More Than a Thrift Store
Providing a place that offers rest and rehabilitation, His House Thrift Stores and Grace Men’s Program work hand in hand to bring hope and healing to the Midlands. Since its founding in 1975 by Reverend Garland Ramsey, this nonprofit has been helping provide a place of recovery and restoration for men suffering from alcohol addiction. For the last 50 years, Grace Men’s Program has been funded 100% by the profits from His House Thrift Store and the generous donations of residents in Lexington and Richland counties. Donated items such as clothing, furniture, and household items are sold at a reasonable price at one of the four His House store locations, which in turn helps the program continue to serve the community.
In 1991 Bishop Roger Weaver moved his family to South Carolina, where he pastored at Suburban Baptist Church. A few years later, he founded Meeting Street Chapel, where he was the Senior Pastor until his death, along with his role as Director and then as President at His House. Weaver passed away in 2024 and his daughter, Reverend Mandy Reynolds, is the newly appointed President of His House.
Reynolds shared, “Growing up, I was homeschooled and had the opportunity to be supportive and active in various aspects of my parent’s ministry.” After finishing high school and some college, she founded a mobile gymnastics business, which she operated successfully for several years before feeling the call to something more. She went on to finish her degree at Columbia International University, and it was during this time that she met and married her husband, Reverend Jason Reynolds. They both felt the Lord directed them to be involved in the ministry at His House. Over the years, they have tried to help in a number of ways, first as members of Meeting Street Chapel and later as staff. As church members, they worked in the Meeting Street Chapel, helped coordinate special events, taught Bible School, and installed computers. Fifteen years ago, Reynolds joined the staff at His House full-time, and her husband joined the ministry staff three years ago. At that time, they completed their training to be the future leaders of His House under Bishop Weaver as Vice President and IT Director.
When discussing the philosophy behind His House and Grace Men’s Program, Reynolds said, “The work of His House has remained the same for the last 50 years. We believe that it is only through Jesus Christ that a person can truly be set free from addiction. God has given us a vision to take the items that people no longer want or need and use them to help those that many have given up on because of their alcohol addiction.”
His House feeds, clothes, and houses men in the Grace Men’s Recovery program at no cost to the participants. To enter the program, one must commit to staying for a minimum of 90 days. They are encouraged to stay in the program for at least a year, and many do extend their time beyond the mandatory 90 days. There is no set time they must leave the program as long as they continue to make progress. In 2018, the location at Meeting Street suffered from a terrible fire. That fire destroyed one of the His House stores, offices, and one of the residential houses. Since then, the store on Meeting Street has reopened, and the offices have relocated to Lake Dogwood Drive in West Columbia. Currently, the Grace Men’s Program can house only 36, while its maximum capacity before the fire was 48. The plan is to eventually sell all of their current housing properties in West Columbia and build new housing at Lake Dogwood Drive to increase the capacity to 50 or more.
What inspires Reynolds in her work? “In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells us that whatever we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him,” she said. “Any of us are only a few choices or unfortunate breaks in life away from being ‘the least,’ but the good news is that we are also only a few steps in the right direction to getting back on track. My biggest inspiration is seeing the men who come through the Grace Men’s Program let God change their lives. I have seen God restore relationships with family, open doors for employment, and physically heal and restore in ways that seem impossible. I am honored to be a part of what the Lord is doing through His House Ministries,” she said.
Their staff of ministers work seamlessly together in various ways to oversee the Thrift Store operations and minister to each client as they progress in the rehabilitation process. They also provide instruction in Christian Lifestyles and Bible Study at Meeting Street Chapel located at 775 Meeting Street in West Columbia at 8 am Monday-Saturday, Wednesday at 6 pm, and Sunday at 10 am, and at Metro 1 Flea Market on Sunday at 8 am. All of their services are open to the public.
His House Thrift Store
167 Highway 378
Lexington, SC 29072
803-791-0557
Donations of used items are always welcomed and can be dropped off during normal business hours or call to arrange pick-up of donations.