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We love sharing all the creative ways that our donors give to Oliver Gospel. This past July, one of our long-time donors, Amy, collected dozens of household items, hygiene products, and toys for the men, women, and children in our programs. How she got all these items is simple: She set up a Christmas tree in her home, sent a needs list to her friends, and invited them over for a party. That’s it! She called it “Christmas in July”. The result? Amy and her friends were able to meet specific needs at Oliver Gospel. The items she dropped off at our mission went straight into the arms of residents who needed them. Not only that, but she rallied her community. She gave each of her friends the opportunity to make an impact, simply by hosting a party. By spreading the word to people in her circles, Amy furthered the impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness. You can throw your own donation party! Check out our Current Needs List to get started!

Sophia was living in a small apartment with her daughter and four grandkids when tension erupted, and everything changed. As families sometimes do, she and her daughter were struggling to get along. Throw in tight finances and very different opinions on how to budget their money, and the tension in that household became a volcano just waiting to erupt. After the landlord refused to renew their lease in the summer of 2021, the struggling family ended up in a hotel, perpetuating the strained budget and adding more stress to the exhaustion. Her daughter wanted out. “If you weren’t here and I didn’t have to take care of you, my money wouldn’t be drained,” she said. So, with her kids, she left. Sophia felt hopeless. She was lost. Retired, living on social security, with no car to get to a job, and not wanting to burden her children anymore, Sophia was alone with no one to turn to. She didn’t want help. She had raised those kids for all those years. She should be able to care for herself. She did not want to admit that she had run out of options. While visiting friends, Sophia never let on that she was in crisis. She didn’t tell them that when she boarded the bus to go home, there was no home awaiting her. One day on that bus, Sophia thought to herself, “Where am I going? I have no place to go.” She felt a nudge from God saying, “Go back to Columbia,” and she obeyed. She found a women’s shelter and arrived with all her bags, only to find out that she couldn’t stay there that night. With nowhere to go for the night, Sophia began to cry. “I don’t know what I am going to do. I want God to take me now. I’ve had it–I can’t do this anymore.” She called her son, helpless. Her son and daughter-in-law sent her some money to stay in a hotel. Relief. The crisis in front of her was averted—for now. Sophia knew she could not rely on her kids forever; she needed an income. In an act of courage, spurned by the generosity and compassion of her son and daughter-in-law, she called her previous employer at a local daycare. “I need a job,” she said with all the courage she could muster. She held her breath as she waited for their response, and time itself seemed to slow as she did. And then the answer came: “We’d love to have you back. When can you start?” She could see the future for the first time in months. Next step? Find a home. To Sophia, the idea of a shelter was scary. Assuming them all to be plain, dirty, and uncomfortable, Sophia was not hopeful about finding a home in a shelter. As she pulled into the parking lot at Toby’s Place, walked in the front door, and looked around the lobby for the first time, Sophia thought, “What have I done with my life?” Sure, Toby's Place was beautiful. It was a top-notch facility with beautiful amenities and everything one would need to feel comfortable. Yet, Sophia could not stop the fear from creeping back in. A 63-year-old mom of three grown children living in a shelter was an overwhelming and humbling reality. As she was led to the hall of rooms, she spied a sign on her door that read, “Welcome Home.” Her emotional defenses rose even higher as she thought, “This is not my home. This place cannot be my home.” As she settled in for the night, she cried, grieving the hardships, the battles, the loneliness. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that God had sent her to Toby’s Place. So, she chose to try to trust instead. Sophia's fears started to subside as she became accustomed to the new environment and befriended the staff and residents at Toby’s Place. Finally, her future was becoming clearer. She found a community that loved her. She found spiritual guidance and encouragement, which drew her close to God. When she learned she had cancer and needed surgery just weeks after arriving, Sophia found the support and care she needed at Toby’s Place. Sophia is a recipient of Oliver Gospel’s transportation scholarship, an application-based stipend to help residents with the costs of getting to and from their jobs daily. When Sophia learned that she was receiving this gift, she teared up. “I am not a person who is used to having people doing things for me. But, I can’t help but be grateful.” With the added savings, Sophia knows she is moving forward. Her future is in full view now. The scholarship isn’t the end of Sophia’s story. It’s just the beginning. Her future is not in the rearview. It’s right in front of her. Full of hope. We want to continue shaping futures with these scholarships. Will you help us?

