Today we’d like to introduce you to Marsha Whitford.
Hi Marsha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins with growing up in poverty and dysfunction. There was a lot of chaos and confusion in my childhood, and because of that, I’ve always had a heart for people who are struggling. I know what it feels like. In my mid-to-late twenties, I was a single mom with three little ones at home. I was working full-time while also going back to school, and we lived in a very chaotic neighborhood.
People began knocking on my door asking for help. For example, there was a grandmother across the street raising her five-year-old granddaughter who often needed someone to babysit. At first, it was things like food and childcare, but before long it grew into people I didn’t even know coming to my door or calling me in the middle of the night because they needed help with all kinds of things.
I worked at a convenience store, and even there, people would come in asking for help.
Eventually, my sister-in-law told me she knew someone who shared the same heart for people in need. She introduced me to James Whitford. James and I started serving together, visiting homeless camps and building relationships with people. About a month into that, I felt like God told me we were going to get married. We continued serving together, and before long we also began spending time together outside of ministry.
Some time later, James went to Colorado, where he felt like God gave him a clear vision for what would become Watered Gardens. He came home with those plans scribbled out, and together we began working through what it would actually look like. We created a survey and went door-to-door, asking people what they truly needed. We wanted to know how we could help. We got input on everything from food and basic necessities to companionship and encouragement. We wanted to hear directly from people instead of assuming we knew the answers.
James and I were married in March, and by June we had opened the doors to Watered Gardens.
In those early days, I often felt overwhelmed by the number of people who needed help. I remember being in constant prayer, wondering how God expected me to meet so many needs. One day, I sensed God reminding me, “You can’t do it all, but My Body can.” That changed everything.
From that point on, I started inviting other people into the work. I learned the power of delegation and watched God use the unique gifts He had given every one of us. It wasn’t about me meeting every need, but it was about the Church becoming the hands and feet of Christ together. That’s why it’s still so important to us today to activate the Church in its mission to serve the poor.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a roller coaster. There have been incredible joys, but there have also been challenges.
One of the biggest challenges has been that the Church can become comfortable. Sometimes people are hesitant to step outside their comfort zones and build relationships with people who seem different from them. One of the greatest hurdles has been helping both our guests and the Church understand that every person has inherent worth and value.
When we first started Watered Gardens, we visited churches of every denomination with volunteer sign-up forms. No matter where we went, it was typically only about 3–5% of the congregation who expressed an interest in serving. This is a struggle we still have currently as we seek more of the Church stepping in and helping fill our volunteer shifts.
It’s interesting because I’ve always had a heart for those who are lost, while James has always had a heart for the Church. In that way, we really complement each other.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Watered Gardens Ministries exists to serve the Church in its mission to help the poor. We value human dignity, redemption, relationships, and hope. We have a main Outreach Center that is the first step for many people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Through our Outreach Center, we offer a place to partner for basic needs at the Worth Shop. People can spend the afternoon recycling or making coffee in exchange for things like groceries or clothing. This stems from the idea of effective charity, which emphasizes giving people a hand up, not a handout. We also have the Forge Program, an 18-month program for men who are working toward virtue and work. Along with that, we have the Washington Family Hope Center, which provides peace and stability for women and their children.
It has been a blessing to watch God meet the needs of so many people. From expanding our ministry to serve groups of people who are often forgotten, to implementing programs that guide people to where they are meant to be, He has been faithful through it all.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is of my family going to a creek not too far from our house. We would take a little back road to get there, and we would sing “Country Roads, Take Me Home.” There were nine of us kids, and we would all sing it together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wateredgardens.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wateredgardens/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wateredgardens
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wateredgardensministries3637
