SSM and Imago Dei Partner in RiverWest Housing Project

Our friends at Imago Dei Church partner with us at South Side Mission's RiverWest Housing Project satellite office. Imago Dei provides wonderful volunteer support and ministry to residents of RiverWest. Take a look at what they are doing in Jesus' name!

7:45 on a Saturday Morning

Ashley gets ready to deliver a couple of hand-knit afgans to some chilly and low-income senior citizens.

Doesn't anyone sleep in anymore?

7:45 on a Saturday morning. More than 100 volunteers from WCIC descended upon us to winterize the homes of 50 low-income senior citizens in zip code 61605. Dozens of volunteers from Harvest Bible Chapel in Morton came down to cook a hot breakfast for the homeless women and their children in our shelter. And a strong cadre of prayer warriors came down for a 24-hour prayer meeting that began at 6 p.m. last night. What would inspire all these folks to come down and help? Why, the Lord, of course!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPO2qfMINA

Ministry Highlights For the Month - October 2009

South Side Mission's Benevolence Center helps more than 1,000 people a month with free food, clothing, furniture, housewares and appliances--all in the name of the Lord!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OCTOBER 2009

Decisions to follow Christ for the month
362
Average number of homeless women & children housed nightly
52
Families served with free clothing, furniture, appliances & housewares
612
Attendance in our Sunday School, weekly
47
Attendance at our RiverWest Bible Study
8
Elderly Services home, hospital or nursing home visits
52
Formerly homeless women moving out successfully
2
Food baskets given away at our RiverWest Satellite Office
23
Average attendance at the Lighthouse Diner
17
Kids enrolled in after-school tutoring
55
Churches involved with Adoptablock
14
Food baskets given away through our Garden Street Benevolence Center
603
Attendance at our South Side Manor Bible Study
9
College Club kids enrolled at ICC
15
Food baskets given away at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
53
Attendance at our Harrison Homes Bible Study
19
Attendance in our Chapel services, Laramie Street, weekly
38
Attendance in our Chapel services, Garden Street, weekly
303
Attendance at our B’Nai B’Rith Bible Study
8
Pastoral care visits & counsels (non-elderly)
28
Hot meals to the poor
10,100

FINANCIALS FROM OCTOBER 2009
Monthly revenue vs. budgeted
$265,260/$313,851
Monthly expenses vs. budgeted
$280,166/$234,197
Positive or Negative on the Month
- $14,906
Yearly revenue vs. budgeted
$2,166,148/$2,138,510
Yearly expenses vs. budgeted
$2,447,042/$2,442,803
Positive or Negative on the Year
- $280,894
How we’re doing versus budget
+ $23,399

Indicated decisions for Christ 362
The Holy Spirit is still pouring out Himself on the South Side. There were a total of 284 cards completed indicating a decision for Christ at Benevolence Center in October, 10 in Mission at Prayer, one at the RiverWest Housing Project Satellite Office of South Side Mission, eight students at Harrison School, 13 seniors in Elderly Services, one child in Sunday School, four ladies at the Laramie Street chapel, 25 kids in the Breakout Youth Center, five in Kings Kids, five moms who came for Mother’s Day Out, and four ladies in the New Promise Center shelter for homeless women and their children.

Financials
On the year, we are $23,399 better than expected! Praise God! As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables this month, let’s take time to thank the Lord for His amazing provision at the Mission this year.
South Side Mission usually is behind on the year until close to year end. Historically, year end is spectacular for the Mission, with both November and December showing a healthy positive return. We budgeted to break even in 2010, so if things continue on as we think they will, we should see a modest positive return on the year.

God Sightings
South Side Mission saw its largest food drive, maybe ever, on Saturday and Sunday the 24th and 25th when Northwoods Community Church partnered with Walmart North Allen Road and Kroger Northpoint to drop 56,000 pounds of food on our Benevolence Center! That’s two semitrailers and a box truck worth, by the way! This should keep our BC, and the two pantries in our satellite offices stocked until May, I would guess.