July 6th, 2022 - Columbia, SC: Oliver Gospel is providing much needed respite from the intense heat for our community experiencing homelessness. For the first three Thursdays in the month of July, from 12:30-1:30 PM, Oliver Gospel will be handing out ice water, cool towels, and sno-balls to the community at their dining facility on the corner of Taylor and Assembly Streets. Pelican’s Sno-Balls will be generously partnering with Oliver Gospel for the third year in a row, scooping out dozens of frozen treats to those in need. Columbia is known for its high temperatures and humidity this time of year, and for those who are houseless, there is often little relief from the heat. “Columbia summers are brutal,” says Executive Director, Travis McNeal. “In times of need, we want to do everything we can to show we care. Providing cold water and a cooler place to sit gives us the opportunity to get to know members of the community. These conversations often lead to more than water – they lead to HOPE for a brighter future.” Beat The Heat was originally born out of a desire to serve the community during the pandemic, when many buildings were inaccessible. Today, Oliver Gospel’s Beat The Heat events continue to serve the community by providing refreshing drinks and shelter while connecting those in need with support and resources for hope and transformation. To learn more about Beat The Heat, click here. About Oliver Gospel Mission Oliver Gospel is a community-based mission that helps those experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction transform their lives through physical, spiritual, and relational support so that they can lead full, healthy lives. Through our Men's Center, Toby's Place (center for women and children), and our social enterprises, we provide holistic rehabilitation, transitional housing, and career development, always aiming for permanent housing and solid community for each person who comes through our doors.

