Amazon Wishlist

People often ask, how can I help? Two words…

AMAZON WISHLIST

Most of us order from Amazon on a daily basis. Would you consider purchasing items to help support our ministry? Your support helps furnish homes for families in need and ultimately allow us to be the hands of feet of Jesus. In Acts 20:35 we are told, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” When we live generously, our cups are filled by meeting the needs of others.

Some items on our list include:

-Lamps-Nightstands-Sheets-Comforters-Pots & Pans-Mattress Pads-

*When checking out, be sure to choose Fully Furnished Ministries as your shipping address so it can be sent straight to our warehouse*

Welcome Home Baskets

Making a house feel like a home can be a difficult task! When we fully furnish a home, we always leave a "Welcome Home Basket'' to bless the family we are serving. Baskets are filled with basic items needed to clean and maintain a home. 

Creating a basket is a simple and practical way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We love to see the creative and helpful things that you put in these baskets. It helps our families feel truly loved and cared for.  Making welcome baskets is an easy way to serve with your Bible Study Groups, family, or even your friends! While a basket may seem small, it supports our ministry in a huge way!

Basket Ideas

Paper products: paper towels, toilet paper

Disinfecting supplies: clorox wipes, antibacterial spray

Kitchen and floor cleaners: swiffer, wood & tile floor cleaner

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: liquid or tablets

Dishwasher detergent: dish soap, liquid or tablets

Personal Care items: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant

Cleaning Tools: bucket, broom, mop, toilet brush, rubber gloves

Baskets can be dropped off at our warehouse. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out by emailing info@fullyfurnishedministries.org. We can’t wait for you to join us in serving our families in this simple and practical way. 

Our Why!

As the Lord continues to bless our ministry, we have many new faces that have come alongside us to serve. We believe it’s important to share with you the mission and heartbeat of Fully Furnished Ministries.

Our mission is simple. Live and share the gospel through the gift of furniture. In 1 Timothy chapter 6, we are called “to be generous and willing to share." Fully Furnished provides others with the opportunity to put this verse into action. 

As the only furniture bank north of US 285, the need to provide dignified living space for families is at an all-time high. Many have nothing more than a floor for a bed, four walls, and a roof to call their own. Fully Furnished was established in 2003 to change that! A group of volunteers came up with the simple idea of matching those desiring to give furniture away to those in need in a God-honoring way.

God has allowed our ministry to flourish over the past 19 years. Whether it’s through a donor, volunteer, partner, or recipient family, the name of Jesus is being shared. It is our hope and prayer that we continue to see homes furnished and hearts forever changed. 

Are you in the Atlanta area and would you like to make a difference in the lives of others one family at a time? If so, come participate with us through volunteering, donating your used furniture, and partnering with us financially. Go to https://lnkd.in/gQg6Tvr2 to find out more

Serving together in love.

It’s a special thing to see a couple serve together in ministry, serving not only out of their individual love for Christ, but also together in their love for one another. So, we wanted to highlight 4 couples that have been volunteering with our ministry here at FFM on a regular basis…together!

To make a bit more fun, we gave them a short questionnaire to give us insight into their story as a couple and as FFM volunteers. Don’t miss out on these fun stories and details! Enjoy the read and consider serving together with your spouse, kids, and others in your life that you love. Click here to sign up: https://fullyfurnishedministries.org/volunteer.

Amira & Jason

1.) How long have you been married?
- We are going on 3 years of marriage.

2.) What’s your favorite date night?
- Our favorite date night is trying out a new restaurant in the Atlanta area.

3.) How long have you been serving together at Fully Furnished and in what area?
- We’ve been serving at FFM for 3 years and serve the moving department of the ministry. 

4.) How did you start serving together?
- After taking pre-married life and during pre-married counseling, we realized serving together is something we felt was important to incorporate in our future marriage. We found FFM and decided to try it out. After our first time serving at FFM we loved purpose of the ministry and the rest is history.

5.) Why do you like to serve together?
- We like to serve together because it is a way for us to be together the whole day. During the week day we are both busy working and we don’t see each other until the evening. It is also a way for the both of us to look outside of ourselves, beyond our own problems, and make a positive difference on someone else life through FFM and ultimately through Christ. 

6.) Share your favorite story/memory from serving together.
- We were at a delivery and the smiles on the family’s face was amazing! The family was recovering from a house fire and they were just so thankful to receive the furniture from FFM. 

Mary & Merrill

1) How long have we been married?
- We recently celebrated 30 years.

2) What is your favorite date night?
- We love being outside, so going biking or hiking and then out for a casual dinner is a perfect evening. 

