Our History
Change's most current activity is posted on Facebook here: WWW.FB.COM/CHANGEINOURWORLD
Change in our World was founded by Jeffrey and Rebecca Brendle in Blairsville, GA in 2015. Our first endeavors included helping others in their events, such as Live2Lead and we did some Christmas caroling. Then, in December 2016, we held our first event ever: a New Year's Eve Masquerade!
In 2017, we began doing Change Classrooms because of the several teens who wanted to regularly meet and socialize in a positive environment. Then, we assisted with the FOCUS Festival in April and Praise Together at Meeks Park in September 2. We also hiked Blood Mountain, participated in a suicide prevention video with the GBI and GABOE, went to the Joshua's Dream Ranch Corn Maze, had an eclipse viewing party, was given an office location by the county, participated in the Hiawassee Fairgrounds Mountain Christmas Lights, and hosted our first Community Christmas Event.
In 2018, we continued our Change Classrooms, and Rebecca and Jeffrey welcomed their first baby two weeks before the 2018 Community Christmas!
Likewise, with 2019 came our first Mommy & Me event which brought several moms together! We continued with Change Classrooms and hosted our 3rd Community Christmas, this time serving Christmas dinner. To finish the year strong, we celebrated the completion of 2019 with a New Year's Eve Celebration once again.
We began 2020 with a Talent Show and You Matter Conference. In June 2020, Jeffrey and Rebecca opened the Blairsville Ice Cream and Mini Golf and was able to begin taking volunteers to gain work experience and provide opportunities previously unavailable, such as a place to gather! For Christmas, we gathered in our office space with our participants to celebrate a community Christmas.
In 2021, Rebecca self-published her first book, Mistake(n) Identity, available for free in various forms. As a celebration of the years thus far of Change, we held a Friends of Change Community Semi-Formal Awards Gala in September to honor those who were participating in our ministry work. In October, UCHS Chorus asked Rebecca to join in a "Be the Change" concert to bring awareness to suicide and prevention efforts. Then, for Christmas we participated again in the Hiawassee Fairground Mountian Christmas Lights and held another Community Christmas event.
The year of 2022 was spent serving and learning. Our participants had the privilege to work in the garden and Ice Cream shop, and we spent many months gathering to sing together in preparation of singing at Christmas time. We Christmas Caroled on the Blairsville Square, at a family Christmas Party, and at our own Community Christmas!
As 2023 came around, Rebecca and Jeffrey opened two more businesses in the community to provide opportunities and work with people: The Gathering Space and Blairsville's Indoor Play Place (both were closed in late 2024 in favor of Blairsville Ice Cream and Mini Golf and Change.) The Gathering for women in ministry was the first event we hosted in February of 2023. As a community supporter, we also participate in the SAFE Resource Fair in August. In September, we made rounds to the local nursing homes once again to encourage and sing for the residents. With the use of the Play Place and Gathering Space, we began an after- school program in August, and were able to hold our first-ever Christmas Vacation Bible School in December! Also, we enjoyed our 7th Community Christmas and participated in the Hiawassee Fairgrounds Mountian Christmas Lights.
In 2024, we continued our After-School Program at the play place until May. In March, we had to move out of our office space and put a lot of our things in storage. Rebecca Brendle became an ordained minister through the Blairsville Christian Center in April and assisted in hosting their Vacation Bible School in June. In August, Rebecca helped MACA begin their after-school program. Then, for Christmas, we partnered with Blairsville Ice Cream to participate in the Hiawassee Fairgrounds Mountain Christmas Lights.
Our 10 year anniversary for Change in Our World has been celebrated all of 2025, and with the help of the friends and volunteers we have been given, 2025 has been filled with joy and many happenings! In March, we participated in the Hope House Superchef Showdown fundraiser, and in May, we helped at the Woman's Enrichment Center yard sale. We have had several successful fundraisers on the square, too! In June, we held a Meet & Greet for Change at Blairsville Ice Cream and Mini Golf.
