Anyone got a paper towel that we can borrow???

During the King holiday season, we are often asked what can just one person do to help.....  Well, as always, Alice has come to the rescue and put together a list of contributions that one person can make.  We run a household, just like you do, and go through the same things that you do in your household.  The only difference is 30 men live in our house.  

So when you pick up the things in the Kroger, Target, or the Candler Park Market that you use in your daily life, pick up an extra one for Clifton.  When these items are donated, we can spend that money providing the services needed by our men to help them move to independent living...instead of buying paper towels.

So.....here's Alice's list of stuff....

55 gallon trash bags

13 gallon trash bags

Paper towels

Toilet paper

Razors

Soap

Small tubes of tooth paste

Deodorant

Dish Detergent (not dishwasher)

Liquid laundry detergent

Clorox Clean-up Cleaner

409 Cleaner

Sandwich bags

Lunch bags

Small bottles of water (10 oz)

Small packs of fruit juice

Small containers of fruit or applesauce

Plastic forks & spoons

Small paper plates (for snacks)

Napkins

Wash cloths

January Update

We haven't posted an article in a couple of months - oops - so I thought I'd add an update on the goings and comings at Clifton....

Our need of the month for January 2009.....PAPER TOWELS!!!!  

The guys enjoyed a fabulous Christmas....thanks to the generosity of Mt. Vernon Presbyterian, Pleasant Hill Presbyterian, and several individuals, the Clifton men each received a Christmas bag with clothes, toiletries, thermal underwear, and other fun items.  A big shout out to the Mariners' Sunday School class at Peachtree Pres who made sure our guys have proper sneakers to start out the new year!   In addition, the great folks at Duffy Realty brought over a bag of Christmas gifts for each of the guys!  This was the first time that the Duffy folks had been to Clifton.  We're so grateful for their generosity and hope to see them again throughout 2009! 

Home for the Holidays....several of our guys went home to their families for Christmas!  For some of them, this was the first time they had seen their family in many years.  One of the most important aspects of recovery and returning to independent living is reuniting with family and friends.  Many times, those relationships are really damaged and/or broken, so reunification can be difficult.  The guys are working hard on mending those relationships, so it's always awesome to see when their families welcome them home.  

Way to go, Marvin....former guest and Clifton Toastmaster Marvin Perkins was featured in an AJC article on Saturday, January 3 - Metro Section, page 3.  Marvin has been writing poems about his life for the past few years and caught the attention of an AJC reporter who met him at a Toastmasters meeting.  The AJC crew was at the Christmas program doing their story research and videotaping the event.  We're thankful for the AJC interest in Clifton and the guys!  Congratulations to Marvin - we're proud of you and your progress!  

Interior Design Sale....A wonderful friend of Clifton who owns a great home interior design showroom at the Merchandise Mart has once again donated a large number of items to Clifton for us to sell to our friends and neighbors.  We hosted a similar event in the summer of 2008.  We have received this shipment of new and beautiful items this past weekend and will hold our Design Sale on Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31 at Epworth United Methodist Church, conveniently located across the street from Candler Park on McLendon Avenue.  Epworth is the great church that took us in during 2005/2006 during the reconstruction following our arson fire.  We love them!  Stay tuned for more details regarding the design sale.  

Thank you for your support!  The business of providing support for men who are homeless goes on at Clifton 365 days a year.  Many folks called and asked about providing dinner during the holidays.  So many folks, actually, that we had to tell some folks that we didn't have an opportunity for them to serve - we couldn't have stuffed any more volunteers into the facility.  However, we can use your help in 2009!  Please consider bringing an evening meal, preparing lunch bags, or working one-on-one with our guests.  You can contact Alice at (404) 373-3253 or alice@cliftonsanctuary.com for additional volunteer opportunities.  You can also hit "donate now" on the website homepage if you would like to make a financial contribution, which is always greatly appreciated.  We served 250 men who are homeless in 2008; we anticipate an even greater need in 2009.  But it can't be done without your help!  Thank you, in advance, and we look forward to seeing you at Clifton in 2009.  

Wishing you peace and God's blessing this year.....

How to Have a Life of Joy

Consider the following from Steve Goodier.

Do you know how to have a life of joy?

A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said, "Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated." "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?" The businessman said, "Just put them in an envelope and mail them as taxes to the government and write on the envelope, 'NOW YOU HAVE EVERYTHING!'"

