Johnny, Paige and Tom would like to thank everyone that came to the Open House, as well as all the support that is given to Hoskins Park Ministries through Prayer and Good Deeds each and every day.
Before I mention the August event, here is an urgent message directly from Paige:
We need a single bed and frame, a couple dressers, a couple night stands, 2 lamps, some new bath towels and a new twin mattress…..and on top of that our pantry is low, low low!
If anyone can help with this, please contact Paige directly!
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, August 7 from 10AM to 1PM.
Details will follow on another email, but lunch will be served (Hot Dogs & Hamburgers will be donated, but drinks & side dish donations would be appreciated) and several Hoskins Park neighbors have expressed an interest in finding out more or what happens at the Ministry.
You can imagine the activity they see there every day, but they are expressly interested in the Baptism process and what that means.
Johnny and Tom will be in the Pond and will Baptize several people.
There will also be testimonials from the men as well as fellowship.
Everyone is welcome.
Thank you so much for all the Love and Prayers that you send to Hoskins Park Ministries.
We now have 13 houses, care for over 50 men and have a staff of 10! So come fellowship with all of us, eat, tour our property, meet the staff and men, and hear testimonies of what God is doing at Hoskins Park Ministries!
Lunch is on us but for those who insist on bringing something, we can always use donations to our food pantry. Also toiletries and canned food are always helpful! But that is only if you insist! Your presence is enough for us!
We are in immediate need of garden tools like rakes, shovels, mowers, etc. So if you have any of these items, we need them asap! Also we are in need of vacuum cleaners – good ones. These items as well as pantry items (The food pantry is always in need of canned food and toiletries) can be dropped off at the ministry or ForestHillChurch and will be used as soon as you bring them to us so please help if you can. Or bring a financial donation so they can get what they need themselves. You can donate on-line at Hoskinspark.org.
Please contact Paige Vestal at paigev@truevine.net for more information or to volunteer to help with any of the following events:
Upcoming Calendar Of Events
First Serve events for Saturday projects:
May 1 Build shed, trash pick up and Prayer walk
May 22 Open House. Details to follow.
June 5 Maintenance and painting
July Off
August 7 Landscaping and Baptism
Sept Life Group and Church Appreciation
Oct Clean up property
Nov Deliver Thanksgiving Baskets to Hoskins neighborhood
Thanks everyone! We appreciate you more than you know and you ARE making a difference. Many of us have watched Hoskins evolve from about 4 houses and 16 people in 2006 to its current 13 houses and 54 men. With our continued help they will continue to grow too! Oh, and they have a staff of 10 now! Praise the Lord! But please help them keep doing what they do. They need us now more than ever. They need you!
At the Saturday Easter service at Forest Hill Church, I spoke with a man and his son who had “graduated” from Hoskins Park, have jobs and an apartment across the street from Forest Hill and attend weekly services there. They seem to be doing great!
They explained that when they were homeless and had no other place to turn several years ago, Hoskins Park Ministries immediately opened their doors to them and gave them a home. They (HPM) took them “as is” keeping them off the street. After a couple years at Hoskins Park, understanding their need to turn to God with all their heart and actually doing so (Proverbs 3:5), they got back on their feet and are able to live independently again knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives.
What a blessing to see the fruit of Hoskins Park Ministries! Anyway, I thought you might like to hear a success story like I did!
Thanks to all that attended the Hoskins Park Ministry update meeting this past Thursday.
Johnny, Tom and Paige updated everyone on the health of the ministry and Paige reviewed volunteer opportunities for 2010.
There are currently 13 houses on campus and the ministry serves around 50 men, feeding their meals and housing needs as well as their spiritual appetite.
As Tom Wheeler pointed out, Hoskins Park Ministries provides shelter and spiritual growth for about $9,000 for each man, each year. The city of Charlotte spends millions to just provide shelter.
Bible study is held every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening at 7:30PM for about 45 minutes.
Everyone is welcome to attend these Bible studies and enjoy Christian fellowship with these Christ seekers.
Your group could provide and serve a meal at 6PM, clean up and attend the Bible study and still be home by 8:30PM!
Please contact Paige Vestal at 704-400-9755 or email her at paigev@truevine.net for more information or to volunteer to help with any of the following events.
Your help and fellowship is always valued and appreciated.
There are needs for groups to provide and serve meals most Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s.
The food pantry is always in need of canned food and toiletries.
Other volunteer opportunities and needs that Paige reviewed are:
First Serve events for Saturday projects:
April 3 Build shed and plant flowers
May 1 Build shed, trash pick up and Prayer walk
June 5 Maintenance and painting
July Off
August 7 Landscaping and Baptism
Sept Life Group and Church Appreciation
Oct Clean up property
Nov Deliver Thanksgiving Baskets to Hoskins neighborhood
May 22 will be the 2010 Open House. Details to follow.
