Haven of Rest Blog

My Father's Eyes

ybrake@havenofrest.org (Yvonne Brake) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:53:54 -0500 EST"

What does it mean to be a father? As a little girl I remember waiting with anticipation for my dad to come home from the steel mill. He worked three different rotating shifts. The morning: seven to three. The afternoon shift: three to eleven. The evening shift: eleven to seven.

He seemed to work the morning shift more during the summer. My twin sister and I would be outside playing kickball or steel the caps or lost in a world of our imagination and we would hear his car drive up. No matter what we were doing, we would take off running calling to him, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy”! I don’t know why seeing him drive up brought us such joy, but it did. Our joy did not wane even though my dad was somewhat emotionally disconnected from us. However, he always seemed happy to see us running to him. He’d smile, pick us up and give us a nickel for a Popsicle. Although he loved us and we loved him, I never felt a sense of security with him. Security and unconditional love was something my mother provided.

It’s good to know that for those of us whose fathers may not have been all we would have liked, or may not have been there at all; there is a Father who loves us regardless of our shortcomings and failures. A Father who never runs out of time to listen, is never impatient, or uncaring or “disconnected.” That’s the Father we share with the men and women who come to Haven of Rest. We want them to know the security of a Father’s love and the hope they have in Him for a fresh start and new life.

My father is in a nursing home now unable to walk or speak, but in his eyes I see the memories of all those hot, summer afternoons and I hear the shrieks of joy from my sister and I as he tossed us in the air and caught us in his arms. He once told us he did the best he could as a father, and I believe him. Whatever was lacking in my dad I know is available through my heavenly Father. In my dad’s eyes are memories of yesterday, but in the “eyes” of my heavenly Father is the calm assurance of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ, and I feel very secure.

Yvonne M. Brake, MNO
Director of Development

May 3, 2010
Haven of Rest Blog – Yvonne M. Brake

Why am I here? I Googled that question and learned that it is one of the most asked questions today. As believers we feel we (should) know why we are here…to serve the Lord, to introduce others to Christ, and to somehow make this world better.

I believe those are accurate answers, but I also wonder if perhaps the answer to that question is a little different for each person. We as Christians are charged with the Great Commission, but we also have the task before us, the day we are currently living, the moment we are experiencing right now. What if the answer to that question could be found in this very moment?

What am I doing right now that no one else could do quite like me? Is it my job, the time I spend with my children, the love and instruction given to a grandbaby? Is it volunteering? Is it stopping everything and praying on behalf of someone else? Is it the new toy given to a homeless child or the cheerful greetings given to fellow-walkers on the Sand Run hiking path? We may never know what small, seemingly insignificant deed tremendously impacted someone’s life.

I remember once when I was facing an extremely serious physical trial in my life, I walked out of my place of employment and a woman I had never seen before or since came up to me, gave me a hug and said “You are so precious to God.” That one moment has given me renewed strength over and over again for more than twenty-five years. I want something I do or say to have that same impact on a life.

So as I look at the faces of the men, women and children who come through the doors of Haven of Rest Ministries, I want to see them…not lines of people blurred together…but individuals in need of food, shelter, care and love. As I think about raising resources for those in need, I want to see their faces and I want to touch their lives.

Yvonne M. Brake, MNO
Director of Development

Where is God When it Hurts

dbrake@havenofrest.org (Daren Brake) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:59:36 -0500 EST"

Yesterday a woman who had stayed at Harvest Home many years ago came to visit me..
This wasn’t her first visit since moving out. Every year or two she stops by to let us know how she is doing. She tells us about her job, updates us concerning her children and lets us know how things are going at her church. Talking with her reminded me of conversations I’ve had with family members.

So often the news from her is good and uplifting. However this time it wasn’t. She is struggling spiritually. She is wondering where God is in all that has happened recently. She hasn’t been able to work due to an injury so she hasn’t paid her rent and is facing an eviction. She came by to ask, if necessary, could she return to Harvest Home. It’s heartbreaking to think she may become homeless and need to return, but it is good to know she views us as a spiritual support system. She needs women around her who can help her sort things out and encourage her in her relationship with the Lord.