Paying taxes is not usually a joy. But GIVING can be joyful. We pay the taxes because we have to. But when we choose to give time or money, then giving can add to our overall happiness.

Mother Teresa teaches us an important lesson about happiness. She was one of those people who emanated joy. Born in 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia, she felt called as a teenager to move to Calcutta, India. Some months later she saw a sight that completely revolutionized her life.

Shortly after moving to Calcutta she spotted a homeless, dying woman lying in the gutter, being eaten by rats. After seeing that, compassion compelled her to beg an abandoned Hindu temple from the government and convert it into a crude, make-shift hospital for the dying. "Nobody should die alone" she would later say. Mother Teresa went on to establish homes for the destitute dying in numerous cities. But in spite of devoting her life to people in such dire straits, she radiated joy and happiness.

This incredible woman was once interviewed by Malcolm Muggeridge from the BBC News. He asked her an unusual question: "Mother Teresa, the thing I noticed about you and the hundreds of sisters who now form your team is that you all look so happy. Is that a put-on?"

Here was a woman who had none of the things we like to think of as bringing happiness: a home, a family, prosperity. Rather, she lived in near-poverty and spent her time wiping dirt and various body fluids from half-dead cancer and leprosy victims -- and appeared to be blissfully happy. "Is that a put-on" she was asked?

She replied, "Oh no, not at all. Nothing makes you happier than when you really reach out in mercy to someone who is badly hurt."

She would agree that happiness does not come from acquiring, but is a by-product of giving: time, money, love. Do you want a life of joy? Start by giving.

-- Steve Goodier
Now you can add your own comments to Life Support. You can find more thoughts from Steve Goodies on his blog. http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/

A note from our editor:
We don't have to go to India to find tired and hurting people. They are right here amongst us, ministries such as Clifton Sanctuary are next door, we just have to look for them. In this trying time won't you take a few minutes or hours and share your blessings with those around you?

Charitable IRA Gifting Extended

The charitable IRA legislation is back —don't miss this opportunity to make tax-free gifts from your IRA!

There's good news for individuals aged 70½ or older with individual retirement accounts. Thanks to the extended charitable IRA legislation, you can make outright gifts using IRA funds without tax complications.

If you are required to receive minimum distributions from your IRA and you do not need the money for personal use, consider using those funds as a charitable gift. While you cannot claim a charitable deduction for the IRA gifts, you will not pay income tax on the amount. You also will not need paperwork to prove a gift.

You may contribute funds this way if:

• You are 70½ or older
• Your IRA gifts total $100,000 or less each year in 2008 and 2009
• You transfer funds directly from an IRA
• You transfer the gifts outright to one or more public charities (This excludes gifts made to charitable trusts, donor advised funds and supporting organizations.)
  

The Benefits:

• In most cases, the transfer counts toward your minimum required distributions.
• The gift generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so even those who do not itemize their tax returns receive the benefit.
• You may transfer up to $100,000 directly from your IRA in 2008 and 2009.
• The distributions may be in addition to or fulfill any charitable giving you have already planned.

The Next Step

Be sure to contact tax professionals and your IRA administrator if you are considering a gift under this law. Gifts can be sent to Clifton Sanctuary Ministries at 369 Connecticut Avenue, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30307.

Historia de un Letrero

For those of us whose Spanish is a little rusty or nonexistant this translates to "The Story of a Sign." What is it you may ask. The better question might be why is it posted here at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries. So let me try to answer those questions.

Specifically this is the title of a short video that won an award baclk in Mayat the Cannes Film Festival. What that should tell you is that I am not up-to-date on what goes on in the world of films. This film was only recently shared with me by another board member. After watching it, I thought this video had a message that people interested in Clifton would understand.

If you haven't seen it yet here is a link to the video http://www.historiadeunletrero.com. It is just short of 6 minutes an worth watching.

Without telling you the whole story let me give you a brief overview of the film. In this film we see a man who is blind, begging in a city park. As with most such people he is pretty much ignored by everyone. Then one individual stops for a moment and changes the sign this man has next to him. After the sign is changed people suddenly take note of him and his small can is soon overflowing with donations. When the stranger return, the man asks what he did to his sign. If you want to know watch the video.

The point here is that by giving just a little of his time this stranger had a significant impact on the blind man. How many of us cross paths with an individual in need (blind, ill, in morning, even homeless) and miss the opportunity to share a little of ourselves. Whether it is our time, our talent or perhaps our money; Christ calls us to be a neighbor to each person we encounter.

