Guys, tell us a bit about the shelter and the heart behind it...
The shelter has been running in Ipswich since 2011 and we have been involved as coordinators since it’s beginning. It operates along similar lines to that of other shelters around the country initiated by a Christian housing organisation called Housing Justice. This year Hope Church is hosting the shelter every Sunday night / Monday morning from the beginning of December until the middle of March. It is a rolling shelter involving 7 churches in Ipswich, each hosting a separate week night.
We cater for up to 12 guests each week, providing an overnight stay. This includes a hot meal, a bed for the night and breakfast in the morning. There are 14 volunteers who come each week and who help us to create a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere as well as carrying out all the necessary practical tasks.
As churches in Ipswich, we aim to show the love of Jesus to people who, predominantly, would otherwise be sleeping on the streets. Ipswich Winter Night Shelter offers hope and hospitality as part of a wider strategy, helping them contact other agencies who can assist them to solve their problems on a longer term basis.
Prayer is a big part of what we do. We pray before and after each shelter. We also pray for specific situations, especially where there is tension between guests. There is a prayer coordinator who organises a team of people to pray regularly across the 7 shelters.
How many people are you serving on Sunday evenings at the moment? Tell us a little bit about their situations.
Presently, we cater for up to 12 people. This year, so far, we have only had male guests, but we have, over the last 3years, accommodated women as well.
Some of the guests this year are from Eastern Europe and have been sleeping in the woods before coming to the shelter. Some of the others have lost their jobs and, therefore, their homes or have been evicted. Some have suffered breakdown of a relationship or have been released from prison with nowhere to live. Others have severe problems with alcohol and/or drug misuse and have been unable to cope.
How can we be praying for the Night Shelter at this time?
As a church, we need to pray for each of the guests and volunteers to have peace and safety through each night. We need to pray for good relationships between the guests. Throughout the project, we can pray that the lives of the guests will have better and more positive outcomes as they are encouraged to overcome their problems. We also need to pray that the guests will experience the love of Jesus in their lives and will come to know Jesus as their Saviour.
If anybody would like to know more details about the night shelter or who would like any further details about prayer needs, please speak to one of us.
Thank you for your support,
Sue and Brian Anstey and Hugh Gibson.
