Category Archives: Pittsburgh
L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry’s Jefferson Award Winner
About two months ago Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sent a flyer to the office addressed to the volunteer coordinator. The paper was accepting nominations for the Jefferson Award: an award given to volunteers that display heroism in their service. Past national winners of the Jefferson award include Colin Powell, Sandra Day O’Connor, Oprah Winfrey, Peyton Manning, Jimmy Carter and many other household names.
After a short discussion it became clear that we had a Jefferson Award quality volunteer in our midst: Weiting Zhang. Weiting is a former intern of the Ministry who helped with grant research before getting involved in shelter outreach and helping at our job fair in August. For me, nominating Weiting was a function of her unbelievably selfless dedication to LI.V.I.N.G. Ministry. But after I asked Weiting for some information I needed to fill out the application that I realized what a hero of service she really is.
In August 2006, Weiting’s husband moved to the United States to pursue higher education but because Weiting was pregnant she could not travel with him. She stayed in China during her pregnancy, and in June 2007, when her daughter was just ten months old she moved to Pittsburgh to be reunited with her husband. During the course of her Master’s program at Carnegie Mellon University, Weiting became involved in LIVING Ministry through our very own Jen Hong, and the rest is history!
Today I heard my phone ring and saw the call was from Weiting. After catching up a bit, Weiting told me that she had received a letter from the Post-Gazette. She was chosen as a winner of the Jefferson Award! While I was excited to hear the news, I was far from surprised. She truly is a hero in my eyes: A full-time student and mother, Weiting dedicated 17 hours each week to L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry during her internship. With her help we are able to reach more homeless women than ever before, and find brand new financial resources. Weiting’s involvement has enabled us to extend our impact on Pittsburgh’s homeless and we couldn’t be more grateful. When I asked Weiting what her favorite thing about volunteering with LIVING Ministry is she responded:
Volunteering in L.I.V.I.N.G. really helps me to see another world in the United States. I would consider the U.S. as a country with few poor people before I came here. The homeless people, especially the homeless women, struck me when I visited Miryam’s the first time. At the beginning, I felt pity for them. But one of the ladies didn’t make me feel pity for her. She is strong and loyal to God’s words. Instead, she encouraged me and pushed me to know more about God. It is a really nice experience to grow in Christianity.
Her response reminds me that Christ calls us to service and to greatness, the exact qualities the Jefferson Award seeks to recognize.
Congratulations to Weiting Zhang, dedicated servant of Christ and newest Pittsburgh Region Jefferson Award recipient. We at L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry could not be more proud of you!
Click the picture above to read the article in the Post Gazette about Weiting’s story
L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry on Cornerstone TV
Washing Away Poverty Campaign
In September, we will be having our annual car wash fundraiser to help raise the necessary funds to continue to serve the homeless here in Pittsburgh. We’ll be at the Busy Beaver in West Mifflin and the Busy Beaver in Crafton washing cars all day on Saturday, September 11th. Our plan is to run the event as a carwash-a-thon where people sponsor a certain amount for every car that we washed.
We’re trying to get to $80 per car committed before the carwash on September 11th. For that to happen, we will need all the help we can get! Above you will see a flyer for the Carwash Sponsorship. Please prayerfully consider what you would be able to give for every car that we wash. You can also give a flat donation of any amount towards this carwash campaign. If you would like, we can put a cap on the donation so that we don’t cause you not to be able to afford groceries for the month (for example after 200 cars we’d stop the pledge). If you pledge 20 cents a car for 200 cars that’s only $40.
If you aren’t comfortable making a big donation but want to support the ministry financially, this is a great way to get involved! Please send us your commitments via email to donate AT livingministry DOT org
July’s Online Newsletter
Walking across that bridge was the loneliest time in George’s life. He had spent months mad at God. Why was his life a mess? Why was he in the particular situation he was? Where could he go to escape it all? The cold blue water below seemed to scream out that he should try it. Jumping off of that bridge would not solve his problems, but only hasten an inevitable meeting with his Maker. Deciding not to jump, George pressed on and eventually found himself residing in Light of Life men’s shelter. It was there, on a Wednesday morning that we met George. Sitting in the back, he came up and asked if he could join the Bible study after breakfast. Knowing that we are blessed to get even one seeker, we happily obliged. In the Bible study, George explained his dramatic conversion to Christ, and the chains of addiction that were instantly and miraculously removed from him. He admitted that he had wanted to give up on numerous occasions, but God kept pushing him to persevere. For the past month we have been blessed to get to know George and spend time in the Word together. Click the picture of the Newsletter above to read his reflections….
New Memebers Join L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry
Because of the ensuring departure of Mike Gallo, the L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry was put in the position of needing more hands to help get the work done of serving the homeless. This summer, the ministry is excited to annouce the hiring of (2) paid staff and (2) interns.
Devastating Fire
As many of you know, every week we go and vist the men of Safe Haven in East Liberty. There we hang out, do a Bible Study, and enjoy the company of our friends. Three weeks ago, we were saddened with the news that their apartment complex had burned down. A few of the men were hurt, but not as badly as Chris Lin, who jumped out of his window and shattered both of his feet. Since the fire, all of the men have been moved to a new location. We still visit the men at least once a week, and their spirits are much improved, but things are still very hard. They have lost all of their belongings and Chris will be bedridden for 5 more weeks while his feet heal. Below is an article from WPXI about the fire…
