We’re Overjoyed to Share Exciting News! 

After months of prayer and seeking God’s direction for the future of our ministry, we’re thrilled to announce that our official name has been changed to Walk of Love International. This new name better reflects who we are and the mission we carry.

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A LEGACY OF LOVE ​​

Twenty-two years ago, we chose the name Elijah’s Heart based on the final verses of the Old Testament, which speak of God’s heart for the fatherless. What many didn’t know is that over a year before officially establishing our nonprofit, we had already launched a hunger relief initiative called The Walk of Love.

Over time, The Walk of Love grew far beyond a program—it became the heart of our identity. It empowered us to carry, and train others to carry, the practical love of Christ into entire communities of impoverished children and families. Most people in these communities and many volunteers have thought that our name has always been “Walk of Love”.  We actually established the website, walkofloveclub.com, years ago to have a focused site on our Walk of Love events to help clear up any confusion.

 

A STORY SHARED WORLDWIDE
Something extraordinary happened after seven years of our Walk of Love outreach ministry: the Lord moved in the hearts of movie producers, and “Unconditional”—a film inspired by Papa Joe’s story—was released in theaters and streamed by Sony Pictures in over 100 countries. Since then, Papa Joe has traveled across the U.S., visiting charities, churches, prisons, and businesses, and appearing on media outlets to share our Walk of Love outreach ministry.

 

Leaders from ministries and orphanages across Africa and beyond have reached out to Papa Joe for years, sharing testimonies of God’s grace in their organizations—grace sparked by the example set by our team, volunteers, and supporters at our Walk of Love events.

A NAME THAT REFLECTS THE MISSION

Our leadership team never imagined that Jesus would use the Walk of Love—born in a poor inner-city neighborhood of Nashville—to reach so far and wide. But now, as both America and the global community face urgent needs, we believe Jesus is calling us to embrace the name “Walk of Love International”. It embodies the message of Matthew 25:35–36:

 

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
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MOVING FORWARD WITH A PURPOSE
To meet ministry standards locally and internationally, our founders—Papa Joe & Denise Bradford and Nicky Brandon—completed biblical studies and became ordained missionary leaders through the reputable missions ministry, The Missionary Church International (TMCI).

In August 2024, we officially formed Walk of Love International as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity to serve both in America and internationally. After more than a year of prayerful preparation, we are registered locally with the Tennessee Secretary of State and publicly embracing our new name.

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WHAT'S NEXT 

Our new website address is walkoflove-international.com, but everyone will still be able to reach this identical website by also using the walkofloveclub.com address. Please be patient as we update our name across social media and other platforms. As always, all donors will receive tax receipts for 2025 in the first month of the new year.

Only the Lord could have orchestrated this perfect timing to upgrade our name—especially in light of significant federal cuts to food programs for impoverished families. We thank each of you for your faithful support of the thousands of children we’ve served together over the years.

Please continue to support our joint cause for the children, and please keep us in prayer. The best is yet to come!