newsletter

NO

VEM

BER

201

5

Hole In My Heart

Jesse’s life is proof of God’s ability to make things new.

Jesse was born addicted to drugs. He doesn’t know what kind, but he assumes a cocktail of drugs were found in his infant body. At birth, Jesse had a hole in his heart and the main artery supplying blood to his partially formed heart was pumping the wrong way.

Jesse’s aunt was possibly the first person to whisper words of hope and healing into his life. Every day, countless times a day, she petitioned God to heal

Continued on page 2

Continued from page 1

Jesse’s heart and to remove all effects of drug addiction from his growing brain and nervous system. Faith in God’s ability to make things new completely healed Jesse, and that’s why he’s alive today.

Growing up, Jesse’s biological mom was in and out of his life. By the time he reached high school, Jesse yearned for a sense of belonging, a sense of identity that seemed missing in his life. Bitterness, anger, rage, and frustration all began to consume him. His choices followed suit.

But in the middle of the mess, God was there. One Sunday at church Jesse was challenged by John 5. He felt a soul ping from God; Jesse knew he wanted to be healed. He wanted his life to change and knew that

he needed to let Jesus into the spiritual hole that still remained in his heart.

As a senior in high school, Jesse became the parent figure for his younger sisters. He said his desire to keep his sisters safe and the family balanced was what motivated him to stay focused on making the right choices. Jesse graduated high school and enlisted in the Army.

Upon his return, he began taking classes at a local community college. Jesse hungered for a deeper connection with God and sought out a solid group of people to connect with in the city. He ended up at Teen Haven one Sunday evening, at their church called Activate. It was an instant fit for Jesse. He loved the environment and through his friendships there, Jesse began to be mentored by a Teen Haven leader. Jesse says that his experience with Teen Haven positively changed how he pursues life.

Today Jesse is a Life Coach at Water Street Mission. He meets with people experiencing homelessness and invites them to take the steps that will produce a better outcome for their tomorrows. He prays with people who have holes in their hearts, who are longing to belong and who crave a hope for tomorrow. Jesse provides men and women with access to the tools needed to rise up out of their dark places and to become restored.

Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness…. •

Giving Options This Holiday Season

Coming to Water Street Mission and saying, “I need a place to sleep tonight,” may feel like the worst day of someone’s life. Especially during the holidays. But your kindness can make all the difference. Here’s how you can bring hope this holiday season.

1. Make a donation in honor or memory of a loved one. For more details, call Sharon at (717) 358-2028.

2. Go shopping with your children, friends or co-workers for deodorant, shampoo or any of the urgently needed items for the homeless listed at wsm.org/needs.

3. Pray for life change for the guests and for strength and wisdom for the staff. •

Just as an evergreen tree stays green through every season, God is faithful to restore our broken hearts.

Hope Takes RootMolly was a ball of emotions. She was excited

that her baby girl had been placed back in her care but worried she couldn’t provide for her. The baby needed a special type of formula that was very expensive. From Molly’s best estimates, she’d run out the next day.

She talked through options with her Water Street life coach, Jeannette, and Jeannette encouraged Molly to pray about it. Later that same day, Jeannette

received an email about a donation of infant formula. It was the same formula Molly needed!

Every day God works through people – our staff, volunteers, partners and donors – to make himself known. In turn, men, women and families find hope, grow spiritually and often become restorers themselves. Pray for Molly, the 20+ other families here at Water Street and all of our guests that they will grab onto the hope that only Jesus can give. •

New Mural Shares Hope With Our Community

At Water Street we love seeing lives transformed, but on September 8 we witnessed the beginning of a different kind of transformation. That morning, Philadelphia artist Jared Bader arrived to begin transforming the outside of one of the old warehouse buildings on campus into a message of hope for the community.

The mural he painted in his studio and installed on the wall at the corner of South Prince and Conestoga Streets was the culmination of a partnership with the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Franklin and Marshall College, and the Poetry Paths Project. The message is one of hope and echoes the mission of Jesus and the heart of Water Street.

Two scriptures are portrayed in the mural. Deuteronomy 8:7 is written boldly across the top of the mural and reminds us of God’s promise to Israel that though they have walked a long journey through a dry season, they are coming into a land of refreshing

waters. Isaiah 61:1-4 is portrayed through the images in the mural. Isaiah 61 is the chapter Jesus quoted as he announced his ministry in Luke 4. He spoke of bringing good news to the poor and hope to those suffering, and he described how they will become Oaks of Righteousness and Restorers of ruined cities. We see the full story of Isaiah 61 played out in the visuals of the mural just as we strive to see Isaiah 61 lived out each day in our ministry. •

Molly experienced hope for the first time after

God provided for her baby in a special way.

Note From Jack

Being born with a hole in your heart seems like an insurmountable barrier to a healthy life. For Jesse, that hole was a physical reality that affected every day of his life. For the rest of us, the spiritual reality that we were born with a hole in our heart has just as deep an impact.

The first and most important step to healing that hole is realizing that only Jesus can fill it. As our guests encounter the love of Christ through staff and volunteers meeting their physical needs, they often come to understand their spiritual need as well. Just as Jesse found healing through the prayers and support of others, we know our guests can find healing through the work of God and the support of our community here at Water Street. Thank you for providing hope to our guests through your prayers and support. •

15WSM11

Jack CrowleyPresident of Water Street Mission

At Water Street Mission, Bethesda Mission and York Rescue Mission, transformation often starts with a meal. That’s why we’re teaming up for the Rescue Mission Food Drive (RMFD) to collect over 225,000 pounds of food.

To support Water Street, just look for a RMFD box at any Turkey Hill Minit Market or M&T Bank in Lancaster County, or Sharp Shopper in Ephrata and Leola from 11/1 to 12/20. Donations of canned fruits or vegetables and boxes of stuffing or mashed potatoes will help provide holiday food boxes for the community and meals in our dining hall. For tips to get your church, school, youth group or business involved—including a free, downloadable flyer – visit RescueMissionFoodDrive.org. •

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Provide A Meal That Starts It All

210 South Prince Street • PO Box 7267 • Lancaster, PA 17604 (717) 393-7709 • wsm.org • facebook.com/waterstreetministries

Your Gift Helps TodayEvery day, even the holidays, hurting people come to Water Street for help. That’s why we need your continued help to provide hot meals, safe shelter and access to critical services for the men, women and families who need it most. We invite you to send your special gift today.

•Use the enclosed envelope•Call Sharon at 358-2028•Visit wsm.org/donate

Charitable Gift AnnuityWhen you make a gift of cash or stock to Water Street, we will make payments for life to you, or you and a loved one. Payments are fixed and determined by age. To find out how you and Water Street could benefit, call me (Tim Farrell, Director of Stewardship) at (717) 358-2025 today.

2015

Event Calendar

Scan Away HungerNovember 8 to 22wsm.org/events for more details

Extraordinary GiveFriday, November 20extragive.org/#npo/water-street-mission for more details

Rescue Mission Food DriveNovember 1 — December 20RescueMissionFoodDrive.org for more details