Interior Design Accessories Sale

A great friend of Clifton who owns a home interior design business has donated to Clifton several van loads of beautiful lamps, paintings, mirrors, and accessories. He told us to use what we could for guys who are moving into new apartments and then sell the remainder. So.....we're going to offer these wonderful items for sale the weekend of July 25, 26, & 27. If you need to update your home, this is the time and place to pick up some bargains....and all for a great cause. You can bring your shopping list to Epworth United Methodist Church (where the guys stayed during the fire rebuilding) located across the street from Candler Park at 1561 McLendon Avenue. The hours are Friday, July 25 from 5pm-8pm, Saturday, July 26 from 9am-3pm, and Sunday afternoon, July 27 after church.

Volunteer Opportunities - It's Not All About the Money

What can I do to help at Clifton??? I stood speechless at church about a month ago when Tim stopped me in the hall and asked that wonderful question. You'd think I'd have a 30-second elevator speech all ready to go, but I didn't. The easy answer is come serve dinner as an early evening host, but all of the spots were full this month, so that didn't work. Not having a quick and meaningful answer, I decided to do what any self-respecting board member would do....go ask Alice!

There are 4 real needs at Clifton right now. So, Tim, here's the answer to your great question....

1. Lunch bags - we are now preparing lunch bags for the guys to take with them each day. It's really been a hit so we hope to continue. If you would like to prepare the bags with a sandwich (no mayo), chips, a piece of fruit, and bottle of water that would be great - we use about 20 each day. Also, the guys who stay in during the day are served lunch. If you'd like to prepare and serve lunch for 6-8 folks each day, we'd welcome your help.

2. Foot care - many of our guys arrive at Clifton with poor or no foot care, even though they are walking the streets of Atlanta looking for work or attending appointments every day. If you know of a group of nurses, physicians, or medical students who would like to provide basic foot care on a weekly or monthly basis, please let us know.

3. Dental Care - finding free or reduced rate dental care for our guests has been a huge challenge. Grady Health Systems does have a dental clinic, but they only pull teeth - no restorative care (fillings, etc...) is available. We are grateful to the Clayton State University School of Dental Hygiene for their great dental hygiene services that they offered to our guests this past year, but we are still in search of dentists that will provide additional services.

4. Appointment buddies - Imagine trying to navigate the waters of healthcare with limited or no understanding about how the systems works. You are treated for an illness but are not given a follow up appointment or maybe you are given a prescription, but don't know how to get it filled. Many of our guests are in that exact boat, but with a little assistance, they don't have to be. If you have some time (usually 2-3 hours) to provide transportation to a doctor's appointment and then can make sure the guest understands what to do next in his healthcare plan, you would solve that problem. Not to mention that getting to spend time with the guys is always fun. They are thoughtful, considerate, and usually have a great story to tell. Brenda Gales, our healthcare case manager, will provide you with all the details and also will give you the appropriate information for each appointment.

If any of these opportunities to volunteer sound like something you would enjoy doing, please contact Alice Jenkins, Executive Director, at alice@cliftonsanctuary.com or (404) 373-3253.

The Second Best Time To Begin

The following is from Steve Goodier (http://lifesupportsystem.com/Home_Page.html) I think it sums up the attitude of folks involved at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries. We are called to action, not necessarily to plan. We can't solve homelessness but we can be part of the solution for an individual. If this moves you to action please visit our web site and contact our office.

The Second Best Time To Begin
by Steve Goodier

Philosopher and economist Friedrich Engels said, "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory." Perhaps it is easier to talk about what to do than to do it.

U.S. District court judge Woodrow Seal was active in a philanthropic organization known as The Society of St. Stephen. It is an internationally recognized organization with the sole purpose of helping people in need.

One day a church invited Mr. Seal to speak to their congregation and explain to them how they might begin a Society of St. Stephen. The plan was for the him to speak on the various programs of the society, then follow up with a time for discussion.

The people took their seat and the minister introduced the featured speaker. The judge helped himself to cookies and poured a cup of coffee. When the introduction was completed, Judge Seal walked over to the piano, put his coffee cup on top of it, and began to fumble in his coat pockets. Finally, he pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper and from it read the name of a mother and her four children, including their ages and clothing sizes.

