Community Share Ministries: Making Room

Founded a little more than 12 years ago in the small city of Cedartown, GA, Community Share Ministries has been a beacon of light within the community. We clothe, house, and feed the less fortunate in the surrounding areas. But one thing that is at the center of everything we do is simple— making room. We believe in making room for people so they can experience the transforming grace and love of Jesus Christ. This is our God-given mission.

Jason Slaughter, founder and director of Community Share Ministries, started with a clear call from the Lord to close all of his family businesses in the Southeast. That call was also very specific—open a men’s homeless shelter, a women’s homeless shelter, and a children’s home. Being the business-minded man he is, Mr. Slaughter sat down and wrote a 10-year strategic plan to begin answering God’s call. His plan was to first open a thrift store in order to raise money for a couple of years to gain the resources needed to open the shelters. But God had a much different plan. Within 36 months, all three homes were operational and running, starting with the men’s home, then the women’s and children’s shelters. Needless to say, God moved in big and mighty ways during those first three years. Excitingly, God continues to prove His faithfulness by blessing Community Share Ministries often. With Mr. Slaughter’s head spinning in utter amazement at what God accomplished in such a short time, he felt the plan was finished in terms of growth in numbers.

But after being content for a couple of years, Mr. Slaughter began to feel the Lord’s call again. God began to give him a radical vision of more. It all started when he and his wife, Ginger, went to a late evening DFACS class to become foster parents themselves. During one of the evening sessions, they were startled to hear loud yelling coming from a car near the door. To their surprise and devastation, it was a young child. He was yelling loudly to a DFACS worker close by, and he said, “Please, please, please tell my teacher I am going to be okay and not to worry about me.” Little did this child know he was about to be taken to a new city, a new home, a new family, and he would have a new teacher. He was told he was going to Atlanta to a new foster home because there was no room for him at one in his hometown. Mr. Slaughter and his wife were shocked. Never had they experienced such an awful situation involving a child.

In light of this event, Mr. Slaughter was reminded by the Lord that the children’s home operated by Community Share Ministries sat on a 40-acre plot of farmland. Immediately, Mr. Slaughter knew more could and had to be done. He could not sit back any longer and watch countless children be ripped away from their homes, friends, and foster parents knowing there could be more room to be made. So, with this call from God, Safe Haven Ranch was born.

So, what is Safe Haven Ranch?

Safe Haven Ranch is a place for children to call home. They can thrive in a Christian setting with loving parents and God-given community that supports their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Safe Haven’s mission statement is “to provide a place where children can grow, learn, and excel in a Christian environment so they can make a positive impact for the Kingdom of God.”

Mr. Slaughter said, “With the 40-acres, we are going to build and develop a boys’ ranch in a 3-stage plan.” The first phase consists of building four homes on the plot. Each home will have five boys living in it, along with a loving mother and father. Each boy will have his own bedroom and will be able to attend a local Christian school for education. On the property, there also will be a state-of-the-art community center where the

kids can have tutoring classes, social workers can meet with them, they can receive counseling services, etc. Also, the Safe Haven Ranch’s full-time staff offices will be there. In an effort to provide opportunities for people, companies, or organizations to give back, each piece of infrastructure at the ranch (a home, the community center, playgrounds, pools, basketball courts, etc.) can be purchased and then named after whoever provided funding. For example, if the Smith family purchases one of the homes, then it would become known as “The Smith Family Haven.” Everyone will have an opportunity to be a part of God’s story by giving back to Safe Haven Ranch, whether by donating money, praying, or volunteering.

In addition, Mr. Slaughter wants the homes to be operated by a “private placement” mindset. This means Community Share Ministries, through Safe Haven Ranch, will take temporary custody of every child who comes to the ranch. Mr. Slaughter strongly believes the ranch should not be operated or regulated by any government entity. With this in mind, he knows all forms of government financial aid will no longer be an option, yet he believes God will be faithful and provide for the vision.

Mr. Slaughter also plans to open a girls’ ranch. At this time, there is a need to find a 75-to-100-acre plot of land to open a place for girls who need a safe home. So, any prayers to God to provide this land would be much appreciated. Currently, all of the roads, drainage pipes, and infrastructure at the boys’ ranch have been built. Mr. Slaughter says the next primary action item is to start building the first house. While the homes are being built, there is a strong desire to begin turning the ranch into a fully functional farm with chickens, horses, cattle, goats, gardens, beehives, etc. Fortunately, this process has begun. The ranch is home to a greenhouse full of growing vegetables, six beehives with a host of bees making honey, and a separate garden that is producing lots of tasty vegetables.

One of Mr. Slaughter’s and Safe Haven’s biggest desires is for children to learn about and be a part of the ranch. He believes there is so much to learn from gardening, putting seed into the soil, watching something grow, and then it being used for the benefit of others. More future plans involve having a general store on the property where the vegetables, the honey from the bees, and Safe Haven merchandise can be sold in order to raise money for the ranch.

Needless to say, God has been good, but He is not done yet. There is more work to do, and Safe Haven Ranch gets to be a part of God’s continual redeeming work. As Mr. Slaughter always says, “He hasn’t brought us this far to only bring us this far.”

To support or learn more about Safe Haven Ranch:

• Call or text (678)-634-4395 • Visit www.helpcommunityshare.com • Email cedartowngeorgia@gmail.com • Send donations to

Safe Haven Ranch at 834 Piedmont Hwy.,

Cedartown, GA 30125 • Donations also can be made online through the Community Share

Ministries website. Thank you for your prayers and support! God Bless! HavenSafe A Home Where Kids Can Grow And Excel In A Christian Environment. RANCH Jude 1:22