However, as sisters in Christ, we are also glad to be of assistance during difficult times. We count it a blessing to pray for a woman in need of comforting and to provide for her when she is unable to provide for herself. This, too, kind of reminds me of family.

Yvette McMillan,
Women’s Division Director

When Your Test Becomes Your Testimony

khenry@havenofrest.org (Katrina Henry) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:27:00 -0500 EST"

Today is my birthday. It would only be natural to think about celebrating. God has given me another year of life where He has again lavished His grace upon me and my family. However, my birthday is not the only reason I have been thinking about celebrating.

Almost a year ago my wife went to the doctor for what we thought was an ulcer on her tongue. Instead we found out that my wife had a rare tongue cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma. She completed all of her treatments this past February and has begun the healing process. However, after a routine PET Scan the doctors discovered a small mass on her thyroid. There was some concern about what the mass might be so additional tests were ordered. After a semi-anxious week, Friday we received the great news that the tests were negative. Talk about your reasons to celebrate!

This past year has been difficult but even in the midst of the difficulty we can celebrate the fact that God is still in control and is very well aware of our circumstances. We celebrate His precious promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Recently, we had great cause to celebrate in the men’s ministry as well. One of our men received his certificate for his GED and later that week he and another resident completed the final portion of our program called Career Development. Haven of Rest now employs one of these men, while the other is actively seeking employment. Yet another man completed our morning Life Application Bible Study. For some these may seem like minor accomplishments, but we see them as monumental milestones that deserve to be celebrated.

As great as these reasons are for celebrating, the best reason is the eternal difference God is making in the lives of men and women who receive our services. God has used this ministry to lead a people to make decisions for Christ—I know I am one of them. In a similar manner one of the men now on our program came to know of Jesus and His life transforming grace while here at Haven of Rest. In Luke 15 we are told that the angels in heaven celebrate and rejoice when “one sinner repents.”

Those of us who are on staff here at the mission are so thankful that we get to celebrate what God is doing; but, we also say thank you and celebrate you for your partnership in this ministry.

Jason Hubbard
Chaplain’s Assistant

All Things are Possible with God

(Jeff Kaiser) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:07:16 -0500 EST"

A man who is a Vietnam Vet and has struggled with alcohol a long time has been coming to the mission for many years. When he is sober he is the kindest man out there. He has a big heart, is very sensitive, loves to talk about the Lord and interacts with the staff during devotions. He is very likeable and often he has shared about his struggles and the battles he deals with on a daily basis. It’s been easy for the men’s division staff to build a relationship with him. However, the alcohol addiction is still there and he struggles with letting his past go and learning to trust in the Lord.

Today was not a good day for this man. When he came in for breakfast, he was not doing well because he had been out all night drinking. Drinking turns him into a different type of person. He becomes angry and agitated. He was talking to himself, unhappy with what he had done the night before. His eyes were blood shot from lack of sleep and the smell of alcohol was all over him. I asked him how he was doing. He said nothing and could not look at me. Then he began to cry.

Please pray for this man and so many others like him who come to the mission. They struggle with addiction. They are homeless, lack direction, and are lost. Our goal is to restore hope in the lives of these men through Jesus Christ. In Mark 10:26-27, the disciples were asking Jesus who could be saved and Jesus answered “with man it is impossible but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Over and over again we have seen many lives transformed by the power of God. These hurting men are important to Him, and we are here to offer them Hope in His name. What a blessing!

Jeff Kaiser
Director of the Men’s Division
Executive Director Elect

Our Greatest Impact

dbrake@havenofrest.org (Daren Brake) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:33:47 -0500 EST"

The other day I was blown away by the students of Tallmadge Middle School and the level of compassion they have for the people we serve at Haven of Rest. These students are amazing and through their own creative efforts presented Jan Pluck, volunteer coordinator, and myself with a check for over $2100 to Haven of Rest.

