Patti Griffiths is a typical American wife and mother whose primary career has been pharmacy.  In 2012 she traveled to Tanzania on a mission trip, fell in love with the Tanzanian people, and met Laurence Laben.  In 2013 she made her second trip when Laurence was the young Tanzanian working at the orphanage Patti visited in Mbuguni.  On that trip he suggested that they team up to create a vocational school to provide skills for Tanzanian young people, providing hope while helping them lift themselves out of the poverty that they have always known.  Patti immediately agreed, and the vision for Next Life Foundation was born.

Today, NLF is into its second school facility, has graduated its first two year class of tailors, is halfway through its first carpentry class, and has begun the second session of the tailoring class.

The mission of Next Life Foundation is to provide vocational training and sustained opportunities for the young people of Mbuguni, Tanzania, providing education in a Christian environment while gently sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this very short time, an obedient woman from the Iowa Great Lakes and a young Tanzanian motivated by his love and concern for his people have been used by God to make a difference in the lives of numerous young people.  NLF Tanzania operates the ministry in Tanzania while NLF America provides gentle guidance and funding to support the school.  Next Life Foundation is an example of what is possible when one person responds to God’s calling in their life.

First Presbyterian Church has supported Next Life Foundation since 2016.

The idea was conceived and patterned after the Dream Center in Los Angeles, California. The concept is to provide services to those in need throughout the region at one location. It opened in 2011 after a two year miraculous renovation of the former Tangny Hotel, which was offered to the Day Spring Assembly of God Church as a place to house the Center. Ministries included are a food pantry, clothing distribution, prom and wedding dress loans, free medical and dental services, teen youth center, after school tutoring program and a coffee shop.

Atlas Group was founded in Sioux Center in 2000 and has since planted over a dozen independent Atlas organizations across the nation. Atlas of Spencer began serving clients in Spencer in 2010 and has recently established a satellite office in the Lakes Area. David Lyons serves as the Executive Director. Dave Butterworth has been employed as the Lakes Area Office Director and charged with developing and introducing the ministry to the community while serving the less fortunate in our area.

The Atlas of Spencer Mission is to guide CHANGED LIVES THROUGH CHRISTIAN LOVE AND ADVOCACY. Daily, Atlas seeks to be mentor-advocates by providing relational, emotional, physical, financial, and/or spiritual support and guidance to those seeking help. Atlas staff strive to become a non-judgmental presence in lives while demonstrating the unconditional love of God, offering a relationship with Jesus Christ, and encouraging participation in a local church.

The Atlas of Spencer Vision is FOSTERING COMMUNITY AWARENESS, CONCERN, AND RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF AREA RESIDENTS. In the broader community, Atlas desires to serve as a catalyst to promote an expanding ministry of caring people across the community. Working cooperatively where God puts us can provide for changed lives through cooperative investment in others.

As Atlas seeks to provide assistance to the less fortunate of our community, our ministry welcomes people from area churches who will willingly share their life with and reach out to help others traveling rough spots on their journey through life.

God’s Provision Food Pantry is open to anyone who is going through a difficult time in life and needs help with food. They are open the 2nd & 4th Saturdays every month from 8:00-10:00 A.M. The ministry is run by all volunteers who pick up a trailer load of food from the Des Moines Food Bank, unload and stock the food pantry, run the food pantry when opened and pray for the needs of the people served. This ministry serves 250 to 400 people each month by the grace of God. Volunteers are always needed.

Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. (UDMO) is one of 17 community action agencies (CAAs) in Iowa and one of approximately 1,000 community action agencies across the United States. CAAs are nonprofit private and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America’s War on Poverty.

UDMO promotes self-sufficiency by providing a variety of programs to fight poverty, improve health and increase educational attainment for family members of all ages.  During the 2014 fiscal year, UDMO served 20,364 individuals in 8,367 households in Northwest and North Central Iowa (12 counties). Of those households, 63% had incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level.