Mission Makers
The Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) started as a storefront mission to help men facing homelessness in March of 1944 and has since expanded to include three facilities (Royal Pines, Shepura Men’s Center, and Jessie’s Place) that help men, women, and children in the Birmingham area. Executive Director Perryn Carroll explains that while the mission of JHM hasn’t changed, the resources it provides have expanded. “Our mission is to transform adults directly affected by homelessness, addiction, or unhealthy living, into those who lead purposeful, self-sufficient, and productive lives for the glory of God,” Carroll shares, adding, “Our promise is to provide pathways to recovery from the root causes of homelessness and unhealthy living through our proven process of compassion, guidance and accountability grounded in Christian faith.”
The History. JHM was started by Jimmie Hale who was known as the town drunk in the 1930s and early 1940s. Hale surrendered his life to Christ and had the desire to help those in similar situations. He married his wife Jessie, and they founded JHM on March 25, 1944. Just eight months later, Hale passed away. Jessie continued the mission for nearly a decade on her own until she met Leo Shepura who joined forces with her. Together, they led JHM for 36 years. Tony Cooper became the Executive Director of JHM in 1990 and faithfully served for 29 years until his retirement. He is now Director Emeritus. Carroll officially became the Executive Director in 2022 after more than 25 years of volunteering with JHM.
Reflecting on the past 80 years of serving those in need, Carroll also reflects on the faithfulness of the Lord in this ministry. “The Lord has been incredibly faithful to the obedience of JHM in serving as the hands and feet of Christ. The Lord has blessed our leadership and staff with clear vision and steadfast stamina in carrying out the Kingdom work with love and accountability to His word,” Carroll says. In 2023 alone, through the ministries of Jessie’s Place, Shepura Men’s Center, and Royal Pines, JHM served 173,025 meals, provided 56,400 safe nights of shelter, hosted 1,024 chapel and discipleship services, provided 39,024 job readiness hours, and served 644 clients with 15 of them enrolled in college.
Getting Involved. “The homelessness population is rising in our area, fueled by rising food and housing costs and the lack of access to healthcare, particularly mental healthcare,” Carroll explains, adding that the generosity of the Birmingham community continues to help JHM transform lives. There are many ways you can partner with JHM and help make a difference. Opportunities include serving and sharing a meal, mentoring a client, leading a chapel service, providing graduation and holiday bags, and more. Looking to the next 80 years and beyond, Carroll shares, “My hope is for Jimmie Hale Mission to continue operating with integrity and obedience to our Lord and Savior by providing pathways to recovery from the root causes of homelessness and unhealthy living through our proven process of compassion, guidance, and accountability grounded in Christian faith and love and governed by responsible stewardship.” To learn more about the JHM, visit www.jimmiehalemission.com.
-Melissa Armstrong
Watch the video below to learn more about Jimmie Hale Mission’s history and how you can join them in making a difference.
