"The Place of Possibilities"

It begins in Aulander, North Carolina, a town located in Bertie County, a very poor county and the home of approximately 1200 men, women and children, black and white. It had become a community with high unemployment, crime in the streets, rampant drug addiction, low test scores and single or no-parent households.

In 1997 the Rev. Laura G. Early accepted a challenge to reach out in love to the poverty stricken families of this community. Programs and ministries to meet this challenge would grow out of an old abandoned church, cleaned up and renamed All God’s Children United Methodist Church.

In the early days of this challenge, Miss Laura focused on the children. The after-school program was a blessing which grew into a children’s choir. A preschool soon followed along with a drama team and youth service group. The weekly distribution of food and clothing was well received along with the weekly elder care ministry. A sports ministry called HOOPS brought many youth off the streets.

As the programs and ministries grew, so did the children. Encouraged by the love and support of Miss Laura, her community staff and All God’s Children, some ventured out of the poverty with newly-discovered spirits, seeking opportunity.

Seven years later the challenge continues as the children keep coming. The seed of hope has sprouted and become contagious. Hope has generated a vision for this Aulander community, a belief in all things possible.

The vision is a new facility, a place to expand the programs and ministries of All God’s Children under one roof. Its name will define its purpose — "The Place of Possibilities." Construction of this building will bring this community together in one place each day of the week for meals, food and clothing distribution, sporting events, Bible study, group meetings, classes in dance, gymnastics, martial arts, basketball and weight training, preschool, and after school care.

"The Place of Possibilities" is becoming a reality as land is donated, architectural designs rendered and costs of $350,000.00 determined. Groundbreaking is but the beginning of the endless possibilities for the Aulander community, no longer without hope.