When we arrived at the school to pick up the check, you could feel the students’ enthusiasm in the air. Teachers and students from three different classes were proud of their combined efforts and at the same time excited about the difference they were making with their gift-raised from individuals and businesses in the community and through ticket sales from their Student vs. Staff basketball game. The caring hearts of Tallmadge Middle School’s faculty, staff, and parents ignited their passion.

Life is so much more than what we can get. In fact, our greatest impact will come from what we are able to give during our lives. The students of Tallmadge Middle School have demonstrated this important life lesson very early in their lives, and that is what we are recognizing!

Daren Brake,

Development Assistant

A Blessed and Exciting Journey

(Rose Rose) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:41:02 -0500 EST"

Twenty-five years! That�s how long I�ve served on the staff of Haven of Rest Ministries! It has been a blessed and exciting journey.

I came to Haven of Rest initially as a volunteer in the Foodservice Department. In some ways, Haven of Rest was very different then � smaller, simpler, and with fewer programs. I saw how the Lord was using this ministry in mighty ways and how He had His hand of blessing upon it. Haven of Rest continued to grow as it reached out to hundreds of men, women and children who seemed to have lost all hope, and lives were being changed. Though the ministry is much larger now, its core values have never wavered.

My first thought when I was hired as the Foodservice Manager, was that I needed to be mindful that it was only by the grace of God that I wasn�t in the line to receive a meal or a safe place to sleep. There was a time in my life where that certainly could have happened. I have seen many people one would never expect to see, coming in and asking for help. I have met people who have lost everything because of ill health, job loss, or other unforeseen circumstances. One�s self-confidence and self-worth can definitely take a nose-dive in such dire situations. There are those who have grown up in families where they have been abused and neglected � never hearing a kind word spoken to them. They are angry and hurt, feeling their life is worthless. Many have no idea how they can find purpose, joy and fulfillment. And that�s exactly why God has placed Haven of Rest here. We are a lighthouse to those in crisis.

Whether it�s circumstances or choices that puts a person into these situations, Haven of Rest carefully works with individuals through quality, comprehensive programming. Needs are met and men and women acquire the tools and encouragement they need to be productive and confident. And it�s very thrilling to see the change that takes place when they understand that they are valuable people, loved by a merciful God, who has a purpose for their lives. I thank God for the many life-changing miracles I�ve seen in these 25 years.

Rose Rose,
Community Relations Coordinator

The harvest is ready!

aradebaugh@havenofrest.org (Aimee Radebaugh) — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:50:30 -0500 EST"

I just returned from a conference specifically for those working in rescue missions. It was encouraging to see the amount of people that came and represented gospel rescue missions across the country, and even the world. There were representatives from missions overseas, two in Jamaica, two in Mexico, and one in Germany. Rescue missions are working hard all over the world providing safe havens for the homeless, disenfranchised, and those in crisis! This is a need everywhere!

At the same time, it is easy to feel as if there is so much work to be done, and yet very few workers. Perhaps Jesus’ reminder to his disciples is one that may be good to keep on the forefront of our minds: “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). This is the verse from which Harvest Home has taken its name. In this passage Jesus took time to speak to the Samaritan woman who needed to hear about salvation, and then reminded his followers that there are many more people that need to hear! There is a harvest in Akron, and there are hurting women that walk through the doors of Harvest Home looking for hope. It is good to know that there are workers seeking to share the hope of Jesus Christ to the lost. This is why we are thankful for our volunteers! This is why we are thankful for the staff! There is a great work being done here, as there is across the world. Perhaps you may consider being a part of rescue ministry in your local community; if so, remember that the harvest is ready!

Aimee Radebaugh,
Assistant to the Director, Harvest Home

Good Guys Bad Guys

msolosky@havenofrest.org (Michael Solosky) — Mon, 17 May 2010 09:33:03 -0500 EST"

The other day I overheard a conversation a 5- and 6-year-old boy were having. The older one said, “I’ll be the good guy. You be the bad guy.” Of course the other boy didn’t want to be the bad guy. No one ever does.

