That's our new flagpole garden in memory of Franklin & Virginia Flaherty. It was put together as a senior class project by the Tri-County Enrichment Homeschool Co-Op. Thank you friends!HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEPTEMBER 2011
Decisions to follow Christ for the month
332
Average number of homeless women & children housed nightly
37
Mothers of our kids enrolled in Mothers Day Out
30
Families served with free clothing, furniture, appliances & housewares
545
Attendance in our Laramie Street Sunday School, weekly
21
Attendance at our RiverWest Bible Study
5
Elderly Services home, hospital or nursing home visits
51
Formerly homeless women moving out successfully
3
Food baskets given away at our RiverWest Satellite Office
19
Children enrolled in After-School Tutoring
84
Number of people completing a discipleship course this month
18
Average attendance at the Lighthouse Diner
27
Children attending Older Boys Club
22
Attendance at our Heartland Apartments Bible Study
10
Children attending Younger Girls Club
45
Churches that have Adopted Blocks in 61605
21
Food baskets given away through our Garden Street Benevolence Center
699
Children attending Younger Boys Club
43
Attendance at our South Side Manor Bible Study
8
Food baskets given away at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
63
Children attending Older Girls Club
11
Attendance at our Harrison Homes Bible Studies (2)
13
Attendance in our Chapel services, Laramie Street, weekly
36
Volunteer hours, as a ministry
3,422
Attendance in our Chapel services, Garden Street, weekly
311
Attendance at our B’Nai B’Rith Bible Study
10
Pastoral care visits & counsels (non-elderly)
40
Attendance at our Hurlburt House Bible Study
5
Hot meals to the poor
7,125
FINANCIALS FROM SEPTEMBER 2011
Monthly revenue vs. budgeted
$248,579/$250,575
Monthly expenses vs. budgeted
$295,667/$274,024
Positive or Negative on the Month
- $47,088
Yearly revenue vs. budgeted
$2,105,298/$1,846,267
Yearly expenses vs. budgeted
$2,538,255/$2,644,474
Positive or Negative on the Year
- $432,958
How we’re doing versus budget + $365,250
Indicated Decisions for Christ 322
The Holy Spirit continues to have a field day in 61605. Of the 322 decisions for Christ we saw in September, Robin Winfrey was particularly excited about the five senior citizens who made a decision for Christ at her Harvesters’ discipleship and fellowship group as well as the seven seniors who said YES to Jesus at her annual Senior Fair, held in September. Robin sums it up by saying “the fields are white unto harvest for our white-haired friends!”
Those Completing a Discipleship Course 18
Eight people finished the Alpha discipleship course, two completed the Four Spiritual Laws discipleship course and eight completed Minister Armosha Sturdivant’s discipleship course.
Financials
What a wonderful year the Lord is giving us at SSM. He has us over budget on revenues on the year and under budget on expenses on the year—right where we want to be. Praise God.
What’s New
In September, South Side Mission received its second Peoria City Beautiful Award. This time for the landscaping at our Benevolence Center. We attended a nice hors doevres ceremony at Luthy Botanical Garden and got our pictures taken. We won our first Peoria City Beautiful Award for our landscaping at the Laramie Street headquarters.
Speaking of beautiful, check out our new perennial garden around the flagpole out in front of our Laramie Street headquarters! The Tri-County Enrichment Homeschool Co-Op took on the flower garden as a senior class project. They raised the dollars to put in a beautiful brick edging and selection of perennials that matches the look of the landscaping just to the north of it next to our building. The garden originally was put in to honor Dr. Pat’s parents. We sent Dr. Pat a photo of the garden’s facelift. I hope he is pleased.
We have a new Adoptablock church this month. St. Paul Baptist Church, where Deveraux Hubbard is pastor, became our 21st church to join the effort.
God Sightings
Hope Builders completed 55 “big ticket” home repair projects in 2011…roofs, windows, siding, rebuilding bathrooms, etc. That’s 10 more than last year! We added many new volunteers this year and sources of donated materials. God is good!
Northwoods Community Church completed its annual food drive and raised more than 35 tons of food. Yes that’s tons. Their food drive filled up two semi trucks and four box trucks of nonperishable food for our Benevolence Center, Harrison Homes and RiverWest food pantries. If this is anything like years past, the food should last us deep into next summer. The north suburban church of more than 4,000 people dismisses its attenders early from service with the direction to go to Walmart Allen Road or Kroger North Knoxville and arms them with a grocery list. The attenders, in turn, show up in droves to these grocery stores and shop with their families. There is a great spirit of camaraderie and volunteerism from this church. By 5 pm on Sunday, the food is all unloaded at our three pantries and we bask in the glow of what God did.
