RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – For Barry Rush, who served 14 years in prison, Next Church RVA in Richmond’s Southside serves as a beacon of hope. Six months ago, Rush arrived to the church hungry and in need.
“I have my own place, I have my own vehicle, I have a way to make money legally,” Rush said about how the church has changed his life. “I can talk to pastor all the time for any advice.”
Stories like Rush’s emphasize the importance of Next Church RVA’s work helping the community’s unhoused population. But if the ministry does not find a new building to call home by next April, they face the possibility of shutting down.
“The building has been sold,” said Pastor David Fitzgerald Jr. “We have until April, and we’re pleading to the city.”
Fitzgerald took over the ministry in May and has continued the legacy of the former leader by offering free meals to those in need.
“They don’t just get food,” Fitzgerald said about people who come to the church in search of help. “They’re here to stay all day. They plug in their phones, hang out and do whatever they need to do.”