A couple of strong Men of God apply a roof to the home (at no cost) of a low-income south sider as part of South Side Mission's Hope Builders Showcase Week in July. Thanks to Pastor Sunny and Pastor Joe!
Hello from the Lighthouse on Laramie!
You are among our most trusted of supporters so we share with you each month a little more information. Please take time to pray with us over concerns, rejoice with us over victories, and share with us your time, talent, and treasure as the Lord directs.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM JULY 2011
Decisions to follow Christ for the month
256
Avg. Nightly Census in our New Promise Center shelter
43
Graduates of the summer class of the Hotel/Hospitality Training School
6
Families served with free clothing, furniture, appliances & housewares
396
Attendance in our Laramie Street Sunday School, weekly
23
Attendance at our RiverWest Bible Study
8
Attendees for the Heartland Apartments Bible Study
5
Elderly Services home, hospital or nursing home visits
59
Formerly homeless women moving out successfully
2
Food baskets given away at our RiverWest Satellite Office
19
Kids spending at least one day at Camp Kearney and hearing the Gospel
880
Ladies in the New Promise Center who have established a church home
7
Number of people completing a discipleship course this month
27
Average attendance at the Lighthouse Diner
28
Churches that have Adopted Blocks in 61605
20
Families enrolled to be mentored in our Family Mentoring Program
5
Food baskets given away through our Garden Street Benevolence Center
687
Churches involved with Hope Builder Showcase Week
19
Attendance at our South Side Manor Bible Study
9
Food baskets given away at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
57
Attendance in our Chapel services, Laramie Street, weekly
46
Volunteer hours, as a ministry
8,585
Attendance in our Chapel services, Garden Street, weekly
270
Attendance at our B’Nai B’Rith Bible Study
10
Pastoral care visits & counsels (non-elderly)
51
Attendance at our Hurlburt House Bible Study
8
Kids enrolled in our Day Camp
125
Hot meals to the poor
11,700
Mother’s of Kids in the Youth Department Meeting
30
Attendance at our Harrison Homes Bible Studies
8
FINANCIALS FROM JULY 2011
Monthly revenue vs. budgeted
$228,461/$170,675
Monthly expenses vs. budgeted
$274,235/$301,496
Positive or Negative on the Month
- $45,775
Yearly revenue vs. budgeted
$1,595,692/$1,316,025
Yearly expenses vs. budgeted
$1,955,539/$2,072,950
Positive or Negative on the year
- $359,847
How we’re doing versus budget
+ $397,078
The Lord Reserves the Right to Not Participate in a Recession
I am amazed, but not surprised, that the Lord has ensured our revenues outpaced budget every month this year so far. Expenses have been consistently under budget this year, too.
We opened a new Senior Center Bible Study in July. We are now in (all in 61605):
Hurlburt House, B’Nai B’Rith, South Side Manor and The Heartland Apartments (new).
The Lord allowed the chance to share the Gospel with 1,005 kids this summer through Camp Kearney (380), our Day Camp (125) and guests from other day camps (500) that came out for a day or two to Camp Kearney. Whew! That’s a lot of kids.
Our Hope Builders Showcase Week was a triumph with 18 low-income or elderly homeowners getting a new roof or another big ticket home repair the week of July 25th!
One evening at Camp Kearney, after the counselor read a Bible story, Travon asked if anyone could read from the Bible or could only counselors use it? Travon shared that he had never read from a Bible before. When the counselor asked if he would like to read, Travon responded with an enthusiastic “YES”! As Travon began to read out loud it was obvious that Travon was not a very good reader. One of the other boys “Juan”, rather than make fun of Travon, went over and sat next to him and began to help him with the more challenging words. Together they read from the Bible for more than twenty minutes. The others in the cabin listened quietly as God’s word was coming to them through two young boys, one who could barely read, and a second who saw someone who needed help and then reached out to that person.
