Mission Makers

For more than 80 years, the Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) has been a beacon of hope for the homeless population in Birmingham by providing food, shelter, and other services. JHM is now taking steps to expand their reach by adding a year-round emergency-plus shelter and service hub. “It will provide a safe place to sleep, warm meals, showers, laundry facilities, case management, mental health services, basic medical care and emergency dental care to our most vulnerable neighbors, as well as shelter to their pets who, many times, are the only family they have,” JHM Executive Director Perryn Carroll says.

The shelter will be directly across the street from JHM’s Downtown Men’s Center. Why? “The location gives us the efficiency of using our present commercial kitchen, the accessibility to adjust staffing as needed and the ability to transition men and women to our programs seamlessly,” Carroll explains. Through serving as a warming station during the winter months, JHM realized “that we are able to reach the most broken and vulnerable in our community through emergency care.” The new facility will allow JHM to meet the basic needs of more people in Birmingham all while “building relationships and trust needed to give the broken the confidence to take the next step toward a better life,” Carroll explains.

Construction of the emergency shelter is expected to take nine to ten months. JHM has secured $1 million of the $4.4 million needed for construction. How can you help? Carroll first asks for prayer. “We feel like God is challenging us to care for His children who are most in need and we ask that you pray for our obedience to His calling and for provision to bring this much-needed facility to our community,” she says. You can also donate financially at www.jimmiehalemission.com/capital. To learn more about JHM and the current three facilities- Royal Pines, Shepura Men’s Center, and Jessie’s Place- visit www.jimmiehalemission.com. 

-Melissa Armstrong

Mission Makers

Birmingham nonprofit Sozo Children hosted volunteer doctors and nurses from Children’s of Alabama and UAB St. Vincents East. The group traveled to Sozo Village in Uganda to provide consulting, treatment, urgently needed medications and preventive care at no cost. An estimated 1700 people were helped during the two day medical camp.

During the event, individuals consulted with a doctor or nurse, received treatment, heard a Gospel message, and were provided with information about other resources. Nearly 100 people gave their lives to Christ during the event. Many children and parents who came had been dependent on USAID-funded clinics and hospitals. Since those funds were frozen, many centers drastically reduced services or closed altogether. One child, Keira, who has suffered with HIV since birth, lost her resource for regular medical treatment when USAID to Uganda ended. At the September medical camp, she received life-saving medication while Sozo Children continues to seek a long-term solution for her

Children’s of Alabama nurses Kate Montjoy and Andrien Mercado both traveled to Uganda to be a part of Sozo’s annual medical camp. Montjoy shares, “I think that it’s really obvious to see God’s love here just through everything that we’re doing, but especially through the Sozo kids [local children] that come and help volunteer here. They have really put into action everything. So, as I was teaching them, it’s really encouraging to see that what we’re pouring into them is being spread out to the community.” Mercado adds, “What made me want to come serve at the Sozo medical camp is honestly, the Lord has burdened me for the sick, and this opportunity presented itself and the pieces just fell into place. It is such an honor to feel that burden with the Lord… We’re very blessed with a lot of knowledge in America. And so being able to bring and help equip everybody here as well is something I wanted to do.”

Suzanne Owens, founder and CEO of Sozo Children said, “The cost for our annual medical camp, and the year-round care we provide costs approximately $100,000 each year. Every penny comes from donors in the United States who understand the need for medical care for children and adults in Uganda.” Sozo Children also provides year-round shelter, food, education, medical and other services to an average of 135 children annually. “We serve God by serving others, equipping children mentally, physically and spiritually to become strong leaders for Christ,” Owens said. To learn more about Sozo Children, visit www.sozochildren.org. †