While the Mission does not celebrate Halloween, staff have found a way to "flip the script" on the dark holiday by using the Jack-O-Lantern as a Gospel presentation, with surprising results. Essentially our staff present that Jesus cleans up all of the gunk inside us and puts his light in our hearts, expressing this through the carving of a pumpkin. Three different departments used this method and here’s what happened…
· 5 kids in Kings Kids made decisions for Christ
· 5 kids in After School Clubs made decisions for Christ
· 2 senior citizens at South Side Manor made decisions

What’s New
We had our first case of H1N1 Swine Flu in the New Promise Center shelter. A mom with two kids had it and we quarantined them for the duration of their being contagious. It did not spread. Mom and kids are doing just fine now and at the time of this writing are still living with us.

Minister Bessie Rush reports that two new Hope Builders projects were completed on Saturday, October 31, 2009. There were representatives from Woodland Church, Northwood, Latter Rain and Harvest Bible Chapel that worked on the projects. We are continuing to accept some projects as we prepare for next year. Applications are still being accepted for the Hope Builders 2010. What a mighty God we serve that we can partner together to show the love of Christ!

Bessie also passes on the following External Ministries updates…
· The community family/youth ministry continues to grow at RiverWest. They have tutored over seventy-five (75) children in seven weeks!
· In six weeks the SSM school ministry ministered to 147 students, 1 staff and 2 parents! One parent was from Harrison School and shared her personal life troubles and we encouraged her to trust God to keep her and her family safe. After sharing she said she felt so much better! Please keep Manual High School in your prayers. This month a 16 year old student was killed. He was not in our morning group, but many of the students that attend our morning chapel service knew him and are grieving. We ministered to a Security guard at Manual who was grieving for the lost life of this young man.
· Our Adopt A Block teams continue to be faithful. Several teams are depending less on South Side Mission and are creatively taking charge of their blocks. Richwood Christian Church and Maranatha Church are putting on a Thanksgiving dinner and the residents on their blocks are the special guest!
· It’s now official Word of Faith Christian Church has completed their AAB training. God really blessed them during the prayer walk on their blocks. Over 20 people were present to minister to the needs of the blocks. They prayed with a young man and it was evident that God ministered to him. Word of Faith has been assigned blocks on Millman and Butler! This is also the block where the 16 year old young man was lost his life.

What’s new? Our bunk beds at Camp Kearney! Thanks to volunteers from Mt. Hawley Community Church and our own hardworking Camp staff, we have built 40 new bunk beds at Camp Kearney!

Stories of People You Have Helped
[from New Promise Center Caseworker Elizabeth Diviney’s report]
Sage has resided in the mission since early July. Her previous history with the mission has been that she would come here and then either be asked to leave for her alcohol abuse or just not return. Sage has made a change in her life and recommitted her life to the Lord. She is participating in the New Promise Center Program, she enjoys going to chapel and bible study, and participates actively in the life skill classes. She recently became employed and has begun saving money. She is also currently studying for her GED with our onsite program with district 150 and is the most determined person in the class. She was also invited to do the radio station this month with Pastor Frank. In a meeting with her she stated, "You know this time is my time to succeed because for the first time in my life I have truly accepted God into my life". She felt as if that is what has been missing the entire time.

[from Director of Transportation Mark Bowden’s report]
October’s ministry included service to a large number of families where a member had moved into nursing care or were recently deceased. One such pickup had a great memory of Helen Haien. As a little girl, a house in Joyce’s Neighborhood had burnt, killing two and leaving two orphans. Miss Haien took the two children in and cared for them until other arrangements could be made. Helen left a powerful and positive impression that impacted those she served as well as those who witnessed her service, as we are called to do each day.

