Evangel Home Project

I’m so excited to be sharing a special project that my sweet friend (Carrie) and I are tackling within the next few months.

We are calling it:

The Evangel Home Project.

Carrie literally stumbled upon this special place one morning.

Carrie says:

“I felt drawn to volunteer at the Evangel Home after it kept “showing up on my radar screen.” (Love how God does that.) First, I read about the shelter in a local magazine, then I heard it mentioned in church, then I happened to hear their short radio program one Saturday morning while driving. On the program, they were celebrating a young woman who had just graduated from the program. She said her favorite class was the “Boundaries” class. I was impressed by the fact that the Evangel Home doesn’t merely “house and feed women” they help change the course of their lives. This resonated with me because I believe that simply giving someone food and shelter isn’t enough to begin a change in the broken lives of hurting women and their innocent children.

Shortly after relocating to the downtown area, I was taking a walk and I looked over and there was a sweet little old house with a pink door with a sign that read “Evangel Home.” I felt the Lord gently nudging me to find out about this place. And so I did.

I remember feeling nervous the day I went to meet Joyce, the Volunteer Coordinator. After she showed me around, I confided in her that I wasn’t sure why I was there. We chatted for a bit and she described some of the various volunteer positions. She wondered if I would answer phones one day a week. For some reason that just didn’t sound right to me. Somehow our conversation moved to the fact that I love doing decorating projects with one of my dearest friends. I told her that Mandy and I love to take thrift store finds and redo homes on a tight budget.

Then she got excited, “Oh! We have a studio apartment that is in big need of updating.” She took me into the apartment and I saw the dingy little kitchen, the awful white walls and the outdated linoleum floor. I got so excited. ”This is what I want to do! I want to redo this apartment!” She was so appreciative. As we walked back into her office to discuss the details of when I would start the project I started noticing the office she had brought me into. I asked her if by any chance I could do her office too? Her face lit up. She could hardly contain herself. She said, “Oh can I pinch you? Are you for real? Oh I’m so excited, so excited.” She said all this while doing a little dance and hugging me. Then, she shared a little of her story and with each word she shared, I realized why God had brought me here.”

We are going to begin with Joyce’s office.

Joyce is a petite woman with a big heart.

She smiles and laughs and loves her work at the shelter.

Joyce spent 28 days in the shelter in 1989 after life threw her a “curve ball” and she found herself homeless. After that she realized that she wanted to be a part of this life-changing ministry that had helped her at such a crucial time. She came on staff as the Volunteer Coordinator and has worked there to date.

Joyce’s favorite part of her job is working with all the various volunteers who come to bless the Evangel Home. Her office is full of hand-drawn notes of love for her and photos of some of her most precious memories. Joyce is respected and loved by co-workers, volunteers and women and children who live at the Evangel Home. Joyce’s only request was for her office to be a warm and welcoming place to interview and meet with the volunteers.

Carrie and I have big plans for Joyce’s office.

If you would like to be part of this project, we would appreciate your prayers and/or a small monetary donation. The Evangel Home is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation and all gifts are tax deductible. Year-end receipts are sent upon request. The only source of income that the Evangel Home receives is through tax deductible donations. They do not receive any government agency funds. If you would like to know more about the Evangel Home, please visit their website at www.evangelhome.org. If you would like to make a donation on line, you can do so quickly and easily by clicking HERE. An address is also provided on the same page, if you would like to send a check.