From Legacy To Impact: Local Pastor Expands Family Mission To Feed Thousands And Transform Historic Church Into Community Hub

LOTHIAN, Md. — What started as a prayer in the heart of a grandfather has now become a living mission carried forward by generations.

For Justin Wills, associate pastor of Miracle Temple Church, this work is more than outreach. It is personal. It is the continuation of a legacy built by his late grandfather, Elder James Dorsey, who did not just build a church, but created a place of refuge, hope, and provision for an entire community.

Now, years later, that same foundation is being rebuilt, restored, and reimagined to meet the needs of today, with a vision not only to impact the local community, but to reach beyond and serve people from all walks of life.

Recently featured by the University of Baltimore, Justin Wills and his wife, Natrea Wills, are balancing careers, family, and their commitment to community outreach while completing their business degrees. Wills also serves as a federal government employee and supports the Anne Arundel County Police Department in a chaplain capacity.

At the heart of this vision is a bold plan to transform the Miracle Temple Church campus into a multi-purpose community service hub designed to meet real and pressing needs in the surrounding community and beyond.

“Our goal is to help transform our community and even reach abroad,” Wills said. “We want to impact every level of life, from children to seniors, and reach people from all different walks of life.”

Today, Miracle Temple Church provides monthly food assistance to approximately 800 to 1,000 households across Southern Maryland and Anne Arundel County. Through a partnership with the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, the church is able to consistently serve families each month, ensuring that those in need have access to essential food resources. Building on that foundation, Wills and church leadership are working to expand services that will support families, seniors, veterans, and individuals living with disabilities.

One of the first projects includes restoring the church’s café building, which is currently in need of renovation. Once completed, the facility will become a community kitchen where volunteers can prepare and serve hot meals throughout the week for families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity.

The upper level of the café building will be transformed into a youth development hub where young people can receive job training, résumé assistance, interview preparation, hands-on workforce skills, and financial literacy education.

Another major focus is restoring the church parsonage, a home originally built by Elder James Dorsey, that experienced a tragedy in 2020. Plans are underway to repurpose the home into a temporary living space for individuals and families experiencing housing hardship.

In addition, the church plans to revitalize the historic Bristol Rosenwald School, which later became the Miracle Temple Daycare Center. The vision is to transform the building into an adult day care facility, providing critical support for seniors and caregivers in the surrounding communities.

“These buildings represent history, but they also represent opportunity,” Wills said. “With the right support, they can become places where people receive meals, mentorship, care, and a second chance.”

Wills says his greatest mission is continuing what was started long before him.

“My grandfather built Miracle Temple Church to serve the community,” Wills said. “Before he passed, he completed construction of a community living space for seniors. My dream is to finish what he started and expand that vision to serve veterans, seniors, and individuals living with disabilities.”

Wills also pays homage to his parents, Justine Wills (née Dorsey), daughter of founders Elder James and Edith Dorsey, and his father, Joseph Wills Sr., who remain actively involved in supporting the church’s mission and work behind the scenes to help sustain and strengthen its ongoing outreach efforts in the community.

The church is currently led by Senior Pastor Elder Ernest Downs, whose leadership continues to guide the ministry with strength, faith, and a deep commitment to serving the community.

Wills emphasized that the true strength behind the mission lies in the people who make it possible.

“My church family and my own family are the real heroes,” he said. “They are the ones who show up when no one is watching. They serve, they give, and they sacrifice. Along with our volunteers and community partners, they make all of this possible.”

In a world where many communities are still searching for hope, Miracle Temple Church is working to become a place where hope is restored daily through food, service, and opportunity.

To bring this vision to life, Miracle Temple Church is seeking partnerships with community leaders, volunteers, and donors who believe in building something bigger than themselves. Contributions will help restore buildings, expand outreach, develop youth programs, and provide critical services to seniors and families in need.

At the heart of it all is a mission that continues to guide every effort:

“Placing miracles back into our community one family at a time.”

For more information, volunteering, or partnership opportunities, please contact:
jwillsmtc@outlook.com