[from Assistant Executive Director and Senior Pastor Frank Winfrey’s report]
God allowed me to be apart of some connecting of one of our former Girls Club students with some needed help with her CILCO bill. She had been in contact with one of our area churches and this pastor knew me and asked if I could verify her need. This is the second time with this particular church I have been able to link some benevolent resources to the need. It was a little more special this time because I was able to help someone I had known for a long time.
God met with us in a powerful way in one of our mission at prayer meetings. We had sung the song "He’s Changing Me." After this I felt led of the Lord to challenge the ladies to share how they saw God changing their lives. It was encouraging to hear story after story of what God was doing for them.
Some of the messages I heard I will summarize for you:
#1- I used to think that I needed a man at my side to feel good about myself. I would try to serve them and be kind and loyal to seek to get from them the love I needed. I now know that I don’t need to seek out a man to feel good about myself. Maybe I am heavy and I have some physical handicaps but I am starting to feel good about myself. I like myself. Just recently I bought some new PJ’s . My son looked at me in those the other night and said to me, "Mom, you look cute in that!" I gave him a big hug. God has brought me here to be encouraged and I can learn something from each woman in this room.
#2 I have learned hope.
#3 This is my second time here. I went through the motions to stay legal while I was here the last time. This time I want to learn all I can.

I then had some of the ladies share where they saw growth in each other.
#1 One lady went around the room and shared what she was getting from each individual person. She had something to good to say about each one.
#2 One of the ladies laughed and began to talk about "Chrissie." She said went I first came here I stayed away from you. My first introduction to you was you running out the door cussing and screaming mad. Now I have seen you change and there really is a sweet person on the inside that I couldn’t see at first. God has definitely been changing you! (this was followed by a lot of agreeing laughter from the other ladies).
Isn’t it neat to see the Word of God, and being faithful to love people make a difference!

[from Associate Executive Director, Benevolence, Steve Dunn’s report]
I had a man run up to me while I was at the back desk, asking me to help him get saved! He had such urgency in his voice that I bowed my head and led him in the sinner’s prayer. I saw him the next day and he said he never felt so good in all of his life. To God be the Glory.

[from Kings Kids Teacher Lisa Abel’s report]
Lisa has a boy in her class who has not heard a lot of the Bible stories. He is always excited when Lisa shares stories with the children. He remembered that Noah obeyed God. This was exciting for Lisa to know that the children listen.

Et Cetera
The Board of Directors (and others) have been challenging South Side Mission to expand our discipleship programs for the community. The Lord seems to be moving us in the direction of Bible Studies. They are exploding at South Side Mission. Did you know there are 15 Bible Studies each week at South Side Mission?
· Three in the New Promise Center shelter
· Alpha
· Benevolence Center
· Harrison Primary School
· Roosevelt Magnet School
· Trewyn Middle School
· Manual High School
· Three at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
· B’Nai B’Rith Senior Citizen housing
· South Side Manor Senior Citizen housing
· River West Satellite Office

Steve Dunn reports that at our Benevolence Center this year, we have recycled 339,724 pounds of overflow as of October 31, 2009 equaling $16,986 for the year. Our Cilco bill runs $1500 a month. If we paid our Cilco bill with our recycling efforts we would have $1986 left to put into the ministry!

We welcome Peter Nevi as a part-time driver. Some of you know Peter Nevi from his amazing testimony DVD that has been circulating around. It’s nice to have him on the team.

Twenty-Five Years

Janet took a walk up the Laramie Street Hill this week on one of the few sunny days we've had.

It was the first sunny day of freedom she's had in 25 years.

You see, Janet paroled to South Side Mission from Dwight Correctional Center, where she'd spent the last 25 years.

A sunny day to walk up the hill and feel the breeze on her face, the sun on her skin, the autumn scent of burning leaves. It was a rich time for Janet.

Please say a prayer for Janet as she tries to re-start a life interrupted. We'll do our best to introduce her to a friend who can guide her in this journey-- a friend who will stick closer to her than a brother--the Lord Jesus Christ.

To Comfort Those Who Mourn

"My child just died at the Hospital."

The out of town mother who visited our Mission Mart on Knoxville, not far from the Hospitals, was there to buy something to bury her child in. Shell-shocked, she needed something to wear to the funeral herself.

At times like this, our store staff forgets this is a store. Mission Mart becomes a place of ministry. Staffers Julie and Karen came to the aid of this shaken woman and did what they could to "comfort those who mourn" as Isaiah 61 says. We certainly provided the clothing that was necessary and appropriate--at no cost--as we should have at a time like that, but Julie and Karen took time to pray, too.

