Serving in Response to God’s Love for Us
by Kevin M. Wing, Lockport CARES, Inc.
In 2020 Lockport CARES began its 11th year serving some of Lockport’s neediest people. Our staff and volunteers serve in response to the very love Christ has shown us by helping meet the material needs of the homeless. These women, men, and families find themselves in need of emergency shelter and CARES seeks to meet that need.
Because Christ has demonstrated His love for us, we feel compelled to respond in similar fashion to those who call on us for help. Jesus said He came “. . . to preach the gospel to the poor . . . to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, (and) to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV). Throughout Jesus’ time on earth He demonstrated His mission. It is our goal as well, our mission to demonstrate the gospel to the poor, the brokenhearted, and the oppressed as Christ did.
When our guests arrive at CARES, they receive a warm welcome, clean clothes, a meal, and a place to stay. They can be assured that our direct care personnel serve with no judgment and their stay is completely confidential. During their 14-day stay our guests leave for the day to meet with their case managers and search out places to stay after they complete their time with us. To further fulfill our mission, CARES personnel offer help and encouragement for our guests as they make their way through the social systems and barriers that appear along the way. At the end of their day, we share a devotional moment around God’s Word and prayer. In addition, our Living Well Program, conducted September through May, helps neighborhood adult women (18 years and older) with instruction and hands-on learning with basic life skills, while offering them the opportunity to feel, see and know the love of Christ.
All this is done in two modest four-bedroom homes in the city. We take in the homeless, the brokenhearted, and the oppressed. We listen to their stories. We start to understand their world. And, little by little, we fulfill our part of the ministry Jesus outlined for us as He walked the earth.
Perhaps one of our recent guests says it best:
. . . I came to CARES not knowing what to expect . . . or what would happen next. My first night was a bit strange with being in a new environment but everyone here is friendly. Every single person I have spoken with has been kind and understanding and willing to listen to me and give feedback. This shelter feels more like a family than a homeless shelter. Dinner time is my favorite because we get to share pieces of our day and some of the Bible. It reminds me of our normal lives before we got into our tough situations.
—Former Guest with three-year-old son
Pray for us as we seek to continue to serve God and grow the Kingdom.
Lockport CARES endeavors to show the Love of Christ by extending hospitality to those experiencing emergency homelessness in the Greater Lockport Area.
