My Name is Pastor Phil I want to share with you why New Dawn Shelter of Gladwin County. At New Dawn Shelter our mission is this: “Through God’s power we will help people heal and dream anew.”
I have had the privilege of serving in ministry in Gladwin and the area for over 13 years at the Gladwin Free Methodist Church. For several years my heart has been burdened with the struggles many face in o
ur community one of those issues being homelessness. One of the questions I have often asked has been: “Is there a way we can better help people while equipping and empowering them to move beyond their present circumstances?”
You may think is homelessness a real issue in our small community? The answer is yes. It is not always easy to see but it exists. Many times I have sat down with individuals who had no idea where they would sleep that night. Last year area agencies indicated to me that over 100 people in Gladwin County alone where in need of housing. These individuals were either homeless or completely dependent on the kindness of friends and family to allow them refuge in their residence. How to deal with homeless issues in small communities can be difficult. For some time the standard answer has been temporary stays in hotel rooms. This is a costly option and very short term. If you have for example two nights in a hotel room most of your time will be spent figuring out where you will be after that not working on the cause of your homelessness. Problems which lead to homelessness often require an advocate to help work through the causes and a plan. This usually takes weeks to work through not days. This is why New Dawn Shelter is important. We want to help people in the name of Jesus to empower them to equip them and to help them move up and out of their current situation. This will be done partnering with Churches in our communities and working with agencies that can assist them when possible. God is faithful and is providing qualified people to lead this endeavor. We will be announcing the leadership team very soon. Concerning finances currently some churches organizations and individuals have already agreed to help with the funding. It is to God’s glory we have raised about $10,000 at this point. Our financial goal is to raise a minimum of $40,000 to start this ministry on firm footing. Please check out our newsletter and come to the Concert at the Gladwin County Fairgrounds Sunday night to learn more. In His Service – Pastor Phil