Ministry By the Numbers - September 2009

A dapper Rev. Craig Williams visits a resident of his adopted block on Starr Street, offering a food basket and an encouraging word.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEPTEMBER 2009

Decisions to follow Christ for the month
368

Average number of homeless women & children housed nightly
46

Families served with free clothing, furniture, appliances & housewares
525

Attendance in our Sunday School, weekly
39

Attendance at our RiverWest Bible Study
7

Elderly Services home, hospital or nursing home visits
58

Formerly homeless women moving out successfully
4

Food baskets given away at our RiverWest Satellite Office
19

Average attendance at the Lighthouse Diner
23

Kids enrolled in after-school tutoring
55

Churches involved with Adoptablock
13

Food baskets given away through our Garden Street Benevolence Center
577

Attendance at our South Side Manor Bible Study
9

College Club kids enrolled at ICC
14

Food baskets given away at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
49

Attendance at our Harrison Homes Bible Study
9

Attendance in our Chapel services, Laramie Street, weekly
40

Attendance in our Chapel services, Garden Street, weekly
275

Attendance at our B’Nai B’Rith Bible Study
8

Pastoral care visits & counsels (non-elderly)
42

Hot meals to the poor
7,888

FINANCIALS FROM SEPTEMBER 2009

Monthly revenue vs. budgeted
$229,268/$173,851

Monthly expenses vs. budgeted
$276,288/$229,629

Positive or Negative on the Month
- $47,020

Yearly revenue vs. budgeted
$1,900,888/$1,824,659

Yearly expenses vs. budgeted
$2,167,118/$2,208,606

Positive or Negative on the Year
- $266,230

How we’re doing versus budget
+ $117,717

The Lord has blossomed our pastoral care ministry. In September 2009, He allowed us to conduct 100 visits—58 in Elderly Services and 42 in Pastoral Care. We really are beginning to saturate 61605 with God’s love.

Fresh Fire Church of Canton has been reaping the harvest on their adopted block on the South Side. They are now doing a home bible study with 15 people in attendance!

Jamie, a resident in the New Promise Center came here from Davenport, Iowa because she was trying to escape an abusive situation. The man that she resided with constantly abused her and caused her to be hospitalized many times for various injuries. She finally had enough of it and checked herself into the hospital for a suicide attempt. They did not have room for her so they transferred her to Singer Mental Hospital in Rockford, IL. They in turn recommended the South Side Mission as a safe place that she could restart her life. When Jamie first arrived she was in tears most of the time and very afraid. She admitted that she had been diagnosed with HIV, but had stayed with her abuser because she believed that no one else would want her. She also did not have one family member that she even talked to because of the poor choices she had made in the past. On her intake paperwork she put down her abusers mother because she did not know of anyone else that we could call in an emergency. Jamie stayed here for seven weeks and faithfully attended all classes. She recommitted her life to God and began to read her bible. She received a certificate of confirmation for completing the discipleship class. In one of the meetings that we had she even joked "I might not have anyone for you to put down on paper in case of emergency but now I do have someone on my side, I have the Lord."

Alethia is one of the very positive role models for the ladies in the shelter. She has a bright employment future because she was able to complete a very comprehensive lead and asbestos training and get licensed by the state. Alethia took a leadership role in chapel on September 20th.. She got up to share a very powerful testimony of God keeping her through intense pain. She had difficulty getting through her testimony, but she was able to share some very hurtful parts of her life and declare, "I am still here!" She challenged the ladies at the end of her testimony to give it all over to God and if they had not given their heart to Christ to do so. The altar was filled with well over a dozen ladies. They had seen the change in Alethia and they knew it was genuine. This was a first—a resident giving an altar call!

Urban Sustainable Farming - The Wave of the Future

As part of our Five-Year-Strategic-Plan, we are investigating beginning an urban sustainable farming program. South Side Mission would eventually grow its own vegetables, farm its own fish, and share each with others. Will Allen, a MacArthur Genius Grant winner and his Growing Power charity in Milwaukee, WI have an outstanding enterprise going that does just that. We will be visiting Growing Power later this month to see what we can learn from them. Watch this video and let me know what you think!