Ministries
We are excited to announce, by God's grace, that on November 24, 2008, after two years and nine months of rebuilding, the New Life Program for men reopened! Because of the arson fire we suffered on February 25, 2006, our residential services had been temporarily suspended until we could rebuild. Hannah's Place, our new residential ministry for homeless or needy women and their young children, will be built as soon as we can raise the money to build it!
In addition to our New Life Program for homeless men, we have several other ministries that continue to help others.
New Life Program for Men
The Mission offers its residential New Life Rehabilitation & Job Readiness Program to homeless men without charge. The New Life Program is comprised of three phases:
Phase One - Foundations
In
the Foundations Phase, men receive or participate in the following free
of charge: food, shelter and clothing; individual and group counseling;
drug and alcohol support groups, testing and treatment; job readiness
training through a productive work program; daily teaching, seminars and
workshops; development of social skills, self discipline and personal
responsibility; and our Career Track Learning Program designed to
improve necessary educational, life, vocational and job readiness
skills.
Phase Two - Careers
In the Careers Phase, men
continue to receive food, clothing and shelter free of charge while
attending off-site vocational training, pursuing employment, and for 3
months after securing full-time employment. In addition, students
in the Careers Phase receive vocational counseling, assistance with
resume preparation, and help with community resource networking to
obtain needed
services.
The Mission provides funds for public transportation while in school and
job hunting, and continues to provide ongoing counseling and support
services. Upon completion of this phase, men receive a graduation
certificate at a ceremony in their honor.
Phase Three - Aftercare
Upon graduation from the
residential Foundations and Careers Phases, men move out of the Mission
and into their own independent living arrangement. In the
Aftercare Phase, men continue to receive counseling, advice and
referrals provided by a full-time Aftercare
Counselor as long as necessary. Graduate benefits also include a
thrift store discount, free meals and free use of the Mission's Learning
Center resources.
For more information on the New Life Program, please contact Rev. Ron Hammack, Program Director, at (215) 438-3094, ext. 109 or rhammack@whosoevergospel.org
The Lighthouse Thrift Shop
We continue to operate our Lighthouse Thrift Shop six
days a week (Monday to Saturday, 9:45 am to 4:30 pm) at 6515 Rising Sun Avenue in the Lawndale section of
Philadelphia. All proceeds from the Lighthouse go directly to
supporting the Mission. In addition, we give away free clothing to
needy individuals and families, and we
offer a variety of clothing,
furniture and household items at very reasonable prices to families struggling to make ends meet.
Come on by for a great bargain and to check out our monthly specials!
After School Club
We conduct a weekly After School Club
during the school year in partnership
with the Wyoming Avenue Baptist Church in the Feltonville section of
Philadelphia. Our weekly club includes lots of love and laughter
as we do homework together, enjoy snacks, Bible stories, crafts, games
and lots of other activities. Many of the children we have been
privileged to know and love at the After School Club come from families
who could desperately use the residential, holistic services we are
looking to offer through Hannah's Place.
Aftercare Counseling
Rev. Joe McAvinney, the Mission's Aftercare Counselor, provides on-going biblically-based, practical and hope-filled counseling to graduates and former residents of the Whosoever Gospel Mission. For Joe's hours, call him at (215) 438-3094, ext. 112
Youth Making a Difference
We
continue to provide service learning opportunities to church, youth and
school groups at our Lighthouse Thrift Shop and Germantown facilities.
We currently work with over 500 young people a year (prior to the arson
fire we worked with over 1,500 young people a year and are looking
forward to doing so again as we continue to get our Germantown facility
and store re-established).
Teaching, Preaching and Music Ministry
Mission staff routinely teach, preach, provide training and minister in music at various local churches, schools and groups. To schedule an engagement for your local church or group, please call Bob Emberger, our Executive Director, at (215) 438-3094.
Other Ministries
We routinely assist individuals with placement in other residential programs, we have partnered with local urban churches to distribute donated food to needy families, and we continue to assist our program graduates and former residents with resume preparation, references, job search issues, resource referrals and other helps as needed.
