My Inheritance: A Heart for the Home

 
It’s hard to believe that so many years ago when my mom and dad began their involvement with Evangel Home, that God was preparing me for a future of service there too.

Some of you may remember my mom, Millie Thiessen who started out as a part-time volunteer and eventually became office manager. In between there were Bible studies, and serving in almost every capacity of Evangel Home work. Then there was my dad Marvin, who worked for 16 years as a volunteer handyman one or two days a week. Even long after his work at the Home had ended, every spring, he still wanted to be sure that the coolers were working in the apartments. Even though retired, his heart for the Home lived on. Both of them also served on the Evangel Home Board of Directors.
 
Like most things in life, sometimes we don’t recognize their significance until later on. When money would get tight or the food supply low, mom, the staff and board prayed. Every need was met no matter how big or how small. She made sure to share those answered prayers with the family.

When the apartments were purchased and refurbishing was needed on a budget of zero…they prayed. Financial donations came in, furniture showed up, church groups came and turned old worn out apartments into lovely homes for women and children in need. There were lots of other stories like this that stuck in my mind over the years. The end to every story was…God is faithful. The underlying seed that was planted in me was also a heart for the Home.
 
Even before I began serving as Board President, God was prompting me and others on the board toward a year of prayer for Evangel Home. Not just regular praying, but specific, purposeful, unified, yielded prayer. Prayer that allows God to change whatever needs to be changed in us and in the Home. Prayer that invites God to do a “new thing” in whatever way He wants to.

Now as I’m writing this letter the connection from the past has been made. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but this is a call from our past and into the future. Needs are many but God was, is and will be faithful. We are gratefully aware that without you answering God’s call to our needs there would be no ministry.

No doubt all of our supporters have also inherited a heart for the Home prompted by our Heavenly Father. I ask that you join us in prayer knowing that we pray for you, too, and look forward to sharing more of God’s faithfulness as the year unfolds.
 
Blessings,
Diane Ainsworth
Board President