Warming to the Gospel
Mary tried to be a good mother to her small daughter, Teresa. She wanted to hold a steady job and be a good provider, she really did. But she was continually defeated by her struggle with drugs. She had pretty much given up all hope of changing. Mary and Teresa would come for food to a ministry in their neighborhood, a Here’s Life Inner City partner, whenever she ran out of money. The folks at the mission compassionately met their needs. They also tried to share Christ with Mary, but she wasn’t interested. For Mary, the bad turned to worse. Mid-winter she couldn’t pay her heating bill. It’s cold in Chicago in winter, and she turned to her friends at the mission for help. The mission had received Homeless Care Kits from Here’s Life Inner City, with warm blankets, hats, scarves, and gloves, and they were able to give two to Mary and Teresa — to use both outside and inside their apartment! The resources she was receiving began to soften Mary’s heart, and she allowed her daughter to come to the church’s after-school children’s program. Mary hit bottom when eviction proceedings began against her. Once again she turned to the people at the mission who had served her so faithfully in the name of Christ, who had provided her with friendship as well as food, school supplies, blankets, and warm clothes. After years of resistance, Mary opened her heart to the Lord. She recognized that she needed help to break away from her addiction. She agreed to enter a Christian rehab center and work to turn her life around. It was a long journey, but God used difficult circumstances, caring believers and desperately needed resources to lead Mary into His kingdom.
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Imagine what it’s like to be in Chicago, in the winter, with no heat.
One of our most crucial outreaches of the entire year is the annual winter campaign to share life-saving Homeless Care Kits.