We are preparing as a collective of multiple ministries and fellow believers to reclaim and revive a special 4-acre property in our city’s south end that has long carried Kingdom service and future potential. On this land sits a former restaurant, a food pantry, and a pond that once hosted Sunday baptisms, drawing people from miles away.

Through the South End Encampment Giving Fund, we are raising resources to establish a Jesus-centered camp that will bring hope, restoration, and revival to the heart of our community. This space will be more than a property—it will be a place of encounter, where worship, fellowship, and outreach collide with the tangible needs of our neighborhood.

Every gift sown into this fund helps us prepare the land, restore its facilities, and open the doors for a move of God in an area that many have overlooked but Heaven has not forgotten. Together, we will see this ground transformed into holy ground again.

Would you please pray about making a pledge for us to purchase this property? We're campaigning for 30 days to raise the money in order for us to buy this from the Manley church family.  All donations are tax deductible under the charity 501c3 - The Tax Collector's Table Inc.
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Above from left to right: Pictures of baptisms on the land and a menu from The New Morning Star Snack Bar; the pond where Baptism Sundays were held; a vintage sign from inside the restaurant.

BUILT FOR GATHERING

When we envisioned the inside of Tabitha’s, we didn’t want it to feel like a polished restaurant or a sterile facility—we wanted it to feel like home. The renovated kitchen is designed after the simplicity of a southern home kitchen: no frills, no fuss, just the kind of place where food is prepared with love, and people are welcomed like family.

THE HEART OF TABITHA'S KITCHEN

Every detail points to that heart. The space is practical and cozy, built for gathering, sharing, and serving. Instead of focusing on luxury, we’ve focused on warmth...clean counters, sturdy tables, and the smell of breakfast that makes you feel like you belong. It’s a kitchen where neighbors can find a meal, conversations can spark hope, and the love of Jesus is baked into every dish served.

Just as Tabitha in Acts 9 was remembered for her works of kindness, this kitchen will stand as the working heart of the property, serving not only food, but dignity, care, and love to everyone who walks through the doors.

THE MEANING BEHIND TABITHA'S

The name Tabitha’s comes from Acts 9, where a woman named Tabitha (also called Dorcas) was “full of good works and acts of charity.” When she died, the widows she had served gathered around Peter, showing the garments she had lovingly made for them. Through prayer, God raised her back to life, and the testimony spread, leading many to believe in the Lord.
This is the heart of our vision for Tabitha’s. The refreshed exterior honors the history of this café by keeping its original red brick and white wood, while gently cleaning and brightening it to reflect new life. Just as Tabitha’s story is one of revival and service, this space will once again be a place where lives are restored, neighbors are cared for, and hope is awakened in our community.
By giving to the South End Encampment, you are helping us carry forward this Acts 9 legacy by turning what once seemed forgotten into a beacon of faith, service, and revival for the south end of our city.

ABOUT REV CHARLES MACK MANLEY SR.

Pastor Manley was the Pastor of New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church for 55 years, he was a Chef/ cook at the Sweden House and the Black Angus. He was also a restaurant owner and a member of the N.A.A.C.P.
He was a volunteer probation officer and he supervised the community service activities for the corrections institute. Pastor Manley was a member of the Ministers Alliance of Toledo. He was the founder of the Youth Training Center in Lima. His church was one of the first churches that served meals to the elderly, he also worked closely with the late Furl Williams on city council, helping to get the youth off the street. He assisted the Lima City Policy Department in cleaning up Reese and Third. His greatest accomplishment was having the old fashion revivals lasting 3 weeks to 6 months and baptized thousands of people. From this ministry many Pastors and Ministers have professed their calling under his pastoral ship. His greatest love was for his 6 children, grandchildren and family members and his New Morning Star Family.Below is a video of Pastor Manley baptizing in the very pond on the property we want to buy and revive: 
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