John 1334 Ministries, DBA Eden Village of Arizona

Our mission is to build relationships and communities for our chronically homeless friends. We believe that the solution to poverty is dignity and that the solution to homelessness involves a home and a community.

VISION
We see a future where no one sleeps outside.

Our vision is to plant transformative communities throughout the Phoenix valley that empowers the homeless to create healthy, prosperous futures..

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
John 1334 Ministries (DBA La Mesa Ministries & Eden Village of Arizona) is a Christian organization working in the City of Mesa, Arizona. Our mission is to create a Christ-centered community for the chronically homeless and disabled. La Mesa Ministries has been developing relationships in the Phoenix East Valley with the homeless and working poor for over ten years. We believe that by building a relationship with individuals through street outreach and meal services we can begin to work alongside each individual to move them toward the ultimate goal of securing permanent housing. Our current focus is on feeding, assisting with temporary housing and helping our clients with their daily interface with governmental and societal organizations.

In order to increase our ability to provide permanent supportive housing, La Mesa Ministries will be developing a community of tiny homes which will house the chronically homeless with a disability. To accomplish this, we have signed a licensing agreement with The Gathering Tree, an organization located in Springfield, Missouri. The Gathering Tree is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing affordable permanent supportive housing to chronically disabled individuals in Springfield, Missouri. This organization was founded in 2010 and initially focused its efforts on homeless outreach. In 2016 The Gathering Tree endeavored to increase their capacity to help their clients by building the first Eden Village in Springfield, Missouri. This community consists of 32 homes. There are currently a total of 5 Eden Villages in full operation. Besides the two in Springfield, another is in Wilmington, North Carolina, Kansas City, Kansas, and Tulsa Oklahoma.

New in 2024, is the development of Eden Village in Mesa Arizona, a master-planned community of 21 400-square foot homes/duplexes that will provide permanent, supportive, and economical housing to individuals experiencing homelessness and living with a chronic disability in Maricopa County. This development will be located at 113 North Alma School Road in Mesa, Arizona, 85201.

PROGRAM SUMMARY
La Mesa Ministries is rooted in a calling to serve the homeless in our community in any and all ways that we can, and that will benefit them spiritually and physically. Our program is firmly rooted in relationships and trust.

Our network of staff, volunteers and partner service agencies perform the following services in our main office at 805 N. Country Club Drive in Mesa, Ariz.:
* Unconditional love and acceptance to those who have been shunned by society
* Spiritual support and guidance through our meals and ministry program
* Compassionate one-on-one care of counselors, caseworkers and trained volunteer staff who:
* Assist with housing solutions
* Provide employment support and access
* Provide transportation to connect with other needed services and resources
* On-site mail service for individuals without mailing addresses for important documents and employment communication
* Eden Village of Arizona. Housing for those with disabilities with preference to the chronically homeless.
* "Move In Miracles" - providing, deposits, and other essentials needed to move into a new home.
* "Rehabilitation Miracles" - a scholarship program for those ready to seek treatment for their addiction, in partnership with Teen Challenge.

Testimonials

"As a former volunteer meal coordinator, board member and board president of Paz De Cristo, I value and honor the personal relationships your team and volunteers have built. You just don't provide a service, you offer real meaningful relationships to be formed. The folks on the streets honestly can get a meal at a lot of different places. What they can't get on most days is respect, love, a smile and a true sense that someone cares for them." - Dan Trevino, President, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, AZ

"La Mesa Ministries and Rick McClellan specifically have been important voices for the community for raising awareness of need and how to provide necessary assistance. Rick and his associates attend and are important voices for a variety of homeless coalitions and interest groups. They stand in the gap for those that have not voice and are important contributors to moving the conversation into action. I am confident that La Mesa Ministries will use every allocated dollar to benefit their clients and be excellent steward of the dollars...