What is the Garden Mission Baltimore?

The Garden Mission Baltimore is a Christian nonprofit committed to relational, place-based ministry in Southwest Baltimore—the same community where our parent church, Crossroads Church of the Nazarene, first began in 1925.

We're neighbors who have chosen to put down roots here for the long haul, creating gathering spaces where authentic relationships can bloom and every person experiences dignity, belonging, and purpose. At heart, we're committed to being good neighbors, as Jesus Christ taught us.

Our approach centers on place-based, partnership-rooted programs. We work alongside existing community members, organizations, and businesses while also using our space to invite partners from across the city to invest in Southwest Baltimore's flourishing. Whether serving weekly community meals, hosting recovery meetings, running our Threads in Hollins thrift clothing shop, or creating new opportunities for community expression and social connection, everything flows from genuine relationships and mutual respect.

We believe healthy communities are marked by healing and creating. Material, social, and spiritual needs are deeply interconnected. Some of our partnerships focus on healing—helping neighbors through hardship and meeting material needs. Others focus on creativity and connection—universal human desires that transcend circumstances.

We believe Southwest Baltimore is good soil for growing people. Our mission is to tend that garden—not by imposing from the outside, but by walking alongside our neighbors as part of the community and its shared experience. We're here because we believe God is already at work in Southwest Baltimore, and we're called to join what He's doing in this community.

How did we
get started?

The Garden Mission Baltimore represents a homecoming—a return to the Southwest Baltimore neighborhoods where our local church first took root over a century ago.

Our story began in 1925, when Crossroads Church (originally Baltimore First Church of the Nazarene) was planted on Doswell Avenue in Baltimore’s Rosemont neighborhood. Like many urban churches in the 1950s and 60s, we relocated westward—first to Edmonson Village in 1950, then to Howard County in 1970, where we built our current campus in Ellicott City and have thrived for over 50 years.

We started with relationship, not programs.

But coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022, God prompted us with a clear calling to return to the city we once called home. We began asking, “What would it look like to humbly re-enter neighborhoods we had left?”

We joined hands with BeMoreCaring, a Baltimore nonprofit serving homeless individuals and vulnerable populations. Using our church's commercial kitchen, our volunteers began preparing and serving meals without interruption. Since 2020, we've served over 60,000 meals—the equivalent of 30+ meals per day each year.

In 2022, we expanded our commitment by partnering with Young Life Baltimore City, connecting our members with middle and high school students in West Baltimore through long-term mentoring relationships. About a dozen of our members now travel weekly into the Franklin Square neighborhood, and each semester Crossroads hosts a 3-on-3 basketball tournament bringing together Young Life mentors and mentees from across Baltimore.

By 2023, Pastor Randy Clay, our missions director, Patti Hewat, and others were leading regular prayer walks throughout Southwest Baltimore, feeling increasingly drawn to the original neighborhoods our church had served in the early 1900s. That summer, Noble, a local resident and business owner in the Hollins Market neighborhood, invited us into the community and her recently redeveloped property to collaborate as we explored what authentic, long-term presence could look like. We were adopted into local neighborhood traditions, like SOWEBO Fest, hosting a Fall Block Party each October, serving over 150 meals at our Friendsgiving event each November, and hosting cookie decorating and Christmas caroling each December.

Our defining moment in place-based ministry came in 2024.

Crossroads established The Garden Mission Baltimore as a nonprofit ministry with Pastor Randy Clay as executive director. But knowing that words without action ring hollow in communities that have seen many organizations come and go, we made our most significant investment: purchasing two buildings side-by-side directly across from historic Hollins Market—Baltimore City's oldest continuously operating public market (established in 1836).

Why Hollins Market?

Our focus on Southwest Baltimore isn't arbitrary—it's rooted in both history and calling. This is where Crossroads Church began in 1925 on Doswell Avenue in the Rosemont neighborhood. When we felt God calling us back to the city during the pandemic, we weren't looking for just any neighborhood to serve; we were drawn back to our roots.

