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Rebuilding Community, Transforming Lives through Relationship

Much more than just food

Hello Laura,

Shepherd’s Hope has always been thought of as a feeding ministry. Today, to be honest with you, the food we share with the community is only the lure we use to break the ice so we can build relationships with our neighbors and find out what their real needs and desires are so that we can introduce them to the LORD and to one of our partner ministries who best matches their needs. Our work does not end there; we stay in contact with each of these neighbors to make sure everything is going well. Our goal is to build relationship for life. This is the most important aspect of Shepherd’s Hope.

Building Life-long Relationships

We meet with the youth and teenagers in the neighborhood in the library on a daily basis. These impromptu meetings are used to build relationships that these young people can rely on when they need someone to talk to or they have a problem that they are facing. This is the reason the LORD started Shepherd’s Hope. Our founding mission statement is “To recognize and meet the needs of our neighbors, pledging to help individuals to become compassionate contributors to family, community and society; we vow to do this one life at a time.”

In addition, we have three Bible Studies a week (Wed, Fri, Sat) and two church services on Sunday. The Center is open seven days a week. I think I have placed too much emphasis on food with you. When in essence, between the 3 Bible studies, the 2 church services and the daily Christ-centered discussions we have at the round table in the library, The Center of Chicago in Englewood has become church for the majority of people we serve and has become their guiding light for living as they leave our building to traverse the streets of Chicago.

An incredible number of men and women are struggling with substance abuse. To help the people that want to change their lives, we will arrange a 90-day rehabilitation program. Once that is complete, they will have the option to enter a 2-year program in a men’s or women’s shelter where they are taught and are under the guidance of people who care about helping them to hopefully live a productive and drug-free life. This all takes place through relationship building, that started with their need for food. THAT’S LOVE IN ACTION!

In God's Hands

One of the women working at the feeding center had been having a drug use problem for at least the past 5 years. She would use and them stop when we threatened her with losing her job. About a year ago she finally agreed to go to a drug rehab program for 90 days. She completed the program and is now in a substance abuse women’s shelter which has a 2-year commitment. She came and visited us about a month ago to thank me for my persistence and love for her that helped save her from herself. ONLY GOD!

About three weeks ago we convinced two more women to enter the 90-day rehab program, one from our bible study and one from NLRUM, one of the churches that call The Center their home.

All we can do now is pray for these women to remain steadfast on the journey they have started. IT IS ALL IN GOD’S HANDS.

DONATE NOW ONLINE

Or Mail check to Shepherd's Hope

PO Box 21013, Chicago IL 60621

A direct and compelling headline

Food is a much-needed commodity in Englewood. 4 million pounds of food are shared with our neighbors annually. It is needed to survive. Survival comes through food, but real life comes through relationship and LOVE for our neighbors. That LOVE is what builds strong families and strong communities. That is why we wrap our arms around everyone that comes into The Center. We live in a world that has become selfish, self-centered, and full of pride. Our goal at Shepherd’s Hope is to bring this Englewood community back to loving themselves and their neighbors, doing it one life at a time. This is the lifetime example JESUS gave us, and Shepherd’s Hope and the 16 other ministries at The Center are trying to live out daily in this community.

Become a Stakeholder

Remember we touch the lives of about 7,000 people a week, which is about one third of the total population of Englewood. It took 15 years of hard and dedicated work by a myriad of volunteers to get us where the LORD wants us to be. The devil would love to see us leave this community because he is feeling the pressure. Our team is ready to continue, but without resources we will have to scale back or close the doors. We have been in this situation before, and above everything else, we trust the LORD and we are willing to wait on HIM to provide for Shepherd’s Hope needs.

We invite you to be a stakeholder in continuing to build HOPE and change lives in this community. The Lord has uniquely equipped Shepherd’s Hope and our partners to make a real difference for our neighbors at The Center,

At our expense rate of $3.55 per month per person, how many of our 7.000 clients can you help support to keep the access to food and other life-changing options available to the people of the Englewood community?

(Note that these gifts can be made by check or through our online giving platform here in whatever segments of time fit your resources best (weekly, monthly, quarterly or one time.)

We love you – and thank you in advance for your continued support. “GOD’s WILL SHALL PREVAIL!”

Sincerely.

Brian (Please Email me - briananderson1026@gmail.com - with any comments or questions)

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call 773-756-3535

Send your check to:

Shepherd's HOPE

PO Box 21013

Chicago, IL 60621

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