He noted several other unmet needs of the family and mentioned that their address was on the paper which he carefully laid on top of the piano. The judge then said, "If you want to start a Society of St. Stephen, then you should contact this woman by 11:30 tomorrow morning. If you are not able to help her, don't worry, I'll be in contact with her tomorrow and I'll get her help by mid-afternoon."

With that, the judge turned to leave. "Now, forgive me," he said, "but I really must be going. Thank you for inviting me and for the coffee and the cookies."

Before anyone could respond he walked out the door. It all took less than five minutes.

Here was a group of people who thought they were going to spend an hour listening to a program on how to help others in need, and maybe discuss its merits for a while. Instead they spent an hour deciding how to help one family - and the next day they did it.

Judge Seal wasn't content to sit around helplessly waiting for people to make a decision. The problem for most of us is not lack of knowledge but lack of action. When all is said and done...more will have been said than done. But like the Chinese proverb teaches, "The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

What are you trying to plant? The second best time to do it is now.


We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. Marian Wright-Edelman

God's Justice

As a faith based ministry we are motivated by the love of God but many times in society we find ourselves seeking "justice." A recent message from my friend Jerry Stratton provides a some insight into how we define justice and more importantly how God calls us to implement justice. I invite you to take a moment and consider "God's Justice".

"But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things" (Luke 11:42 NLT).

When you hear the term, "justice," what image crosses your mind? If you are like many of us, you may think of justice as someone getting what he/she has coming. When we talk about bringing someone to justice, we often mean that if someone is guilty, justice is giving the so-and-so the maximum punishment that is deserved. But justice also means treating people fairly and giving them unbiased consideration and kindness. Justice with love and kindness is the picture of God's justice as he deals with us. The problem Jesus found with the Pharisees was that they were focusing on the outward appearances of being religious but ignoring the inner condition of their hearts which governed their treatment of people. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.

If God treated us with justice only, he would be justified in punishing us forever because of our sins and rebellion against him. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 3:23; 6:23 NIV). God's view of justice is different from ours. His is always tempered with love, compassion, mercy, and grace. Instead of dispensing justice based on our sins, and fairly giving us what we deserve, he has provided a way for us to receive the blessed benefits of his mercy and grace. The most obvious demonstration of God's view of justice is the sending of his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins and to make us beneficiaries of his love and forgiveness. "God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NIV).

The story has been told of a man who was caught and taken to court because he had stolen a loaf of bread. When the judge investigated, he found out that the man had no job, and his family was hungry. He had tried unsuccessfully to get work and finally, to feed his family, he had stolen a loaf of bread. Although recognizing the extenuating circumstances, the judge said, "I'm sorry, but the law can make no exceptions. You stole, and therefore I have to punish you. I order you to pay a fine of ten dollars." He then continued, "But I want to pay the fine myself." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten-dollar bill, and handed it to the man.

As soon as the man took the money, the judge said, "Now I also want to remit the fine." That is, the man could keep the money. "Furthermore, I am going to instruct the bailiff to pass a hat to everyone in this courtroom, and I am fining everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a man has to steal in order to have bread to eat." The money was collected and given to the defendant.

This is an excellent example of justice being meted out in full and paid in full -- while mercy and grace were also enacted in full measure.

So the question now is what has each of us done recently to reflect God's justice. The challenges of working men who are homeless are complex, there is no easy answer that will work for everyone. Each man is an individual deserving God's love and in many ways seeking justice. We invite you to join with us and others working to share God's love and empower men to overcome homelessness.

Clifton Sanctuary Ministries
Sharing the love of God we are a sanctuary to men seeking to overcome homelessness.

Thinking like Jesus

Let me start by giving credit for what follows to Jerry Stratton, a retired minister who publishes a daily message. Perhaps some day he will post these himself but until then he has graciously given permission to post his messages on our blog when they seem appropriate. I found this message meaningful and I hope you all do also.

THINKING LIKE JESUS

"Let this mind (attitude ) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 KJV)

If we could only learn to think like Jesus and have the same attitude as Jesus, all our problems in living like Jesus would be solved. However, before we can begin to think like Jesus, we must have the desire to do so. Before the "how to" must come the "want to." How is your "want to" coming along this Morning?

Prior to Jesus leaving this earth and ascending back into heaven, he made some fantastic promises. Among them was the promise that he would always be with us in the form of his Holy Spirit. It is this indwelling Spirit that gives us the ability to think like Christ by helping us to understand the mind of Christ as revealed in God's Word -- to understand how Jesus thought and acted.