Staff did 4 days of recruiting at Manual Academy High School in the lunchroom. What a wonderful time we had! We must have seen close to 1,000 students! A least it seem like it! At Manual the students were as glad to see us as we were to see them. They rushed the table we were at and greeted us! Right away the youth and the staff were requesting prayer for family and friends! They gave us summer updates of their lives. We had some old friends and met many new friends! We prayed with students and a staff members at their request! They are really open to receive Christ this year as their family troubles have escalated!
Did You Know?
We currently have student nurses from Bradley, OSF and Methodist College of Nursing servicing the needs of our people. It is a great comfort to see all of these health care helpers around SSM working with our homeless residents and our Lighthouse Diner patrons.
Stories of People You Have Helped
[from Director of Discipleship Minister Armosha Sturdivant’s report]
Markus Stogner, a graduate of our Hotel & Housekeeping Training School is on work release from the Peoria County Jail. This has not stopped him from improving his life. Amazingly, this “inmate” is thriving. He takes classes at Robert Morris College and recently showed us his report card (4 a's and one B!). He also just got promoted in his job at Stoney Creek Inn. As God was with Joseph while he was in jail, God is with Markus.
[from Director of the New Promise Center and Chaplain Rev. Linda Butler’s report]
Last month we received a vehicle and there were three people who qualified to be chosen to receive it. One of the residents who did not receive the car was very disappointed. While we were making our decision she was making plans for her new vehicle. She has started classes at ICC as a full time student and really thought her need for the vehicle was great. We tried comforting her and challenged her to trust and wait upon the Lord. She accepted the challenge as way to deepen her relationship with God. Within 30 days God provided another vehicle. It was exciting to watch her praise God as she danced around her vehicle.
This month we have been surprised and happy that the children who live here really hate to leave. SSM is a safe and comfortable place for them. The children bonded with their mothers more than they ever had. One of our young boys is moving soon. He does not to leave. He has grown to be a responsible young man. He has the garbage chores, where picks up all the trash daily and then take it to the dumpster. He loves his chore and the responsibility that comes with it. He loves helping the RA’s and he will miss them and what he does. We are happy that his short time with us has meant a lot to him. He is also very spiritual. He loves going to church and Sunday School. He has a sweet and gentle spirit. We have been blessed by his presence and he has given us a change to show him God’s love and he truly has God in his life and in his heart.
[from Assistant Executive Director, External Ministries Rev. Craig Williams’ report]
We were able to help a mother and daughter that were displaced because of the bedbugs at the Salvation Army. She received an apartment at Harrison Homes. We were called by the Head Start program to see if we could help this family. The family was able to benefit from our Harrison Homes food pantry and Minister Rush was able to give her other community referrals to assist her and her child.
God has really blessed us to begin the school ministry in all 5 schools in 61605. Even with the many changes that District 150 has this year, God has smiled on us! God has given us wonderful favor with teachers and staff. I was out at a store and I heard someone say my name. I turned around and it was the mom of a BTS Warriors from one of our schools. She said my daughter just has to say hi! Mom and dad were thanking us so much for the ministry at Pleasant Hill School. They said their daughter wakes up early on Friday morning so she won’t be late for school ministry. Right after that in the very same store a teen came up to me and said I remember you from Ting School. She said I still remember the scripture you taught us! She went on to quote Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me! Her mother was just standing there watching her; I could tell she was so proud of her daughter! Proverb 22:6 Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they won’t depart from it.
[from Director of Elderly Services, Robin Winfrey RN’s report]
I have been taking a senior to church that has had a drug dependency for a number of years. A heroin addicted baby, she was raised in foster care and ran away from an abusive situation at the age of 15. Her story is tragic, BUT GOD. This client has been a faithful member of the Heartland bible study and has been an encouragement to all. She has been a believer and just needed encouragement. She called a local church she calls her home church and was told no one could come to pick her up for service. I am working on getting her a faithful ride until then she goes with me. The change in her countenance is visible to all.
[from Associate Executive Director, Youth Services, Sheree Lyles’ report]
A boy had to write a bio of his life for school. He shared info regarding his likes and dislikes. He shared info about the sports that he enjoys, talked about his friends and family, Most importantly he share about his relationship with “Christ. He also shared about receiving Christ at South Side Mission. What a witness!
[From Director of External Ministries Minister Bessie Rush’s report]
We have been praying for a lady in Harrison Homes that attends the food pantry that desperately needed a job. She was so desponded because like many others she could not find a job. We teach at the pantry that God rewards those who diligently seek him. Last week she came to the pantry all smiles and excited because God had blessed her to get a job! To God belongs the glory! Our God keeps his word!
2 Peter 3:9 (a) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. He is a keeper of his word!