But beyond history, we believe deeply in the power of place-based ministry. True transformation happens when organizations commit to becoming part of specific neighborhoods for the long haul. By concentrating our presence in Southwest Baltimore—and particularly around Hollins Market—we can build authentic, trust-based relationships that make partnership and ministry flourish.

Most importantly, this neighborhood chose us as much as we chose it. Local residents and business owners invited us into their spaces, adopted us into neighborhood traditions, and welcomed our vision and investment. When we purchased our buildings directly across from Hollins Market, it wasn't just a strategic location—it was a declaration that we're here to stay.

What do we do?

We organize our work around three main areas that reflect our commitment to being good neighbors and walking alongside our community.

Neighborhood Traditions

We help sustain and enhance beloved community events that bring neighbors together throughout the year. Working alongside our neighbor Noble from Black Cat Bakery, we now organize six annual traditions: a public Easter service, a tent at SOWEBO Fest in June, a Back-to-School event in August, a Fall Block Party at the Hollins Love Lot in October, a Friendsgiving community meal in November, and Christmas caroling with cookie decorating in December. Most of these events existed before we arrived, but when longtime organizers invited us to get involved, we were blessed with an opportunity to become a leading contributor.

Neighborhood Engagement Programs

We host regular weekly gatherings that build ongoing relationships and meet both social and spiritual needs. Every Friday, about 40-50 neighbors join us for Soup@6, our shared community meal at 42 S. Carrollton Ave. On Wednesdays, we host Celebrate Recovery meetings for those working through life's challenges. We also offer Alpha, a weekly discussion group for anyone curious about Christianity. All programs are open to anyone in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Community Enterprises

We're developing businesses that serve both economic and social purposes. In November 2025, we launched Threads in Hollins, a thrift clothing shop that will provide affordable clothing while creating community connections. Looking ahead, we're fundraising $400,000 to renovate our 42 S. Carrollton Ave property into a cafe designed as a social enterprise that will serve as a neighborhood gathering place and micro economic development center.

What impact are we making?

Building Community Connections

This year, over 1,500 meals were prepared, reaching one in three neighbors in Hollins Market. The initiative has fostered community connections, with individuals like Chris, who now helps serve as at almost every one of our events and has formed neighborhood friendships. Events like the Fall Block Party and Friendsgiving attract over 100 attendees, providing an opportunity for families to reconnect. Our investment in the Hollins Love Lot has transformed the lot into a vibrant gathering space for children to play and adults to meet up for popular street food, revitalizing the area beyond its previous use as a parking lot.

Friendsgiving Meal

Supporting Individual Growth

Through Celebrate Recovery, we're currently walking alongside 10+ neighbors each week as they work through life's challenges, with the hope that several completing the program will become mentors for newcomers. Our Alpha group has both introduced and reintroduced 5+ people to Christianity, with some choosing to continue their faith journey at local churches. But beyond spiritual growth, we've seen neighbors gain confidence - like Shantelle, who recently started volunteering and wants to open her own small business.

Prayer with our Neighbors

Strengthening Neighborhood Pride

Noble, owner of Black Cat Bakery says the collaborative approach to neighborhood traditions has "brought an increased sense of community spirit." Our SOWEBO Fest "Neighborhood Message Board" revealed that residents want more green space, youth programming, and local business support. We then led a project for our neighborhood association to revitalize the Hollins Love Lot. We secured a $60,000 grant to convert a former city parking lot into a beloved neighborhood parklet with tree plantings, string lights, shade, artificial turf, and picnic tables where kids play after school and an outdoor food enterprise operates.

The Remodeled Love Lot

Creating Economic Opportunity

The acquisition of 42 and 44 S Carrollton Ave, two long-vacant properties in the heart of the Hollins Market commercial district, marks a commitment to investing in community-based business and workforce development. Threads, our thrift shop provides affordable clothing while creating volunteer leadership opportunities. The planned cafe represents a $400,000 investment in the neighborhood and will eventually create several local jobs, mentorships, and a vital “third space” for neighbors and families to gather and connect.

Threads Thrift Store

What We’re Still Learning

What makes us different from other nonprofits?

