David McCarrell is at the helm of the
Old Lighthouse and currently serves and the president of Pacific
Garden Mission. McCarrell has been familiar with Pacific Garden
Mission for several years. He was influenced through his father
William McCarrell. The pastor of Cicero Bible Church of Cicero,
Illinois was William McCarrell. Pastor McCarrell was involved with
Pacific Garden Mission for over fifty years.
David McCarrell served as chairman for
nine of the eighteen years in which he was on the board of Pacific
Garden Mission. He assumed leadership of Pacific Garden Mission on an
interim basis early in 1997. Eventually he was named a President of
the Old Lighthouse in the same year. A career development program and
a Polish ministry were added under his direction to menu of
ministries of the Pacific Garden Mission.
David McCarrell instituted the “Bread
of Life” ministry in 2001; donated bakery goods and gospels were
distributed to people in the projects of the inner city. Under his
leadership and direction renovations in the Medical/Dental clinic and
at Gospel League Home have taken place.
Pacific Garden Mission is funded
through the financial gifts of individuals, churches, organizations
and legacies. It doesn't receive any funding through state, local or
federal government.
The length of time in which a homeless
person may stay at Pacific Garden Mission varies according to the
each individual's personal situation and need.
"It is our desire to bring each one to salvation and maturity in Christ, therefore we work with each person with that long term goal in mind."
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." — John 6:35
Although trucks from Pacific Garden
Mission are loaded with bread, crackers, cookies, coffee cakes and
special gifts; the mission desires to provide more than physical
nourishment.
Individuals and families living in the
projects of Chicago need food to nourish their bodies. They also have
a desperate need for spiritual food which is satisfied in the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to nourish their souls.
Bread of Life Ministry
Pacific Garden Mission's president
David McCarrell recognized the urgent need to reach out to the
community with the love of Jesus Christ. In 2000, Pacific Garden
Mission initiated the “Bread of Life” ministry. Food donated to
the mission by large supermarket chains and distributors are often
received with tears and smiles of appreciation. Gospel tracts are
distributed with the food to recipients who are offered the
opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Since the
inception of the program, hundreds of people have professed their
faith in Jesus Christ.
Twenty to twenty-five percent of the
food which Pacific Garden Mission serves each day is through direct
food donations. Included in this percentage is food from the Greater
Chicago Food Depository, local bread, bagel, pastry shops, and
restaurants. Non-perishables are provided by concerned friends of
Pacific Garden Mission. The remainder of the food is purchased with
financial gift especially designated for this purpose.
"Please continue to pray that God will continue to provide the means to distribute bread and the “Bread of Life” to the unfortunate people of Chicago."
Homeless in Chicago
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
estimates that there are more than 166,000 people in Chicago who are
homeless. On any given night in Chicago; as many as 15,000 people are
homeless and need shelter.
The face of the homeless population has
changed significantly since Pacific Garden Mission was established in
1877. Today, 48% of Chicago's homeless population is single men.
Whereas, 38% of the population in need of shelter are homeless
families. 14% of the homeless population are single women and 4%
young people. African-Americans make up 77% of Chicago's homeless
population, 12% of the homeless people of Chicago are Caucasians, 9%
of the population needing shelter are Latino.
Consequently, at least 20% of the
homeless people of Chicago work full or part-time yet cannot afford
to pay rent for an apartment in Chicago. In order to afford a
two-bedroom apartment in Chicago paying “fair market rent;” one
has to earn a wage of $17.13 an hour at forty hours a week.
Tragically, the fastest growing segment of the homeless population
are families with children.
There are more homeless American
veterans than the number of U.S. Soldiers who died in the Vietnam
conflict. 23% of the homeless in Chicago are American Veterans.
The fundamental cause of homelessness
in Chicago is a lack of affordable housing. There is a deficit of
153,000 apartment units affordable to families who earn less than
$20,000 a year in Chicago. Over 37% of renter households pay more
than 30% of their income for rent. Furthermore, over 12% of renting
households pay more than half of their income for rent. The waiting
period for public housing is over five years and the waiting period
for Section 8 certificates is ten years.
Furthermore, there is a lack of descent
jobs and sufficient income in Chicago. Between 1971 and 1991, 340,000
manufacturing jobs have been lost in Chicago. Unlike most service
sector jobs, the vast majority manufacturing jobs that were lost paid
living wages. A family of four must make $7.57 per hour in order to
bring its income up to the level of the federal poverty level.
