Open House this Weekend

This weekend at Water Street Ministries WE INVITE YOU to join us for our OPEN HOUSE. Here's a look at the schedule of activities. For a closer look just click on the schedule itself...



An exciting addition to the Open House is the "What Is Home" photo exhibit featuring children who live here at Water Street Ministries and their personal understanding of what "home" really means to them. The photo messages are shared from children at the Family Shelter along with students with Wonder Club Early Learning Centers.

Below is one of the images you'll see as a part of this display this weekend, but you'll have to visit the Open House to see the entire exhibit.
Hope to see you at our Open House!

New Wonder Club classroom opens!

Earlier this fall we opened a brand new Wonder Club classroom right here on South Prince Street. The classroom is located in the same building as the Women's Shelter and the new Family Shelter. It is specifically designed to serve children living in the Mission. Please pray for our new teacher, Carmen Garber, as she leads this important new classroom.

Blue Ridge Cable channel 11 was here recently to visit the site... watch the video...

Praises from the Family Shelter

Just before Christmas we opened the door to the Family Shelter. The Family Shelter was developed during our most recent major renovations of the Prince Street campus in response to the changing face of homelessness that we encounter every day. In recent years the population of homeless families has been growing... and by "families" we mean single mothers with children, single fathers with children, and intact families (with both mom and dad).

Prior to the opening of the Family Shelter we were pretty much unable to serve intact families, fathers with young children, and mothers with older boys (above 12 yrs). We would do our best to find ways to accomodate or help, but we were not set up to serve these families.

Daral Boles our Director of Women's and Family Ministries recently passed along some exciting news:

Just wanted to let everyone know we have our first SINGLE FATHER in the family shelter. He has two children with him—a 16-year-old son and 1 ½ year old daughter. Please pray with and for us as we learn how to address the unique problems of this type of family group. We now have all three types present—husband and wife with children, single mom with teenage boys, and single dad with children—for whom this shelter was designed.

Also wanted to let you know that our “first” family, Barbara Gonzalez and her 6 children, will be leaving us on Thursday for a home of their own. Praise God with us!

Daral and Gentine

Charred stones

What has God taught me lately...

God can use "Charred Stones."

In the book of Nehemiah, one of the enemies, Sanballat mocks Nehemiah and the Israelites saying, "Can they ever use these burnt stones, full of soot and ashes to rebuild the wall of the city?"

The Lord is teaching me that the people I work with (homeless women and families) are like these stones, and I am like these stones also. That through the Lord, these stones can be used. He sees the heart, that it can be restored, healed and made strong, becoming living stones.

I've struggled because many times I only see what is charred... the soot and ashes, the damaged lives and emotions, the lies and addictions, the battered and bruised hearts and lives. And I think that the damage is permanent. But the story of Nehemiah and the Israelites rebuilding the wall using burnt ash covered stones is a powerful one and it restored my vision and hope to see each person as precious and priceless. And to recognize that there is no limit or bounds to what God can and will do!

-Gentine Clark, Women's and Family Ministries