newsletter

SEPT

EMB

ER 2

014

From Hurt to Hope

“I was lost. Sometimes we think we can do it

by ourselves, but we have to fully surrender.”

— Antoine

After a series of unfortunate events, Antoine found himself sitting on a cot in a room built of cinderblocks with a locked door. It was during that stay in jail when he had the time – and desire – to read the entire Bible. Antoine had come to a place in his life where poverty

meant more than just a lack of money. “I dropped out of seventh grade, and when I came to

Water Street I had a third grade reading level,” he said.

Continued on page 2

Home Sweet Home

One afternoon in late June, I saw Kimberley sitting at a table in the dining hall. “Guess what?” she said to me with a smile. “I saved up enough money to put a down-payment on an apartment and I’m moving out soon!”

Kimberley was at Water Street for a season in her life and “being homeless” motivated her to change. As we sat on her front porch, she told me about the day she turned the key and opened the front door to her home. Kimberley calmly said, “God is the author and finisher of our story. Just because I moved out doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy…I am thankful for life and that God gave me a second chance.”

Today Kimberley is getting the chance to be a quality employee, a grandmother, and a friend to her church community. She’s enjoying the simple pleasures in life, like cooking her favorite meal—roasted chicken—in her own oven. “God brought me here and He has a plan,” she says as she pours herself a cup of coffee in her cozy kitchen. •

Continued from page 1

Antoine needed to focus on a few important goals while staying at the Mission. One such goal was to get his GED. It wasn’t that Antoine didn’t have the intelligence – he speaks French and English fluently – but his journey through life was an example of how, as humans, we can lose focus on the important things and therefore never succeed. When he came to Water Street he chose to accept guidance to start a new future. While here, he was introduced to God’s redeeming grace through the counseling and holistic care at the Mission.

“I was lost. Sometimes we think we can do it by ourselves, but we have to fully surrender. God is in control,” Antoine said.

Two years have passed since Antoine moved out of homelessness. He is actively engaged in a local church, works full-time and sticks with his commitment to his men’s small group for on-going spiritual support and growth.

If you meet Antoine you’ll notice two pieces of jewelry: his new gold wedding band proclaiming his forever commitment to his newlywed-wife and a worn gold chain with a tiny mite hanging around his neck. Antoine says, with purpose, “I wear this necklace because of its story.”

The story Antoine is referring to is about the widow who donated a few low-valued coins (mites) to the temple treasury. Jesus saw her give all she had and then told His disciples, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Antoine felt like he had nothing left to give when he arrived at Water Street, but what little energy he did have to change he gave. He says he received everything he needed and more. Today, because of God’s unconditional love and the tangible provisions extended to Antoine, he is a thankful man living a rich life. •

BEFORE& AFTER

Celebrating Life at Home

BEFORE& AFTERThanks to the great team at

Clark Associates for donating new kitchen equipment to Water Street’s Dining Hall. “With the new stove, freezer, and convection ovens we can cook meals more

efficiently, moving us from a soup kitchen to a restaurant experience for our guests,” said our Food Services

Director. •

Under the blue-sky on a warm breezy Sunday afternoon over 50 Water Street alumni celebrated their life after homelessness.

Before the catered lunch was served, guests were asked to randomly select an engraved rock. Each rock had the word strength, hope, peace, or love etched onto its surface. For a minute all that was heard was the wind blowing through the open-air pavilion. Everyone was silently talking to God, asking Him to reveal more about the word they received. Men were invited to share what their word meant to them. “’Hope’, my rock reads ‘Hope’, and my hope needs to be God’s hope.” “My rock reads ‘Peace’ and after being in jail and on

the streets God gave me great peace and an understanding for the life He want’s me to live.” “’Strength’ is on my rock, and Christ is my strength.”

Before everyone went home, Water Street’s Campus Pastor, Michael Booth, told the men, “God has something bigger than just a job for you. God’s plan for you is bigger than you can imagine.”

The men and women who move through the doors of Water Street are fueled by God’s strength, love, peace, and hope. With these attributes they build into their communities and invite other’s to see the story God has for everyone. •

“God has something bigger than just a job for you.”

— Michael Booth, Water Street’s Campus PastorGroup photo from the luncheon depicts the honored guests with David Miller (far bottom left), Scott and Sandy Scheffey and Chef Ray Hottenstein (far right).

A Message from JackBy Jack Crowley

Interim President, Water Street Ministries

I love the cover story of this newsletter. Not just because of Antoine’s contagious smile, but because his story and his life brings a smile to me and a smile to God. Antoine is a wonderful example of a life transformed; a life repurposed to impact others. When he arrived at Water Street he had real and specific needs with issues he was facing. While here he encountered the love of God and His people, and was provided the resources needed to experience true-life change. Now, wherever Antoine goes, he is a testimony to the power of God to change a life. Antoine’s heart of gratitude overflows in the way he serves and loves everyone he meets.

Just as Antoine is grateful to God, and thankful for Water Street, we are grateful for you and for your generous support that makes stories like Antoine’s possible. •

Our dental clinic just launched a ground-breaking study called ‘Restore’ to create a new way to treat patients who suffer from traumatic triggers during their dental exams.

Colleen Elmer, Executive Director of Water Street Health Services said, “As we look at the population we serve here at Water Street, which is a population of people living in poverty, there are very high rates of trauma that impact the willingness of people to get [dental] care.”

We are still looking for qualified study applicants. Visit wsm.org/restore to learn how to apply. •

Changing Dental Care

Your support provides people, like Antoine, access to a variety of free services. Looking ahead to fall and winter we will provide food, shelter, and holistic care to those in need. We must raise $3,580,000 by the end of this year. Will you consider giving today?

To continue funding life change, make a donation now!

•Use the enclosed envelope

•Call Sharon at 358-2028

•Visit wsm.org/donate

Planned GivingPlanned Giving offers you valuable benefits such as income and tax savings while ensuring your legacy changes the life of a man, woman, or child living in poverty. To learn more about how you can include Water Street Ministries in your will and leave a charitable legacy call Tim at 358-2025 or go online to wsmlegacy.org.

14WSM09

Funding for Restore is provided by:

About Water Street Ministries

For over 100 years, Water Street Ministries has sought to change one life at a time. We provide practical expressions of God’s love in several ways:

• Providing rescue and renewal for homelessmen, women and children through Water Street Mission

• Providing healthcare for the homelessthrough Water Street Health Services

• Equipping teens in our city throughTeen Haven

• Educating young children throughWonder Club

210 South Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603393-7709 • contact@wsm.org • wsm.org