3) How long have you been serving together at FFM and in which area do you serve?
- We’ve both been “around” the ministry for maybe 10+ years, as donors and on random volunteer projects with various groups.  However, in the fall of 2019, while doing some furniture restoration work with Glenn Mahoney (board member and friend of Merrill) it came up that they needed better connections with current and new social service agencies (where furniture requests originate). Mary has a master’s in social work, so this was right up her alley and she jumped in connecting and surveying agencies on ways we could work better together. Shortly after Merrill was recruited to focus on the technical side of things. Since then, Jeff and Mary (Myers) keep finding new assignments (website, reporting, automation, flowcharts, videos) for us to tackle, and we keep accepting. Almost always we work on these together with each of us focusing on the part of the project that matches our skill set, and/or bouncing ideas off each other.  We like it because we are always working on something new, we can do it together, and we get to see the impact of our work!

4) Why do you like to serve together and in this in ministry?
- First of all, this ministry is such a blessing to those experiencing furniture poverty. How can you make a home without furniture? The people receiving furniture feel blessed to receive and the people giving are blessed knowing their furniture is helping someone else. We have owned a few businesses so have learned to work well together. Merrill loves the technology side, which is not Mary’s strong suite. Mary prefers the people, organizing, creating, and communication side, we are Yin and Yang and almost every project needs some of both!

5) Do you have a favorite memory from serving together at FFM?
- Most of our work is “back of the house” but when we do get to go on a delivery, which is where we get recharged and get refocused on the “why” we volunteer. Most people do not realize that FFM clients are the working poor and if one thing goes wrong, they are living out of a motel, or on the street. One family we met was in a motel for over 2 years. They worked hard while caring for their child. Finally, after saving enough an agency was able to help them move back into an apartment. They were so thankful when the truck from FFM rolled up and we prayed together before leaving and you could see the joy and excitement, they felt for getting a new chance. That certainly energized us!

6) Any else to share?
- Praise God for the growth of the ministry. It has been one thing that has truly blossomed during this pandemic as FFM is serving so many more families that are moving typically from motels to apartments. 

Luke & Emily

1) How long have you been married?
- 4+ years

2) What’s your favorite date night?
- Eating subs at home, but we have more fun during the day.

3) How long have you been serving together at FFM and in which area do you serve?
- Luke: 3 years, furniture delivery/pickup
- Emily: 7 months, furniture delivery/pickup (formerly furniture restoration)

3) How did you start serving together at FFM?
- Luke found FFM through Victory Church and loved it so much that eventually Emily decided to stop working on Saturdays and go with. 

4) Why do you like to serve together in ministry?
- It’s fun and we get to meet new people together. It’s fun when different people ride in the truck with us.

5) Do you have a favorite memory from serving together at FFM?
- Just last weekend we delivered furniture to a couple with four children who expressed so much gratitude for everything we gave them – from their new sofa, to the new beds for their kids, and even to food and toilet paper. It was an extra stop after a long day, but it made us appreciate how lucky we are to be a small part of this ministry.

We also enjoyed the time James West had his FFM shirt on backwards and didn’t know it.

Sherry & Terrance

1) How long have you been married?
- 16 Years

2) What’s your favorite date night? 
- Dinner & Movie

3) How long have you been serving together at FFM and in which area do you serve? 
- 2 years – Hearts Team

4) How did you start serving together at FFM?
- Terrance started in 2017 when it was Movers & Shakers.  If I remember correctly, John reached out to me (Sherry) since I am bilingual and my first-time volunteering, I was with Rosa, 2 years ago.  

5) Why do you like to serve together in ministry?
- It’s a fun way to serve as a couple and serve our community together. There is such a wide range of emotions felt such as happiness when you see a child’s joy to have a bed, heart wrenching when a mom can’t open her door for her child’s safety, and we leave everything on the porch and pray outside her door. We experience laughter as well with FFM recipients and donors.

6) Do you have a favorite memory from serving together at FFM? 
- Our favorite memory was when we went to a FFM recipient who had basically just arrived in US.  They were so happy when the truck pulled up. They came out with smiles and helped unload.  After all was in the home, they prayed for us and wanted to know how they can pay it forward and serve.  

Serving from the heart.

Do you know this man, Nathan King? If you don’t then you should! But as he comes in and serves from the heart throughout the week, you’ll have to seek him out. He moves quickly through the warehouse, getting orders from John, then heading out with a couple of “his guys” to deliver and/or pick up furnishings. There’s a lot more to it though, so read on to hear the full story of Nathan and his time with Fully Furnished Ministries.

Nathan got started with FFM in a very usual way—he showed up one Saturday morning to serve after hearing about it through his men’s discipleship group at Victory Church. At that time, he was mentoring young men, especially young men growing up with single moms and no fathers in their lives, through the ministry he started called For God's Purpose Ministry (FGPM). So he decided to bring those guys along and have them serve alongside him.

