“My name is Eddie Bayer. What brought me here was that I was homeless. I really didn’t have no where to go. I really couldn’t trust nobody. I didn’t have no means whatsoever of trusting anyone. When I got here, I was kinda quiet. I isolated myself for awhile. I kind of beat myself up for not having a job, no where to go, but I have found peace with myself. It took a while for me to do that. I had a lot of people talk to me like Elwin, pastor John, pastor Ted, pastor Larry. I had a few brothers talk to me. I tried to open myself up….to feel love again. I kind of found love here, but once you’re out there on that street, you’re not going to find any greater love. But with me here, I found a lot at Hoskins Park ministry. It brought me light, it brought me goodness, it brought me to where I could love myself again, and it brought me to trust many people around me.
I came from a long way. I try my best…I’m not going to even say try…I’m doing my best as I can to fulfill my needs and God’s needs – not just because he asked me to…I choose that path.
For the near future, I want to see myself act strong, but better. Not because I want to, but because I want to strive to do so for myself. By having God’s faith in myself, even with his mercy and grace, I wish that I could improve myself even better. Right I now I wish I could improve myself more to God, than anything.
I had bad times, some Saturdays. I was scared. I was kinda lost. I made it my decision and then God made that decision for me to get baptized. I had several thoughts in my head…saying I’m not going to be able to make it, but I did. For anyone who choses to listen to this, I hope they do the same thing. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t get yourself down. Hoskins Park ministry is a place for hope and peace, and with God’s care, it’s up to you to put it in your heart. I’m not just saying this from my mouth, I’m saying it from my heart.
I just with that everybody could just see this place for what it is. This is a ministry, it’s just not a shelter. It’s just not a place where you lay your head at or go out and do stupid things. It’s a place where God wants you at, not just because you want to do things your way. It can’t be your way. You can’t have your cake and ice cream and eat it too. This place helps you get on your feet, teach you about the Lord, what the Book says. You got to have faith in yourself. You have to have faith in God. You have to have faith with the people here. They will help you and they will let you understand more about the spiritual ways especially the Bible. If you read the Bible, it will give you more of a direction. It will give you hope and peace.
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.
Paige has an exciting event planned for this year, so please contact Paige at paigev@truevine.net, or call her at 704-400-9755 with your interest in helping with this year’s events.
You may also go to the Hoskins Park web site at http://hoskinspark.org/ to see all the volunteer opportunity details for the Christmas party and there is also a link to Paige’s email.
We are in need of volunteers to help decorate some of the mens’ houses, provide desserts for the Christmas party as well as provide items for gift boxes and gift cards for the 45 men that are served at Hoskins Park.
Please mark your calendars with these dates of upcoming events at Hoskins Parks Ministries:
12/05/09, Saturday,9:30AM-1:30PM
Decorating each house at HPM with festive Christmas ornaments
12/08/09, Tuesday, 6-9PM
Christmas Village at Hoskins Park
Celebrating the birth of Christ on the Beach by the Pond
There is also an opening for the 3rd Monday of each month to pick up dinner for the men at Nobles at South Park and deliver and serve to the Ministry.
Please contact Paige with your interest in these two events also.
God Bless you all for the hard work you have provided the men of Hoskins Park, and thank you for your continued support.
“It works for me. It made my life better. I have a better understanding of who I am, who God is in my life, and what He wants from me…”
“My name is Michael MJ Johnson. What brought me here? My life was in shambles….living wrong, drugs, alcohol…all the things that come with an immoral life. God has done great things for me. He spared me. He gave me His grace and mercy. He looked beyond my faults and saw my need.
What Hoskins Park means to me…when I think of Hoskins Park, I think of life – a better life. I know beyond a doubt if Hoskins Park hadn’t been here, I’d still be out living a wild life, drinkin’, druggin’, and everything else I could do.
As far as my future, I just plan to serve God to the best of my ability and to be the best Christian I can be, to serve my fellow man and help someone else. It’s been a great pleasure and an honor being here. Like I said, without Hoskins Park, I know my life would be jacked up.
I’m growin’ here because I’m learning a lot more about the Bible. The Bible studies and the devotions really help me in my spiritual life. I’m really growing spiritually. I’m learned how to deal with me and conflict resolution. It’s a vast list of things I could go over. I could probably sit here and talk about the things I’ve learned and the areas I’ve grown in here at Hoskins Park the whole time…I could take up the whole tape talking about what I’ve done here. It’s just a great place to be. I’m not try to sell the ministry or preach Hoskins Park, but, it works for me. It made my life better. I have a better understanding of who I am, who God is in my life, and what He wants from me. I know today that what I want and what He wants for me ain’t gonna always match. God first and foremost in everything. If it hadn’t been for Hoskins Park, for coming here, and praying and opening up and move inside here and clean up this broken vessel, undoubtedly, I’d still be out there. I’d still be lost out there, man. I would. My life wasn’t good at all. I’ve had experiences in the past that I’m not proud of, but today I know He uses those things in the past. I read a verse in Scripture that said “All things work together to the good of them that love the Lord, who are called to His purpose”, and I believe that. I’ve learned a lot about the Scripture here. A lot of Scripture. And I not only learn it, I’m learning how to take it, and walk in it, apply it to my life when situations come. Here at Hoskins Park, it’s constant inspiration. It’s constant uplifting. I’ve never been among a group of men who work together, who actually show love, who don’t just say love, who show love. We pray together, we have meal together, it’s true discipleship. They taught me the true meaning of being a disciple. What it really means. It’s just a great place. It is.”
“My name is Prince Macintyre. I came here by way of Salt Lake City Utah. I had been suffering from a heavy relapse of crack cocaine. I was literally sick and suffering. I was pretty much losing my mind. All in all, I needed God in my life.
Upon my arrival at Hoskins Park Ministries, it was asked of me, “What would I like God to do for me?”, and instead of material things, as far as restoring a job, a house, or things of that nature, all I needed was my joy back. And praise God, I can honestly say, that has been restored.
Hoskins Park means a whole lot to me. It gave me the ability to connect with God again because I learned in my life I had walked away from God. God did not walk away from me…and I am truly grateful for that.
My future? I just pray that not only myself, but all of mankind will seek the Lord for guidance to restore that joy in their lives because as far as I’m concern, that’s what’s wrong with the world today. There’s no love, and there’s no peace, and there’s no happiness.
I just pray that I grow stronger with the Lord and His word, and I just pray that Hoskins Park and places like Hoskins Park will remain here on this earth. Thank you for hearing my testimony.”
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!
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