That caused me to start thinking about some good guys here at Haven of Rest. Kappa Phi, a national service sorority, Kent State chapter, were some good guys. They recently made and donated 30 fleece blankets to be given away to the women and children at Harvest Home. Awesome! This is the third year in a row they’ve reached out and helped us. Thanks, Kappa Phi!

Pizza Hut is definitely on my good-guy list. They now have six restaurants that will be donating surplus food to Haven of Rest. What a blessing that will be for us! Thanks
for the help from our friends at Pizza Hut.

The Berean Christian Bookstore in Fairlawn recently donated Bible study materials to be used in our outreach to those really struggling. Thanks to both Fairlawn and Canton locations for they have faithfully helped Haven of Rest in a variety of ways for some years now. They definitely make the good guy list!

Kent State Sociology Department “Pay it Forward” project recently involved students as volunteers here and then they made a substantial financial donation. We were privileged to receive help from these students! Thanks, Golden Flashes! They got some hands-on volunteer experience and voted us a financial donation! We are very grateful and will use those funds to continue to help the hurting.

John Palmer, Director of Football Operations for the University of Akron Zips, is a good guy. Last week he spent quite a bit of his valuable time showing the Resident Men and some staff from Haven of Rest an inside view of the beautiful facilities the Zips football team utilizes! Thanks, John!

I’m so thankful we have so many people who partner with us to help the men, women, and children who are homeless and hurting in our communities!

Mike Solosky,
Donor Relations Coordinator

What's so important about Career Development?

ljdalton@havenofrest.org (LJ Dalton) — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:06:32 -0500 EST"

Celebrating a goal is exciting! For me, planning the celebration for others who have reached their goal doubles that excitement.

It was just a couple of months ago that I was privileged to plan a graduation celebration for five women from Harvest Home and Women’s Day Room. The women had completed all the requirements for the classes in the Career Development program in order to graduate. Having five women graduate at the same time is outstanding, but the credit goes to the graduates. I guide them through the various classes and assignments, but they do the work. They have to make the commitment to themselves to finish what they’ve started.

Another aspect that makes this graduation celebration unlike many others is the fact that some of the women had moved out of the Harvest Home and the Day Room into their own residence. This meant that in order to complete the classes, they had to make the extra effort to come back to the mission to finish the classes. For most of the women, this meant coordinating their schedules and bus routes to be at class every week, and for some, coordinating the schedule of children as well. The great news is they made the commitment and DID IT!

You may be asking… “What’s so important about Career Development?” The Career Development classes taught at Haven of Rest’s Learning Center help men and women determine what jobs are available to them using the skills they already have. It also shows them options as to what they may want to do in the future. We then help them chart a course.

Career Development means preparing to look for work. One step is gathering the information to fill in all blanks on an application. Another important step is creating a resume to sell the skills of the candidate that will invite the employer to interview them, not just listing previous employers. Interview skills are essential; therefore, we spend time going over possible questions and checking answers.

In order to be one of the top contenders for the position, preparation is the key. We discuss how to research a company as well as what to wear for an interview. Practicing various interview questions is one key part of preparation. We want the candidate to be able to sell themself to the employer in a confident manner. Memorizing answers isn’t the goal here, but instead equipping the candidate to sell themself. They must know their strength and weaknesses, skills and abilities so they can show the employer how the candidate will benefit them.

Is Career Development important? I would shout a very loud “YES!” The women who come into our Learning Center have a very low self-esteem. Through our Career Development classes we have the opportunity to show them how valuable they are, not just to themselves, but also to potential employers.

LJ Dalton
Career Development Coordinator

Why am I here?

ybrake@havenofrest.org (Yvonne Brake) — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:30:50 -0500 EST"

Yvonne M. Brake, MNO
Director of Development

April 26, 2010

khenry@havenofrest.org (Katrina Henry) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:28:48 -0500 EST"

Haven of Rest programs are designed to EDUCATE, EMPOWER and ENCOURAGE men and women to be their best. People who come here are in need of love, motivation and guidance. As a result, God gave wisdom to help us design programs to aid the needs of hurting people. The mission plants seeds of Christ and self-worth in their lives, so they can develop hope for the future.

