Marla arrived on the island in 1988 working with another non-profit organization receiving short-term mission teams to work in Jamaica. After serving 2 years, with the help of her friends and churches she had met, Marla made the decision to form what is now ACE.
During the early years, Marla quickly observed that those receiving the primary benefit from volunteer efforts were the people and organizations who were serving. These visitors were touched by the experience and inspired to continue serving others upon returning home. Ironically, the local community had not experienced any long lasting change. Despite the projects and improvements, the community inevitably returned to a poverty state physically, mentally and most of all, spiritually. She also learned that poor healthcare and lack of education was a reality and that without improvements in those two basic areas, people just wouldn’t have a chance to grow and flourish the way God intended.
Through these tough lessons, the strategy for ACE’s outreach was born. To this day, our ministry focuses in four main areas of Impact: education, healthcare, enterprise, and discipleship.
Our Educational division has partnered with several primary schools through our Literacy and Learning program. Our Child Sponsorship program is now supporting close to 200 students and continues to grow. Through our involvement in the classrooms, ACE is weekly touching some 600 students and their families.
Our medical/dental clinics see over 900 patients a quarter. These partnerships with government clinics enable us to provide long term healthcare through regular visits and education. Through these clinics we are also able to track health improvement.
ACE is currently partnered with 33 micro-businesses, one of which is the Galina Breeze Hotel. By owning this small resort on the sea, ACE has become one of the largest economic stimulators in the area employing 27 Jamaicans and impacting an average of 450 St. Mary nationals each week.
ACTS Church– a recent non-denominational church plant in Galina is our new partner in ministry. Together with Pastor Winston Watson, we are providing spiritual growth and counseling to our neighbors, friends and business partners. The ACTS church after-school study center is helping children grow and learn through computer training and discipleship. Recently, an adult reading class has begun weekly in the evening to give those adults who didn’t have opportunity to read as children a chance to catch up.
Through these four areas of impact, ACE is seeing the families of St. Mary, Jamaica learning that only through Jesus Christ can they have the life and peace that all of us seek as we read in John 14:6.
Marla met her husband Allen in 2001 and ever since, they have been working together to change lives and transform communities one person at a time. Marla is a naturalized citizen of Jamaica and lives in St. Mary Jamaica.