Here at Oliver Gospel, we've affectionately named our monthly donor's club the "Champions Society" (read more about it here). But, what exactly do we mean by that word, Champion? A lot of images might come to mind, perhaps of Rocky or some favorite sports team. Or maybe you think of someone who stands up for those that can't for themselves or a representative of a group. Let's pose the question in a slightly different way: what is the identity statement of a Champion? Here's the way we see it... Champions lead, intercede, and love on behalf of their neighbors experiencing poverty. In an earlier post, we demonstrated the many scriptural passages that speak of God's heart for the poor and directly command Christians to serve them. The identity statement above ultimately finds its root in Scripture. For instance, the word "intercede" is detailed in Proverbs 31:8-9, which reads, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Let's break that identity statement down further. 1. Champions LEAD The first way to Champion is to lead. There is much that could be said about that packed word, and with a topic like "leadership", you could find countless books about it - usually beginning with something like "The 29 laws of…" or "12 ways to…" and so on. For the purposes of Championing the poor, however, there are two descriptions that you might not immediately think of for "leading" that we find fit really well. These are Empathy and Commitment. Empathy, which often involves sharing tears and imagining yourself in a given situation, is not always natural and not always glorified by those around. It's something that you can show by example to others around and, in turn, lead them to the same empathy that is ultimately the root of action. Commitment is also an important one. God's love is very often called "steadfast" in the Old Testament and is described as a love that sticks by and commits to even the most difficult of people (I'm thinking of the people of Israel in the Old Testament, who happen to remind me a lot of myself). A leader understands the journey that someone is taking to work out of chronic homelessness and knows that it takes 6-12 months on average for someone to be fully and finally free of the burden of poverty, and they are willing to commit that time to an individual or commit to an organization like Oliver Gospel Mission that is positioned to do so, all while leading others to do the same. 2. Champions INTERCEDE The next word of that identity statement, (Champions lead, intercede, and love on behalf of their neighbors experiencing poverty) is intercede. This is a personal favorite of mine because I have connected it to my own job. That is, the Development department intercedes for the homeless by asking for the assistance they need so that those who are struggling don't have to. Think about Scripture that calls Jesus our "great High Priest" who "intercedes on our behalf to the Father." In light of those verses, let's ask ourselves: how can we follow Him in intercession? One way is to educate. A lot of those experiencing homelessness are seen and judged without a chance to explain their story or what various obstacles they might be facing. Is there a way that you can educate those around you, helping to overcome various stereotypes and biases? By telling the story, especially of real people (taking one of our newsletters, webinars, or stories and sharing it with others), you can help paint a more truthful picture of real people in crisis. Continue to educate yourself as well; being here, engaging in this community, is doing that. Another way to intercede is to use your voice in policy decisions in your workplace to advocate for better resources for underprivileged people or opportunities for employment that would have otherwise been unavailable had you not spoken up. Finally, the most impactful way you can intercede, I believe, is through regular prayer. Ask for strength for staff and volunteers, for those involved in various ministries to the poor, and also intercede for those experiencing homelessness. Considering joining us for one of our upcoming prayer walk events or signing up for our prayer partner email list. Pray for their "daily bread" and provision from Him who sustains and satisfies our deepest needs. 3. Champions LOVE Our last point is love. When loving the homeless, there are three ways that come to mind. At the very center of the Christian faith is the cross, which is the ultimate act of sacrifice. In 1 John 3:16-17, John writes "there is no greater love than this, to lay down one's life for your friends." Love is about sacrificing your needs for the needs of another, putting them before you. Here at Oliver Gospel, we define poverty as "the extent to which you go without." That could be any number of things: finances, transportation, health care, affordable housing; but more often than not, they all come back to the root of not having community or even one person who will support them. One way to sacrifice in ministry to the homeless is by taking an extra 15 minutes to be late to work so that you can truly connect with the person you encounter who needs help. Love also means presence, in Jesus' ministry he would stop and listen to the one, even in the midst of crowds. I think of Zacchaeus or the women with the issue of blood, and many others in the gospels where Jesus stops everything to be present. Presence also means awareness of the various seasons or potential memories that arise with various holidays. For homeless veterans, how can we recognize them on Veteran's Day or celebrate with them on July 4th? On Christmas, how can we love the homeless who will not be waking up to presents or time with family? Who are they painfully missing while the holiday goes on? A recent example of someone championing the poor is one of our donors! She was aware that mother's day was on the horizon and decided to prepare gift bags of various candies, sweet notes, and beauty products to be given to all the mothers at our Women and Children's shelter, Toby's Place. That is so special and a phenomenal example of Championing! Lastly, is touch. A favorite story from the Gospel of Mark for me is when Jesus encounters the man who is seen as "unclean" in his society because he has leprosy. If you've not read it this way before, let me challenge you to see the correlation between how those with leprosy were perceived and how those in homelessness are perceived today. In Jesus' time, those with leprosy were relegated to live in specific spaces outside the city (out of sight, out of mind). They were the people that you would go to the other side of the street to avoid. Don't we treat the homeless the same? It's utterly tragic. What if we followed Jesus' example in Mark 1:40-45 where he touches the man and is unashamed of being associated with him. He enters into the spaces deemed "unclean" and touches those unwanted in society. Can we not do the same? For these reasons, and more, we here at Oliver Gospel believe that a Champion is someone who leads, intercedes, and loves on behalf of their neighbors experiencing poverty. And we hope you are inspired to to the same! In fact, why not start today? There are many ways to begin your journey of Championing our neighbors experiencing homelessness by leading, interceding, and loving. Whether that's upping your monthly giving amount through our official Champions Society, signing up to volunteer, or agreeing to regularly pray with us, would you consider taking the next step?

Shamaria had been living in a motel for a year after fleeing an unhealthy relationship, and her mental health had taken a beating. She was in survival mode, working two to three jobs, taking care of her kids, and just trying to make ends meet, leaving no room to take care of herself. Throughout that year in the motel, Shamaria focused solely on meeting the needs of everyone around her and sought comfort in material things, thinking that it would cure the darkness she felt. The Lord had been knocking on her heart for some time, asking her to let Him bring healing and light into her life. When she answered the Lord, she realized that her past pursuits were leaving her unfulfilled. She needed help. That is when she surrendered. And in that surrender, she found Toby’s Place. Shamaria says the biggest thing she has learned since coming here is the importance of taking care of herself. The structure and resources provided in the program have brought healing and growth for Shamaria, allowing her to care for her kids in a way that doesn’t sacrifice her own mental health. She has found the space to unpack a lot of the burdens she had been carrying for too long. The generosity of the staff at Oliver Gospel has brought the healing and light that Shamaria was desperate to find. “It’s like a domino effect…because of the generosity of Oliver Gospel and the staff here, I can be generous with my kids. I can be more patient and understanding and establish a relationship with them where we all communicate openly and healthily with each other.” Not only is Shamaria establishing healthy relationships with her kids, but she is also extending encouragement and support to the other women at Toby’s Place! She is thrilled to share the tools that she has been given through our program with anyone who needs them. She is living out the domino effect of generosity! May each of us learn from what Shamaria so wisely realizes—it is through showing generosity that we empower others to be generous.

