Skyrocketing Need

This photo, from our Benevolence Center chapel illustrates that Jesus stands at the door and knocks, wanting to come into our hearts and lives.

In preparing a grant proposal recently, I crunched some numbers and was struck by the skyrocketing need on the south side.

Since 2006, at South Side Mission, we have seen:

• Hot meals for the poor increase 25%
• Food baskets for the poor increase 41%
• Families helped with free clothing increase 25%
• Thanksgiving meals for the poor increase 29%

Additionally, at the Mission, we have witnessed:

• Free home repairs for the poor increase 50% in just one year.
• Elderly assistance visits increase 23% in just one year.
• Record numbers of applications for our Culinary Arts Training School. Each trimester, we enroll 9 students. We already have taken in more than 50 applicants for 9 slots this August.
• Our New Promise Center shelter for homeless women and their children has been full (with few exceptions) since September of 2008.

Please do pray for the precious, hurting people who whom the Lord allows us to minister. We are grateful for a chance to meet so many more people these days than we normally would. We are grateful that to date, God has us ahead of budget on the year. He does not have to participate in a recession. We are also grateful for a chance to share Christ with so many these days. God is there with them in their struggle, comforting them and bringing many to a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ through their time of need.