Fast-growing group buys Davenport property for ministry

The relatively new but fast-growing, fundamentalist Christian organization has purchased the former St. Joseph's Catholic Church property, establishing it as the hub for its ministry.

Called One Eighty — referring to a 180-degree turnaround in people's lives — the group's programs range from food pantries at schools to jobs and housing for adults trying to turn their lives around after incarceration, homelessness or addiction.

The Aledo, Illinois, native had used cocaine and been in jail but found God through a "really old man named Merle" who visited him in his cell.

About 40 area churches now provide enough financial backing that, along with other money, the organization operates with an annual budget of $480,000 or more.

Business people, attorneys, principals of schools, mayors.

Boruff, a slender, sandy-haired man with a warm smile and penchant for baseball caps, explains that his goal is to provide help that people can't get anywhere else.

[...] to provide safe and affordable housing and to help people close the gap on their job resumes, One Eighty developed a multi-phase, usually yearlong program to help people get their lives back on track and break the destructive cycle they are in.

Participants live in a house, participate in Bible study and prayer and meet with a mentor from one of the supporting churches.

In both cases, boarding houses are a permitted use, so the organization did not need rezoning or a special-use permit, Ryan Rusnak, Davenport city planner, said.

In addition to the boarding houses, One Eighty owns eight condominiums that it rents for $350 per month to people who cannot find a safe place to live because of past evictions or trouble in their lives, Boruff said.

Eventually, their one-couple ministry evolved into a year-round Saturday program at Monroe that includes not only a hot meal, but music, exercise and programs for children and their parents.

Four years later, the 9 a.m. to noon program on Saturday is a well-oiled rollout of basketball, instruction in martial arts and cross-fit training, crafts, music, including praise and worship, and a speaker who offers encouragement.

In addition to the Saturday program, One Eighty stocks food pantries at Monroe, Hayes, Jefferson elementary schools and Mid-City High by picking up supplies from River Bend Foodbank.

Boruff started it last year with about 15 kids, because he loves the sport and wanted children who can't afford Little League and other organizations to have the opportunity to play.