In order to meet a basic budget that
includes rent, transportation, and childcare; a family of four in
Chicago must make $22.63 to earn an annual income of $47,076. There
are 114 people seeking every single job that pays a living wage.
Homelessness can be caused by a lack of
adequate health services. 13% of homeless individuals became homeless
due to problems with their health. The rate of tuberculosis infection
among the homeless of Chicago is three times higher than the general
population. 10% of the homeless people living in Chicago are HIV
positive. 30% of the homeless endure varying degrees of mental
illness. Only 5% to 7% of the homeless people in Chicago with mental
illness need to be institutionalized. If proper supporting housing
were available, as many as 95% of those people could living in
community settings.
34% of homeless adults have a substance
abuse problem. The loss of a parent to crime and imprisonment,
physical and sexual abuse, as well as laziness contribute to
homelessness. It has been estimated that 75% of men in prison have
come from broken homes. The primary cause of filling homeless
shelters is the breakdown of the family due to sexual sin, divorce,
and abandonment of family be a male.
Pacific Garden Mission has established
a Homeless Outreach to meet the immediate physical needs of food,
clothing, and a comfortable safe place to sleep. Counseling is
provided to assist those people who have experienced physical abuse,
broken relationships, and drug abuse.
The most important goal of Pacific
Garden Mission is to meet each persons individual spiritual need for
forgiveness of sin through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Men's Division
The Men's Division of Pacific Garden
Mission is a steadfast haven for homeless men with nowhere else to
turn.
A counselor will interview each
individual and determine the needs of each man upon entry in the
Men's Division. He is provided with information regarding meals,
overnight accommodations, and the possibility of obtaining clean
clothing and medical assistance if needed. The guest is provided with
a shower, clean sleepwear, and a comfortable bunk in which to sleep.
God has provided facilities to
accommodate men on a long-term basis as well as overnight
accommodations. Some of the men who have entered the doors of Pacific
Garden Mission have stayed for many nights or even months.
“Even though some of these men don't stay long, it is a privilege to have briefly touched their lives with the message of hope in Jesus Christ.”
Resident Bible Program
Several men to profess faith in Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior after receiving faithful counseling of the
Mission staff and the preaching of the Gospel during daily services.
The men are cordially invited to attend the Resident Bible Program;
an unbending program designed to teach sound biblical truths.
Furthermore, the Resident Bible Program has the objective designed to
develop stability through discipline and personal responsibility.
Once the Resident Bible Program has
been completed by a guest; men are eligible to attend available
classes in Fundamentals of Faith, Christian Character, Bible
Doctrine, Bible Survey, Christian Manhood, New Testament
Christianity, Survey of the Gospel of John, and Soul-Winning
An diploma in Biblical Studies is
available from the Old Lighthouse Bible Academy after a student is
successfully tested on his knowledge of the subject matter.
The staff of Pacific Garden Mission
find it a delight and joy to see many of the men who graduate the
Resident Bible Program grow rapidly in Christ, reunite with their
families, hold down steady jobs, and remain free from the powerful
bondage of former addictive habits.
God has continued to use Pacific Garden
Mission as His instrument to reach into the heart and soul of
Chicago's homeless men since 1877.
Women's Ministry
Pacific Garden Mission began a small
but effective “Women's Ministry” in 1941 through understanding
the overwhelming need to reach the homeless women of Chicago. The
flourishing “Women's Ministry” has become the fastest growing
ministry of Pacific Garden Mission. The new facility of Pacific
Garden Mission houses over a hundred over-night female guests each
night. Accommodations for longer periods of time are also available
for women with children and families..
The Women's and Children's Ministry
house was at Gospel League Home at 955 W. Grand Avenue. The building
was a settlement house during the early 1900's and eventually became
a ministry to needy woman with children. Gospel League Home was made
available to Pacific Garden Mission in the 1980's. It was renovated
to meet the needs of homeless women and children.
Currently, the new facility has
provided more room and better facilities to meed the daily needs of
an increasing number of women seeking help. The available facilities
are designed to meet the spiritual as well as physical needs of
female guests and their children.
