Our History and Our Hope
Back in 2005, a neighborhood church began hosting a weekly kids’ Bible study at a park in west Fondren. As more children came, the church began hosting Bible clubs during the summer, and relationships started to grow. By the 2011–2012 school year, adult volunteers saw that through one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, students could experience the love of Jesus in ways that were both personal and lasting. In the fall of 2012, Red Door Tutoring officially launched in partnership between Red Door and Fondren Church, and over time the work continued to grow as more students and volunteers became involved.
In recent years, Red Door Jackson dissolved its independent 501(c)(3) and now operates fully under the Jackson Leadership Foundation. This transition has strengthened the work by providing greater support, resources, and connection to a broader network of ministry leaders across the city. Jackson Leadership Foundation is a Christ-centered organization committed to the spiritual and economic transformation of Jackson’s under-resourced communities through developing leaders, strengthening ministries, and connecting volunteers and donors. Through this partnership, Red Door Jackson is able to remain rooted in its original mission while being better equipped to sustain and expand its impact. We are grateful for how far God has brought us and continue to trust Him as we move forward.
The Red Door
In the early days, students and volunteers often gathered at two leaders' house in our neighborhood that had a red door. The house with the red door saw beautiful things happen as students and volunteers came together to play, to tell stories, to make art, to laugh, and to talk about life and Jesus.
Often safe houses on the Underground Railroad had red doors to show they were a haven, and many churches paint their doors red to show that the space beyond them is a refuge and a sanctuary. At Red Door Jackson, we long to be a safe place, a refuge, and a sanctuary for students, their families, and their tutors. We believe that true community cannot happen without mutual need. We believe that each student, family, and tutor has gifts to share with our community. Relationships are at the core of who we are, and through those relationships we strive to empower students through education and disciple them in the way of Jesus Christ.