History
Against the Grain was founded by Rob and Meredith Kendall in March of 2003, but their hearts for serving unwed mothers started years earlier. The Kendall’s 
assisted their first pregnant teen when they had been married for less then 2 years. In 1986 she stayed with them during her pregnancy because she was given an ultimatum…”abort your baby or get out.” The Kendall’s volunteered for Crisis Pregnancy Center and gave her the option to save her child. This desire to serve others continued for years, but fast forward to January of 2002 when the Kendall’s began a year-long transformation.
They had made it. They had what all Americans fight for. They owned their own businesses, had 2 six-figure incomes and had achieved the life they had always dreamed of. They lived in a four bedroom house in one of the wealthiest counties in America but were looking to go bigger….6 bedrooms, 6,500 sq. ft., a three car garage in an exclusive neighborhood with every intention of filling that house with the best toys money could buy. But all of that changed.
Rob and Meredith both felt selfish and empty. They talked with each other and realized “if this is the American Dream…we have been lied to.” So at Meredith’s urging…Rob took a sabbatical year beginning April 1, 2002. During that year they adopted the name Against the Grain after reading Romans 12:2 to signify their decision to stop chasing the patterns of this world and begin to live their lives differently than the rest of society. Rob continued to learn more about God’s calling for Christians to live a life of service to others, but felt no clear direction to fulfill their specific call.
The sabbatical year was coming to an end and they knew that something big was on the horizon, although they were still unclear as to what it was. Then, March 21, 22 and 23 of 2003, Meredith was scheduled to go on a women’s retreat with their church. One of the women in a Bible Study she had been leading asked for a ride and for 2 ½ hours Meredith listened to her story. She was a 23 year old unwed, single mother of the three. She had dropped out of High School because she was pregnant and was a third generation single mother living in poverty. She had no education, no marketable job skills and very little hope for herself or her children. During the weekend, this young lady said to Meredith “I wish I had a mother like you.” Without a hesitation Meredith responded “I’ll be your mother.” With those words the Kendall’s lives would change forever.
Meredith came home and told Rob what had happened and instantly the vision for AtG became clear. He ran to his computer and wrote out a basic outline that they could use to help this young woman break free from the generational cycles of poverty. They invited her over and told her what they were thinking. They would develop a system of support around her that would assist her physically, emotionally and spiritually while she learned to handle the challenges of life with a different set of skills. She accepted their offer and the Kendall’s hired her to assist Meredith in Real Estate.
In May of 2003 the young mother came to Meredith and said “I have some friends who want what I have”. Meredith told her that she was unable to hire any additional people. “No, they want you” she said. In June the Kendall’s held an informational meeting to talk with the women who wanted the training and her 6 friends with their 13 children showed up. As they heard the vision of Against the Grain they all chose to begin the program and AtG was on its way. Two weeks later they held their first get together and 8 moms with 18 children showed up. The numbers were already growing. Rob spent the next 7 months preparing legal documents and getting licenses to establish AtG as a non-denominational, faith-based, social change organization. AtG received its non-profit status in December of 2003.
Rob continued directing the administrative work and Meredith left her real estate career to devote her full attention to the moms. In the last 4 years AtG has grown and expanded. The Kendall’s new this was something that they could not manage on their oen. An incredible support system has developed around the vision; a group of partners who support AtG, a Board of Director and 75 - 100 volunteers who provide tutoring, mentoring, life-coaching and administrative support. AtG has impacted the lives of over 100 moms and 300 children and has a vision to open satellite locations around Middle Tennessee and other areas of the country. For more information about the vision for the future please see the vision page.