Columbia is not only South Carolina’s capital city, but it is also home to many colleges and universities! From Benedict College to the University of South Carolina, these institutions bring students from all over and become their “home away from home.” Several University of South Carolina’s Greek-life organizations partner with us regularly by volunteering to serve meals, work at our events, and create holiday gift baskets for our guests. These students are filled with joy and gratitude at the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. We recently had a business class from University of South Carolina create marketing plans for The Roastery at Oliver Gospel. Additionally, a group from Howard University drove down all the way from Washington D.C. to serve our community over their spring break. Our staff and residents love having students around. Their energy and innovation bring life to our organization, and it is a chance to teach college students about homelessness and their real and lasting impact right here, even if this is just their “home away from home.” On behalf of all the staff and residents at Oliver Gospel, we want to specifically thank Howard University, the marketing class at the University of South Carolina, and the sororities and fraternities across the Midlands who faithfully serve us. Thank you!

There are always exciting things happening at Oliver Gospel! In March, we launched a brand-new program within Toby’s Place: Pre-Program. This program is designed to meet immediate needs for women experiencing homelessness in Columbia by providing shelter, food, healthcare support, and doors to hope and transformation. After we launched, a young woman (not pictured) came into the program with her child who was not-yet diagnosed with autism and had no access to the health services for her and her child. Through Pre-Program, she was connected to the resources and diagnosis she needed to help her child, and she moved into our long-term program to continue growing spiritually, emotionally, and mentally! This story is a great example of the need that Pre-Program fills. Pre-Program is short-term. By structuring it as a temporary bed (30 days maximum), we can meet their basic, immediate needs in 24 hours. For some, this is all they need to get back on their feet. Others, like this mother and her autistic child, need the support of a longer program but are unaware of where to begin. When asked how this program will affect our community, our Connections Manager said, “We will not be able to stop poverty in the world but will be able to break generational poverty and move individuals and families to holistic transformation.” This is the heart of why we develop these programs: creating spaces where transformation can happen.

I love growing things. This year, I started a garden, and while I am far from being an expert, I have found it rewarding to work the ground and reap the benefits (literally!). From herbs to kale to flowers, I have learned about soil types, plant foods, and more as I care for my plants. Some have thrived, and others never even sprouted one leaf. I also love houseplants, and I have had an ever-growing collection of indoor plants since college. But, like my gardening skills, I am not perfect in my ability to keep my indoor plants alive. One summer, I had a huge gnat problem in the soil of my houseplants. I tried every remedy possible, including replacing all of the soil and treating each plant with neem oil, and finally eradicated most of them, but in the process, I killed one of my plants. Thinking it was worthless, I tossed the dead plant into the woods that surround my apartment complex. Didn't give it a second thought. Fast-forward a month or two. My roommate, who loves to take walks in the woods around our complex, came rushing into our apartment exclaiming, "Look at this plant I found!" In her hand was a small but healthy plant that looked quite familiar to me. This type of house plant does not grow natively in South Carolina, so it couldn't have been a coincidence. Sure enough, my roommate had found that exact plant I had tossed out. It had taken root, sprouted new leaves, and was thriving in it's new environment. It had a new hope. What can we learn from this? This plant taught me about enduring hope and second chances. Like my plant, the men and women we serve here at Oliver Gospel have been "tossed out" in some way by their employer, their family, or their community. They have been told that they don't have value. They have been told there is no hope for them. Yet, that goes against what the God of the Universe says about them. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3 ESV These men and women, just like you and me, have been given a new hope in Christ. They don't just get second chances. They get third, fourth, and fifth chances. What the world has deemed as a hopeless or worthless cause, Christ has made worthy. Part of our mission is to restore hope that has been lost or stripped from these men and women. We seek to take every opportunity to remind them of their worth. To remind them how Christ sees them - a new creation in Him. They are found, not forgotten. If you have a plant in your home, let it become a reminder of hope. A reminder of second chances. A reminder that what the world calls hopeless or worthless, God has created with value and has given a new hope through His Son.

