In her house of faith Marita McLain is lovingly called “Ms. McLain,” “Ms. Rita,” and “Pastor” by the youth and young adults of AOR.
She calls them “My loved ones,” witnessing to them that Jesus cares, intentionally wooing their hearts by being available to listen to their concerns and showing them a love sincere that begins to overturn and uproot hurts and disappointments borne out of dysfunctional families, unstable lives, and unhealthy relationships. As the months and years go by, their faith increases, their joy increases, and their self-image changes into one that reflects membership in the royal family of God our Father. Hope is alive in AOR.
Ms. McLain devotes herself to teaching her flock the necessity of developing a relationship with Jesus, building their self-esteem, getting them into better schools, helping them set goals and see them through, encouraging and strengthening them to face the challenges of their high-risk homes and neighborhoods. As they begin to see transformation in their own hearts and lives, not only do they grow into fruitful men and women of God but their own personal testimony stands as a witness of their faith in God and the love of their pastor, drawing others into the AOR family.
If you need someone to talk to or if you are looking for a church home, Ms. McLain is waiting to hear from you.
The Pastor’s Vision
During biblical times, God always sent a prophet, deliverer, and/or messenger to reveal the plan of God for His people. So Satan would always devise a strategy to sabotage the fulfilling of God’s plan. However, in every instance God provided a way of escape and a place of refuge. Moses’ mother placed him in a basket, and he floated down the Nile River into the reeds around Pharoah’s palace where Pharoah’s daughter rescued and raised him (Exodus 2:1-10). Joseph and Mary left Bethlehem and traveled to Egypt to protect the baby Jesus after the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to warn him of Herod’s plan to kill the child. Thereupon, Herod, enraged at having been outwitted by the Magi who didn’t come back and tell him the exact location where the child was, issued a decree to kill all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two (Matthew 1:13-16).
I believe the same thing is happening to our children and young adults now. God provides shepherds, who follow the Great Shepherd, for children whom Satan, a thief whose job is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10), has filled with a sense of hopelessness, despair and crushed spirits, blinding them from seeing and reaching the destiny God has purposed for their lives (Jeremiah 29:11). In answer to Jesus’ call to follow Him, I said “Yes.”
Our children are our future. We can try to either make a difference in their lives or stand by and watch them wither on the vine. We can show them that we love them and that we care about their broken hearts and what is happening to them. We can expose them to a lifestyle different than that which they have been exposed to in their daily lives in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. We can provide a safe haven where the Spirit of God dwells, always ready to receive and embrace them, a place where His ways and His word and His values are taught, demonstrating to them a different model of thinking about themselves and interacting with others. It is our intention that here they have a sense of belonging and worth which will ultimately produce productive citizens in God’s Kingdom and their own communities. This haven is AOR.
God gave me a vision to find acres of land that would be located on the outskirts of the District of Columbia, away from all the hustle and bustle of city living, a place of temporary refuge from crime, drugs, dysfunctional families, and emotionally traumatizing and abusive lifestyles. God has shown and directed me to build a church building for Sunday school and church services, a recreational area with a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, and ample fields in which to play, always to be a sanctuary where all children He sends me can be at peace and have fun. We declare this vision DONE, because we are one people with a common vision making the same confession that nothing will be restrained from us that we have imagined by God to do (Genesis 11:6) while tenaciously advancing the kingdom of God and warring to possess our inheritance (Matthew 11:12).