Nathan’s ministry, FGPM, continued to grow and expand as he sought to help men and youth in a variety of ways. (We encourage you to read about all that they do on their website: https://www.forgodspurposeministry.com/. ) These men come from all walks of life and are all ages, from young 20s to 60 years old! Nathan shares, “it doesn’t matter the age, if they’re older or younger. They come with the same problem of never having a father in their life.”

As his personal ministry expanded, his involvement with FFM expanded as well. He started bringing these guys out with him regularly on Saturdays and this grew into a day or two during the week. Now, this year, he’s coming out with 2-3 other guys on 4-5 mornings during the week! This has allowed our ministry to expand greatly to be able to go outside of our service area when absolutely necessary.

Nathan is one of our “backbone” volunteers—his selfless service to us and men in our communities is incredible and we are so thankful for him and the ministry he is doing.

I asked Nathan how we can be praying for him and the ministry he’s doing and he shared with me: “We used to have a house for these men that have nowhere to go—coming out of prison or homeless from other situations. We no longer have it but we are looking and praying for God to provide one for us.” Let’s join together and pray for Nathan and this ministry. May God use him greatly as he serves others and serves through Fully Furnished Ministries!

Catch a quick video of Nathan speaking with us here on our Facebook page.

He served, then received.

A man names Jesus (pronounced “hay-sus”) showed up one Saturday morning to serve. We were thrilled to have a Spanish speaker with us and thankful for another volunteer willing to give up time to help others. As he served, we managed to communicate in broken English and broken Spanish with one another and we found out he was from Lugo Alto Church and on the list to receive furniture for his empty apartment. But before receiving his furniture, he wanted to serve other families.

So for two Saturdays in a row, he lifted, loaded, unloaded and delivered furnishings to other families in need and helped pick up furniture donations. On the third Saturday it was his turn to receive. We showed up at his empty apartment where he and a friend were waiting to help, once again. The team unloaded an apartment’s worth of furnishings including 3 bedrooms, a living room and a dining room, with lamps, linens and kitchen items. He was beyond excited and wore a smile on his face the whole time!

As we spoke together in our two languages and some translation throgh another volunteer, we found out that he was coming from Venezuela and had made his way to Atlanta through Miami. He came alone, leaving his wife, siblings and parents behind, in hopes to bring them to join him. They were in dire conditions in Venezuela, where a month of wages will get you $3 and simple medicines can cost you $100—the country is a very difficult place to live.

After he received his papers and found a job, he was able to arrange for his wife, brother and mentally-disabled sister to join him in this apartment he secured. But it had no furnishings and they have little money. So, we were able to jump in and provide for them, just days before his family arrived! He was so grateful.

We are so inspired by people who are willing to serve and volunteer, even when they have nothing. They are willing to give even before they receive! Please continue to pray for him and his family and that his parents will also be able to immigrate.

Joy & Serving [impact with every interaction]

Many of you may know this wonderful man, Victor Reed. Victor has been volunteering with Fully Furnished for years and his impact is felt across the many interactions he has with people every week.

He started with our ministry by showing up on a Saturday to move some furniture — as many of you have done over the weeks, months and years. But he found his real niche in serving when he found out about the Restoration Team. Now for months and months, every Tuesday, Victor shows up and helps lead the team in bringing new life to furniture that is broken or worn down. Without a big commotion upon entering or leaving the warehouse, Victor quietly works. And without realizing, he brings Christ’s peace, love and joy.

Anyone there on a Tuesday knows Victor and sees Victor. And although they don’t hear much from Victor, they feel Victor. His steady commitment to serving each and every week, bad knees and all, reminds us all of the importance of giving back to others.

But Victor didn’t stop there — many months ago, he realized that his own church had a moving truck that sat idle a lot of days of the week. After permission from his church, he came to us and asked if we wanted to use it. Knowing our needs were growing beyond Saturdays, he offered to bring the truck over a couple of Fridays a month and drive it to any needed deliveries. And of course we said YES! And thank you!

Now that we have 2 of our own trucks, we shifted our days and Victor now brings it out a Saturday or two per month to give us a much needed third truck. Victor’s commitment to serving and willingness to create a partnership for us with his church is impacting more people than we will ever know. Every piece he helps restore will bring more joy and love to a family in need, showing how much others care for them, because of Christ’s love. Every time he brings that truck over and drives it, more and more families are able to be served and their lives will be forever changed as they step out of poverty and into a fuller life.

Take a few minutes and hear from Victor in this video. Hear about why he serves and finds joy in his weekly volunteering with FFM, and oh so much more. You don’t want to miss these 3 minutes of Victor and his nuggets of wisdom amidst a spirit of peace. Watch here.

If you’d like to volunteer, then we know we can find the perfect spot for you to serve using your specific gifts, talents and passions. Find out more here.