Happy Mother's Day! One of the greatest joys here at Oliver Gospel is to see mothers reunited with their children. Today, we celebrate these strong women for their bravery, their resiliency, and their love. This past Friday, all the women at our center for women and children, Toby's Place, celebrated one another with massages, facials, nails—the whole nine yards! While this may seem like a simple thing, the joy of community and celebration is bursting out of the place. The point is, we are designed for community and for celebration. Toby's Place is home to many, and our heart's desire is to cultivate community and celebration in this home, so that when they leave, they may continue to cultivate these things in every future home. Celebration is not just for our guests! We welcome all from the community to join us in cultivating joy in our facilities! A wonderfully generous and thoughtful donor in our community put together Mother's Day gift bags for the staff and residents at Toby's Place. Filled with self-care items, such as lotions and nail care, sweet treats, and prayer cards, these gift bags are a creative example of ways that our community expresses generosity. To all the mothers - we celebrate you today. You are brave. You are strong. You are loved. Want to get involved with cultivating community and celebration with Oliver Gospel? Learn more here or reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator here to get connected!

If you frequent The Roastery next to our Men's Center, chances are, you have been served coffee by Summer. Or, if you have been following this blog, you may have read this story about Summer from May 2021 (And if you haven't read that post yet, take 1 minute to do so and then come back here!) In February 2022, Summer graduated from the program at Toby's Place, so I wanted to sit down with her and hear a bit more about her story and where she is going next. As a child, Summer didn't have a stable support system. She lacked role models to learn how to live and thrive. "I wasn't raised. I just grew up," Summer admits. This lack of support played a huge role in leading Summer down the path she took of addiction and an unhealthy relationship. When she was at her lowest point, by the grace of God, she let go of the need to do it all herself. The need to be big and tough. The need to be independent. When she let go, she found safety. She found support. She found hope. At Toby's Place, she was surrounded by women of all ages who loved her, walked with her, taught her how to live and how to raise her daughter, Cindy. Suddenly, the role models that had always been missing from Summer's life were there to guide her. Cindy now has many "aunties" at Toby's Place, who are constantly loving on her. "I know she is loved, taken care of, and safe. I am so proud to be able to give her what I never had.” Toby's Place was just one of the places Summer found the love and support she and her daughter Cindy so desperately needed. Summer found community at her church and specifically through an addiction recovery group at the church. Summer also recently received a certificate allowing her to become a Veterinarian's Assistant. She decided she wanted to work with animals back in high school when her best friend’s dog got hit by a car and Summer successfully reset his leg. “It made me feel special and important to be able to save an animal like that.” With a career path ahead of her, Summer feels equipped and empowered to become more and more independent. Now that she has graduated from Toby's Place, Summer continues to work at The Roastery, saving up to buy a car and move into an apartment with her now 1-year old daughter. Throughout my conversation with Summer, it became clear that Summer is deeply passionate about using her story to bring awareness to the dangers of drugs and abusive relationships, particularly to young girls. “Even if just one girl is able to get out of a dangerous situation through my story, it would be worth it.” Summer learned in her own life that is always worth it to ask for help. She acknowledged that the first step in getting help was to admit that she couldn’t do it by herself. She had to stop acting like she could handle everything on her own. It was only in this admission that she was willing to ask for help. The result? She and her daughter Cindy are safe, healthy, and on their way to building their future together, with their hopes and dreams renewed. If you or someone you know is in need, please reach out. Below is a video testimony of a former resident at Toby's Place and friend of Summer. Take a moment to watch and then consider sharing with others so that together, we can advocate for the abused, the forgotten, and the hurting.

