Update on Project L.I.F.E.
It’s been nearly 8 months since Project L.I.F.E. was last open, and in that time God has been showing ways in which we can improve the program. But before we finalize the next program, we want to hear from you! Believing that two minds are better than one, we want to hear your input on ways in which you think the ministry can best run Project L.I.F.E. and utilize both houses. If you have comments, please email them to us at contact@livingministry.org. Here are some details that will help guide your thoughts:
2536 Maple Avenue is a completely renovated house that has our offices on the 3rd floor and a kitchen, living room, dining room, 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors.
The house is zoned residential and can accommodate up to 5 individuals living there. These men will not be referrals from other people or organizations, but will be men that we already minister to in the shelters that we attend on a weekly basis.
Our chief desire in ministry is to disciple the homeless. We do not want to stray away from that. We also understand that it is very hard to disciple someone with prevailing physical needs. Many times those needs get in the way of discipleship. People will always say they want to be discipled so they can have their physical needs met. We also know that discipleship works well centered around a task (some sort of work/job). Simply teaching/training is not sufficient.
“Success” to us looks like a person that is committed to following Jesus, and whose entire life (spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, etc.) has been transformed by that relationship with Christ. This person knows, understands, and follows God’s will for their lives, and is actively engaged in discipling other homeless persons.
Operating the house costs money, and we would like to explore creative ways to engage the community, our supporters, and the program participants in meeting that need
We have a second house in the adjacent lot that is still under construction. We want this house to compliment the first house in some way. It is approximately the same size as the first house.
Prayer Requests (2/20)
Each week we post the prayer requests of some of the men and women from the various shelters we visit. Please come along side us and pray for each person individually.Truly prayer accomplishes more than we can imagine…
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
The following one-time events are open to everyone! Take a look at what we have coming up, if you would like to serve alongside of us please contact Jenna Burdette at volunteer AT livingministry DOT org.
Also be sure to take a look at our ongoing volunteer opportunities for information about repeating programs!
Warm Up For Winter Coat Store
For the first time ever, L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry held a FREE coat store. Because of a generous donation from Burlington Coat Factory, we had more than 500 gently used men, women’s and children’s coats to distribute. To receive a coat, one had to call our offices and schedule a time to come up to our store. It was amazing the response that we had from people. Our phone rang off the hook every day, 24/7. We only distributed the coats on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday, but we served over 30 people each of those days for 5 weeks.
Remembering The Lost
Too many homeless die every year. Because Pittsburgh is a very cold city, every year we end up losing a handful of our brother and sisters due to the weather. On Tuesday, December 22nd, there was a candlelight vigil to pay respects to the homeless who lost their lives in 2010. Among the deceased were people that we ministered to at the labor halls, ALIVE, or in one of the shelters. Please keep in prayer the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and pray for those who still sleep outside in the elements.
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Homeless who have died are remembered
By Emily Gibb, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
photo by Michael Henninger/Post-Gazette
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
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Operation Safety Net held its annual candlelight memorial service Tuesday night at the south end of Grant Street, Downtown, in remembrance of three homeless individuals who died on the streets this past year.
The service is one of about 150 observances in different cities sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless.
“This service is to reflect on those individuals, reflect on the time period, remember them in a positive way and say a prayer,” said Linda Sheets, program director of Operation Safety Net.
The number of deceased is a considerable decrease from last year’s memorial service, where 11 people were remembered, Ms. Sheets said.
About 30 people — mostly volunteers and outreach workers — attended the service to reflect about those who lost their lives.
One of the three who died was not a client of Operation Safety Net. The city contacted the organization that the remains of a young woman were found on the North Side in September.
Another, David Delp, also did not use its services, but his wife came in after he died. He left his wife waiting for him underneath the Route 65 bridge on the North Side in June, but he never came back. At 48 years old, he also left behind four children.
As for John Fisher, Ms. Sheets said her organization knew him for at least the past couple of years.
“He always had a smile on his face and always welcomed our services — even if he didn’t at first,” she said.
Mr. Fisher was getting ready to move into his own housing, but he died before he could make it a reality, she said.
In a partnership with the city of Pittsburgh, the organization hangs a plaque each year underneath the Grant Street overpass on Fort Pitt Boulevard for each person who dies on the streets. Each plaque costs about $100 dollars and is funded through donations from local organizations and individuals.
Operation Safety Net is a program of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10356/1112540-53.stm#ixzz19bOObWDk
Fall Volunteer Recap
Fall is a busy time at L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry, have no doubts about that. The past three months saw three major mailings, a work day, the clothing sorting, ALIVE, and a job fair! With all this on top of our regular volunteer events like labor halls and shelter visits it’s hard to imagine what it means to sit still. Thank you to all of our volunteers who made the last three months not only possible – but a real success!
Mailings
In October we sent out a newsletter, and in December we sent out our year end appeal and 500 post cards. It might not take much skill to fold, stuff, label, and sort around 2,000 pieces of mail but it sure does take a lot of patience and a servant’s heart! Without the help of our very dedicated volunteers we simply wouldn’t be able to send all of this mail out, we want to send you a very big thank you!
October Workday
After an embarrassing miscommunication with our volunteers, a group of young men and women looking forward to building a porch were put to work cleaning and organizing the basement and finishing a mailing. While I do feel bad about promising the wrong project, I do not feel nothing but great about the quality of work these guys did in our October workday! The newsletter got finished and sent out and the basement is easier to navigate than ever before. Everything has a place thanks to the new shelving these guys put in! Thank you so much for your hard work!
ALIVE Clothing Sorting
As generous donations of clothing poured in for ALIVE we knew we would have to buckle down and sort like champions to get ready for the big day. And sort like champions we did! With the help of 35 volunteers we were able to sort out the non-winter items, organize the winter appropriate clothing, and bag up every item for ALIVE in just 4 hours! Thank you to the Pittsburgh Project for letting us use your space; just as big a thank you to the volunteers who came to work, you were outstanding!
ALIVE 2010
Pittsburgh’s largest clothing give away, ALIVE, went on for the 8th year this November! With more volunteers than any year before we were able to open a second men’s clothing station to give clothing out to all of the 250 homeless who attended before lunch even began. Volunteers were at work in every aspect of ALIVE from cooking and serving lunch to playing games and praying for the homeless and more. ALIVE 2010 was a great success, thank you to each and every volunteer who came out to serve with us!
DecemberJob Fair
Even with the first real snow of the season the morning of our job fair, volunteers faithfully turned out to help teach classes, type resumes, and serve lunch to the men and women looking for work. The staff and participants alike were blessed by your willingness to give up your morning and help however you could!