Whenever a woman comes to Pacific
Garden Mission she is provided with a shower, food, clothing, and
accommodations. She is counseled to determine her specific needs and
is cordially helped by members of the Pacific Garden Mission staff
accordingly.
“But more importantly, she is given an opportunity to experience the life-changing love of God. She witnesses this unconditional love in the lives of the staff she meets and also in the fellowship of the evening Gospel Services.”
Resident Bible Program
Those women who chose to receive God's
free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ are cordially invited to
participate in the Resident Bible Program.
Women and their children can learn of
the God who has taken them from despair into a life of promise by
participating in daily Bible classes and evening Gospel Services.
Classes conducted at the Mission help each woman mature in her
relationship with Jesus Christ, her family and society through
practical biblical training. Several women have left Pacific Garden
Mission to become wonderful testimonies of God's grace and mercy.
Each person who desires to grow in the
Word of God can voluntarily enroll in the Men's or Women's resident
programs. The twelve month program offers outstanding opportunities
which include spiritual and educational life skill instruction. There
are classes which men and women are required to attend and work
assignments for persons while residing at the mission. The commitment
to the first Bible Program is for a period of 60 days. After the
initial commitment has been reached an individual is asked to
continue in the Program. After four months have been successfully
completed; individuals who have attended the program are tested on
the knowledge of the Bible. If one is willing to make a commitment of
eight months to complete further steps of study in the Bible
Institute; he or she enters a career development phase of the
program.
Pacific Garden Mission offers the
following bible studies during a program stay:
Christian Character
Romans Road
John
Proverbs
Revelations
Additionally areas of study include:
Survey of the Old Testament and New
Testament
Soul-Winning sessions
Practical Truths
various other biblical teachings
Additional educational opportunities
consist of the following studies:
Completing the requirements for a GED
Attending basic computer class and
resume writing
Attending weekly life skills class
Developing strategies for possible job
placement
The length of time within the program
decides when those opportunities our available.
Career Development
Upon completing eight months of the
Program, he or she may enter the course Career Development. Sessions
will focus on job application and resume preparation, interview
skills, and job search opportunities. Guest speakers bring additional
value to the programs. Upon successful completion of this phase of
the program and passing a final examination, one will graduate
receiving a Diploma in Biblical Studies.
Pacific Garden Mission provides help
with counseling, placement and additional support to integrate and
ease one from Pacific Garden Mission to the community.
Graduates may seek the Lord's leading
to work as a staff member at Pacific Garden Mission. The mission is
delighted to assist graduates to continue to represent the Lord Jesus
Christ as they endeavor to be productive citizens. Pacific Garden
Mission firmly believes that continued attendance at a fundamental
Bible believing church is critical and essential to continued growth
and spiritual well-being. The graduate is strongly advised to
continue to establish quality work ethics and to do all things
“decent and in order.” In conclusion, Pacific Garden Mission is
most wiling to everything possible to aid and assist each person with
their spiritual and physical needs.
Medical Clinic
In 1951 two medical students from the
University of Illinois established the Pacific Garden Mission Health
Clinic. A small clinic was opened at Pacific Garden Mission by Dean
Smith and Jack Pollard. They sincerely desired to meet the physical
needs of the people who needed help most. As an influx of patients
increased; volunteer physicians began offering their services
whenever available. 1968, Dr. Joan Zoellin became the first permanent
staff physician in the clinic as the medical needs of the guests
became so great. Guests who come to the Pacific Garden Mission pay
nothing for the medical care they receive.
“Men, women and children come to the clinic seeking much needed medical attention and are treated with dignity and love.”
Paid and volunteer medical personnel
work diligently to meet the ever increasing medical needs of as many
as 500 patients each month. Various medical conditions are treated
ranging from the common cold to terminal illnesses including AIDS.
There are a wide range of people who come to Pacific Garden Mission's
clinic for medical care. Unfortunately, the people needing medical
assistance are becoming younger each year.
Alcoholic men in their 50's and 60's
were being treated in the early days of the clinic. Since drugs
especially cocaine, have become more accessible the staff treats more
homeless men and women who are in their 20's and 30's. Some of the
young addicts are able to kick their habits cold turkey when God
fills the void in their lives with his grace, love, and kindness.
