia.
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2010
2010 - MORE PEOPLE MORE OPPORTUNITIES
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The LORD's Child continues to grow, feeding MORE people, presenting MORE gifts and holding MORE events to bless others. Operation Grocery Cart begins along with Camp Sneedville. A trip to Orbit School in Kenya, Africa sees The LORD's Child supplying shoes to all of the children.
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2011
2011 - Let's Go Back to Africa!
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Pastor Gene and the TLC team make more trips to Africa while continuing to keep the home fires burning with events, free food and gifts to bless our neighbors in the Appalachian Mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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2012
2012 - Missions is our Love Language
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Missions is why we at The LORD's Child get out of bed everyday. We know there are many needs but we believe we are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world for today.
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2013
2013 was one of the hardest years at The LORD's Child. It was the year our faith was tested and challenged as we lost our beautiful building and LORD's Child facilities in Sevierville, Tn during the economic collapse that affected the entire nation. God used this season to grow us all in our trust of Him and plant deeper roots in our understanding of His ways and His nature.
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2014
2014 - We LOVE our neighbors!
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Our biggest event this year at the Smoky Mountain Opry. The school in Uganda continues to grow with children, buildings and water.
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2015
2015 - We will NEVER STOP.
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When Pastor David May opened our Food Pantry in South Knoxville on a cold snowy day; little did he know that the Lord would take that one desperate person and Pastor Dave's faithfulness and turn it into now 1000's of children, adults and seniors receiving free food on a regular basis.
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2016
2016 - Now we're going MOBILE
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2017
2017 - Growing again
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The Food Pantry in South Knoxville continues to feed those in need and continues the work of the past 10 years with Easter Blessing Baskets, Back to School Backpacks, Thanksgiving Boxes and Operation Christmas.
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2018
EXPANDING OUR TERRITORY
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The LORD's Child supports mission trips spreading the gospel of the Kingdom of God internationally. Some of these mission trips go to some of the darkest nations in the world.
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2019
2019 Let us serve you
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Our volunteers continue to pray and serve the community in South Knoxville, Tennessee with 1000's of pounds of free food every week from our grocery partners.
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2020
2020 - COVID CONUNDRUM
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The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring of 2020 didnt stop us but it did change the way we do things.
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2021
2021 - It's the new way, going retail.
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The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, The LORD's Child opened its first ever Retail Apparel Location. The old way of raising financial support has changed and The LORD's Child didn't want to get left behind. Pastor Gene, using lessons he learned in his past directed the team to open a retail location and online store selling inspirational apparel.
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2022
2022 - From Appalachia to Africa - WHAT'S NEXT?
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In 2022 The LORD's Child is launching our new line of apparel and starting to sell our apparel wholesale to retail locations.
Everyone here at The LORD's Child continues to have a singular focus: ENDING HUNGER ONE MEAL AT A TIME.
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1st Golf Tournament Fudraiser
Pastor Gene Wolfenbarger,Coach Phillip Fulmer and Joey Matthews at our First Golf Tournament Fundraiser.
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1st Executive Director
Paul Danis accepts the position as First Executive Director of The LORD's Child
1st Corporate Offices Sevierville TN
First Corporate Offices of The LORD’s Child Sevierville TN
Easter Event
Operation Easter Blessing Baskets and Food Boxes Give Away. 100's of Children received Easter Baskets along with 100's of Families received free Food Boxes.
Pastor Gene Back To School Nike Shoes Give Away
Pastor Gene hands out Nike Children's Shoes at TLC Back to School Sevier County Days Event. - 100's of Free Backpacks, School Supplies & Food Boxes.
The LORD’s Child 1st Trip to Uganda - Paul and Terri Danis
Paul and Terri Danis visit Uganda and meet with Pastor Makumbi Johnson to discuss opening a school for orphans close to Kampala, Uganda
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Christmas In Appalachia
100's of new bicycles, helmets, pads, toys, Christmas stockings and food boxes given to children and their families from all over Appalachia.
100's of Bikes
100's of bikes given away as Christmas presents to Appalachian children.
Food Boxes for the Hungry
1000's of lbs of free food for the hungry.
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Laura Wolfenbarger becomes new Executive Director
Laura brought untold creativity and managerial experience to TLC, we will never be able to say a big enough Thank You for the new heights she took The LORD's Child to.
Shoes for Orbit Village
200 shoes were supplied to all the children at Orbit Village in Nairobi, Kenya.
Back to School
Children and their families were treated to a day at the attractions in Pigeon Forge. These families went home with new Nike sneakers, backpacks, food boxes and memories that will last a lifetime.
