Grace and Shade

"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm, and a shade from the heat." Isaiah 25:4

A Shade For Rest
With the Summer sun, comes a new set of challenges and bright victories for those in need in our community. Battling issues of heat exhaustion, sunburn, bugs, and another resurgence of the COVID-19 outbreak has not been easy. The bright side is the positive response we have had from the community to supply for the needs of those experiencing homelessness. From an outpouring of water bottles to tons of bug spray, sunscreen, and more, it has been a delight seeing how quickly needs have been met. Recently, we have been able to set up fans and pavilions outside to help with the overcrowding of our day center and help those outside stay cool, thanks to our financial contributors. Simply put, the beauty of God’s love and provision shines brightest the greater the need. We get to see this outpouring of love daily as we receive donations from loving and compassionate hearts desiring to help folks navigate through the difficulties they face.

We are growing from the ground up as our construction for our expansion has officially begun. We are happy to announce that the foundation for the warehouse and office spaces will be ready to be poured by the end of this month. It is an exciting time for this ministry!

Preparing a Foundation
Although we have many needs as an organization, we are incredibly grateful to serve a God who provides. Pastor John was reminded of this as a young boy came in hungry last week looking for food. Shortly after he came in, he found a peach tree ready for harvest on the Strong Life property and asked if he could pick some. We gave him a bag and told him to take as much as he would like. The joy on the young boy’s face as he ate the peaches is a beautiful reminder of God’s providence. God meets our needs before we even know what they are.

What about you? As you desire to help the needs of others, what is your need today? Perhaps it is not something you can see on the outside but a need in your heart or an emotional need. The beauty we have seen at Strong Life this past month is the continued reminder of God’s provision for our needs today, no matter what they are or how great they may seem.

To find more ways in which you can help the homeless during the summer heat reach out to us through our website: www.stronglifenc.org.