Galax house offers hope

Here is a great ministry that we need to make Carroll County Aware Of. Help me spread the word.

Ronnie

Source: The Carroll News

The Galax Hope House is a shelter that has been serving the needs of area homeless since 1989 when it was purchased by the Hostel of the Good Shepherd.

For more than 20 years, a local place has kept its doors open for those with nowhere else to turn.

Founded in 1987, the Hostel of the Good Shepherd has welcomed local and out-of-area homeless, giving them the opportunity to straighten out their situation and get back on their feet. Since 1989, the homeless have stayed at the newly-renamed Galax Hope House.

“The hostel has been here since 1987,” said Executive Director Deborah Payne. “It was actually started by the Lutheran Episcopal congregation of the Church of the Good Shepherd. When they started it, they were giving places for people to sleep in the Sunday school rooms in the church. They saw such a need that they decided to buy this property and set it up as a hostel. They bought the house in 1989, and incorporated in 1993.”

Payne came on board as Executive Director in January and has taken an active role in renovating the house, located at 408 W. Center Street in Galax. The interior has been repainted, the porch has been repaired and a new handicapped-accessible ramp is being installed. New floors are in two rooms and new lights have been installed. Payne said the next steps include new kitchen and laundry appliances, as well as any other needed repairs and upgrades.

The home is operated by the Hostel of the Good Shepherd corporation. Until last week, the Hope House shared the same name.

“It’s a little easier to understand than hostel,” Payne said. “This is not really a hostel; a hostel is a place where you can have a very inexpensive place to stay, and this is a homeless shelter. We’re changing name of site, not the organization. The organization will remain Hostel of the Good Shepherd, Inc.”

Payne said the home is trying to raise awareness locally, which she said she feels will help its mission. That’s another reason for the name change, to help raise the home’s local profile.

“I have spoken to people in Galax and in Carroll and Grayson who didn’t know it was here and it’s been here 20 years,” Payne said. “We want people to be aware of what it’s here for. We do not allow drunkards and alcoholics to stay here. We’re trying to clean it up so people can see it’s a nice residence.”

Payne said at any given time, 15 people can stay at the house and there’s room for single folks or families. Payne said from January to June, 28 people have stayed at the hostel for as briefly as a day or as long as the full six months.

“An average stay lasts around 60 to 90 days,” Payne said. “That allows them time to get back on their feet and decide what they want to do and where they want to live.”

Payne said any potential resident has to undergo a strict screening process. She said the candidates have to be medically and psychologically stable and they have to agree to abide by the house rules, have nowhere else to stay, and be willing to work on finding a permanent dwelling and re-establishing their independence.

“We have an emergency shelter program and a transitional living program,” she said. “We have emergency shelter offered up to 5 days, and a transitional program, where they can stay up to 6 months if they’re working toward goals. To be able to get in, they have to a drug/alcohol test and current background check. We go through a pre-interview process and make sure we can work with them.”

Payne said the home gets referrals from different area agencies, ranging from hospitals to law enforcement and churches and several former residents have gone on to better themselves.

“One came in and he worked hard and got his GED. Now he’s trying to sign up for classes at Wytheville. He’s got a Pell Grant and he’s trying to get into the construction field,” Payne said. “We had a gentleman who just got a job. Two that are now out on their own got jobs at Results. We’ve helped several get apartments or trailers or other types of housing.”

Payne said donations are what keep the home going and anything, as long as it’s usable, is welcome. Recently, the hostel received $3,000 from the Diocese of the Good Shepherd and got two grants from DHCD.

She said donations can be brought by the hostel or monetary gifts can be mailed to: Hostel of the Good Shepherd, 408 W. Center Street, Galax, VA 24333. Those who are interested in helping in any way can call 236-7573.

“We accept donations of usable clothing, furniture, food that is nonperishable and within date, anything that helps with household, especially paper goods and supplies,” Payne said. “We’ll provide information to churches if they want to do a supply drive. We can allow them to adopt a month so they can help us pay utility bills. We’ll take anything as long as it’s usable and in good condition.”

This Day In The Life Of Your Pastor – January 26th, 2010

1. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5b about 12 hours ago from web

2. Lord, help me to stay on your path where my footsteps are secure about 12 hours ago from web

3. Had a great meal with Mike, Caitlin and the kids about 12 hours ago from web

4. clergy around Carroll Co there is a ministry that cares 4 homeless men that would like 2 do bible study wekly, would U volunteer 1 dy a mth? about 15 hours ago from web

5. my heart is broken today https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/my-heart-was-broken-today/ about 15 hours ago from web

6. Lord help me to remember when I put myself last that I am the real winner about 17 hours ago from web

7. Lord, help me to always be willing to try about 17 hours ago from web

8. Lord, give me your wisdom in the choices I make each day. about 17 hours ago from web

9. going to pay for the new motor with borrowed money and head home to take Kyle to Sylvan about 18 hours ago from web

10. Just booked my 1st Vacation Week for 2010 in June. The Family Beach Vacation, Can’t wait and with the way time flies it won’t be long about 18 hours ago from web

11. praise the Lord, US Cellular is sending a Blackberry Curve 8330 today. I hope this will do the job about 20 hours ago from web

12. pray for the blackberry, just had this one (3rd one) for about 3 weeks now and already on the blink about 20 hours ago from web

13. It often seems there aren’t enough hours in a day to do all that is urgent but if we work together there is just enough time about 21 hours ago from web

14. Visiting @ Golden Living Center about 21 hours ago from web

15. Just set a Dr appointment with my physician. Planning an extended Fast for 50 Golden Days, asking God for 3000 Souls Pentrcost Sunday 2010 about 22 hours ago from web

16. Visiting @ Galax Hospital, little Emberlyn Ann about 22 hours ago from web

17. Visiting @ Waddell with Rita and Gladys about 22 hours ago from web

18. My heart is broken, pray for a homeless 18 year old named Michael. about 23 hours ago from web

19. headed 2 homeless shelter, pray for a young man named Michael. seems God is putting homeless people in our path lately about 24 hours ago from web

20. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26 about 23 hours ago from web

21. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 about 23 hours ago from web

22. Every1 should b quick 2 listen, slow 2 speak & slow 2 bcome angry, our anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. Ja 1:19,20 about 23 hours ago from web

23. Blesed R those who persevere under trial, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life God promised to U who love him. about 23 hours ago from web

24. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 about 23 hours ago from web

25. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4 about 23 hours ago from web

26. Consider it pure joy, whenever U face trials of many kinds, because U know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2 about 23 hours ago from web

27. Myrtle Beach Marathon is only 16 DAYS | 23 HRS | 28 MINS | 25 SECONDS away, oh wow about 23 hours ago from web

Day 27-90 Days to read the New Testament (TNIV)

James 3

Taming the Tongue

¹ Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Those who are never at fault in what they say are perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by human beings, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 4

Submit Yourselves to God

¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?^{[a] 6} But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.”^[b]

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ So then, if you know the good you ought to do and don’t do it, you sin.

James 5

Warning to Rich Oppressors

¹ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.^{[c] 6} You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make them well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring them back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the way of error will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.