Winter 2022 Newsletter

"I had wasted ten years of my life,” Brian tells us. Those ten years, starting in his late teens, were a blur of drugs and alcohol that got him into trouble with his family and the law.

Knowing he needed help, he came to Hope Gospel Mission. When he completed the Short Stay Program, he thought he had everything under control ... but it didn’t last.

“I fell back into all my old habits,” Brian admits. “Before I knew it, I was breaking the law again.” Six months later, the friend he was living with kicked him out. He had nowhere to go except back to Hope Gospel Mission.

This time, Brian made an investment in himself. He would go through the Renewed Hope Program: one year of his life to make up for the ten he had wasted.

“It was pretty amazing,” Brian recalls. “There was a resident I’d known in the Short Stay Program who didn't have a great attitude. When I came back, he had completely changed, and I was excited to see that.”

Brian soon experienced a transformation in his own life. He thought he had acted out because he was angry but realized he had been afraid of being unwanted and unloved. Now he knew God loved him unconditionally. “I had an emptiness in my heart only He could fill,” he says.

Reconciled with God, Brian began repairing the relationships damaged by his years of addiction.

Hope Gospel Mission relies on volunteers every day. From helping clean up to befriending and helping someone in need, our volunteers impact the lives of so many.

Cam is one of our faithful volunteers, showing up every week since God called him here in 2019.

“I was reading through the Old Testament - one chapter per day. After I read the chapter in Job where he had lost everything and his friends first came and comforted him, I reflected and offered a prayer of gratitude that God had placed friends in Job’s life when he needed them. That’s when I felt a prod telling me that there are people in Eau Claire who have lost everything too and need someone to comfort and encourage them. As I prayed further on this, it became clear that God was calling me to minister to the homeless in Eau Claire which ultimately led me to Hope Gospel Mission,” Cam shared.



And he’s been doing just that ever since! Each week brings new blessings for Cam and the men he comes alongside.

“I truly enjoy getting to know the men oneon- one. There are so many good guys in the program who are working hard on their renewal plans. I love seeing the transformation unfold over weeks, months and years. I get to be a first-hand witness to Jesus changing lives in big meaningful ways.”

Many here are so grateful for Cam and his loving care and you can bless so many with your time, just like him. Please consider offering your time, gifts and abilities at Hope Gospel Mission. We promise you won’t be disappointed. This kind of work blesses everyone involved.

“We’re called to humble ourselves, and humbly love and serve others in need. I’ve found whenever I step out of my comfort zone, trust God and follow where He leads, I always seem to get more out of the experience than I put in. I believe the same is true for all of us.”