Nike donates children's sneakers
Thanks to Nike all the children received a free pair of new sneakers from the Nike store in Pigeon Forge, TN
Operation Grocery Cart
Laura always jumps in where needed. Volunteers collected grocery items from local grocery stores to give away free food boxes to Appalchian families in need.
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2011 .....meanwhile back in Africa
Corey Wolfenbarger, like his father and mother; Pastor Gene and Karen has a heart for the poor and less fortunate.
2011 Pray without ceasing.
Pastor Gene's heart is tied to the people of Uganda, Africa. He continues to pray and financially support the work the Lord is doing there at the school The Lord's Child helped start for orphans many years ago.
2011 Where the road ends.....
Where the road ends, we start. This is the road to the school where 300 children live and learn outside Kampala, Uganda.
2011 Pastor David May
Pastor David May has been with The LORD's Child since its inception. He does so much behind the scenes and never asks or expects praise. He is an integral part of TLC and we would not be where we are today without his expertise in procurement. Pastor Dave has led many, many mission trips over the years to Uganda, Kenya and South Africa.
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Hurricane Isaac
In 2012 Pastor Gene sends a tractor trailer full of supplies to help the people devastated and misplaced by Hurricane Isaac.
Love Works Crusade
Sneedville, TN is one of the most poverty stricken counties in the nation. In 2012 we took the Love Works Crusade along with free food to distribute to the people of that county.
Home Addition
The LORD's Chilld builds a home addition in Sneedville, TN for 2 children without a bedroom of their own.
Missions Week
Fun time of play, snacks, meals and comedy with Evangelist Jamey Ragle for some children at Camp Jubliee in Hancock County, TN.
Free Food
We love to ensure that children and families have enough food to eat not only when they attend an event but also when they go home.
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A year of testing
2013 was one of the hardest years at The LORD's Child. It was the year our faith was tested and challenged as we lost our beautiful building and LORD's Child facilities in Sevierville, Tn during the economic collapse that effected the entire nation. God used this season to grow us all in our trust of Him and plant deeper roots in our understanding of His ways and His nature.
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2014 CHRISTMAS IN THE SMOKIES
One of our faithful supporters donated their parking lot so that local Appalchian Children would not be forgotten at Christmas. With this sponsorship TLC was able to distribute free gifts of toys and clothes and a fun day for all the children. We never like to hold an event without giving away free food boxes to ensure that no child goes hungry.
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2015 Food Boxes for Christmas
Wherever and whenever The LORD's Child will always seek out those with less and ensure they have food for their familes.
Thanksgiving Food Boxes
1000's of lbs of food are distributed at Thanksgiving to ensure that everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.
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2016
2016 was the year we took the Food Pantry "ON THE ROAD". A Tractor trailer of food is able to go into some of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Appalachia. Once we arrive, we set up and invite the local community to come for free food boxes.
Are MFP's the answer?
At The LORD's Child we know MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES (MFP) are part of the solution to NO CHILD HUNGRY. We will go where the need is.
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PARTNERS ARE IMPORTANT
It would be impossible for us to do everything that we do without the help and financial support of our Partners. There is a cost to the food that we give away for free and our partners are the reason we can do it free of any charges to our guests.
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Spreading the Gospel
The LORD's Child supports missions to the Nations.
Missionaries go where they are called
Jesus said, "GO".
We will go to the Nations
Some lay seed, some harvest.
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Meanwhile, Back in Africa
We never go long before we go back to Uganda to see what the Lord is doing at the school outside Kampala. In 2019 Pastor Corey Wolfenbarger and Trina Parker take a team to Africa to see the school and encourage the teachers and children there.
Abundantly Blessed
Our partnership with Second Harvest that began in 2008, continues.
Operation Snowflake
We never forget children at Christmas and continue today to ensure children receive a gift during that season.
Back to school
We continue to give away free backpacks to children for their first day of school.
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Drive thru' Chick-fil-A style
Due to the COVID-19 we knew our guests would need to be served while also being protected. We switched to a drive through style food pantry.
Operation Snowflake
Christmas is always a special time at The LORD's Child with happy faces from the children receiving their Christmas Stockings and celebrating the birth of Jesus.
even with covid we grew and grew
The number of children and their families needing our help with food during 2020 grew.... and then grew some more....and more.
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SELLING CLOTHING! WHAT?
Everything changed in 2020 including the way we have always raised support to feed children. At the end of 2021 we launched our own Brand of Christian Apparel and Accessories. This is a new way for TLC to raise support.
SHOP OUR STORE. EVERY SHIRT FEEDS A CHILD.
Mobile Food Pantry
In 2021 The COVID conundrum continues but we will go where the Lord leads for hungry children.
Drive through Food Pantry
In 2021 we continued our drive through Food Pantry model, the safety of our immune comprimised guests was paramount.
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