Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford

06/21/2026

In seeking an example of a good dad, we need look no farther than our Father in Heaven Loving, forgiving, faithful and encouraging, God is the perfect father.

One way the Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford helps men become better dads is by strengthening their relationship with our Lord, through prayer, Bible Study, and the mentorship of strong Christian fathers from local churches.

Will you prayerfully consider helping us continue to bless the dads who come through our doors by making a donation in honor of Father's Day?

Every prayer and every dollar help our men become the fathers God meant for them to be, so give today at www.bedfordmenswarmingshelter.org

06/20/2026

Father's Day can be a difficult day for many of the men we serve at the shelter.

While our guests come from all walks of life—representing every state in the union, ranging in age from 18 to 80, and bringing with them diverse backgrounds, education levels, and life experiences—there is one thing many of them have in common: the absence of a positive father figure in their lives.

Some grew up without ever knowing their fathers, sometimes not even knowing their names. Others had fathers who were neglectful, leaving them feeling invisible, unworthy, and unloved. Some endured a revolving door of stepfathers and other men who treated them poorly. Many experienced abuse and still carry the emotional—and sometimes physical—scars today.

The absence of a father who could guide them, encourage them, and show them unconditional love has had a profound impact on their lives.

A few of our men were fortunate enough to have someone else step into that role—a grandfather, a neighbor, a coach, or a mentor. These men taught them how to swing a baseball bat, change a tire, keep their word, and care for others. They modeled what it means to be a loving father, a faithful husband, and a responsible citizen. Years later, our guests still remember them and recognize the difference they made.

We are also blessed to have remarkable men among our staff and volunteers who serve as mentors and positive role models every day. Through their encouragement, accountability, and example, they help our guests learn skills they may never have been taught and demonstrate what healthy manhood, fatherhood, and leadership look like. These relationships can be life-changing.

One of the most rewarding things we see is men who are determined to break the cycle.

Many are working hard to become the fathers they never had—rebuilding relationships with their children, learning healthier ways to communicate, and creating a different future for the next generation. With support, guidance, and perseverance, cycles of neglect, addiction, abuse, and homelessness can be broken.

The takeaway from this Father's Day: be a good dad—and not only to your own children. You never know how much your influence may matter to a young person or struggling adult who needs guidance, encouragement, and someone who believes in them.

It may be one of the most important things you ever do.

This Father’s Day, give a gift that changes lives.

Give online today at www.bedfordmenswarmingshelter.org or mail your donation to PO Box 430, Bedford IN 47421.

The Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford - Giving Fathers a Fresh Start!

06/20/2026

Please be in prayer today for shelter staffer Clarence Brown and family, as they celebrate the life of his brother Ricky Brown.

Rick was a Lawrence County favorite, a loving hudband and father, a talented singer, and a devoted Christian (just like his brother Clarence!) and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

View Ricky "Rick" Brown's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

06/20/2026

“Mike” never thought he would be a single father to teenage girl, but he never thought he would be homeless either! After serving his country in the navy, Mike started a career, married his sweetheart, bought a house, and had a bouncing baby girl. For several years, he seemed to be living the American dream. Then the trouble started. Just a few small stumbles – a disagreement at work, a couple of missed mortgage payments, more and more fighting with the wife, some DUI’s – led to a lost job, a home in foreclosure, a repossessed car, and a broken marriage. It seemed like everything went wrong at once! Suddenly, Mike was homeless, helpless, and hopeless, with no idea what to do or where to go.

And then, Mike heard about the Men’s Warming Shelter. He was hesitant at first to come to a homeless shelter, but after meeting the encouraging staff and friendly volunteers, getting a few good nights' sleep and enjoying some hearty meals, Mike realized this was the place he could get back on track. Mike took advantage of all the help he could get – he started therapy and attended AA, got his driver’s license back and his legal troubles under control, worked with local and state VA offices, and began looking for employment. Within his first 10 days at the shelter, Mike found a full-time job. Then he took a second part-time job. Every paycheck went into the bank, until after just two months Mike was able to buy a car. With steady income, transportation, and a great support system, Mike was ready to start the search for housing.

Through all the hardships and homelessness, Mike remained an involved and loving father. He talked to his daughter almost daily, visited her frequently, and even at his lowest, managed to scrape together support money. When looking at rentals, his one requirement was an extra room for his daughter to spend weekends. Luck was with him, and Mike found a nice 2 bedroom house in a quiet neighborhood and moved in - and not a moment too soon.

While Mike's life was on the upswing, his ex-wife's had taken a drastic turn for the worse, and she was no longer able to care for their daughter. She and Mike agreed he should assume full custody, and 14 year old "Annabelle" moved in.

Life as a full-time father is a joy for Mike! He cooks dinner, checks homework, and shops for just the right hair products. He and Annabelle enjoy doing home projects, like painting her room the perfect shade of black, and eating pizza while watching TikTok videos together. This weekend, they took a roadtrip to North Carolina to see her favorite Youtuber in person - now that's a great dad! Mike is grateful for every minute with his daughter, and for the second chance the Men’s Warming Shelter gave him.

This Father’s Day, will you help us help fathers a fresh start and a second chance? Give online today at www.bedfordmenswarmingshelter.org or mail your donation to PO Box 430, Bedford IN 47421. The Men’s Warming Shelter - Giving Fathers a Fresh Start!

06/19/2026

"Matthew" was a young dad, a good dad, a devoted dad, a dad who loves his kids. A dad who hadn't seen his children in over 6 months. Why?

