We now have a Blog
Now that we have a Blog, I’m able to post news and information right from my own computer. But where I’ll find the time I don’t know. “Blog” is short for “web log,” and when when I post to it, I’m a “blogger.” Imagine that! Click here to check it out.
Souls are being saved!
We have a full house . . . We pretty much max-out at 40 people. Right now, we have all we can hold and 23 of those are children. Included in our “flock” is a father with five children and a mother with seven children. Our 24th child will be here any day—it will be a little boy and the mother is more than ready for his delivery.
Changes at the West Street Property
Since the first of 2006, we have made some major changes to the homes and property because of a capital-improvements grant we received from the Morgan Foundation.
A wonderful lady named Pam Whites heard about our struggle to get the bills all paid each month...especially the electric bill. She said she could not personally help, but she knew a man who ran a foundation because they both go to First Baptist.
Mrs. Whites talked to Mr. Miller Reid in our behalf and got the ball rolling. After a few months, we received the first of two checks. The first of 2006, we put that money into action.
The ministry now has a wonderful wrought iron fence around the chapel property and the parking area, new siding and insulation on the women’s dorm, termite treatment for the main house, a new floor and foundation work in the dining hall area, a new kitchen floor, a new commercial stove, a hot food service counter, a popcorn machine for the children and a whole list of smaller improvements too numerous to list here—and all because someone told someone else about a “good work.”
For a detailed report of all the improvements we were able to make with the Morgan Foundation grant, CLICK HERE.
Christmas Programs Beginning for Christmas ‘06
We are in the process of sending out the applications for needy families —families who are working at poverty level or grandparents trying to rear grandchildren or families in dire straits because of medical emergencies, fire, or theft. Once we qualify these children and interview them, we will begin to “adopt” out their needs and wishes on little “lamb” cards.
Booth spaces are available at our Happy Birthday Jesus Festival on December 22 at the fairgrounds for groups like yours to come and do some sort of activity or game with these children and to minister the love of Jesus Christ to them and to their parent or grandparent.
Progress on the Natchez Trace Property
In his “spare time” this year, my husband and some of the children (with a little tractor and a box blade) have cleared off some of the land on the Natchez Trace. There is so much work to do on the Trace Property that it is sometime overwhelming, but we will continue to plug away at it and pray diligently for a couple of days with a bulldozer.
We have about 35 acres of woods and thickets, and plans for this are as follows: to have a western ranch/farm with the flavor of the old west but with cabins for kids—like a campground. We eventually want to work a scholarship program where children from the city—from broken homes or from single-parent, low-income families—can come and “live” the old west.
This ranch will be a cross between the old “Hilltop Painted Acres” and the Ag Museum’s working farm. The whole focus will be on ministering to these children and their families about Jesus Christ and His saving grace. The plan of salvation and living Christian values everyday will be the skeleton that shapes and holds up the whole program.
Some of our children recently went to “cowboy” camp. They had so much fun it inspired us to work and pray even harder for our vision for the Natchez Trace property to become a reality. The photo at top right was taken at the “cowboy” camp.
Our Name Has Changed
We are now Wingard Home, Inc.—little different name and a different registration with the State, and a different EIN and 501-C– 3 number... but we are the same people, doing the same thing we have been doing and loving being madly in love with an awesome God that “gives people a second chance at life."
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