I am interviewed by journalist Clifton Gadbois at MSJN at MorningStar Journal News at the MorningStar Ministry television studio in Fort Mill, SC. It’s a very casual atmosphere in the main building where the hotel is located. It is January 3, 2026 in the afternoon and it is just the 2 of us. Clifton asks me how did you do it.
We are here with Patti Labbe, a Partner at MorningStar Ministry and volunteering in the Pray Stay Engage program. Patti, tell us a little about the SPE program.
Thanks for having me. It’s exciting being here with you and being in the SPE program. Stay Pray Engage means I stay here at MorningStar and pray with and about all that is happening here and in the world, as well as engage with the ministry.
Members of the program volunteer 32 hours per week doing various tasks and housing and most meals are provided.
Tell us how long you’ve been here and why you came.
I came in November 2023. I found out about the program when I attended a Partners weekend May 31, 2019 – June 1, 2019. It was my first MorningStar visit.
Being a weekend, I wandered around the property. I talked with Boo Fields who told me about the program. I really loved what I was hearing and could see myself becoming part of the program. Unfortunately, the timing was not right.
November 2023 I told the Lord my next holiday season was going to be different. I’d been single a while and my best friend passed away a few years prior. He was one of the reasons the timing was not right in 2019.
His health was failing and I was caretaking alongside the rest of my life. I was coming and going to his house and wasn’t comfortable leaving him. When I said things would be different in the fall of 2023 the Lord reminded me about MorningStar Ministry.
I got excited and began to set things in motion to sell my house, give away my possessions and pack up what I wanted to put in storage. After Matty’s death I threw myself into volunteering and retired from my career.
I became interested in food banks and food drives. At one point I was volunteering at 4 different churches on 4 separate weekends preparing food one day and going back the next day to provide for the drive ins and clean up.
I thought I’m already volunteering most of my time, this is perfect. I won’t be driving all over the county and I will be doing Kingdom business at a place I love!
Interesting. So, what did you do to get here?
I sent an email to Boo and asked if the program still existed and Shayla responded yes. She emailed me the guidelines and application so I started the process. There was a process and Shayla kept me informed. Then the background check.
I was accepted into the program so I listed my house 4/4/23 on the market. Things were moving along as I packed up my life to start over in Fort Mill, SC! I of course had a plan and thought I’d stop along the way there to see places I haven’t seen yet and arrive in June sometime with hopes it would be sooner.
God of course has the perfect plan and mine was not it. The perfect buyer arrived at my house 10/14/23! When I say perfect, I mean perfect. A husband and wife, both Pastors, drove directly to my community from Nevada and told my agent at an open house what they were looking for. She immediately knew it was my house.
They came on Saturday, made an offer on Sunday and the contract was drawn up on Monday!
WOW. That is perfect. God really showed up, didn’t he?
Yes and we know he always does. All that time of waiting and the prior couple years of doing food drives prepared me for many things.
Like what?
I recalled when I was at MorningStar years earlier I did not read anything about a pantry or food distribution at MorningStar. My hope was to provide one, if indeed there wasn’t and have a garden to provide fresh produce.
When I got here I took the time to become assimilated with the program. There are many tasks to be done here with the University, the K-12 school, the hotel and all the mission projects going on so I had much work to do.
In my spare time I asked about a pantry or food distribution center and found none. MorningStar decided to join in. Clifton, the need is great and it is everywhere.
Yes. Tell us how do you start a food distribution facility?
There are many ways and I saw several when I lived in Florida. I talked with people in the program and raised a lot of interest there. We obtained lots of info online. The amount of food that goes to waste is vast. People everywhere can do something about keeping it to.
Many supermarkets are participating by providing the food they would discard to a food pantry which then distributes it to local pick-up locations. There is so much information available to get the ball rolling. One person leads to another and before you know it there are many working together for the greater good.
What else have you been doing since you arrived here at MorningStar Ministry?
God planted a vision in me about the same time I came to the Partners weekend in 2019. It’s a village I start with a couple tiny homes providing affordable housing for people. It began to germinate when a friend lost her home during covid. Fortunately she was able to move in with family.
This vision began to take shape while here at MorningStar! The interest was overwhelming and soon many hands made for small work. It’s been amazing watching it develop. There are now 10 homes on the property I purchased.
There’s a tiny house, several small manufactured homes, the existing house on the property had a large shed we’ve converted into a great place to live, 20 spots for RV’s with 12 of them occupied and a few other really kool converted sheds and a railroad car! The creativity is endless.
And what does SPE have to do with this village?
When people leave the program they are looking for housing. This community is excellent because we already know each other, love the Lord and continue to worship together.
There’s an educational building, crafters shed, a very large garden, a pool and gazebo where we gather like family. It’s not far from here on the river. I was working on this in my spare time and other interested folks and MorningStar noticed.
None of us neglected our commitments, all involved are high on the Lord and having fun creating this amazing place we call The Jesus Village. It’s like an Air B&B on steroids tho people stay, engage and rent like anywhere else they would rent. Our community is very affordable and great for people who don’t want to own.
It sounds like an amazing place. Is there anything else you’d like to share before we leave?
Please join us for food and bonfire night 5:00 this Saturday, the first Saturday of the year to celebrate with the Lord.
I’ll be there, thank you. Folks, the address for The Jesus Village is on the screen.
If you are interested in coming to MorningStar for our classes, any of our programs or events I can give you more information. Our Worship and Warfare conference is coming up in March and we hope to see you there.
Patti, you Faith is so strong. Others see it, and you wear it well! Congratulations on your journey.
I’m glad Pedro. Thanx for the encouragement.
Right!!! It certainly didn’t seem like it while in the midst of it. Thanx Sandra.
Thank you Patti, for sharing your journey and how your move took place in Gods time which was perfect for all. The move opened other doors in the Jesus community.
Wow Patti, I love your Press Release! It touched my heart and it will help me as I continue in my Spiritual Growth. Thank you for sharing!