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Dear Friend of the Mission,

Within a month after I came to the Mission in February 1989, a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer lived as a homeless man on the streets of Philadelphia for five days.  In his subsequent article which was published on June 4, 1989, he wrote: “I spent my third night at the Whosoever Gospel Mission on Chelten Avenue which turned out to be a gem.”  A few years later in December 1992, another reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer did a very positive and complimentary article on the Mission entitled, “A persistent success with second chances.”  He talked about how for 100 years we have been successful in providing homeless men with a second chance to start over.  A third article also written in the early 1990’s by a reporter from the Daily News highlighted how the Mission provides a fresh start for homeless, disadvantaged men.  I remember well as the Daily News reporter toured the Mission, he was amazed that we did everything we did without government funding and with a relatively small budget compared to other programs for the homeless.  He told me that other non-profits and city-run agencies could take a few lessons from us on how to stretch a dollar.  The reporter was truly impressed.

While the Mission has greatly expanded and improved what we do for homeless men, one thing that remains true today is that we still make every dollar count.  As help provide an vast array of life-giving and life-changing services through your gifts to the Mission, you can be sure that we will continue to work hard to be good stewards of your kind and generous support.   We will work hard to make sure that every dollar counts!

Working together with you,

Robert A. Emberger, D.Min
Executive Director

Dear Friend of the Mission,

The post entitled “A Dad for Helen” brings tears to my eyes. Robert and his precious daughter Helen are powerful reminders of what the Mission is all about and why we keep on keeping on even in the midst of and in spite of great challenges and difficulties.

As you well know, Philadelphia’s weekly snow and ice storms have made life difficult for everyone affected by them. The Mission is no exception. Because of the weekly snowstorms, we are thousands of dollars behind in thrift store income – this is money that will never be made up through our two stores even when nice weather comes. The only way we can get back on budget and stay financially stable is if friends such as you help us out. I appreciate that the storm may have impacted your finances as well. However, whatever extra gift you can give at this time would be deeply appreciated and would be a great help. Through the Mission’s ministry, your gifts do change lives and give great kids like Helen good and godly dads like Robert.

Thank you for your help!

Robert A. Emberger, D.Min.
Executive Director

P.S. Help us get free money – the Feinstein Foundation will once again (for the 16th year) proportionally match your donations with its annual $1 million giveaway during the months of March and April. Although this is not a dollar for dollar match since the $1 million is divided up proportionally among all of the participants, nevertheless this is an easy opportunity for us to receive free money from the Feinstein Foundation. Thanks for increasing the value of your dollar by sending your gifts in during the months of March and April. Not only will the Feinstein Foundation proportionally match the cash gifts you donate to the Mission, but the Feinstein Foundation is also allowing us to assign a value of $1.00 per donated food item or pound to increase the amount of the grant we receive from the Foundation. For example, if you, your family, or your church donates 25 canned goods or 25 lbs of food to the Mission, we can count your gift of food as a gift of $25.00 toward the Feinstein grant. As a result, your cash and food donations wonderfully benefit the Mission in more ways than one! Thanks for your help.

Date:
Saturday, November 2, 2013

Time:
Doors open at 6:15 pm.
We will begin promptly at 6:45 pm.

Location:
Williamson Banquet Center
500 Blair Mill Road in Horsham, PA 19044
At Easton Rd. (Rt. 611) & Blair Mill Rd., just north of the PA Turnpike Willow Grove interchange

Cost:
$27.50 per person/$220 per table of 8
Your banquet price includes a delicious meal, an inspirational program, and makes it possible for us to invite all of the homeless men in our New Life Program to also attend. Jesus said, “when you give a banquet, invite the poor”
(Luke 14:13).

(Can be paid in advance or put in the offering at the banquet – groups of 8 or more, please pay in advance.)

Please note: the restaurant requires us to pay for every reservation made, even for those who do not attend. No tickets will be mailed. Seating charts will be posted at the door, and place cards will be set at your table.

RSVP:
Call the Mission at (215) 438-3094 (press option 0) by Monday, October 28th.

_______________________________________________________________

Jesus taught us that the entire law of God can be summed up in two commandments: the first is to love God will all our heart, soul and mind, and the second one is like it – to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). Here at the Whosoever Gospel Mission, we keep asking God how we can better love our neighbors (the homeless men who come to the Mission for help). We want everything we do at the Mission to point our men to Jesus and His love.

One way to think of the Mission is as “Gospel Show and Tell.” We tell men about the love of Jesus – the One who can heal their hurts, bring peace in turmoil, give hope to the hopeless and raise the dead to life. And while we’re talking about Jesus’ love, we’re also showing it. We strive to show men the love of Christ in everything we do from serving food that’s good and plentiful to providing fresh, clean linens, nice clothing and a clean, safe and comfortable place to call home.