Having said this, what was the mind of Christ really like while he was here on earth? Well, he humbled himself and was willing to give up all his own rights as God by coming to earth to save people from their sins as the Father had planned. He accepted the role of, and had the heart of, a servant. He made himself nothing so that he could be everything to you and me. He is the supreme example of humility. Likewise, we should be humble servants living our lives for the good of others.

If we allow it, the Spirit of God will give us the mind of Christ. He will teach us to get outside our selfishness and into lives of others. One of God's primary purposes for the church is to build bridges of love to the people who need Christ. In John 20:21, Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, so I'm sending you." We must give up the idea that the church is some sort of fortress to protect us from the world and to make us comfortable and cozy with friends who look like us, think like us, talk like us, act like us, and maybe even smell like us. It's true that the church can be a place of comfort and security, but Jesus commissioned the church (Christians) to go where it is uncomfortable -- our there where the people are -- where the action is.

When we begin to think like Jesus, we will have a love like his for hurting people, regardless of ethnic, economic, or social status. Jesus loved and touched people where they were. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36 NIV). Jesus was referring to the sick, hungry, and naked -- those with desperate physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Finally, when we begin to think like Jesus, we will adopt his methods in dealing with people. In Luke 6:36, Jesus tells us to "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." When we think like Jesus, we will not say, "come to our church," but rather, "we're coming to you." Rodney Stark was puzzled about how the early Christians, a group of marginalized and persecuted people, were able to touch so many. In his study he concluded: "Their sacrifices released an explosion of light the world had never known."

When we think like Jesus, we will not hate our enemies, but love them. We will not explode in anger at those who are evil, but reach out in love to touch them. Jesus taught the early Christians to love and give more than they would ever receive in return. They refused to hide in safety. Their radical love was followed by selfless good deeds. Any act of kindness, no matter how large or small, says there's a God who loves you -- and I love you too.

Earth Day in Lake Claire

One of the many blessings we have at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries is the neighborhood we are surrounded by. More specifically the many neighbors that have embraced and supported this ministry from it's beginning. This Earth Day, April 22nd, held special significance to our neighborhood and we were blessed to be a part of the celebration.

After a year and a half a true labor of love was dedicated this past Sunday. A 5,000 square foot mural along one block of DeKalb Avenue was dedicated. The Watershed Mural depicts the watersheds that flow from the “Eastern Subcontinental Divide.” This ridgeline begins east of Atlanta and extends easterly along what is now DeKalb Avenue. This dividing line separates water that ultimately flows to the Atlantic Ocean from water that flows to the Gulf of Mexico.

The mural reminds us of these wonderful realities. It illustrates waterways and the flora and fauna they support as the water meanders across Georgia to the Gulf and Atlantic. This mural also speaks to the heart of a community that cares in some many ways for our environment and the people that live in it.



On a beautiful Sunday afternoon a community that worked together on this impressive projected joined together to celebrate the completion of the mural and their concern for the environment that inspired it. On this special day DeKalb Avenue was closed, if only for a few hours, to allow everyone to see the entire mural. We at Clifton join with our neighbors on this joyous occasion and congratulate all those who contributed their time energy and money to the project.


To learn more about this amazing project please visit the web site of the Lake Claire Neighbors (http://www.lakeclaire.org/) and the Watershed Mural itself.

Reviewing 2006

As we at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries close out 2006, we step back to take in our journey and our accomplishments along the way. When we do this we are filled with gratitude for our loving God and the multitude of individuals, places of worship, private institutions, and government agencies that have seen us worthy of their support. Our ministry to men who are seeking to overcome homeless has never been so blessed.

The highlight of 2006 has to be the completion of construction at 369 Connecticut Avenue. Almost 18 months after fire forced us to find temporary space for our staff and the men we serve we were able to return to our home of 26 years. Insurance funds and the generous support of our many friends has resulted in restored home for our ministry. Let us not forget our brothers and sisters in Christ at Epworth United Methodist Church who shared their home with us during this time. There are still kinks to be resolved but there is no place like home.

