To my fellow community members, pastors, and ministry leaders in Davie County,

My name is Jody Blackwelder, and like many of you, my heart is rooted right here in Davie County. I constantly witness the incredible faith and generosity that flows from our local churches and ministries. Every week, I see congregations living out the Gospel through food pantries, youth groups, and countless acts of service. We are a community blessed with a deep desire to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Yet, in my conversations with many of you, I’ve noticed a common challenge. While our hearts are united in purpose, our efforts are often disconnected. A family in need might not know which church has the resources to help them. One church might have a team of willing volunteers, while another has a project that desperately needs them, but the two never connect. We work hard in our own corners, but I believe God is calling us to do more—to be more effective, together.

I invite you to imagine what that could look like. What if there was one trusted place a person in crisis could turn to, knowing their request would be seen by a compassionate network of believers ready to help? What if your church could instantly see the real-time needs in our community and easily partner with another ministry to meet a need that was too big to handle alone? What if we could tear down the silos and truly operate as one unified Body of Christ in Davie County?

This is the vision behind G7Life.com.

The document that follows this letter is a detailed business plan—a practical, prayerfully considered roadmap to bring this vision to life. It outlines a plan to create a central digital hub for our faith community: a public-facing website for those in need to request help, and a private, secure platform for our churches and ministries to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate our efforts.

This isn’t about creating another ministry to compete for resources. It’s about building a tool to amplify the incredible work you are already doing. It’s about fostering stewardship, preventing burnout, and ensuring that our collective impact is greater than the sum of our individual parts.

I ask that you read the following plan not just as a document, but as an invitation to join in a mission to transform our community. This is a vision far too big for one person or one church, but it is not too big for God and the unified Church of Davie County.

Thank you for your time, your heart for this community, and your consideration.

In His Service,

Jody Blackwelder Founder, G7Life.com

G7Life.com Ministry Business Plan

Date: July 2, 2025 Motto: Connecting the Church, Serving the Community, Sharing the Gospel.

1.0 Executive Summary

G7Life.com is a Christian ministry initiative based in Davie County, North Carolina, founded to address a critical gap in our community: the lack of centralized communication and coordination among the many local churches and ministries. This disconnect currently leads to duplicated efforts, unaddressed needs, and significant difficulty for residents in crisis to find the right help.

Inspired by collaborative models like Send Relief, G7Life.com will provide a digital infrastructure to unite the local Body of Christ for greater impact. The ministry will operate on two fronts:

  1. G7Life.com: The public “front door” where residents can learn our mission and submit confidential requests for assistance.
  2. davienc.g7life.com: A private, secure online platform for approved partner churches, ministries, and vetted volunteers to communicate, manage projects, share resources, and receive training.

Our primary focus is to serve the most vulnerable, including children in crisis and those experiencing homelessness, using tangible help as a bridge to share the hope and truth of God’s Word. This business plan outlines a phased, data-informed strategy for development, operational rollout, and long-term sustainability to ensure G7Life.com can achieve its mission for years to come.

2.0 Mission, Vision, and Values

  • Mission Statement: To equip and unite the Christian community in Davie County to effectively share the Gospel and serve those in need through collaboration and compassion.
  • Vision Statement: To see a Davie County where every person in need knows exactly where to turn for help, and every church is empowered to use its unique gifts to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a coordinated, impactful way.
  • Core Values:
    • Gospel-Centered: Our primary motivation is to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
    • Unity in Christ: We respect the autonomy of each partner church, focusing on the shared mission that unites us as the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:3).
    • Service with Dignity: We believe every person is created in the image of God and will ensure all interactions are handled with confidentiality, respect, and grace.
    • Wise Stewardship: We are committed to the responsible use of all resources—financial, material, and human—entrusted to us by God and our partners.
    • Collaborative Spirit: We believe we are more effective together than we are apart.