Volunteer Optometric Services to
Humanity (VOSH) has sent a team of six to eight optometrists and
optometry students twice each year to the clinic to screen for
glaucoma and prescribe glasses for guests who need them.
Pacific Garden Mission has provided
dental services since the inception of the medical clinic. The dental
needs of patients are met through the clinic's dentists whether it be
filling the smallest cavity or treating total tooth decay and gum
disease.
Furthermore, the medical clinic
provides a psychiatric, podiatry clinic, counseling services,
preventative medical services, vaccinations, crisis pregnancy
counseling, and CPR training for full time staff members including
Bible Program women and men involved with the homeless.
“By God's grace and through the sacrifice and love of the clinic staff, all the men, women, and children who come seeking help are cared for not only physically but also spiritually. Each patient is counseled by someone on the PGM staff and is encouraged to seek out God and learn of His unconditional love. It is exciting to see God heal both the bodies and the souls of those He brings to Pacific Garden Mission.”
Jail Outreach Ministry
Pacific Garden Mission has the goal to
set at liberty through the Gospel of Jesus Christ those who are
incarcerated. Hence the “Old Lighthouse” has established the Jail
Outreach Ministry.
Pastor Samson Green is a graduate of
the Old Lighthouse Bible Institute. Pastor Green directs the Pacific
Garden Ministry at the Cook County Jail. A wide variety of inmates as
young as 18 years of age from all walks of life have been convicted
of a wide assortment of crimes. Pastor Green is able to provide
Bibles, conduct Bible studies, and disciple new believers through the
resources of Pacific Garden Mission. Pacific Garden Mission has
provided the resources to Pastor Green to supply additional aftercare
for inmates and their families.
Upon release from jail, former inmates
are given the opportunity to join the Bible program and live at the
mission. This opportunity sets Pacific Garden Mission Jail Outreach
Ministry apart from other ministries. The mission provides an
environment of discipleship and discipline to assist men to grow
spiritually preparing them to reenter society.
A special component of the Jail
Outreach Ministry is the contact Pastor Green has with the inmates'
families. Often many youthful and adult offenders struggle with the
transition when they return home.
Families are visited whenever possible
and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to family members in
order that when a former inmate eventually returns home they enter an
environment of faith in Jesus Christ.
"The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me; because tshe LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Isaiah 61:1
Polish Outreach
There is a growing Polish population in
Chicago; the Polish Outreach of Pacific Garden Mission was
established to bring the Gospel to the Polish community which now
numbers over a million.
Ed Schoenberger directs the Polish
Outreach of Pacific Garden Mission. The Polish Outreach seeks to
minister to the Polish homeless who come to the mission, build
friendships, and show hospitality.
Furthermore, the Polish Outreach
conducts evangelistic home Bible studies, survey and conducts street
evangelism in local parks and door-to-door outreach.
At the end of a outreach session of
evangelism in a local park; five Polish teens were given tracts and
Ed shared his testimony of how God brought him to the Lord through
the death of his sister and friend.
One of the young male teenagers
declared:
That's right where I'm at. I lost my dad not too long agi, and also my cousin.”
When it began to rain all of the party
sought shelter beneath a tree where Ed continued to share the Good
News of Jesus Christ with the teenagers. Another Polish teen
mentioned that he had just lost his sister in a car accident. The
second young man was very receptive to the message of the Gospel.
Ed Schoenberger says:
"Praise the Lord for these open hearts and minds to listen. When we go with the gospel, God opens doors to share our testimony and His powerful truth."
The purpose for which Pacific Garden
Mission began the Polish Ministry is to glorify God through
proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Polish community.
Depend upon God to bring many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
becoming His followers. Help new believers in the community to mature
spiritually and assimilate them into Bible believing churches in
which they can grow and mature through discipleship.
A Visit from PGM
Revival teams from Pacific Garden
Missions are available to visit local churches,schools, and
organizations. One can share the light and fire of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ through the ministry of the “Old Lighthouse.” You
are cordially invited to share with the congregation of your church,
student body, and members of your particular organization the message
of the “Old Lighthouse.”
Pacific Garden Mission will send
revival teams which minister through music, testimonies of convert's
and old fashioned Gospel preaching at your request.
The Pacific Garden Mission has sent
Revival teams throughout the upper mid-western United States.
Occasionally they have made longer trips which depend upon schedules
and available resources.
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