Some bad choices, nothing that hurt his children but choices that resulted in jail time and probation, and no visitation. Since that time, he made many good choices like taking part in a strict court program, studying for his GED, getting a steady job and working overtime every week, attending therapy, all with the goal of reuniting with his family.

This dad loves his kids!

And finally, all those months of work paid off.

Now, he's a quiet guy, but he talked about this visit for a week, planning ahead, getting more and more excited - he really loves his kids! And he got everyone at the shelter excited about it too. The other guests all encouraged and cheered him on, and one friend drove to Walmart and bought two riding toys so this young dad could surprise his little ones.

He counted down the hours, then the minutes, then finally the time came for the visit, and everything was ready. The other guys left the lounge (and their TV time) so Matthew and his kids could be alone for an hour. An hour of hugs and kisses, reading books and eating snacks, and lots of zooming around on their brand new rides. There were lots of smiles and a few tears and plans and promises for more visits.

It took a long time and a lot of work to get to that first visit, but there were many visits after. It was a long hard journey to reach his goal of reuniting his family, but Matthew had the support, the strength, and most of all, the motivation to reach that goal. He never have up.

Why? This dad loves his kids.

This Father’s Day, you can support men like Matthew on their journey to becoming the best dads they can be.

Give online today at www.bedfordmenswarmingshelter.org or mail your donation to PO Box 430, Bedford IN 47421.

The Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford - Giving Fathers a Fresh Start!

06/19/2026

For years “Rick” struggled as a dad.

A divorce led to depression and addiction which led to incarceration and then homelessness. Being a father was difficult and his relationship with his children was severed.

But when he became a guest at the Men’s Warming Shelter, Rick got the support he needed to get sober, find employment, and restart his life. His greatest joy was when he was able to reestablish his relationship with his daughters.

At first it was simple things like phone calls and helping with their homework. Then he was able to begin financially supporting them. Through the help of his shelter mentors he was able to purchase a vehicle. Now the girls look forward to their dad picking them up after school and taking them for ice cream.

What does Rick love? Showing up and cheering on their softball games. His next life goal is a place of his own with an extra bedroom for the girls.

What a difference a season made to Rick and his daughters!

This Father’s Day, will you support the Men’s Warming Shelter, and help us help guys like Rick get back on track and be the best men, and best fathers, they can be?

Give online today at www.bedfordmenswarmingshelter.org or mail your donation to PO Box 430, Bedford IN 47421.

The Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford - Giving Fathers a Fresh Start!

06/17/2026

I want to ask you to do something hard.
I want you to imagine the first night of being homeless.
You have no home to return to.
You’ve exhausted all your resources, no money, no credit, maybe even no car.
Your family and friends are no longer able or willing to help. They may not even return your calls. You may no longer even have friends or family. You may not even have a phone.
You are utterly alone.

Click below for the full article.

I want to ask you to do something hard.

I want you to imagine the first night of being homeless.

You have no home to return to.

You’ve exhausted all your resources, no money, no credit, maybe even no car.

Your family and friends are no longer able or willing to help. They may not even return your calls. You may no longer even have friends or family. You may not even have a phone.

You are utterly alone.

It’s just you and the night.

Please take a moment to imagine that.

What would pass through your mind? What would you feel? How would you act?

Some years ago, I took part in a street retreat where I lived on the streets of San Francisco for seven days with a group of several other people. I knew this experience wasn’t homelessness. I could leave at any moment. I was choosing to be there. All my life’s resources were intact.

And even still, my first feeling as the experience began was complete terror.

I had no idea who or what was safe. Everything felt like a threat.

I just kept walking to tamp away the fear.

I longed to find a safe place and fortunately found a little, fenced in park where I could rest. I sat and sat in that park, barely able to move. I remember struggling so much I was afraid to even ask a stranger for the time.

As noon came and hunger became strong, I struggled to get up and leave the park. I knew there was a local church that served a meal but I had no idea where that church was. It was hard to move.

I willed myself to walk.

Eventually, I saw the crowds and found the church.

I ate my first meal.

And things became easier.

I now understood that I could feed myself, and my mind returned.

There was still fear to overcome, but my emotional paralysis was over.

I carried on... but never forgot.

Homelessness is one of the greatest of human terrors. The isolation, the loneliness, the exposure. Author and teacher Martha Beck talks about the fear of becoming a “bag lady” – not my favorite term, but a visceral description of a primal panic that many people have of poverty, homelessness, and social rejection.

I’m a big believer that this is why we so deeply marginalize the poor. They remind us of what we fear maybe more than anything.

Some years ago, Beacon went through a renaming. As a homeless agency, we wanted a name that expressed the organization we had become while speaking clearly our values and our vision. We chose the name Beacon because we wanted to be that light in the darkness, that light at the end of the tunnel… we wanted to be that safe light in the middle of the night when you find yourself all alone with nowhere to turn.

That’s what I want us to be... when you’re all alone... with nowhere to turn... in the dead of night... you see our light in the distance. And you feel home.

Whether it’s a meal, a bed, a shower, a job, a home, or a caring presence, we walk with you out of the night and into the love and life you deserve.

If this is something that calls to you, please join us in this sacred work.
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Written by Rev. Forrest Gilmore, Executive Director

06/17/2026

We sure love our hometown! 🇺🇸 The downtown businesses have gone all out decorating for the 4th of July. Take a walk around the square and see all the adorable patriotic displays for yourself! ❤️🤍💙

06/16/2026

**Good home cooking like only church ladies can do it! Thank you, Apostolic Faith, for another amazing from-scratch meal—chicken and noodles, mac and cheese, cooked cabbage, and deviled eggs! We are truly blessed! 😋🙏🍽️