About The Refuge
2000 Kendra Petty,
MaryAnn Nutt and Father Steve Dewey
of St. Matthew's Anglican Church had a meeting at Burger King to
set the plans as to how to start the process for the homeless through
the churches.
Thereafter
we advertised in the local newspaper and Manna Ministries newsletters
for the steering committee meetings.
The first few meetings we had 2 different teachers from area
schools because they were dealing with students who were homeless, as
well as others from local congregations.
Together we started the process of prayer, visiting other
shelters and research.
Seeking Gods will for our area – Lapeer County.
As
the steering committee sought Gods will for housing the homeless;
SOS-South Oakland County,
and McCrest-McComb
County, utilized a
rotating shelter which moved from church to church on a weekly basis,
year around. We found this
type of ministry to be the heart of each and every one of us.
This became the plan.
Lapeer had many beautiful church facilities which sat empty night
after night. And many
churches who were donating hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on a
yearly basis to put homeless up in motels over night. As well as,
Christians who love to serve their fellow man and help those in need.
We found many pastors excited about this opportunity.
In the Spring of 2002, many congregations were
effected, and helped a young couple who were living under a pine tree
behind the Clark Station, near the railroad tracks on M-24.
Manna Ministries (now Love Inc.) was working with many homeless
in our community and knew there was a need for a shelter.
Each night of the week at the intake
sight we have 2-3 trained intake workers.
4-6 of the nights are covered by one of the board members.
This is a ministry driven by the calling of Jesus to serve our
fellow man. The Refuge has
one of the largest volunteer bases and volunteer hours-per year, in Lapeer County.
The board consists of men and women who love the Lord first, seek His
will in all decisions and look to expanding, growing and affecting more
individuals every year.
The
Refuge