After nearly three years of prayer, hard work and dedication, Dying to Live Ministries will break ground for the ZAC Project for women at 2 p.m. Saturday.
An acronym for Zeal And Compassion, the ZAC Project was launched in 2007 following the death of Zac Ainsworth, a young man who had battled dependency and was tragically killed in an automobile accident.
Dying to Live Ministries, an outreach ministry of the Life Church in Laurel, decided a faith-based recovery center was needed and immediately began raising funds for the ZAC Project. The project began with a community-wide campaign to raise awareness about addiction and it’s impact on individuals and their families.
According to Pastor Brandiilyne Irvin of Dying to Live Ministries, Ainsworth’s death came just as it seemed he was about to get his life turned around.
“Zac’s death became our rallying point,” said Irvin. “This has been a long road but we have persevered.”
Irvin said those served by the ministry include crack addicts, drug dealers, prostitutes, alcoholics and more. “We reach those people that no one wants and God turns them into something everybody wants,” said Irvin. “We believe in God’s healing and saving power. There is nothing impossible with God.”
The ZAC Project is a story of tragedy turned into triumph. Denisea Marengo, Zac’s mother, said her son gave his life to Christ on Sept. 9, 2007. “He died one month to day that he gave his life back to God,” said Marengo. “A few days before his death, he shared with me that God wanted him to help others and encourage them not to take the path that he had taken.
“In one short month, God poured into his life what he wanted him to do. I believe this ministry that was birthed through Brandiilyne, is an extension of his life.
“Every person that is touched by this ministry is a fulfillment of his dream. Even though he is not here with us in his physical body, I know he is with us in spirit.”
Saturday’s groundbreaking is stage one of the ZAC Project, which will include centers for both women and men. The women’s center will be at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 14th Street, a block from Christ Church.
“We decided to build the house for women first because there is currently no place for women with addictions to go here in the City of Laurel,” said Irvin. “This will be an in-house facility that will hold from 10 to 15 women at a time for three to six months, depending on progress.”
Marengo said the groundbreaking is a joyous occasion for her and her family not only because it is a fulfillment of her son’s dream, but because it’s happening in March.
“March 2 was my son’s 22nd birthday,” she said. “To have this in March is a celebration of his birthday. I’m so overwhelmed.
“For him to go just as he was turning his life around was pretty tough to handle, but this event is evident that he lives on,” added Marengo.
For more information about Dying to Live Ministries and the ZAC Project, phone Pastor Brandiilyne Irvin at 601-543-4744 or visit the ministries’ Web site at www.dyingtolive.tv.
Local News
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