Aug 7 will be Baptisms in The Pond and will be open to everyone to be Baptized by Tom and Johnny.
Sept 4 Church and Life Group Appreciation Day.
Nov 6 Thanksgiving Baskets.
Dec 7 is the Christmas Party.
Please note these dates on your calendar and plan to volunteer your time to this worthy Ministry.
Tom Wheeler, Johnny Allen and Paige Vestal would like you, your life group and groups from all the churches that have shown interest in Hoskins Park Ministries to a meeting to update you on the calendar of upcoming events for 2010.
The meeting will be at Forest Hill Church on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 6:30PM, room to be announced.
Although the meeting will be at Forest Hill, groups from other churches are very much welcome, as helping the needy has no borders.
I would especially hope that people who have been on our update email list but have not supported Hoskins Park in the past would attend this meeting.
Tom, Johnny and Paige will update you on the Hoskins Park Open House, Life Group Appreciation Day and the Christmas Party for 2010, as well as other needs of the Ministry.
If you have not heard Tom speak before, you are in for a treat!
Please reply to me at BillDinkel@aol.com with your intention to attend.
I will email you with the room location as soon as I have the room reserved.
Thank you so much for your interest and support of the Hoskins Park Ministries.
Tom, Johnny and Paige would like to thank all of you for your fellowship and support of Hoskins Park Ministries during 2009.
2010 is starting quickly with opportunities of service to help change lives.
Paige would like a life group or two to volunteer to host a Super Bowl party at Hoskins Park. Cable and a TV are available and there are over 50 guys that would love to eat some wings and pizza, watch the game and maybe share their stories of salvation.
Also, there is talk of another new house that will be available for occupation. Since we still have not completely furnished the last new house, the need for pots, pans, vacuums, furniture, etc. is very great.
The pantry is almost bare again! Individual servings of can veggies, meat and soup as well as toiletries are in great demand. As you know, when a new man arrives at the Ministry he has nothing. The Ministry provides a small starter package of basic toiletries, soap and food to last him until he can qualify for food stamps and government assistance.
Please contact Paige Vestal at 704-400-9755, or paigev@truevine.net if you can help with any of these items.
Also, there are a few openings to provide and serve dinner at Hoskins Park. Please be prepared to serve over 50 men for each dinner. The dinner opportunities are posted for registration at the Forest Hill web site at ServeNet:
Well, the holidays are here again! A time for us to say thanks to God for all the many blessings He has given to each and every one of us! As Americans, most of us should truly appreciate how rich we are. Most people in the world do not have the luxury of life that we are all offered, even at our most dire need. And of course, at Christmas we celebrate the most precious gift of all, Jesus Christ, the blessing of eternal life for all who accept Him as Lord and Savior! We have been spared eternal condemnation through Christ and will spend eternity with the presence of the essence of love itself, Jesus! Whoa. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of us so we never leave His presence too! How great is our God!
We know that during this wonderful season many of you may want to give to ministries like Hoskins to show your thankfulness to God, and we welcome your giving! In fact, we need it! As most of you know or can imagine, giving is down in all organizations that help the least. That always comes with an economic down turn. And it is true with Hoskins. So please just remember that we have 12 houses and 42 previously homeless men. We have a staff of 6 and a budget of $30k per month. We are currently receiving about $15k per month in donations, down about 1/2. So we especially need your help! And although Christmas is a time to give “gifts,” for many organizations like ours, this Christmas will be a time to just keep services continuing – which is the greatest gift to those we serve …. so please give, even if it means sacrificially. And if Hoskins Park is not your choice, then please give sacrificially to whomever your choice is …. remembering …. we are Americans. We are the richest people in the world, even in our poverty. As for what we do at Hoskins, these 42 men we serve were on the street with no place to go – now they are in nice homes with beds and loved by the love of Jesus Christ. Help us to keep it that way!
Thanks for considering a substantial gift to Hoskins Park Ministries this holiday season. You can find us at “http://hoskinspark.org/” or at Hoskins Park Ministries, 107 Cromer Street, Charlotte, NC 28208. Please, don’t wait either. We need to plan for the holidays and could use your gift now! And although we receive some support from the local church(s), it is YOU who are our greatest providers.
The Bible tells us to ask and we will receive, Matt 7:7ff. We are asking! Help us if you can to continue to share the love of Christ with His least (Matt 25:40). Please. Give thanks by giving. We will use what you give us for the glory of God.
Secure Your Doors is donating 25% of their profits to Hoskins Park Ministries. Tom Wheeler highly recommends their product and service. This company has a strong Christ like heart for serving others. If you want to truly secure your home, please give Secure Your Doors a call. Here is a video of Secure Your Doors product in action!
Please contact HPM at MP@hoskinspark.org if your business wants to join with us in serving Christ. Thank you!