A vintage bus with the words 'Green Hills Church of Christ' written on its side, carrying children waving from the windows. Two girls are standing in front of the bus, waving and smiling, with a parking lot of cars and utility poles in the background.

HISTORY

Overhead view of a bus parking lot with parked school buses, vans, trucks, and a building labeled 'Lytle & Sandra Thomas Mall of Hope' and a city skyline in the background.

A woman with brown hair in a red blazer and a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, standing behind a man with gray hair in a dark suit and striped tie, both smiling against a blue cloudy background.

A blue heart-shaped symbol with a black background.

Nashville Inner City Ministry sprouted in 1979 from the vision of Lytle and Sandra Thomas, aiming to touch the lives of the youth nestled in Nashville’s inner city public housing.

In the heart of Saigon in 1966, while donning the uniform of a military policeman, Lytle witnessed the heart-wrenching disintegration of family values. This experience illuminated the church's role in fortifying families against societal evils. A year later, Lytle united in matrimony with his childhood sweetheart and confidante, Sandra Green. Their home became a sanctuary for 15 foster children. While Lytle's hands were skilled in mechanics, his heart was devoted to youth, serving voluntarily as a Youth Minister. Recognizing the impact of his efforts, he felt a calling to commit full-time to ministry. Bolstered by forward-thinking church elders, Sandra's unwavering partnership, and a brigade of adept teenagers, the seeds of Nashville Inner City Ministry were sown.

Blue and black heart graphic with the words 'This is Love' inside.

Now, an army of 1,000 fervent volunteers penetrates every significant public housing enclave in Nashville's inner city, ferrying over 1,200 young souls to life skills sessions scattered across Nashville and its neighboring areas. Lytle and Sandra are anchored in the belief that robust Christian homes can mend the world's fractures. This mission is echoed by a devoted team of 22 full-time and part-time allies. They view every inner city pocket as a mission ground, ripe for nurturing local families into pillars of their community.

Every soul yearns for compassion and empathy. Many youths under NICM's wing grapple with feelings of abandonment, despair, hunger, and resentment. Yet, with gentle nudges of patience and motivation, life's storms can be weathered, birthing a renewed zest for life from the depths of hopelessness. The ministry offers a beacon of hope, laying down the bricks for them to construct a triumphant life. "As long as God holds faith in humanity, we must never abandon one another."