In the midst of all this CSM continued to provide emergency housing, meals, hot showers and toilet facilities, clothing, counseling, and health care referrals. In fact, 2006 saw an increase in the total number of men served from 288 in 2005 to 359 or an 25% increase. Of those, we housed 32 who were homeless and over 70 years of age for a 60% increase over 2005. Many of our guests have multiple diagnoses of additive disorders, mental illness, and/or HIV/AIDS. In 2006 CSM served 241men with one, two or all three of these illnesses. That represented a 162% increase over 2005. Of these 100 were military veterans with additive disorders and/or mental illness. CSM has also assisted many disabled men to get VA or SSI benefits they didn’t know they had due them. CSM served 100 military veterans in 2006.

Less obvious is the accomplishments of our grant writing team. Their hard work and research has resulted in three foundation grants during the 2006 calendar year. Other applications prepared during the year are still pending and we are cautiously optimistic about their potential. This much needed funding allowed us to expand our services during the last half of the year. Our overnight hosting team is now anchored by two part-time staff members funded by this money. In addition we are now in the process of hiring a Food Coordinator to oversee the planning and preparation of meals for our guests. This is an important step in returning to our pre-fire procedures.

While foundation funding is a welcome addition to our funding pie, it is one that requires ongoing attention. Some foundations will only provide one time funding for a project or a specific need. All require new applications when additional funding is desired. Our success has bolstered our enthusiasm and raised our sights for future and we are optimistic that new and renewable resources can be identified.

As we look forward from an uncertain past, bolstered by the unprecedented accomplishments of this past year we can only look forward to the upcoming year with faith in the loving God that was with us throughout our past, is with us now and will be with us in the up coming future, if we possess the courage to believe unconditionally.

A Time to Celebrate What God has Done

On October 25th friends, volunteers, guests and graduates of Clifton Sanctuary Ministries gathered together at Morningside Presbyterian Church. The occasion was our third anniversary and graduation dinner; a chance to gather as one body and celebrate the miracles that God has worked in our midst during the past year. Our host for the evening Mr. Harold Augustus, Gus to most of us, set the tone for the evening with the rhetorical question of who did it, followed by the sure affirmation that indeed “God did it.”

Our featured speaker on this evening was Mr. Philip Bray of SafeHouse Outreach. Philip’s personal life mission is the driving force behind the work of SafeHouse Outreach: changing lives, families, and communities through faith, hope and love in action. He is a fourth generation pastor representing over 70 years of service in the inner city of Atlanta. On this evening he shared his personal journey and calling to reach out and lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in need. Mr. Bray’s story is repeated in the now legendary story of the church we all know to be Clifton, which demonstrated the true meaning of sanctuary some 27 years ago when they opened their church to men trapped by homelessness. It is that story and that commitment that brings us together to celebrate the accomplishments of the men we have had the privilege of serving.

On this occasion we recognized 23 men who have overcome homelessness. This is almost twice the number of men we have recognized in past years. This is living proof that it is not the building but the people who define Clifton Sanctuary Ministries. It is our staff and our dedicated volunteers who build the essential relationships that help so many men to rebuild lives torn down by the trials of living.

Also recognized on this special evening are those special volunteers who have had a special impact on our ministry during the previous year. Two such individuals are Al Adams and Lindsey Churchill of Holland & Knight LLP. It was through their advice and guidance that our board and the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta were able to develop the guidelines that would place our relationship on a firm foundation. The dissolution of a church is never easy but when the church has built a ministry that survives beyond the church itself, there are many questions that need to be answered. Al and Lindsey provided a calming voice that helped to lead us through a challenging point in our ministry.

It was also most appropriate that we take this evening to recognize Epworth United Methodist Church. Words cannot express our enduring gratitude to the staff, trustees and indeed the entire congregation for their support during the past 15 months. When we found ourselves homeless they opened their doors and welcomed us. The bond which has been formed between the church and our ministry has helped us both and has built a strong relationship that will enable us to work together in the service of Christ.

While it is difficult to single out an individual in a ministry that relies on so many volunteers, there are those special people we must recognize. One such individual is Leslie Withers. She came to Clifton Presbyterian Church as the Director of Missions in 1995 and has been a part of the ministry from that first day. While serving as the Executive Director for Night Hospitality she became the first president of Lake Claire Community Apartments, better known as Joe’s Place. She continued to provide leadership when Joe’s Place and Night Hospitality became Clifton Sanctuary Ministries and served on the board of directors until May of 2006 when commitments at her own church, Oakhurst Baptist, made it necessary for her to step down from the board. Not many of us can match eleven years of humble and dedicated service to our ministry.

