Hello Friends and Family,
Thank you for signing up for our newsletter and for staying connected with us and the ministry. Through these updates, we want to share highlights from each season of ministry, what we are looking forward to in the coming months, and specific ways you can pray for us, the community, and the work God is doing here.
Before we begin, we want to give a brief overview of Productive Lives, our role in Kensington, and what the Kensington neighborhood is like.
Who We Are & What We Do
Productive Lives is a para-church organization that exists to support and connect like-minded ministries by providing manpower and resources so their impact can be maximized—for the expansion of the gospel and the glory of Jesus Christ. We do this by participating in weekly outreaches hosted by our ministry partners and by hosting short-term mission trips, primarily in Kensington, for groups such as schools, churches, and other organizations.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.productivelives.org/
About Kensington
Kensington is a neighborhood in Philadelphia measuring only about one square mile, yet it is the largest open-air drug market in the world. Drugs are bought and sold openly, making it the center of the opioid crisis and a place where drugs are among the cheapest in the country. People often travel here from all over the nation intending to stay only briefly, but many become trapped, broke, addicted, and homeless.
This reality has deeply affected the neighborhood’s value and reputation. However, it is important to know that the majority of residents are not addicted. They are families and individuals simply trying to live, work, and raise their children in the midst of very difficult circumstances.
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Looking Back
Groups
This past fall, we hosted two groups. One group came from the Lodestar Mountain Inn Gap Year Program in West Virginia. This visit was especially meaningful to Paige and me, as this is where we both attended and met. The group was here as part of their evangelism and discipleship class.
While in Kensington, they participated in Coffee House with The Rock, a ministry within Rock Ministries’ community chaplaincy program. There, they engaged with the homeless community—inviting people to sit down, warm up with coffee on a cold fall day, and hear the gospel in a welcoming, relational environment. They also served in food distribution with Cornerstone Community Church and participated in Teen Club.
We also hosted a young adults group from East Swamp Church in Quakertown, PA, for a weekend. They helped with a resource fair hosted by Rock Ministries, where hot dogs were served and resources were offered, including free pregnancy care and ultrasounds, haircuts, and options for detox and rehabilitation. We also led the group on a prayer walk through the neighborhood, asking the Lord to intervene in Kensington and to strengthen His people who are faithfully serving here.
Family Fun Day
Family Fun Day is one of our largest outreach events in Kensington. Twice a year—once in June and once in October—Cornerstone Community Church and Productive Lives partner with volunteers from all over to host these events. We offer carnival games, inflatables, candy, prizes, and get to share the gospel with many people.
Across both events each year, we typically see around 2,000 community members attend with their families. These days are an excellent opportunity to connect families to Kids Club and Teen Club and to continue building relationships within the neighborhood.
Weekly Ministries
Willard Elementary School-
We have a unique partnership with Willard Elementary School, one of the local public schools. Every Tuesday, Paige and another staff member, Liv, serve in the school library as a way to love on students and support teachers who are working tirelessly in very challenging circumstances. Many of these children come from broken homes with very little family support.
Through this partnership, Paige and Liv also bless teachers with coffee and donuts and provide much-needed supplies such as printer paper (which is a hot commodity), along with small prizes for students. These efforts have built trust and opened meaningful relationships with both staff and students. While we are not able to explicitly share the gospel at the school, the principal allows us to invite students to Kids Club at Cornerstone Community Church on Tuesday evenings, where many do hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
Kids Club – Cornerstone Community Church
Every Tuesday night, Paige and I serve at Kids Club, which functions similarly to a youth group and is divided into three age groups: ages 5–6, 7–10, and 11–12. We work primarily with the 11–12-year-olds and have been able to build strong, meaningful relationships with many of these kids.
One of the unique aspects of ministry in the city is how much daily life overlaps. We frequently see these kids at school, the corner store, or the grocery store—allowing us to share life alongside the people we serve.
Teen Club – Cornerstone Community Church
Teen Club is similar to Kids Club but is focused on middle and high school students. We walk alongside teens as they navigate the challenges of adolescence, helping them understand biblical truth and encouraging them to stand for what is right.
High school in Kensington presents unique difficulties, including the presence of gangs within schools—the same gangs that operate openly on Kensington Avenue. This creates difficult school situations because these gangs often have brawls in the school. Being able to help teens navigate these hardships is crucial so that we can help prevent the kids from ending up in one of these gangs and stay out of the street life.
Food Distribution – Cornerstone Community Church
Every Thursday morning, Cornerstone Community Church distributes food to low-income families. This outreach is focused not on the homeless population, but on families and individuals who are struggling financially.
Food is donated by local Target and Walmart stores. During the recent government shutdown, this ministry became especially vital, as many social services were temporarily unavailable. During that time, weekly attendance increased from our normal 70 people to around 100 for several weeks.
For more information about Cornerstone Community Church, visit:
Rock Ministries Chaplaincy Program-
Every Wednesday, Rock Ministries operates a chaplaincy program where teams go out into the neighborhood to evangelize, build relationships, and connect people to resources. These include detox facilities to assist with withdrawal and rehabilitation programs that help individuals reenter society.
Most of the Productive Lives staff participates weekly, sharing the love of Jesus and reminding people that God offers something far greater than addiction and despair.
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Looking Forward
This season of ministry is quieter, as Kids Club and Teen Club are on break until the end of January. Over the past several weeks, we have hosted multiple Christmas outreaches, including parties and gift giveaways for both children and adults connected to the church.
In January, we are excited to welcome a group from the OneLife Gap Year Program at their Pleasant View location.
This slower season also provides time to strengthen systems and complete several building projects while the schedule is more open.
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How You Can Pray
Paige and I are excited to welcome baby Watson into our family in June! Please pray for Paige's safety as the pregnancy progresses, and for the baby as he or she develops and grows.
Pray for the homeless and those struggling with addiction as winter temperatures drop—that the Lord would use this season to soften hearts and draw people toward recovery and lasting change.
Please pray for Cornerstone Community Church, which is facing several significant challenges. The church’s electrical system needs to be completely redone, which will cost a substantial amount of money. Additionally, it seems as though the insurance company that currently covers the church is trying to drop its coverage—this is the only agency willing to insure us. The LORD knows what is needed in these situations, please pray for favor with the insurance company, wisdom for leadership, and above all, that the Lord’s will be done.
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Thank you for reading, and thank you for your continued support and prayers. We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
— Galatians 4:4–5
For God’s Glory,
The Watsons
Productive Lives Staff
Food Distribution at CCC with Lodestar
East Swamp Young Adults serving at The Rock
Family Fun Day
The Library crew that volunteers at Willard
Teen Club at CCC
Kids Club at CCC
Chaplaincy at The Rock