Not Just Any Group [impact with every interaction]

What a group! This group of 20-25 men are truly making an impact with every interaction they make at FFM…with one another, with volunteers, with recipient families, and even with our checking account! And here’s how:

Every Wednesday night, this awesome group of men, mostly from Victory Church, come together at our FFM warehouse to share food, fellowship and studying of the Word. Yep, they use our space, and no, we don’t just do that for any and every Bible study group. BUT these guys are not just any group.

The last Saturday or every month, this group of men come out and serve our families. They show up at 7:30am and load up, drive out and deliver much needed furnishings to families all over town. They follow this with picking up items from donors, taking them back to the warehouse and unloading. By 12:30/1pm they leave having made a huge impact.

But they don’t stop there. They worked out a cool partnership with another ministry they volunteer through, to provide us with incredible food boxes for that Saturday. So, they show up that day with food boxes in hand to bless those 4-6 recipient families for that day. We don’t usually provide food to anyone, but these guys wanted to surprise those families on their serve Saturday with this extra blessing of love and provision from the Lord. And those food boxes are making a huge impact.

But they don’t stop there. As a group, they collect funds and put them into one pot to divide among different community causes, needs and ministries. They agreed as a group to commit, and have been giving to Fully Furnished Ministries, a monthly financial contribution. And those dollars are making a huge impact.

These guys are no freeloaders. They are volunteers and donors. They are men of word and deed. They are choosing to make an impact with every interaction and opportunity. If you see one of them out on a Saturday, be sure to ask them about the many other ministries and organizations they are helping and contributing to — and pray for them. We need more men’s groups like these, impacting lives for the Lord.

If you’d like to give of your time, talents or treasure, then we would be blessed! Click here for more info on giving financially and serving by volunteering with us.

Recovering & Serving Simultaneously [impact with every interaction]

Meet Jeremy Mitchell (left) and TJ Burras (right). They work with His Way, a Christ-centered recovery program for men based in Huntsville, Alabama. As they expanded to Atlanta over the summer, we connected with them to see how we could partner together. And it turned out to be an incredible opportunity for impact at every interaction.

Our first step was bringing them items to furnish their recovery rooms. During their 6-month program, their duplexes house men for the first 30 days, where they have a daily regimen of recovery classes, Bible classes, counseling sessions, and afternoon work/serving. As we delivered beds, dressers and bedside tables to their new housing, we discovered another way to partner together. Their men needed a place to serve in the community as part of their recovery program.

These men now come to our warehouse twice a week to volunteer. Led by James West, they show up each time with great attitudes and a willingness to serve. The incredible part of this is, not only are they helping us and giving us free labor, we are watching them experience God’s healing in their lives as they serve the community in this way — doing something unselfish, and understanding their role in a connected community.

It’s also been a joy to watch James connecting with these men week after week. They look forward to the time they get to spend with him and they relish the minutes they sit together at the end of their shifts, as James pours into their hearts and lives. This is a rippling life impact as they recover and heal and reconnect with their wives and children, moms and dads, and others — building their lives back in a healthy way and God truly restoring their families and futures.

Join with us in praying for His Way ministry, the men in the program, their families, and that every hour they spend with FFM will help them in their journey of healing and wholeness in Christ.

If you know of an organization or church that may want to partner with us in giving, serving or bringing us families in need, please contact us here.

Daniel & Jason's Story [it's more than just furniture]

Meet Daniel and Jason. Both serve as volunteers for our ministry. The two of them were complete strangers from very different backgrounds. Yet God brought the two of them together over furniture.

In November of 2019, Daniel arrived to serve with FFM as part of his church, Lugo Alto. Jason also arrived to serve as a part of his church, Victory Church. They met while loading their truck for the day and served together. Throughout the day, they got to know each other and became fast friends. In Jason’s words, “they just hit it off.”

Daniel, Spanish speaking with little English, asked Jason if they could start hanging out so that he could practice his English. And so they did so a few times over the next few months. These two men of God, from very different backgrounds coming together over furniture? Only God could orchestrate that.

“It’s more than furniture…furniture is just the vehicle God uses to show us all His love, grace, and mercy.”

— John Dance, Executive Director

During the pandemic last year, the two friends lost track of each other. Earlier this month, Daniel, needing furniture himself connected with me. While talked he also asked me if I knew of Jason's whereabouts. I contacted Jason and the two friends reconnected.

Through furniture, God has something for all of us. The volunteers, furniture donors, and yes those we bring furniture to. If we listen with our hearts, God is talking to each of us as we engage with one another and share what we have with one another. Perhaps it looks like furniture, but is so much more.

If you’d like to help us impact more people and give more than just furniture, click here and donate much needed funds for our ministry.