Cold weather is once again gripping the Upstate. For most of us, the wintery blast means a day off from work or school and maybe an opportunity to play in the snow and enjoy a cup of steaming hot chocolate. But for the homeless, the cold is a harsh reminder of their desperate, dangerous situation.
In your travels around the Upstate, you may have noticed Miracle Hill’s “Be the Bridge” billboards, our ministry theme for this year. The billboards show a man walking across a bridge with a cityscape in the background. Underneath the bridge, the words homeless, addicted, hungry and broken span the left side and eventually lead to the words hope, love, whole, and grace on the right side.
These billboards are a vivid, larger-than-life representation of what it means to “Be the Bridge”. As Miracle Hill CEO Reid Lehman says, “Just as Jesus is a bridge for sinners to God, Miracle Hill and our supporters serve as a bridge to the hurting and homeless in the Upstate.”
I visited the Greenville Rescue Mission recently and asked the Director, Bill Slocum, about how the mission helps the homeless move across the bridge from dependence to independence. He outlined five steps:
- Initial assessment of basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare
- Job support
- Saving money
- Affordable transportation
- Housing
But it’s not enough to meet basic physical needs. Bill said the mission has an unswerving commitment to sharing and living out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Spiritual transformation is what leads to lasting change. He said, “We do want to bridge the gaps, but we really want to be the bridge.” That’s the heart of Miracle Hill Ministries.
You can learn more about how you can support Miracle Hill and be the bridge at our upcoming Greenville fundraising banquet on March 18th at the TD Convention Center. To reserve your seat, click here.
