Alfred Street Baptist Church turned its Easter offering into life-changing relief for local families in public housing.
The historic Alexandria, Virginia, megachurch announced Sunday that it raised $1,049,000 to pay off housing debt for local public housing residents facing eviction. The money came through the church’s annual SEEK offering, a season of fasting, prayer and generosity led by the congregation earlier this year.
Pastor Howard-John Wesley shared the news with the church on Easter Sunday, connecting the effort to a broader prayer not just for personal change, but for the good of the city around them.
“We pray that the Lord would not only change our lives,” Wesley said, “but that God will also change our land.”
He then revealed that after audits, verified records and conversations with affected families, the church had helped stop the eviction of 338 families at a total cost of $1,049,000.
“It is my joy to share with you that with that SEEK offering, you have helped stop the eviction of 338 families,” Wesley said.
The donation is part of Alexandria’s Fresh Start Initiative, a local effort created to support residents in public housing after the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority reported roughly $1 million in unpaid rent across its housing units. Officials said rising living costs and job instability had made it harder for many families to keep up.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said the initiative is about more than clearing overdue balances.
“This is about more than clearing balances — it’s about creating pathways to stability,” Gaskins said in a statement. “Housing affordability continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing our city.”
She added that the city’s partnership with local faith leaders is also meant to support financial literacy and longer-term economic security for residents.
Founded in 1803, Alfred Street Baptist Church has around 10,000 members and a long history of major charitable giving. Last year, the church donated more than $132,000 to erase college debt for 11 graduates of Saint Augustine’s University.