3.0 SWOT Analysis

  • Strengths:
    • Addresses a clearly identified need for coordination within the faith community.
    • Low-cost, scalable digital model compared to physical infrastructure.
    • Founder’s existing connections and passion for the mission.
    • Strong potential for high community impact by leveraging existing church resources.
  • Weaknesses:
    • Initial reliance on a single founder (potential for burnout).
    • Success is dependent on achieving buy-in from busy, independent church leaders.
    • Limited initial funding and brand recognition.
  • Opportunities:
    • A high number of active churches in Davie County seeking effective outreach methods.
    • Growing need for services addressing housing insecurity and family crises.
    • Potential to partner with established local organizations like Family Promise of Davie County and the Davie Community Foundation.
    • Increasing availability of affordable technology to facilitate collaboration.
  • Threats:
    • Potential for theological disagreements or competition between ministries.
    • Data privacy and security risks associated with handling sensitive information.
    • Volunteer and donor fatigue if impact is not clearly demonstrated.

4.0 Phased Implementation Plan

This ministry will be built in three distinct phases, incorporating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure success and ensure a solid foundation.

Phase 1: Foundation & Validation (Months 1-6)

  • Goal: To prove the ministry concept through manual coordination and build a founding coalition.
  • Key Actions:
    1. Form Pathfinder Team: Recruit 3-5 respected local pastors/ministry leaders to serve as the initial advisory board.
    2. Draft Core Documents: With the Pathfinder Team, create a Statement of Faith, Partnership Agreement, and Code of Conduct.
    3. Launch “Concierge MVP” (Minimum Viable Product):
      • Build a simple G7Life.com landing page explaining the mission.
      • Use a secure online form (e.g., Jotform) for help requests.
      • Manually vet requests with the Pathfinder Team and connect needs to partner churches via a private email list. This manual process is crucial for refining the vetting system before building technology.
    4. Legal Prep: Begin the process of incorporating as a nonprofit and researching 501(c)(3) requirements in North Carolina.
  • Phase 1 KPIs:
    • Recruit 5 partner churches to the founding coalition.
    • Successfully process and connect 10 community needs with church partners.
    • Finalize and ratify all core governance documents.

Phase 2: Platform Build & Pilot Launch (Months 7-12)

  • Goal: To deploy the technology platform and formalize processes with a pilot group.
  • Key Actions:
    1. Build Technology Stack: Develop the private davienc.g7life.com platform using software like BuddyBoss (WordPress) or a hosted solution like Mighty Networks. Integrate or plan for a case management tool like CharityTracker.
    2. Form & Train Vetting Team: Recruit a dedicated team of 2-3 trusted individuals. Train them on the refined vetting process, emphasizing dignity and confidentiality.
    3. Soft Launch: Onboard the Phase 1 partner churches as the first users. Allow them to test the platform, provide feedback, and work out bugs.
    4. Content Creation: Develop the first set of training materials (e.g., “Best Practices for a Home Visit,” “Sharing Your Testimony Respectfully”).
  • Phase 2 KPIs:
    • Fully functional and secure davienc.g7life.com platform launched.
    • Achieve an 80% satisfaction rate from pilot church users.
    • Reduce the manual time spent on matching needs by 50% through platform use.

Phase 3: Public Launch & Sustainable Growth (Year 2+)

  • Goal: To become the recognized hub for Christian service in Davie County and ensure long-term sustainability.
  • Key Actions:
    1. Public Launch: Host an official launch event (e.g., pastors’ breakfast) to demonstrate the platform and share testimonials from the pilot phase.
    2. Formalize Board & 501(c)(3): Transition the Pathfinder Team into a formal Board of Directors and complete the 501(c)(3) application process.
    3. Active Outreach: Systematically recruit new church partners through personal visits and presentations.
    4. Implement Funding Strategy: Launch fundraising initiatives and begin applying for grants.
  • Phase 3 KPIs (Annual Goals):
    • Onboard a total of 15+ active partner churches.
    • Achieve a 75% volunteer retention rate for G7Life-coordinated projects.
    • Secure 25% of the annual operating budget from grants and church partnerships.

