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THIS CHRISTMAS,
THE SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN HOMELESS MINISTRY
NEEDS YOUR HELP TO
GET OUT OF THE RED
Located east of the Alamodome on North Hackberry Street,
Strong Foundation is a Christ-centered, no-nonsense homeless ministry providing shelter TONIGHT for 16 families. That's 62 people, 39 of whom are children.
And right now the ministry is $27,800 in the red. I'm trying to help raise one-third of that or $9,266 by next Tuesday, December 12th.
Strong Foundation unashamedly preaches Christ which they have the liberty to do
since they do not receive any taxpayer money.
Since February 13, 2004 when they opened, they have housed 2,793 people -- 1,555 of whom were children -- from over 682 families. In fact, amazingly 33 babies have been born during the family's stay at the homeless shelter -- 5 of them in 2017 alone.
Two-thirds of the residents of Strong Foundation,
a Christ-centered homeless shelter for families in San Antonio, are children
.
Refusal to accept tax money = freedom to share Christ
Unlike other local outreaches to the homeless, Strong Foundation refuses to accept one dime of federal, state or local tax dollars. That gives them the liberty to share Christ. There's no need to be politically correct.
Pastor Jim Gipson, the 6'6"-tall, 58-year-old founder of this unique outreach, couldn't be more clear.
Jim Gipson, founder of Strong Foundation,
a Christ-centered San Antonio homeless ministry
"The tool that God has given us is shelter. They don't come to us looking for God. They come to us looking for shelter. But now they find themselves in God's house. We have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them through weekly Bible studies and a Sunday morning worship service."
Meals at Strong Foundation are a joyous occasion, as God provides
the finances and the volunteers necessary to feed the 62 people who need to eat.
As a result, people are trusting Christ for the first time -- many of them getting baptized. (Watch the short video at the bottom of this email which shows pictures of baptisms). And those who already professed Christ are growing deeper in their walk with Him.
Plus, Pastor Gipson has tough requirements for the parents. The fathers must either be going to work or looking for work
every
day. And they are also required to attend parenting classes, Addiction Recovery Classes and Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University training on setting and adhering to a budget so they can become self sufficient.
Residents at Strong Foundation participate in a Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace class.
Volunteers from different San Antonio churches help watch their children during the evening classes. (In fact, if you would like to volunteer on a one-time basis with your children during
KidzTime,
click here
).
Volunteers will often get the kids working on a project -- like making gingerbread men --
while their parents are taking classes.
Sometimes the girls get a chance to paint their nails and feel special.
It's not the children's fault
For whatever reason -- unemployment, crushing medical bills, or addiction -- these families have become homeless. Jim declares "No matter what, it's not the children' fault."
That's why he and his wife Carolee have such a passion to provide a safe, family-friendly environment that will help Mom and Dad get back on their feet financially, emotionally and spiritually. The kids deserve nothing less.
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San Antonio church volunteers built this playground for the children to enjoy.
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In fact, one young man who had lived at the ministry with his mother a few years ago, wrote, "Strong Foundation was more like home to me that any place I've ever lived in my life."
When Amy and I toured Strong Foundation several years ago, we were impressed with how warm and welcoming the facility was.
Cheryl, the mother of a family they once served, said, "Strong Foundation didn't feel like a shelter when we lived there. It was like a real home."
Here is the "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake which Strong Foundation made last Christmas
so that the children understand the reason for the season.
History of Adam's Army blessing Strong Foundation
In 2014, you stepped up to the plate to pay for a brand new air conditioning system after their old one bit the dust. It cost $8,000.
In 2015, you helped to fund the expensive air conditioning bills of Strong Foundation during San Antonio's oppressive summer months with gifts which totaled $9,000.
And last year, after Jim discovered major, 2-inch-wide cracks running throughout the perimeter of a corner room at their facility, Adam's Army generously contributed $13,200 to pay for major foundation repair which included
20 new cement piers to support the structure of the homeless shelter.
 
Jim Gipson discovered 2-inch-wide cracks around the perimeter of one room at Strong Foundation, the Christian homeless shelter for families in San Antonio.
In other words, you helped to make sure that Strong Foundation had a
strong foundation!
Thanks to you, a foundation repair company installed 20 piers at Strong Foundation.
Each of the 20 holes was dug manually. It was very labor intensive.
 
After digging the holes, the foundation repair company used steel rebar and concrete
to provide the necessary support for the Strong Foundation homeless shelter.
How you can help
We have an opportunity to bless them again.
As a result of the retirement as well as the heavenly homegoing of several of their regular generous donors, Strong Foundation is facing a $27,800 shortfall!
When I first heard of their deficit, I asked Jim Gipson if Adam's Army could help cover one-third of the unmet expenses with a gift of $9,266.
Jim told me, "Adam, I'm not panicked about this momentary shortfall. I know that God will provide. I believe that He is going to use His people to do whatever He wants us to do. That's what we've seen Him do over and over again at Strong Foundation."
If the Lord has blessed you with the resources to consider a larger gift, I am looking for
2 members of Adam's Army who would prayerfully consider
donating $1,000 ASAP. That would leave a balance of $7,266.
If $1,000 is out of reach, could you be one of
4 people to send a
gift of $500? That would leave a balance of $5,266.
Could you be one of
8
people to send a
gift of $250? That would leave a balance of $3,266.
Could you be one of
12 people to send a
gift of $100? That would leave a balance of $2,066.
Could you be one of
12 people to send a
gift of $75? That would leave a balance of $1,166.
(When you click on the above links to make a donation on-line, you can either use a major credit card or your PayPal account)
No gift is too small or too large.
You can also send a tax deductible donation by check made out to "Strong Foundation". Send it to Strong Foundation, Attention: Jim Gipson, 414 North Hackberry Street, San Antonio, TX 78202. (Please write: "Christmas Shortfall" in the memo)
And remember that they do not accept a dime of government money which would result in their inability to share the Gospel of Christ.
Please e-mail me at
TalkRadioAdam@gmail.com
and let me rejoice in knowing that you were one of the members of Adam's Army who took a stand for the Strong Foundation ministry.
Time is of essence. So please make your donation today.
I will report back to you next Tuesday, December 12th about how we did toward this $9,266 goal. My prayer is that we knock it out of the park!
Amy and I know Jim Gipson personally, have seen his operation in action, and trust them explicitly.
If you have any questions about the ministry or would like to talk to Pastor Gipson, call 210-641-HELP(4357).
Click on the Social Media Tab at the very top of this email to share this need with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter.
Don't forget to "like" Strong Foundation on Facebook.
Watch this short video which will give you a great bird's eye view of what God is doing to minister to homeless families right here in San Antonio.
There are now 16 families at San Antonio's Strong Foundation,
a Christ-centered, homeless ministry.
What the Bible says
God's Word could not be more clear.
Listen to the admonition of 1 John 3:17: "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?"
Let's become the hands and feet of Christ to the dear local South Texas souls who have become homeless.
As Jim Gipson says, "The Strong Foundation we all need in life is in fact a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Strong Foundation."
Amen!
Everyone at Strong Foundation is in the Christmas spirit.
Volunteers and residents have decorated inside and outside their facility -- a former nursing home -- which was given to them in 2004 located east of the Alamodome on Hackberry Street.
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