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Wayside Cross Ministries was founded in April 1928, as a result of a
Billy Sunday crusade in Aurora the year before. It started as a Rescue
Mission for homeless men. Over the years, Wayside's program has expanded
not only to serve needy men, but homeless women and children and youth
at risk.
Naperville Presbyterian Church partners with Wayside Cross in a number
of ways. Some of our men lead Bible studies at Wayside during the week.
Several women serve in the Lifespring Ministry which is the arm of
Wayside Cross that ministers to homeless women. Anyone is welcome to
partner with Wayside Cross and can find our more by contacting
Art Wittmann at 630-723-3421.
Wayside Mission Statement
Responding to Christ's command to love our neighbor and our
responsibility to demonstrate His compassion to people, Wayside Cross
Ministries reaches out with the Gospel to persons in the Fox Valley
whose lives lack hope and direction because of poverty, addiction, abuse
and violence. We do this through material help, counseling, education
and training and provide these services without regard to age, sex,
race, and creed. We help people find new hope in Christ, grow in
spiritual and social maturity, build self-esteem, gain control of their
lives and return to their families, churches and communities as
productive citizens.
Guiding Principles
- We welcome all persons.
- We practice good stewardship.
- We help people help themselves.
- We proclaim the gospel.
- We cooperate with others.
- We minister to the whole person.
Wayside Cross now includes the following ministries:
- Master's Touch - Master's Touch residential ministry for
men goes beyond meeting the primary needs of life -- food, clothing
and shelter. It offers hope for the future to those who sincerely
desire to turn their lives around and to return to job and family as
responsible members of society. This Biblically-based program of
counseling, work rehabilitation, life skills training, education and
spiritual development helps men gain control of their lives.
- Lifespring - Lifespring is Wayside's program for
homeless, abused or destitute women. Its primary goal is to help a
woman to be healed, self-sufficient, contributing member of her
community. Lifespring's 12-month rehabilitation program is designed
to strengthen skills in parenting, conflict resolution, budgeting
and finances and household management. Counseling and spiritual
direction are also integral part of the entire healing process. Both
single women and women with children are welcome.
- Urban Youth - Living in a world where drugs, gangs,
teenage pregnancies and alcohol abuse are all daily realities, young
people often grow up feeling powerless and hopeless. Many are caught
in a cycle or poverty and addiction that compromise their future.
Urban Youth Ministry (UYM) has been dedicated since 1989 to
empowering at-risk children ages 6-15 through a variety of outreach
programs: after-school tutoring, weekly kids clubs, baseball,
softball and summer day camp. All are designed to provide
constructive, positive activities and foster lasting relationships
between the children and their mentors.
- Elgin Wayside Center - The Wayside Center in Elgin was
established in 1993 as an extension of Wayside Cross Ministries. It
is primarily a daytime intervention shelter, providing food,
clothing, laundry facilities, lockers, Bible study and encouragement
for the homeless in the Elgin area. Scores of volunteers help the
clients network with local agencies to find places to live, jobs,
child care and other support. Wayside House, residential facility
was created as an interim home for six Wayside Center clients who
are employed and in the process of returning to the community.
- New Life Corrections - Prisoners are often the most needy
but most overlooked members of society. In the United States today,
this population is over two million individuals. For over 60 years,
New Life Corrections Ministry has served as a catalyst bringing
individual volunteers to mentor behind prison walls, and to
encourage the families of inmates. Recently New Life Corrections has
expanded its program to include the incarcerated young men and women
of youth detention centers in the Fox Valley. New partnerships have
also been forged with the Institute or Prison Ministry, Mission USA
and I.D.C., Fox Valley Adult Women's Transition Center.
- Hope Outreach - Hope Outreach Ministry provides exactly
that: hope for men in despair, hope for low income households and
hope for families in our community in crisis. Primarily, this
division supervises the therapeutic part of the recovery program
for the Master's Touch men -- worthwhile work six days a week at Wayside's facility in Aurora. In addition to this responsibility,
Hope Outreach directs Wayside's in-kind donation program. It
operates a resale store, the Hope Chest, and through its Community
Outreach program offers household items, clothing and furniture at
no charge to families in desperate need of all that makes a house a
home.
- Awareness Events - If you would like to learn more about
this ministry, please join us at one of our Awareness Events. These
are conducted twice monthly on either a Wednesday (12:00noon to 1:30
pm) or a Saturday (9:00am to 10:30). The purpose is information in
nature, which includes a testimony from a Wayside Cross resident and
a tour of the WCM facilities focusing on Master's Touch. Contact
Art Wittmann at 630-723-3421 if you are interested in attending
any of the awareness events.
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