Staff gather around Chad, Kisho, and Colbert at their graduation.
Every New Life Program graduation represents at least six months of very hard work! In order to graduate, a man must be enjoying a lifestyle of sobriety from drugs and alcohol, be gainfully employed, be financially stable, and have his own place to move into.
Each graduate has his own story of trials, setbacks, and accomplishments along the journey to this point. At our graduation ceremonies, graduates have a chance to share a bit of that story with the men currently in the New Life Program. These testimonies are always an encouragement to staff and residents alike. They are reminders of what God can do, even in the most formidable of circumstances!
Colbert shares a word of encouragement with the Mission family at his graduation ceremony.In the process of moving out, new grad Sophan pauses for a photo with our Admin Manager, Marcia, who gave him his New Home Welcome Bin, an award check for 50% of his security deposit/move-in expense, and a handmade quilt for his new place!Kisho thanked the Lord for all He’s done.
On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, we held our second annual All-Mission Juneteenth celebration. We closed the stores and canceled work and classes so we could gather together as the Whosoever Gospel Mission family.
In the morning, friends led us through a chapel service of wonderful music and a powerful message. We grew in our understanding of and appreciation for some of the many sacrificial contributions our African-American brothers and sisters have made in securing and protecting the freedoms we enjoy in America, even while they were personally denied those very freedoms. Their resilience has immeasurably impacted all of us for the better; their persevering hope inspires us to persevere through hardship and press on toward the goal.
In the afternoon, we feasted on Sweet Lucy’s BBQ and then had a visit from a volunteer and four of his rescued parrots. They brought much joy!
This Christmas, we were privileged to help dads and granddads provide amazing gifts to their kids and grandkids for Christmas. The toys are gifts from the dads, not from us. It’s a way for men to bless their kids and strengthen their relationships. At the end of the day, the Lord blessed us to be able to provide over 1,680 toys and gifts for 375 children! A great big thank you to all who donated toys and those who volunteered to make it happen!
We received a special grant to buy planters and flowers to beautify the Mission’s front entrance. This is where New Life Program residents hang out to get fresh air. It’s also where men coming in off of the street enter the building to begin their journey in the New Life Program.
As one resident said, the flowers give a sense of hope and cheer – like a message from the Lord that you’ve come to the right place. Bob Emberger clearly had fun selecting and planting all of the flowers.
Great Faith Vision came to the Mission and blessed us with complete eye exams and health screenings for 28 of our residents, almost all of whom ended up needing and receiving prescription eye glasses!
Poor eyesight is such a hindrance to employment and independent living. When we send an uninsured gentleman in desperate need of eye care to a local vision center, it costs us around $180 for the exam and glasses. We can’t afford to do that for everyone.
But Great Faith Vision treated 28 men for free! Everyone around the Mission is seeing things much more clearly now!
A friend of the Mission won a new bicycle but didn’t need it, so she gifted it to one of our residents. It was the perfect thing for Ezra. He’s still in therapy after a knee replacement and could use the help getting around. He went to the bike shop to pick up this amazing bike, custom fitted to him!
We were blessed this Christmas! At our toy giveaway, New Life Program dads selected and wrapped gifts for their kids and grandkids. And then on Christmas Eve, the men received lots of presents themselves!
New Life Program resident Michael shares this thank you note with our Mission family and friends for all of the wonderful gifts we received this Christmas!
Dear Friends,
We here at the Whosoever Gospel Mission are still overwhelmed with gratitude for how blessed our Christmas was. With everything we have faced all year long, it felt amazing to be acknowledged and appreciated. Because of you, we were able to put smiles on our little ones’ faces. And there were even gifts for us!
We can’t stop thinking about how the Mission presented us with these wonderful gifts. We were spoiled. The setup was beautiful, and our whole day was festive. There was a beautiful layout of food along with the gifts. We will never forget this.
You all reminded us that we matter in not only God’s eyes, but also in the eyes of others. To everyone who contributed to making our Christmas special, you gave us an extra push to continue on this path of victory, triumph and happiness. From the bottom of our joyous hearts, thank you!
~Michael
Gifts for the Men of the New Life Program
Each resident received more than a dozen personal gifts on Christmas Eve. We even had extra gifts to give to the new men who continue to come in after the holiday.
Toys for Men’s Children
This year, 42 residents and grads selected and wrapped about 1,000 gifts for 163 of their children and grandchildren. Gifts included toys, puzzles, books, stocking stuffers, stuffed animals, hats, gloves, & scarves. Continue to pray that the Lord would bless our men and their children and families! We were also able to bless some other local children with gifts for a total of 329 kids!
An oldie, but a goodie. We are working on a new tour video, but for folks looking for a glimpse inside the Mission, here’s a peek (and yes, we all look about 13 years younger here!)
The Whosoever Gospel Mission is a member of Citygate Network. Any donation you make to the Mission will help us care for men experiencing homelessness as together we weather the Coronavirus pandemic.
A peek at this Christmas’ toy giveaway. Mission residents and grads gave over 1,200 gifts to 236 of their children. That’s 236 little hearts being blessed with the gift of a dad or grandpop this Christmas. A big thank you to all who made it possible!
The official registration and financial information of the Whosoever Gospel Mission and Rescue Home Association may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