Finally Rocke Thompson, who has been with us from the very beginning, took a few minutes to reflect on the past and look ahead to the challenges of the future. We have been blessed by Rocke’s energy, knowledge and wisdom. There is not much that he hasn’t done through the years but perhaps he is best known through his work as the volunteer coordinator. In this role he has touched so many and infected each of us with a burning passion for this ministry and the men we serve. While his own role is changing and he may not be as visible as he has been, Rocke will continue his support in many less visible ways as we move into the new year.

Open House -- November 12

We are ready for the move back to 369 Connecticut! As you read this the necessary appliances, furniture, equipment and supplies are being delivered. While everything is not yet complete we are ready for the return to our church home.

At this time we would like to invite you our loyal supporters and dedicated volunteers to an Open House on Sunday November 12th from 2 PM until 5 PM. This will be your chance to come by look around and see What God has Done! There is no way we can adequately thank all for you for your prayers and support during the past 15 months but we hope you can join us on this special day as we celebrate the return of Night Hospitality to our church home. Please extend this invitation to others in your team and your congregation. Come by when you can and stay as long as you like.

While we are moving back, it may be a little while yet before we are fully operational. If you are one of our many volunteers please call the office (404-373-3253) to see where we are in the moving process before you come. You can also check to see if we have stocked our pantry yet or if we are still relying on the early evening hosts for dinner. We appreciate your patience and dedication to the ministry during this time of transition.

Going Home

As many of you know our long time home on Connecticut Avenue was damaged by a fire in July of 2005. Since that time we have continued our Night Hospitality ministry at Epworth United Methodist Church in Candler Park. Their support, hospitality and love has been over whelming during the past 15 months. Construction at our church home has been completed and we have been working to re-equip our facility for most of October.

The end, or should I say the beginning, is now in sight. Furniture, appliances, dishes and all of the itemas and services required to support the ministry are coming together. Many of these items have been delivered and are being installed. Some details will take longer than others to re-connect but it won't be long before we can return to our home.

I will share more on the move as the pieces fall into place. If you are one of our many volunteers please call the office to see where we are on the day you are coming to serve. We expect to move any day now. We hope to see you soon at the Clifton Church on Connecticut Avenue.

Introducing Clifton Sanctuary Ministries

Brief History of Clifton

In the fall of 1979, the members of Clifton were horrified by the death of a homeless man on the streets of Atlanta on a bitterly cold night. They decided to open their sanctuary to anyone sleeping on the streets and promised to also provide a hot meal, showers and clean clothes. The first few nights that church members went downtown in their cars to bring homeless people back to the church, their intended beneficiaries were skeptical.

Yet within a few weeks, the sanctuary had exceeded its capacity, and the church decided to limit its care to thirty men. That was the beginning of the first church-based homeless shelter in metro Atlanta. Volunteers from other churches soon pitched in to help. Many returned to their own churches to start shelters or other ministries to homeless people, including Central and North Druid Hills Presbyterian Churches and Oakhurst Baptist Church.

Twenty years later, concerned by the lack of support for men returning to the streets from the shelter, Clifton joined with other churches to open Joe’s Place, a transition house for men leaving the shelter. Through intensive counseling and a mandatory savings program, Joe’s Place participants gain the skills and resources they will need to be functional on their own.

Today

During this past year our ministry has been blessed in more ways than we can begin to count. Special thanks must be extended to Epworth United Methodist Church, its ministers, trustees and the congregation for opening their church home to our ministry for the last year and three months. We thank each member of the volunteer teams for the extra time and effort you have brought to ministry and our guests during the past year. We have also been blessed financially during this past year. Late last year we received a bequest from Mr. James Gingles. Then this spring we received a similar gift from the trustees of Candler Park Baptist church after the church closed. We have also received grants form the Imlay Foundation and the Second Mile of John Wieland Homes.

Finally we find ourselves at a new beginning. Work on our church at 369 Connecticut Avenue has been completed. We are in the process of getting things ready for our return. Offices, the kitchen, the laundry and everything else needs to be reequipped and restocked before we can move back in. Through it all we have been blessed by your support and continued prayer.

Tomorrow

The challenges of tomorrow are many. Meals to serve, clothes to wash, floors to mop, and through it all a friendly smile and a kind word to each person whose life we touch. We were not promised a life of leisure but rather salvation through grace and faith. It is up to each of us to share the love of God with each guest at our sanctuary.