What a blessing this last month has been. On September 17, we dedicated the Doors of Hope Women’s Shelter to the Lord’s service. We had about 200 people tour the facility on Friday and there were about 120 at the dedication ceremony on Saturday. Many of the local Pastors were on hand to assist us in cutting the ribbon and opening the doors. We are now taking homeless women off the street and giving them the hope that they can find through faith in our Lord Jesus. Please pray for all the ladies who are volunteering their time to this vital ministry.
We were also were blessed with a new Director for the Beacon Light Mission, Jerry Rilling and a new Director of Operations for the Doors of Hope Women’s Shelter Linda Stratton.
Jerry Rilling is originally from Wisconsin. He moved to California as a youngster and graduated from Hawthorne High School. He then attended El Camino College where he studied police science. He completed his education at Pepperdine University with a Masters in Public Administration. He joined the LAPD in 1963 and retired in 1990. His experience with the LAPD included a significant amount of time working with the homeless and on Skid Row. He met his wife of 35 years, Sharon, at the Harbor Division where she just started her career with the LAPD that lasted for 30 years. After 14 years of marriage, through the prayers of his wife, he began attending Rolling Hills Covenant Church where he heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He knew that first Sunday that all he wanted to do the rest of his life was to serve God. He is active in his church and also actively serves in the Prison Chaplain Ministry.
Linda Stratton committed her life to the Lord at Torrance First Baptist Church in 1987. For the last 20 years she has been actively involved in Loaves and Fishes, an interchurch program to feed needy people in the South Bay. Through her church she is responsible for providing a monthly banquet for these people. Other church service included serving as a Deaconess and on various ministry teams. She recently retired from Bank of the West after working there for 19 years.
Our Lord is so gracious. We have completed the construction on the Doors of Hope Women’s Shelter and we are currently in the process of getting our final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy. The furniture has arrived and we have it all in place so we can start providing temporary shelter for homeless women in the South Bay right after the facility is dedicated on September 17th.
Please pray for the volunteers at the Doors of Hope Women’s Shelter as they reach out to homeless women. This is a new ministry and we are sure that there will be some surprises. We are trusting that the Lord will guide us as we step out in faith.
The rummage sale at Torrance First Baptist, on August 27th, blessed us with donations for the Doors of Hope Women’s Shelter in the amount of $5500.00. We appreciate all those who came out to volunteer and contribute to making this a success. We could not have done this without your support. Thank you!
Please mark your calendars for September 16th and 17th. On Friday, September 16th, we will be hosting OPEN HOUSE and LUNCHEON from 10:00am to 2:00pm. On Saturday, September 17, at 11:00 AM, we will be having a DEDICATION SERVICE followed by a luncheon and tours.
We are saddened by the passing of several people who have been faithful supporters of the Beacon Light Mission: Pastor Bob Pruett, from the Harbor Church, where he ministered for over 40 years; and Richard Seto, from the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle who faithfully ministered in the pulpit at the Beacon Light Mission for several years.
For over 100 years the Beacon Light Mission has provided "Soup, Soap and Salvation" to the homeless and needy in the San Pedro/Wilmington area. Starting next month we will no longer have to turn women who come to us for help back out on the streets at the end of the day. We serve a loving God who has made all this possible.
Last month we provided 2851 meals, 783 beds and 95 showers for people living on the street. 1436 attended chapel services that are held each nightly. 30 decisions were made and 27 Bibles were given out.
May God bless and keep you. We appreciate your prayers and financial assistance.
We are praising God for His goodness as we are now in the final stages of completing the DOORS OF HOPE WOMEN’S SHELTER. The ladies did a "walk through" on Monday August 1, to make sure everything was done properly and Pastor Vergil Best is working on their list of "things to do". We are now waiting on the final inspection and the certificate of occupancy.
Please mark your calendars for September 16 and 17. On Friday, September 16, we will be hosting PREVIEW TOURS AND A LUNCHEON from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. On Saturday, September 17, at 11:00 AM, we will be having a DEDICATION SERVICE followed by a luncheon and tours.