I was listening to Marvin Sapp song ‘The Best In Me’ and this song touches every being of my spirit and my soul. It brings tears to my eyes as it explores the corner of my heart; this is truly a song that everyone can relate to. It speaks of Gods love for us all and how He notices the best in us in spite of what others may see.

When someone comes to the mission, they are broken and it takes courage for them to come but once they are here, they begin to see so much more that God has in store.

He is not only working on the ones who come to the mission for help, but He is also molding the ones who work here. We all are being revamped. It is a blessing that we are able to pray daily for each other, share each other’s lives and encourage one-another.

Haven of Rest opened its doors in 1943, and is still going strong, serving men, women and children who may come to the mission for help while also helping the ones who work here to stay strong in our faith. With God in the forefront, we know that today’s blessings will inspire someone’s future.

Katrina Henry
Special Events Coordinator

April 19, 2010

ymcmillan@havenofrest.org (Yvette McMillan) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:13:27 -0500 EST"

Women who volunteer their time to help others are incredible. Okay, I realized that men who volunteer are special too and one day they will have a blog dedicated to them. However, this one is for the ladies.

Women want to empower and be supportive to other women. They desire to share God’s love with those they serve. They find joy in rocking a baby to sleep, playing Hide and Seek with toddlers or helping school-age children with their homework. They often view the use of their time spent volunteering at church, for their favorite charity or in an academic setting as an investment in the lives of those with whom they interact. In reality that is exactly what they are doing.

It’s an investment that the return on isn’t always seen immediately, but there are moments of encouragement. It’s the smile on a child’s face as she views her first birthday cake, which was baked by a volunteer. It is the agitated infant who stops crying and falls asleep in the arms of a volunteer who takes the time to sing him a lullaby. Just last week Sharon Morris, one of our very special volunteers who assists in our Lydia’s Purse sewing and mentoring class, shared about a participant in that class becoming discouraged with her crooked stitching. After hearing words of encouragement from Sharon and others, she realized that everyone sews a crooked stitch at one time or another. Through the patience shown her she begins to believe her sewing will continue to improve. Thank you, ladies, for your willingness to give of your time to others.

Yvette McMillan
Director of Women’s Division

April 12, 2010

khenry@havenofrest.org (Katrina Henry) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:46:00 -0500 EST"

On Easter Sunday I was able to hang out with a volunteer I had just met. John and I worked together handing out �Hope Totes� to those who came to the mission or lunch.

It was such a beautiful day. While watching the sun shining through the glass windows we talked about what had brought us to the mission. As we talked we were able to see, even though we were from different backgrounds, we had so much in common, like our love for Christ Jesus and His people, our compassion to serve and our desire to do God�s will.

As the men, women, and children passed through the line to receive their purple bag of personal care items, we were able to talk to some of them briefly and share that there was a tract inside of their bag. We also told them how much a blessing it was to have them eat lunch with us.

Working here at the mission I�ve learned that being estranged from loved ones can really be hard on an individual during the holidays. That is why it is so important for me, as well as John, to extend the same love to others that God�s grace has extended to us. There were so many other groups working as teams that day to serve and show love. Keep volunteering.

It was a very blessed day, if I say so myself!

Katrina Henry
Special Events Coordinator

April 5, 2010

(Ben Walker) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:46:06 -0500 EST"

Easter represents new life in Christ and as many of us celebrated Resurrection Sunday that theme resonated in the messages we heard. It is a blessing for me to be part of that message every single day here at Haven of Rest Ministries.

Men and women with broken lives, hearts and spirits walk through our doors looking for hope – a chance to repair relationships, recover from addictions, or restart their lives. All of us at the mission have the opportunity to be a part of their transformation. From the front line workers who minister to them on a very personal level to the office workers, administrative staff and development officers – who by fulfilling their daily responsibilities – help to make change possible in the lives of hundreds of people each day. What a message of hope!! The body of Christ, working together, each joint supplying what the other needs to accomplish the Lord’s will in the lives of hurting people.

