Pastor Terrell Scott, of Passion-Life Church in McDonough, said he launched the Malachi Project as a way to reach underprivileged and at-risk youths.

“The Malachi Project is a ministry to impact, empower and equip the next generation,” said Scott. “During the week we have a mentoring program for middle-school and high-school age students.

Crews recently poured the foundation, debt-free, at what will be the home of the Malachi House, a faith-based after-school and mentoring program for young people. The endeavor was facilitated through donations from local companies including Vulcan Materials, Thomas Concrete, Middle Georgia Pump, Walker Construction Products, and Live Oak Supply.

Scott said the planned 6,000 square-foot facility, at 312 Rogers St. in McDonough, will be geared toward ministering to underprivileged and at-risk kids at the McDonough Housing Authority.

“The Malachi House will be a lighthouse for the community, to bring transformation to the kids and their families,” said Scott. “We’ve already started to take the model in McDonough to other cities, other counties and other nations. This house will be a refuge of hope for those in need.”

Scott began the Malachi Project at the grassroots level in 2015, because of a desire to have a positive impact on the lives of young people. That desire, he said, stemmed from his own brush with the law more than a decade earlier.

“I robbed a woman for drugs,” said Scott.

Scott was arrested and went to prison in 2004.

Halfway into his prison sentence, his life underwent a dramatic change for the better. It was then, Scott said, when he was “radically saved,” thanks to the very woman he once robbed, who shared the gospel with him.

“That woman is now my wife, Brandy Scott,” he said.

Terrell Scott was released from prison in 2008. He and his wife are now striving, through the Malachi Project, to reach underprivileged and at-risk youths living in the McDonough Housing Authority area.

“The area we work is the area where I used to deal drugs,” said Terrell Scott.

The Malachi Project operates as part of River Refuge, a nonprofit community development organization founded by Scott. He said the Malachi Project helps elementary-school children with reading and writing, while also teaching them about forgiveness and peer pressure.

“We also feed them a meal every time we’re with them. We work with 50-75 kids a week. Our mentoring/after school program is free.”

Brian Douglas, outreach director for River Refuge, is the project manager for construction of the Malachi House. He said the goal of the facility is to provide a safe place for nearby children and families to “grow, and learn, and heal.”

“With the expanded facility, we’re going to also expand our outreach with our program,” said Douglas. “We’re going to expand our offerings to classes for parents and young adults, to have community events to fellowship and love on the neighborhood through food, and supplying basic needs. We’re planting a seed in the community so that the roots and branches can reach out to our neighbors and the community as a whole.”

The Malachi Project, in recent years, has received support from a number of local legislators. Among them is State Sen. Emanuel Jones (District 10), who commended the project for its “incredible dedication” to meet the needs of children at risk.

“The Malachi Project truly improves the lives of children through so many different avenues, from education to mentoring to spiritual support and so much more,” Jones wrote. “Our children are our most important asset, they are our future. We must cherish and provide for them, allowing them to flourish. The Malachi Project does just that.”

Scott is hopeful that the Malachi House will be completed in early 2024.