While the Lord has graciously provided the funding needed to complete the women’s shelter and we are planning to open the doors on September 18, as yet we do not have all the needed operating funds. We serve a gracious God and we are trusting that He will honor our stepping out in faith. Your commitment to this ongoing ministry would be so much appreciated.
During July we the Beacon Light Mission received special help from the Long Beach Mission, which provided us with 52 cases of oranges on top of the many other food items they donated. We also received food from Joyce Leavitt, Albertsons, Amalfitano’s, Starbucks and Harbor Christian Center. Carmon and Vicky Balentine, who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary shared food left over from their celebration.
Last month we provided 2678 meals, 769 beds and 66 showers for people living on the street. 1383 attended chapel services that are held each nightly. 7 decisions were made and 16 Bibles were given out.
We currently have a special need in the Chapel. The pew used by those coming in to lead our worship services, was broken and is not repairable. We are, therefore, in need of an 11 foot long church pew.
As we head into summer and anticipate the warm sunny days to come we thank God for His goodness and His grace. For the past ten decades God has allowed us the opportunity to feed and shelter the homeless. With the opening of the Door's of Hope Women's Shelter around the corner (a Grand Opening of is scheduled for September 10th 2011) we look ahead with great anticipation at what the Lord will do for our homeless women. We count ourselves blessed to be used for His service! All of this would not be possible if not for you, our faithful supporters. We thank God for you and lift you up in our prayers. Thank you for your heartfelt giving and for making a difference in the lives of the homeless and needy.
A special thanks to Dr. David Halverson, Pastor at Rolling Hills Covenant Church who raised a total of $11,450.00 for the Doors of Hope Women's Shelter by walking 200 miles across the country of Spain! He walked from Leon, Spain, to Santiago, which is about 200 miles. He completed the walk in 11 days, averaging about 18 miles each day. Dr. Halverson did this with the support of 75 people pledging $60 a mile. More on this in our newsletter!
A thank you also goes out to the many organizations, stores, churches, and individuals who donate food of all kinds, clothing, cleaning items, and finances each month. The Mission appreciates each and every one of you for your assistance in helping us to minister to the needy and homeless men, women and children in this area who come to us for meals and shelter.
Dear Friends,
Praise God on Easter Sunday we had a very good turn out for our Easter service. The staff prepared a delicious turkey and ham dinner for every one in attendance to celebrate Resurrection Day. And Branch of Hope OPC Church in Torrance gave a gift bag to everyone in attendance.
Praise God for the good turn out at our Construction Preview—Open House for the Doors of Hope Women’s Shelter. We had a great turn out many commented that from the construction preview they had a better understanding of the project.
Due to the fact that Los Angeles County shelters are closed we are now running at full capacity with beds filling each night with a total of 2700 meals served in the month of March.
The Mission is thankful for all of the food donations received each month from individuals and organizations (Albertsons, Amalfitanos, Ralphs, Trader Joes, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Smart & Final, Food Finders, Target, Long Beach Rescue Mission, New Challenge Ministries, Christina Pong, Wilmington Women’s Club and Garden Club, Church, Joyce and Richard Leavitt).
Please keep Mrs. Best, Richard Seto and Mark Scardino in your prayers please.
In His Service,
Jim Overstreet,
Director
The Door’s of Hope Women’s Shelter Open House/Construction Preview was a great success! We had over 100 people come by for a tour of the construction site. They enjoyed a delicious buffet prepared by the Beacon Light Mission staff and all had a great time in the Lord.
We want to thank the many individuals, churches and organizations such as Albertsons, Amalfitano’s Bakery, KFC, New Challenge, Pizza Hut, Ralph’s, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, donations of food, this past month. They make it possible for us to keep doing the work we do.
We still have some urgent needs…
• Prayer for the health of Richard Seto and Mrs. Best.
• Prayer for us as we search for staff for the Women’s Shelter.
• Kitchen utensils, knives and forks. Used utensils are okay.
• Hand soap.
The Women’s Committee appreciates the support they received from the sale of the cookbooks by those who made purchases. The cookbooks are great gifts for Easter and Mother’s Day and are available at the mission for a cost of ten dollars.
The Beacon Light Mission and the Door’s of Hope Women’s Shelter wish to thank the many individuals that made Construction Preview day a success!
