Capturing Redemption at Beneath The Shade

There are moments when the lens doesn’t just capture an image, it reveals resurrection.

I recently had the honor of spending time with a group of men whose lives are being reshaped by grace. Beneath the Shade, a transitional living space for men and women choosing recovery. These homes are more than just a home, it’s holy ground. It’s where brokenness meets belonging, and where the love of Christ is not just spoken, but lived.These men, each walking out of addiction and into new life, came together for a landscaping project that turned into something far deeper than soil and sweat. They laughed. They worked hard. They shared their stories with raw honesty and gentle strength. And through it all, I witnessed the Spirit of Jesus alive in community, alive in transformation, alive in the dirt and the joy they shared.Beneath the Shade offers a grace-filled environment for those who are at least 30 days substance-free and need time to rebuild. Most residents stay between 14–18 months, growing at their own pace, exploring what a relationship with God can look like, and learning to live freely and fully. It’s a place of safety, structure, and spiritual renewal.

Nick and Nadine Javas have cultivated a ministry that reflects the heart of Jesus by welcoming the weary, restoring the broken, and planting seeds of hope. What they’ve built is not just a program. It’s a picture of new creation.As I photographed this moment of community and transformation, I saw the miraculous works of God unfolding before me. These men are not defined by their pasts. They are being made new.
 If your heart is stirred by this mission, I invite you to learn more and consider investing in the work of Beneath the Shade. Your support helps create space for healing, discipleship, and lasting change.
Visit www.beneaththeshade.org to explore their vision and discover how you can be part of this redemptive story.