Faith Mission, Elkhart
“Working with us, you help people become healthy again, physically, spiritually and emotionally. And in doing so, you carry out God’s decree in Ephesians 2 that we have all been brought back to life in Christ, ‘to do good works which God prepared in advance to do.’”
- Executive Director Tobe Swihart
In downtown Elkhart since 1956, Faith Mission has been changing lives through its commitment to welcoming the homeless, offering warm meals and encouragement, and offering programs that transform the residents through courage and God’s Word. Faith currently serves 76 single men, 13 single women, and 5 families, by providing for those who require short-term housing as well as longer-term provisions and programs to overcome challenges in their life.
Faith’s philosophy is simple. The Mission provides programs that meet the physical needs of the resident (long term recovery and rehabilitation, employment readiness, emergency shelter services, and educational programs) and that also meet the spiritual needs of the resident, through chapel services and a special focus on God in the residents’ faithful rebuilding of their lives. In fact, residents have the option to choose a special discipleship program to rebuild their lives, “Training Faithful Men” for the men and “Training Faithful Women” for the women, if they would like to add this faith-based approach to rehabilitation and education. Says Mike Perez, Development Director at Faith, “We believe that the seeds they receive will work for them. We’re here to plant the seeds of faith.”
One former resident named Sandra chose the discipleship track during her stay at Faith, and it has made all the difference to her. She came to the Mission with a seemingly insurmountable amount of debt, relational hardships. During her “Training Faithful Women” program experience, she saw her role as a steward of God’s resources. She made a critical decision during her time in the program that she would not declare bankruptcy, and that she would be faithful to meet her financial obligations, get herself back on track by having her own place to live, and serving at Faith Mission. Today Sandra serves as an administrative assistant at the Mission. “I’m going to do whatever it takes,” she told herself. Sandra will be applying to a Bible College next year, and is an incredible testimony to the faith Faith offers to those who need it most. Truly, Faith Mission is a mission based on real faith.
Here’s how you can help Faith Mission:
There are many ways you and your church can help the men, women, and children served by Faith Mission. To volunteer, contact Mike Perez, Development Director, at (574) 970-5285 or at mperez@maplenet.net.
• Volunteer to make and serve meals. Perez believes strongly that volunteers should start in the kitchen, and build relationships to increase their sphere of influence as a volunteer. Not only does this provide an opportunity for those who want to help to see the faces of those seeking God’s love, but it provides an opportunity for volunteers to better understand the people they are truly there to serve. Says Perez, “A lot of people here are broken people, and sometimes that comes out as hardness.” Volunteering to serve meals allows you to touch hearts while building relationships and respect for those at Faith.
• Donate supplies for “Scrub-the-Mission” Sundays. Every month that has a fifth Sunday, the Mission asks churches to donate valuable cleaning supplies. Items most needed include paper towels, toilet paper, 55-gallon trash bags, and 1-gallon containers of Lysol, large latex gloves, liquid laundry detergent, bleach, and liquid antibacterial soap. A complete list of “Scrub-the-Mission” critical supplies are available upon request.
• Donate personal care items that are so critical to the residents at Faith. Key items needed include disposable razors, toothpaste, paper plates, and laundry kits that consist of two plastic storage bags - one with 1-cup laundry detergent powder and one with 1 softener sheet for laundry. And quarters are equally important.
• Donate items to the Faith Mission Thrift Store. This is a very special aspect of the mission. When men, women, and children arrive at Faith, they are provided with clothing from the Thrift Store. After their needs have been met, the items in the store are sold to raise additional funds for the Mission. Items requested include gently used clothing, furniture, appliances, house wares, and toys. All donations are tax deductible and change lives.
• Pray for Faith. Faith is undergoing a significant capital campaign in early 2006, to raise funds for their new campus on Benham. Pray for God’s direction for Faith as the Mission begins this next step in serving the community’s needs. One way to pray is to attend the public prayer service at Faith on the third Wednesday of every month.
• Offer a church home to those at Faith, including transportation to your home church. This is a real commitment, and requires openness to brokenness and a heart that echoes that of one former resident, now a cook at Faith: “I enjoy seeing the smile on the faces of little children when the Mission is able to meet their needs. When people come off the street, wet and cold, we give them food and bed them down for the night.”