Join us for an evening of good food & great fellowship as we celebrate 121 years of Gospel Show and Tell at the Whosoever Gospel Mission. Come and hear testimonies from our graduates and see firsthand how your love, support and partnership in the Gospel continue to be used by God in powerful ways. We couldn’t do it alone – please come and celebrate with us!

An offering will be taken during the program. Any gifts received above the cost of the banquet will help us to continue providing life changing services to homeless men through the Mission’s New Life Program.

Dear Friends,

In our chapels, we often have a testimony time in which our men publicly share what the Lord is doing in their lives. This is always one of my favorite times. I can be tired and weary from a busy and challenging week, and then I get refreshed and renewed when our men remind me of the wonderful things the Lord is doing in and through the Whosoever Gospel Mission. Testimonies that I especially enjoy are ones in which our men describe the Mission. Because of the hard times and challenges they have gone through, our men have a unique perspective on the Mission. They describe the Mission in terms of how the Lord has used the Mission to change, touch and bless their lives. Here are some heartfelt descriptions I’ve heard:

• The Mission really has great food – better than any homeless shelter in the City.
• The Mission gives me everything I need to be successful.
• The Mission is the place where I came to know the Lord.
• The Mission is a good place filled with people who really care about me.
• The Mission helped to bring my family back into my life.
• I would be dead if I didn’t come to the Mission.
• I never thought that I could learn to use a computer – the Mission taught me how.
• The Mission is helping me to improve my education and get my GED.
• The Mission made it possible for me to go to school and learn a good job skill.
• God used the Mission to bring my wife and me back together.
• I came to the Mission right from prison – it is the best place I could have come to.
• I thank God for giving me a second chance by opening up a bed at the Mission.
• I am no longer homeless – the Mission is my home and my family.

Your kind and generous gifts make all of these good things possible. As we enter the summer months when our gift income usually decreases, please continue to invest in the lives of the 55  homeless men living at the Mission. Your support does make a difference. Thanks!

Working together with you,

Robert A. Emberger, D.Min.
Executive Director

Dear Friend of the Mission,

Thank you for your many prayers, cards and get well wishes after my unexpected surgery in early February to replace my congenitally malformed aortic valve.  Your outpouring of concern really encouraged and blessed me beyond words.  The surgery went well, and I am recovering well.  In fact, my doctors gave me the go ahead to ease back into work – weeks ahead of the mid-April date that I was originally given.  It is good to be back!  I am working about half time and focusing on specific projects to benefit the Mission.  Heather Rice, my Executive Assistant, has done an outstanding job directing the Mission as the Acting Executive Director since my surgery on February 6^th.  Thank you for your extra generous support which helped to ease this critical area of concern.  Your gifts helped to make up for my absence and inability to do fundraising.

Please continue to give as generously as you can.  We recently had all of our safety systems inspected including our fire alarm system, our sprinkler system, our smoke and heat detectors, our kitchen hood fire extinguisher system, all of our fire extinguishers and our emergency lighting system.  Any deficiencies must be repaired quickly to keep our buildings up to code and safe for the 55 homeless men who live here.  As you can imagine, these safety systems tests and any needed repairs are expensive but they must be done.  These additional costs are on top of our high winter heating bills and our reduced thrift store income because of the cold winter weather.  Thank you for keeping the Mission a safe haven for our men.  Lloyd Ayers, Philadelphia’s Fire Commissioner, credited our well maintained fire safety systems for protecting all of our residents from any injury when we suffered our arson fire seven years ago.  Because our safety systems were in good operating condition, all of our men were able to safely evacuate the buildings.

Also, please consider supporting our thrift store ministry.  We certainly need your financial support, but please shop at our thrift stores and also encourage your church, school or community group to do a good used clothing and shoe drive for us.  Thanks!

Thanking God for you,

Robert A. Emberger, D.Min.
Executive Director

P.S.  We continue to have a great giving opportunity for the rest of April – the Feinstein Foundation will once again proportionally match your donations with its annual $1 million dollar  giveaway during the months of March and April.  Although this is not a dollar for dollar match since the $1 million is divided up proportionally among all of the participants, nevertheless this is an easy opportunity for us to receive free money from the Feinstein Foundation.  Thanks for increasing the value of your dollar by sending your gifts in during the month April.  Not only will the Feinstein Foundation proportionally match the cash gifts you donate to the Mission, but the Feinstein Foundation is also allowing us to assign a value of $1.00 per donated food item or pound to increase the amount of the grant we receive from the Foundation.   For example, if you, your family, or your church donates 25 canned goods or 25 lbs of food to the Mission, we can count your gift of food as a gift of $25.00 toward the Feinstein grant.  As a result, your cash and food donations wonderfully benefit the Mission in more ways than one!  Thanks for your help.