Unlike organizations that serve communities from a distance, we've made the significant investment of purchasing buildings and putting down permanent roots. This isn't about charity from afar—it's about becoming a part of the fabric of Southwest Baltimore for the long haul. When neighbors see our lights on every day and know we're not going anywhere, it changes the nature of every conversation and relationship.

We are good neighbors, not visitors.

We start with relationships, not programs.

Rather than arriving with predetermined solutions, we began by asking existing community members and organizations like Breadcoin and Helping Up Mission how we could support what is already working. When our neighbor Noble from Black Cat Bakery invited us into neighborhood traditions, we embraced the community relationship rather than creating competing events. Everything flows from partnerships and programming emerges from collaboration and community needs, not organizational agendas.

We've chosen to concentrate deeply in Southwest Baltimore. This allows us to build the authentic, trust-based relationships that make real transformation possible. We know our neighbors by name, understand the unique history and assets of this well-defined community, and can respond quickly when needs arise.

We practice place-based ministry.

We integrate spiritual and community development.

As a Christian organization, we're open about our faith while serving the whole community regardless of belief. You don’t have to believe to belong, but we also don't hide the spiritual foundation that motivates our work. This integration allows us to address the full spectrum of human need—material, social, and spiritual.

The result is an approach we call "cultivating good soil for growing people." We believe Southwest Baltimore has tremendous assets and potential. Our role isn't to impose solutions from the outside, but to tend to the conditions where individuals and community can flourish together.

How are we funded?

Foundational Partnership

Crossroads Church of the Nazarene provides crucial founding support, including an initial $375,000 property investment and $5,000 in monthly support. While we report to our own board of directors, this partnership reflects the church's long-term commitment and allows us to focus on programming while building additional revenue streams.

Community Revenue

We generate $21,600 annually through our residential apartment. Threads is projected to add $12,000 annually in 2026. Once The Table opens, we anticipate nominal revenue that will be poured back into our ministry. These social enterprises serve community needs while building financial sustainability.

Individual Supporters

Our growing community of individual donors contributed $48,000 in 2025, with supporters both within and beyond Crossroads Church. We're actively developing a Founding Funders Society to expand this base among Baltimore-area individuals, families, businesses, and foundations who share our vision for Southwest Baltimore.

Targeted Grants

We've secured $67,500 in project-specific grants, including $60,000 for the Hollins Love Lot transformation and $7,500 for building improvements, demonstrating external validation of our community impact. Our grants team continues to explore and apply for public and private grant opportunities.

Our Growth Strategy

Our goal is to reach 100 individual donors contributing $100,000+ by spring 2026 and achieve 50% funding independence within three years through earned revenue and diversified supporters. We're committed to expanding our board with community voices and achieving greater funding diversification while maintaining our foundational partnerships.

How do I get involved?

We need consistent volunteers for our weekly programs. Help serve at Soup @ 6 on Friday evenings, assist with setup and cleanup, or join our kitchen prep team earlier in the week. Our Celebrate Recovery meetings welcome co-facilitators, and we're always looking for people to help with our annual neighborhood traditions like the Fall Block Party and Friendsgiving meal. Most volunteer opportunities require no special skills—just a willingness to build genuine relationships with neighbors.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to The Garden Mission Baltimore are tax-deductible. Monthly giving helps us plan sustainably, while one-time gifts support specific projects. Every contribution—whether $25 or $2,500—helps us maintain our programs and invest in our community.

Shop at Threads in Hollins or sow into The Table in Hollins to help us reach our $400,000 fundraising goal for our café renovation. Both enterprises will create jobs and vital community gathering spaces.

Follow us on social media, invite friends to our public events like the Easter service at the Love Lot, and help us connect with others who might want to support our work. Sometimes the best support is simply helping people discover what's happening in Southwest Baltimore.

We welcome partnerships with businesses, churches, and other nonprofits. Local restaurants can donate food for our community meals, contractors can offer services for our building projects, and other organizations can collaborate on programming. We're particularly interested in partners who share our long-term commitment to Southwest Baltimore.

Contact Pastor Randy or stop by during Soup @ 6 any Friday evening at 42 S. Carrollton. We'd love to show you around the neighborhood and help you find the best way to get involved based on your interests and availability.