Ministry is difficult work. Though we may grow tired in the work, we never tire of the work. It is exciting to begin each day with the realization that today someone’s life may be eternally changed because we offered a person a hearty meal, a place to sleep, clothes to wear or a listening ear. Haven of Rest is here for them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. What an incredible opportunity for ministry.

Rev. Ben W. Walker
Executive Director

March 29, 2010

(Rose Rose) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:54:48 -0500 EST"

Recently I spent time with two KSU students that arranged to videotape a few former residents’ personal testimonies. They wanted to hear about how lives had been impacted and changed through their stay at Haven of Rest Ministries. The students are working on a project for class and want to share, through a short video, how Haven of Rest truly makes a difference for many in our communities who are suffering from homelessness, addictions, job losses, hunger and various other crises.

The residents who shared their stories had come to Haven of Rest as broken people feeling lost, alienated, and struggling with addictions. Haunting pasts filled them with regret and hopelessness. Now, their eagerness to share about how God had transformed their lives and restored hope through the ministry of Haven of Rest was thrilling!

As I listened to the testimonies of Mary, James and John, I marveled at how their lives are being restored. Renewed hope and joy radiated from their faces and even in their entire countenance! They were truly “new creatures in Christ,” and God was busy restoring hope in their lives.

The students listened intently, obviously touched through what was being said. They left with renewed excitement, discussing ways they can tell the amazing stories of this ministry!

Rose Rose
Community Relations Coordinator

Restoring Hope

aradebaugh@havenofrest.org (Aimee Radebaugh) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:40:54 -0500 EST"

Most of us in Northeast Ohio get excited this time of year. Spring is around the corner, which means summer is on its way. We usually wish winter away with urgency, as if somehow, if only, we could magically make the snow and cold disappear and replace it with sunshine and warm breezes. We long for the new seasons of spring and summer.

Recently I was talking with a friend about this longing for spring and we began to discuss how there are seasons in our lives as well and often when we are in one season of our lives we long for another. As we journey through life, the circumstances and situations we face can become seasons we enjoy and wish would last forever, or seasons we wish would quickly pass.

Homelessness is a season for the ladies staying at Harvest Home. Disappointments, trials, loneliness, and confusion can be found in this season. One of the things Harvest Home strives to do is offer hope, support, and comfort for those going through a difficult time by pointing them to the God that is Sovereign over all of our lives and all of our seasons. As I think about how hard it can be to come to a shelter, I know that for so many there is a longing for circumstances to change. Yet I also know during difficult seasons, transformation can take place. This is the most rewarding part of working at Harvest Home, seeing the transformation that takes place in a woman as she finds hope and joy in Jesus Christ amidst the adversity she is facing. Psalm 30:5 reminds me that “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” I have seen the rejoicing of women as they secure housing, find employment, and find a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Nothing can replace the smile on a woman’s face when she has endured her winter, only to find spring is more rewarding then she could have ever imagined.

Aimee Radebaugh
Assistant to the Director, Harvest Home

Restoring Hope

msolosky@havenofrest.org (Michael Solosky) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:05:17 -0500 EST"

This week I learned of a concept new to me. We have some minor construction going on here at the Mission back in the office area. A dividing wall is being built to enclose an open area into a private office. On the inside wall, opposite the window on the exterior wall of the building, is a rather large window. Upon asking about it I was told the reason it is put there is to borrow the light from that room for another room where there is no external light source.

Haven of Rest is like the �borrowed light� window. We serve as a conduit for the light of Jesus Christ to shine through to all those who come here with their lives in darkness, discouraged and without hope. Many examples of that have occurred throughout the years. Many people come here with their lives in shambles only to be touched by the prayer and love of Jesus Christ that we are privileged to share with them.

A specific example comes to my mind from a couple years ago. I was leading a tour group of fourth graders from a small Christian School. One of the adult chaperones, a mother of one of the students, just opened up as we were walking from one building to the next sharing that her aunt had stayed at Harvest Home, our women and children�s shelter. She said her aunt had a horrible drug addiction and had nearly ruined all her relationships with family because of all the things she had done that hurt them. She went on to say that her aunt found out about Jesus and asked him into her heart at Harvest Home. She is now a new creation! What a blessing! The niece said her aunt�s entire personality has been transformed. This is an example of another life that benefited from the borrowed light from Jesus Christ we share with those walking in the darkness!

