it all began with a small group …
Seventeen years ago a little girl living in a car in a suburb of Chicago sparked a major ministry. Her family, after their bogus address was discovered by the girl’s school, fled the area. Hearing about this story, Bob Wahlgren and his friend from church, Mark Milligan, gathered a small group together to decide what they could do about this.
“I thought I was living in the suburbs where [this] doesn’t happen,” Walhgren said. “I always felt we had a vibrant economy. [Suddenly] I felt like my town was more vulnerable–less secure– than I thought.”
What began as a small group in 1988 has turned into a $1.6 million non-profit, Bridge Communities, which currently own 70 apartments in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn. By partnering with local churches and one community group, they support 95 homeless families annually (investing about $20,000 per year in each family). It is more than a money thing to them. Each sponsoring church provides mentors for each family to teach them better financial habits and to work with them, truly showing face-to-face love.
If you’re thinking… “That is nice for a big city like Chicago who needs it, but my area doesn’t have a homeless problem outside of the typical drunk nomad near the highway, who most likely did it to himself. Plus, homeless kids are rare.”
Well, think again.
The average age for the homeless in America is 9, with 40% of the homeless being children.
More than one million children will be without a home tonight.
In Charleston, if you don’t think it happens, check this out.
It is obvious in the Bible that God calls us to act when it comes to the poor …
“When Jesus heard this, He told him, ‘You still lack one thing: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’”
- Luke 18:23 (see also Lu 14:13, Lu 12:33, Mr 10:21, Mt 5:3 and Mt 19:21)
Tell me, where do you think Jesus would be hanging out if he were here today? I don’t believe it would be King Street. I’d say more like Remount Rd. and Spruill Ave.
In Luke 4:18 Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed…”
“Preach the good news to the poor” Who do you think is supposed to carry that on?
Diligent love and care in combating the epidemic of homelessness works.
In a recent Bridge Community survey…
94% of their clients who graduated in 2003 lived in permanent housing
92% held a job with a median income of about $30,000
Belinda Bowden, a recent graduate from Bridge who is now renting a home with her two sons, said, “Some of the Enemy’s keys to defeating us are through finances and family. Bridge gives us the support to rebuild those two things. I love them.”
What started in love amongst 20 people in a small group continues in love to change lives. Lives that can’t help but be changed…
So, what is Bridge’s next step? They want to take people from being homeless to home owners.
What next step will you or I take?
Hopefully one in faith and courage, especially knowing God is with us.
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