Bloom is growing by putting faith into action across metro Atlanta

People who stopped by Gutbusters Breakfast on Candler Road in Decatur on July 25 were treated to an early-morning blessing: free food.

The restaurant had multiple lines going from the cash register to the back wall as word quickly spread that a small group of people in black shirts were paying for meals. Outside the building, more folks in black shirts were offering customers prayers, Bibles and conversation.

The group behind the event was a relatively new nonprofit Christian ministry called Bloom, and leading the group was its founder, Annette Groves.

“What we did at Gutbusters is what we want to see all of our churches do,” Groves said. “And that is: Do not turn away from those who are in need.”

Faith that became action

Groves is a 48-year-old single mother and minister based in Stone Mountain. She was inspired to start the ministry in 2025 when her godson, Elijah McMillon, asked her to lead what would become the first Bloom meeting. She said McMillon asked her to create a space for young adults seeking to turn their lives around to worship together and strengthen their faith.

She chose the name because she believes people, like seeds, often grow unseen before reaching their full potential.

What started in a living room with three people — Groves, her daughter, Sydni Foster, and McMillon — 18 months ago, now has almost 100 members.

Groves said the ministry’s purpose is to help people feeling lost find direction and community. Bloom combines worship gatherings with community service projects across metro Atlanta.

“The moment you walk into Bloom, our goal is to smother you with love,” Groves said.

Nichole Mills, 51, said the ministry has given her life more purpose since she joined, and she credits Groves with giving the group “the opportunity to really serve.”

Since launching, Bloom has paid for meals, fed people experiencing homelessness, helped older adults and mentored young people.

For the Gutbusters event, the ministry spent more than $800 to pay for about 70 meals.

Josh Alexander, a member of Bloom, said, “Every time I come out and we do this, it’s life-changing.”

Volunteer Josh Alexander (left) prays with a customer as she leaves Gutbusters restaurant during the Bloom outreach event Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Decatur. (Olivia Bowdoin for the AJC)

A lifetime of service

Acts of service have long been central to Groves’ own faith journey.

Her grandmother operated a soup kitchen, where she used to volunteer growing up in Port Huron, Michigan. She grew up singing in her church choir and even recorded gospel songs of her own.

Before launching Bloom, Groves served three years as a director with the Supernatural Life, an international Christian ministry.

Groves said her godson’s request got her back into ministry after a year off and gave her a chance to pursue something that had been on her heart for a long time.

Members say Groves’ commitment to truly loving her neighbor as she loves herself has fueled Bloom’s rapid growth.

Angie Kim, who has been a member of Bloom since its early days, said Groves “opened her home” to her at a time in her life when she was lacking “clarity and direction.” Kennedy Green said Groves “has become a spiritual mother” to her since she joined Bloom just five months ago.

People wait in line to have their breakfast paid for during an outreach event hosted by Annette Groves and her religious organization, Bloom, at Gutbusters in Decatur on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The group hosts events like this monthly, with a goal of doing them every week. (Olivia Bowdoin for the AJC)

Bloom now meets three Fridays a month in Clarkston to worship together and plan activities. The group also comes together for fun events like cookouts and roller-skating on top of its many community service efforts.

Members have to be at least 18 years old because of the heavy topics they often discuss at meetings. The ministry can be found on social media at instagram.com/bloomactivate.

What’s next for Bloom

Groves hopes Bloom will eventually minister to law enforcement officers, military veterans and youth in the juvenile justice system.

The ministry is in the process of partnering with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice to mentor kids at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center.

Bloom’s goal is to help them heal, forgive and “get rid of the anger and resentment that keeps a lot of young people back into the system,” Groves said.

Groves said the breakfast giveaway at Gutbusters is only the beginning. Bloom plans to bring similar events to restaurants in underserved communities across metro Atlanta, continuing its mission one meal, one prayer and one conversation at a time.