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IN THE BEGINNING... Roy & Charlotte Wingard met at a dance bar on the Ross Barnett Reservoir in November of 1987.
Roy was in Jackson from Birmingham, Alabama, working as a welder. Charlotte (then Charlotte Savage) was a local Jackson business owner totally devoted to her business, her two children, and to making money.
At the time, both were going through divorces and both were wallowing in their addictions. Charlotte’s addiction was to money and power, and Roy’s was to alcohol and drugs. Misery Loves company, so they moved in with each other.
And so began eight months of agony and swift decline. During this time, Charlotte sold everything she owned, packed up her two small children, and with Roy they left for Greenville, South Carolina, with $6,000 cash and visions of greener pastures.
Charlotte’s addiction was now Roy; and Roy’s addiction, drugs and alcohol, quickly consumed all their money and resources. Within three months, they ended up homeless in the July heat of 1988 in Atlanta, Georgia.
There were many mental and spiritual wounds during this time, including an abortion, attempted suicide, and mental abuse.
THE SOLUTION...Becoming homeless and destitute was, without question, the very best thing that could have happened to them. By divine appointment, God had John and Carrol Quinn in their pathway by providing them a home. The Quinns were both pastors who had devoted their lives to helping homeless and needy people. They did this by opening up their own home; giving folks a place to live.
The Quinns practiced what they preached and with that witness and through their obedience, God brought Roy and Charlotte both separately and then together through a healing. They both gave their lives to Jesus; then, they joined their lives together in matrimony and in God‘s service as missionaries) –this time in Jesus Name and the right way according to man’s law.
THE GREAT COMMISSION…Roy & Charlotte were married by the Quinns at the ministry on October 14, 1988. After training under the Quinns for two years, God commissioned the Wingards to “Go, Ye!” to Jackson, Mississippi, and open a Home for the homeless.
As missionaries they left their comfort zone in Atlanta and traveled to Jackson (which, at the time, felt to both of them like going into the land of the Philistines).
In October of 1990, all the legal paperwork was completed in Jackson, and thus began the ministry of Signs & Wonders Ministry/Wingard Home. By Thanksgiving, they were giving thanks, indeed, with a household full of folks who needed Jesus. They needed a haven from the storm and had found just that with the Wingard family at 745 North Congress Street in Jackson, Mississippi.
By Christmas of that same year, that old wood frame home (which had been rented by grace and elbow grease) sported a new coat of paint, curtains made from sheets, and hand-made beds. Christmas was good that year for a whole lot of homeless folks and 68 needy children from the community.
THE VISION GROWS...Their Home remained on Congress Street for 5 1/2 years. In May of 1996, Wingard Home moved to property which had been purchased and donated by John and Jane Player of Madison, Mississippi. At 1279 North West Street, they now had 3 houses and a vacant lot to work with. In January of 2005, a small building & parking lot at 1275 N. West were added to the ministry property.
Thousands of people have been appointed by God to come through their doors. The rules are strict and the program is tough; but, the program works for those who truly want help. Even the ones who have failed have been touched by God’s love and they know the answer...they choose not to be successful—but, the seed is planted!
The Wingards are a missionary family who receives no paycheck for what they do. They will be quick to tell you that God has never let them do without and has always taken care of the needs of their family. They and their children receive a place to stay, food to eat, and clothes to wear (all through the donated items that support the ministry). While working 24 hours a day, every day of the year; they stay so “caught up” in the service of God, that the ways of the world no longer are able to entice them. Roy and Charlotte have nine children, five together and two each from their “before God” marriages.
Roy’s daughter, Cindy, is grown and lives in the Birmingham, Alabama area with her two sons. Roy’s son, Clay, is grown and lives in the Birmingham area near his Mother.
Charlotte’s son, Timothy Savage, is married to Rachel and lives in Brandon, Mississippi. Rachel volunteers at the ministry part-time. They have two little girls.
Charlotte’s daughter Mandy Savage served as a missionary at Wingard Home for many years. Today, Mandy is pursuing her education.
The Wingard’s five children are Marcus (17), John-Israel (16), Rebekah (14), Hannah (12), and Rachael (11). The number of custody children fluctuates from 6 to 12 at any given time. In the past 16 years, the Wingards have shared their “family love” with hundreds of custody kids.
TO SUM IT ALL UP... Roy and Charlotte—after having been through high school, college, trade school, the school of “hard knocks,” and two years of intensive training in apprenticeship to the Quinns—have (for the past 16 years in Jackson) shown people who are hurting and in trouble how to break the yoke of poverty, abuse, and the addictions that make them homeless and destitute.
They take whoever comes needing help as long as they agree to work and to make an effort. They receive men, women and children, married couples, pregnant teens, fathers with children, and single women. These people are then clothed, fed, sheltered, counseled, schooled, and cared for absolutely free of charge. In return, they have to work a job, save their money, go by the rules, and make an effort to work on the problems that caused them to be in need.
The children come to the Wingards through the youth courts and are ruled c.h.i.n.s. or delinquent. They come abused, neglected, rebellious, angry, strung-out, and have NO respect for themselves, their parents, authority, or their peers. The Wingards act as parents to these kids and treat them as much like their own children as is possible.
Each day, the Wingards’ lives are full of activities, duties, and challenges as they bring the good news of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation to a hurt and dying world...and for them, the “Great Commission” starts right inside their own front door.
Charlotte Wingard... “Each day is a new adventure with endless opportunities to let God use you to change people’s lives for the better.”
Roy Wingard... “Seeing people work the program and succeed is really what a payday is all about. We are giving people a hand-up...not a hand-out!”
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