5.0 Key Ministry Initiatives: Homelessness & Children

G7Life.com will be the coordinating engine for these specific, high-impact programs run by our church network.

  • Ministry to the Homeless:
    • “Care Kit” Coordination: Use the platform to run network-wide drives to assemble and distribute hygiene/food kits containing contact information for G7Life.com and local shelters like Family Promise of Davie County.
    • Mobile Hospitality Teams: Organize trained, multi-church volunteer teams to build relationships with unsheltered individuals, offering meals, prayer, and connection to services.
  • Ministry to Children & Youth:
    • “Safe Families” Style Support: Recruit and vet host families to provide voluntary, temporary care for children whose parents are in a short-term crisis, preventing entry into the formal foster care system.
    • Foster & Kinship “Wrap-Around” Support: Mobilize church small groups to “adopt” foster/kinship families, providing practical support like meals, respite care, and encouragement.
    • School Partnerships: Partner with Davie County Schools to coordinate church volunteers as tutors and mentors and meet tangible needs identified by school social workers.

6.0 Marketing & Outreach Plan

  • Brand Identity: Develop a simple, professional logo and messaging that clearly communicates the mission of unity and service.
  • Digital Presence: Maintain the G7Life.com public website with success stories, information for donors, and clear access to the help request form. Utilize a simple social media presence to share positive stories and thank partners.
  • Direct Outreach (Most Important): The primary marketing strategy is personal, face-to-face engagement with pastors and ministry leaders across Davie County.
  • Content Marketing: Create a simple quarterly e-newsletter for partners, donors, and interested parties, highlighting recent successes, upcoming needs, and prayer requests.
  • Community Partnerships: Co-host events or workshops with established organizations to build credibility and reach a wider audience.

7.0 Operations & Technology

  • Leadership: G7Life.com will be governed by a Board of Directors responsible for strategy and financial oversight. Day-to-day operations will be managed by the founder, with key functions delegated to volunteer teams.
  • Key Teams:
    • Vetting Team: Manages all incoming requests for help.
    • Tech Team: Manages the website and collaboration platform.
    • Outreach Team: Engages with new church partners.
  • Technology Stack:
    • Collaboration Platform: BuddyBoss (WordPress) or Mighty Networks.
    • Case Management: CharityTracker (for tracking assistance to prevent duplication).
    • Project Management: Asana or Trello (for internal G7Life team projects).
    • Website: WordPress.

8.0 Financial & Sustainability Plan

  • Funding Streams:
    1. Individual Donors: Cultivate a base of one-time and recurring monthly donors through the website and newsletters.
    2. Church Partnerships: Once value is established, invite partner churches to make a modest annual contribution ($100-$250) towards core operational costs.
    3. Grants: After achieving 501(c)(3) status, apply for grants from the Davie Community Foundation, The Winston-Salem Foundation, and other Christian grant-making bodies.
  • Projected Expenses (Initial):
    • Year 1: ~$300-$500 (Web hosting, domain, online forms, incorporation fees).
    • Year 2: ~$1,500-$3,000 (Platform software, security, 501(c)(3) filing fees, marketing materials).
    • Year 3+: Budget to be set by the Board, focused on maintaining technology and potentially funding a part-time administrative role as the ministry grows.

9.0 Risk Management & Mitigation

  • Risk: Lack of Church Buy-In.
    • Mitigation: The “Concierge MVP” and Pathfinder Team model builds trust and proves value before asking for a major commitment.
  • Risk: Data Privacy Breach.
    • Mitigation: Implement strict, role-based access controls. Use secure, reputable technology and maintain a clear privacy policy.
  • Risk: Founder Burnout.
    • Mitigation: A core principle is delegation to the Board and volunteer teams from the outset.
  • Risk: Ineffective Vetting.
    • Mitigation: A dedicated, trained Vetting Team using a refined, grace-centered process ensures consistency and dignity.