Restoring Hope

ybrake@havenofrest.org (Yvonne Brake) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:21:31 -0500 EST"

When I was a little girl there were a couple of families who lived in our neighborhood who were very poor. Keep in mind, that we were by no means well off, but two things we did have – food and shoes. However, the children of these families often looked as though they were hungry and desperately in need of clean clothing. The children were close to the same age as my sister and I and we would often play together. Those were the days before video games, X-boxes, and Play Stations. We used our imaginations to play games that lasted for hours.

One day I remember our family was sitting down to dinner and I saw a little girl sitting on the curb in front of our house. She was a relative of one of the neighborhood families. I don’t know why I did this, but I asked her if she was hungry and she said yes. I asked my mother if I could give her some of our food and, of course, Mom said yes. My sister and I brought the little girl out a plate of food and sat with her while she ate. I’ll never forget the expression on her face.

I feel like I’m doing the same thing every day at Haven of Rest. As Director of Development and through my personal gifts, I help provide hungry, hurting people with a nourishing plate of food and so much more. I often think of that little girl and I’m grateful that Christ has allowed me to help children like her find the help they need.

Yvonne Brake
Director of Development

Restoring Hope

khenry@havenofrest.org (Katrina Henry) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:13:48 -0500 EST"

Restoring hope! Not only is that the theme of this year’s banquets, but it is also the daily goal of this mission. Every day we have the blessing and opportunity to make an eternal difference in the lives of the men and women that we serve here. But have you ever asked yourself the question, how? How is it that we can help restore hope to the hurting? The answer to that is really quite simple. Love is how we start to make a difference.

The apostle Paul wrote, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The love that we share here is not your candy hearts and flowers type of love. Instead it is the love commanded in 1 John 3:18. “…let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” We seek to love in deed by providing to those whom God b rings through our doors the basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter all at no cost .

We seek to love in truth by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. We want those who come to us to know that they do have an intrinsic worth, that there is a God who loves them and has made a way of reconciliation for them. We want them to know that there is a better, more abundant life available for them. We want to see them flee from themselves and instead cling to the cross.

As all of this happens, we have the privilege of being ambassadors for Christ. Our clients are watching our lives. They are seeing and hearing the hardships that we all face, and in the process they get to see how God is providing that hope for us. And as they see and listen they themselves begin to have hope. It is then that we get to see God’s miraculous hand. For as their hope grows, so their faith grows, and as their faith grows, their love grows. As their love grows they have the opportunity to share the hope they found in Christ Jesus.

How do you restore hope? One soul at time.

Jason Hubbard
Assistant to the Chaplin

Restoring Hope

ymcmillan@havenofrest.org (Yvette McMillan) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:59:39 -0500 EST"

Probably most people view February as a very special month because of Valentine’s Day. Not us! February is the anniversary month of Harvest Home, the women’s division of Haven of Rest Ministries. This month we are observing 31 years of ministry to homeless women and women with children. For that reason I want to share something with you.

A young woman staying at our shelter loves to write poetry. She has written several poems with various themes and would like to have them published some day. We are not able to publish them for her but we wanted to do something that will encourage her in cultivating her gift. So we are looking into having them typed and placed in a binder with “Poems by …..,” engraved on the cover of the book.

I thought you might want to read two or three excerpts from her poem entitled “Harvest Home.” I have her permission to share this:

A place that’s full of joy,
and so much more.
A place that’s not just about rules.
A place that even I think is cool.

A place with a Godly touch,
Wish I could meet Mrs. Marjorie
I would tell her “Love you much”

A place that I would
like to call my own.
But it’s just a temporary home.
So I say to each and everyone
I’m glad I found this place,
a place called
Harvest Home !!!

Yvette McMillan
Director of Women’s Division