OUR HISTORY
In 2011 Lenize found out that there were 376 homeless children in Onslow County. That was the only seed that God needed to plant on her heart to begin His amazing journey with her. Several months later, she and her husband, Doug, bought her father’s rental property in hopes that they could partner with the local shelter and other organizations to assist those facing homelessness. Since God put this on her heart, she named this new business based on the Bible verses from Philippians 2: 1-5: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In 2014 God led Lenize to start a nonprofit to provide transitional housing for the homeless. At this point Lenize was still a special ed teacher at Richlands High, and it wasn’t until summer of 2015 that she resigned from teaching and began subbing part time. A year and a half later she walked away from teaching altogether and put all her time and energy into Philippians Place. Philippians Place had 15 clients in their transitional housing program with 80% becoming self-sustaining at the end of their program. In May of 2018 Philippians Place Resale Store and Homeless Outreach opened and Lenize received her first Philippians Place paycheck. Philippians Place Programs have assisted hundreds of people each year by connecting them with resources, guiding their steps, and/or walking alongside them to help them get to independence and self-sustainability. Philippians Place is a hand up, not a hand out, and we strive to encourage, equip, and educate those who are homeless or facing homelessness.