Announcements

Greetings!

On behalf of Crazy Love Ministries, I’d like to thank all of our 2021 sponsors! It is through so many giving and generous hearts that God was able to continue expanding the services offered through this ministry.

WHAT GOD DID IN 2021

With support from the City of Shelton and our volunteers, in January and Dec of 2021, the Mason County Warming Center was able to provide additional overnight shelter during extreme winter temperatures to our homeless neighbors. It operated on a 24-hour basis during the snowstorms. The center became much more than a place for people to be out of the cold. It became an epicenter for healing! Cases of trench foot were cured and sobriety was obtained. We witnessed similar things when the center became a cooling place during extreme summer temperatures.

God multiplied the services being offered at the center. By spring of last year, a public shower was installed. The single washer and dryer at the center increased to three by fall.

We celebrated many more victories in the lives of those we serviced in 2021! Six were baptized! Three at the center in the colder months and three in local lakes.

SOBRIETY FOR HIS GLORY STORIES featured in 2021: Nathan P, 3 years, Audrey W, 3 years, Justin C, 2 years, Mark W. 2 years, James B. 1 yr. 5 mo., Jared L, 2 mo.

Update on the veteran, Jeff, whose story we featured in Jan of 2020…. was previously residing behind the Warming Center in his vehicle and relocated to someone’s residential property so he could be provided with full use of a restroom and kitchen… he accomplished his goal in 2021, of upgrading to a travel trailer!

Jeff stopped in to share with us he successfully saved his stimulus money to purchase the trailer and is now renting RV space with full hook-ups on a working farm on Harstine Island. He was honorably discharged from the army due to medical/disability. VA benefits are helping him to pay his rental fees. He told us, ” I am grateful to the first person who was willing to help me with a safe place to park and allow me to use their home for necessities. However, I’m even more grateful to be fully away from the homeless lifestyle and all the problems that came with it. God is good!”

In October of 2021, we met a woman, named Tanya who had recently gone homeless due to a divorce that resulted in the loss of her home. Through the center’s networking with other local resource groups, she was able to establish temporary residency at the local overnight shelter, Community Lifeline. Less than two months later, she obtained employment with Taylor Shellfish! This job opportunity was listed on a weekly job posting at the center.

Tanya just last week came in to tell us, “I am still so overwhelmed by those at the Warming Center who helped in putting some of the pieces of my life back together again. The Christmas package I received here included everything I needed to begin my new job with confidence; new shoes, a new pair of clothes, even hair products, and perfume!”

As of today, Tanya is still residing at Community Lifeline. She is a single middle-aged, female who is looking for a room to rent, in a Christian home. She can currently afford $500 a month which is not enough for an apartment of her own. Tanya says she lives a very private, quiet life and spends most of her time at work.  She has never used drugs or alcohol and is being considered for management with Taylor Shellfish.

We are continuing to walk alongside many who are transitioning in and out of inpatient and intensive outpatient programs. In 2021- it became a ministry goal to break the silence even more on addiction! On a regular basis, we emphasize that there is no shame in being homeless due to drug or alcohol addiction. Everyone is loved no matter what path they’ve ended up on and can be healed by the forgiveness and grace God offers through Jesus Christ.

God has built up our team members to vulnerably share their own testimonies and to deliver the good news of the gospel to those who have lost hope. He has also strengthened our relationships with other organizations in an effort to provide those we serve with quality care. Including, but not limited to Jim Coffin of Adonai who began helping with intensive case management services at the center in Aug, Gethsemane Ministries, Cross Roads Housing, Community Lifeline, NW Resources, and Royal Life.

2021 FINANCES

To date, Crazy Love Ministries has remained standing faithful in our commitment to not receive any federal funding or major grant monies and to be fully staffed by only volunteers. We do this to ensure only God receives the glory for what He’s doing for those in need in Shelton, WA.

The 2021 average monthly contribution total was, $2,784.43 and the average monthly expenses total was, $2,765.39. In Nov of 2021, the ministry checking account hit the red for the first time in the history of this ministry, since 2017. However, God quadrupled our average monthly incoming contributions in December! What great encouragement this was to our team! Not only did this get our Shelton outreach off to a strong start this year, but also the Olympia Street Feeds which we began supporting in June.

WHAT IS COMING IN 2022

We don’t fully know! We have been inspired to write a governance handbook for another tier of clean and sober housing we feel our city needs, but we aren’t fully sure what God is going to do with it. What we do know- God is still on the move and His kingdom is advancing! As a team, our focus remains on continuing to pray, learn, give thanks, and rest in the work God is currently doing in the lives of those we have the privilege of serving. We must allow His Spirit to lead us.

We cannot thank you enough for your contributions and prayers- it is you; He is working through! Together, through our belief in Jesus Christ, all things are being made possible in the lives of our neighbors!

Sincerely,
Wendy Petty
Executive Director