Midlands Gives is an annual community giving day that celebrates and funds the work of local nonprofits. And this year, every dollar given by you to Oliver Gospel will be DOUBLED up to $50,000. Your gift will go towards helping people like Kathy. Kathy, a single mother and grandmother, was living with her son and daughter in law as the primary caretaker for her grandchildren. She had also been struggling for years with substance abuse, which she knew was an unhealthy way to deal with her past painful circumstances. She was in a stable, happy season of life, until her son decided to move away, leaving Kathy with nowhere to stay but a lonely hotel room and a future filled with fear. Her time at the hotel was running out. With nowhere to go and no friend to lean on, she called The Oliver Gospel Connections Center. This center is Oliver Gospel’s hub for people like Kathy. Its purpose is for men and women to be heard, find a friend, and hope for their circumstances by being connected to local resources. These connections vary from available housing to local resources providing job training, to legal aid and healthcare services. Most importantly, we refer our guests to their next step in life-long transformation. After speaking with our Connections Manager, Kathy was accepted and moved into Toby’s Place. Shortly after moving in, her younger son passed away from a drug overdose. Kathy recalls, “I thank God I was at Toby’s Place when I lost my son because I had a strong support system that would not let me fall into old coping habits as I grieved his death." "Toby’s Place means everything to me.” Today, Kathy has been sober for more than one year. She is a spunky and gentle soul who now gives back to ladies like her as a Residential Assistant for women experiencing sudden homelessness. Her story continues to impact the lives of those in our community. With your help in reaching our $125,000 campaign goal, we expect to give out 1,500 referrals to those in need this year. These referrals are the first step to safe shelter, warm meals, and vital relationships that transform the lives of those experiencing homelessness in the Midlands. Because of your gift, women like Kathy and men like Terry (pictured on the right) will be connected to life-changing resources. DON’T FORGET on May 3rd, every dollar is matched UP TO $50,000 by Jim Hudson Automotive! Give TODAY at midlandsgives.org through May 3rd!

When I first met Jodie, I was sitting in The Roastery at Oliver Gospel. One of the first things I noticed about Jodie is that he is an encourager. Even as he is walking his own journey through the Rebuild program, he comes alongside dozens of men in our community, encouraging them to dig deep, ask for help, and find faith in God. The second thing I learned about Jodie was his remarkable memory. Many of our guests have blurred memories of their first day at Oliver Gospel, which is not uncommon for those experiencing homelessness. When a person is in crisis, not knowing where their next meal is coming from or where they will lay their head that night, it becomes difficult to remember the past or look to the future. This shortened time horizon means that a lot of our guests don’t remember what they ate at their first meal at Oliver Gospel. Not Jodie. Jodie vividly remembers every aspect of his first meal. He was hungry, but more than physical hunger, Jodie was hungry for faith. He knew that God was doing some BIG work in his life by bringing him to Oliver Gospel. Jodie doesn’t just remember his meals. When Jodie was in grade school, his little sister was killed in a house shooting. It changed his life forever. He can’t forget it. He remembers every detail. How was he supposed to forgive this man if he couldn’t forget what he had done? In the days and years following the shooting, Jodie struggled to find the forgiveness he knew he was called to give. He wrestled with what he knew to be true in Scripture with the pain of those memories. After some time and some wrong turns, Jodie found forgiveness in his heart. “I was so bottled up with stuff that I let everything go to my head,” says Jodie. In his newfound forgiveness, Jodie found freedom. “When I think about your freedom, I think about the way God has brought me from where I was at. When I was homeless, God was like ‘Nuh-uh, I am about to bring you to a new place and turn your freedom loose.’” As Jodie walked through the doors at Oliver Gospel, he took the first steps of his journey to freedom. Jodie lives in the Light of forgiveness and freedom that only Jesus Christ can give him. If you met Jodie today, you would see it. You would see it in his cheerful grin. You'd see it in the way he encourages his brothers in their own journeys at Oliver Gospel. Each one of us could learn from Jodie. Take a moment and search your heart. Are you withholding forgiveness from someone? Is that robbing you of freedom? As Jodie encourages so many at Oliver Gospel with his story, I hope he encourages you. You can find freedom and goodness on the other side of the door of forgiveness!