The Kind of Help that Brings Lasting Change
It can be frustrating trying to help the poor. Many times, relieving their situation doesn’t deal with the root causes that led them to where they are, and they can simply devour the help we give without their suffering being relieved.
Not that we only help to see results. We help because it makes Jesus happy.
But for those who really want to change their lives, we want to offer more than meals and a place to stay for a night. We want to offer real help.
What Does Real Help Look Like?
After years of serving the poorest of the poor, Bread of Life saw the need to create a way to help those who truly wanted to change. They had relationships with many homeless individuals and experience to know what would work.
1. Get to the Roots.
Offer deep, Christ-centered help for the root causes of their painful symptoms from quality professionals that also follow Jesus.
2. Wholistic Approach.
Address every part of the person and their life, because each part affects the other parts.
3. Commitment.
Change can only come when participants desire change and are committed to it.
The New Life Center
From this dream was born the New Life Center. A transitional home for men in Poland.
New Life Center
This is a home for homeless men who want help making a change in their life. The men commit to a three phase program that is complete when they are integrated into normal life as productive members of a community and citizens of society.
The NLC residents are learning to live as a part of a community.
The men receive therapeutic community, pastoral care, individual and group psychotherapy, psychological consultations. The men are given interpersonal training and conflict resolution training. They also have the opportunity to participate in community, work, leisure, recreation, sports, volunteering and charity. This is all built on a foundation of hearing the Gospel declared and seeing the Gospel demonstrated.
A New Life Center resident fills out job applications on a computer.
A big part of this program is learning to work. They learn to use the computer to apply for outside jobs as part of the program. They also work at the New Life Center.
Lately, the residents have been gardening. This is rewarding work because it directly provides for feeding the residents. It also became a vehicle that could be used to help others around the NLC with their gardens.
Onions in the NLC garden.
Potatoes in the NLC garden.
Lives Changed
Currently residents at the NLC, both Waclaw and Wieslaw are now committed to taking care of their bodies rather than abusing them. Sixty year old Waclaw faithfully runs around the field of the NLC daily and is often joined by Wieslaw. Both men have shown the NLC staff they are sincere and steadfast.
“Waclaw is a man who has great self-discipline. There is no need to motivate him to act or work,” says NLC Director, Marcin Łukaszuk.
Waclaw’s commitment to everything he does brings great energy, which is often contagious to the other residents. He works hard at the tasks placed before him around the New Life Center.
Waclaw works hard at the tasks placed before him at the New Life Center.
Waclaw works hard at the tasks placed before him at the New Life Center.
Waclaw has also demonstrated a desire to be reconciled and live with God. He carefully studies the Bible and talks about it. He consistently takes part in the community of believers of Gniezno Church, which was planted by ITMI’s Piotr Zaremba.
Lives with Potential for Restoration
The New Life Center recently welcomed these new residents.
Paul Andrzejewski recently came to the New Life Center. The 30-year-old is the father of three children, but his alcohol addiction is so strong that the life of a family under one roof is no longer possible. Paul first came to the center as a result of his wife, but has since committed himself to the program.
Mr. Gregory Blonski, also a new resident, is estranged from his wife and daughter after serving a total of 20 years in prison. His last sentence ended in May 2012. The 53-year-old has since decided to seek treatment, but he wasn’t sure how. The NLC staff is hopeful that Gregory will find new life in the restoration Jesus brings.
ITMI’s New Life Center is a one-of-a-kind transitional home for men, addressing the root causes of the symptoms – poverty, homelessness, alcohol and estrangement. Please pray for the men of the New Life Center.
by Summer Kelley
Summer Kelley is a writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three kids. She has had the privilege of telling ITMI’s stories since 2006. She loves to write uplifting stories of God’s work overseas, read and learn about the world around her and enjoy her family.
