Our Story
A Providential Beginning
In 2005, volunteers from the congregation of New Life Northeast Church hosted a Vacation Bible School to bless the children in their neighborhood. God led an Albanian Christian serving nearby to meet these volunteers and get involved. The next day, she brought 30–40 Albanian children with her! Soon after, she asked if the church would provide English classes for the Albanian parents. What began as a simple act of hospitality quickly revealed a deeper need—many immigrant families in our community were isolated by language barriers and longing for connection.
God had been preparing the church for this kind of ministry. After recruiting teachers, classes began in February 2006, with both morning and evening sessions. The turnout was amazing, and there was great excitement as relationships began to form. As students gained confidence in English, they also began building friendships, navigating workplaces more successfully, and feeling more at home in their new community.
GROW is Growing
The ministry continued to grow, and in 2014 GROW was established as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a vision for serving immigrants and refugees throughout Greater Philadelphia. In 2017, a second site was opened in Fox Chase, which eventually relocated to Seven Mile Road Church as our “Bustleton” site.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, GROW served 544 students from 42 countries! Currently, our waitlists remain full, as the demand for accessible English classes continues to exceed our capacity. As the program has expanded, GROW has focused on strengthening organizational stability by hiring additional staff and planning strategically for the future.
In 2025, GROW partnered with Mesa Global to hire our first full-time Executive Director. The administration of our ministry is now led by our Executive Director, two site Program Directors, and six part-time support staff members.
This fall, GROW is moving our Bustleton site, splitting into two new site locations for morning and evening classes, both of which offer room for future program growth. We are in the process of strategic planning while continuing to strengthen our local partnerships within the community. We believe the next chapter of GROW will deepen our impact while expanding our reach, so that even more immigrant neighbors experience welcome, dignity, and opportunity.
Our work is made possible by the generosity of our donors and church partners, along with the many volunteers who give their time and talents. We thank God for His provision and look forward to what the future holds as we continue “welcoming the stranger” (Matt 25:35).
“Now to Him who is able to do more than we ask or imagine-to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.” ~Ephesians 3:20-21
"I feel welcomed, happy and grateful for being able to participate in this school. I thank God for the existence of people with such caring and dedication."
— Lucio (Brazil)
Join us in what GROW is doing
GROW is more than a classroom—it’s a community. Whether you share your time as a volunteer, give a gift to support our students, or simply want to learn more, your involvement makes a lasting impact in Northeast Philly.
Have questions? Contact our team.