Mission Makers
The Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) began as a storefront mission to assist males going through homelessness in March of 1944 and has since expanded to incorporate three amenities (Royal Pines, Shepura Males’s Heart, and Jessie’s Place) that assist males, girls, and kids within the Birmingham space. Govt Director Perryn Carroll explains that whereas the mission of JHM hasn’t modified, the sources it supplies have expanded. “Our mission is to remodel adults immediately affected by homelessness, habit, or unhealthy residing, into those that lead purposeful, self-sufficient, and productive lives for the glory of God,” Carroll shares, including, “Our promise is to offer pathways to restoration from the foundation causes of homelessness and unhealthy residing by means of our confirmed means of compassion, steering and accountability grounded in Christian religion.”
The Historical past. JHM was began by Jimmie Hale who was often called the city drunk within the Nineteen Thirties and early Nineteen Forties. Hale surrendered his life to Christ and had the need to assist these in related conditions. He married his spouse Jessie, and so they based JHM on March 25, 1944. Simply eight months later, Hale handed away. Jessie continued the mission for practically a decade on her personal till she met Leo Shepura who joined forces along with her. Collectively, they led JHM for 36 years. Tony Cooper grew to become the Govt Director of JHM in 1990 and faithfully served for 29 years till his retirement. He’s now Director Emeritus. Carroll formally grew to become the Govt Director in 2022 after greater than 25 years of volunteering with JHM.
Reflecting on the previous 80 years of serving these in want, Carroll additionally displays on the faithfulness of the Lord on this ministry. “The Lord has been extremely devoted to the obedience of JHM in serving because the fingers and toes of Christ. The Lord has blessed our management and employees with clear imaginative and prescient and steadfast stamina in finishing up the Kingdom work with love and accountability to His phrase,” Carroll says. In 2023 alone, by means of the ministries of Jessie’s Place, Shepura Males’s Heart, and Royal Pines, JHM served 173,025 meals, offered 56,400 secure nights of shelter, hosted 1,024 chapel and discipleship companies, offered 39,024 job readiness hours, and served 644 purchasers with 15 of them enrolled in faculty.
Getting Concerned. “The homelessness inhabitants is rising in our space, fueled by rising meals and housing prices and the shortage of entry to healthcare, notably psychological healthcare,” Carroll explains, including that the generosity of the Birmingham neighborhood continues to assist JHM rework lives. There are lots of methods you possibly can associate with JHM and assist make a distinction. Alternatives embody serving and sharing a meal, mentoring a shopper, main a chapel service, offering commencement and vacation luggage, and extra. Trying to the following 80 years and past, Carroll shares, “My hope is for Jimmie Hale Mission to proceed working with integrity and obedience to our Lord and Savior by offering pathways to restoration from the foundation causes of homelessness and unhealthy residing by means of our confirmed means of compassion, steering, and accountability grounded in Christian religion and love and ruled by accountable stewardship.” To be taught extra in regards to the JHM, go to www.jimmiehalemission.com.
-Melissa Armstrong
Watch the video beneath to be taught extra about Jimmie Hale Mission’s historical past and how one can be a part of them in making a distinction.
