Pastors in Newaygo had concern for the “invisible” homeless population of Newaygo for many years. Churches received calls for assistance, which they freely gave, but it seemed like the same people kept coming back for more with no change in their ability to support themselves. It became clear that something was needed that could help those persons become self-sufficient.
One Wednesday morning in the summer of 2013 four women who attended the women’s Bible study at Family of God Community Church asked for prayer for their housing situation. They were all facing homelessness and did not have resources to find a place to live. There was a house for sale across the street from the church and the idea was born to buy the house and provide a program of housing for homeless people. After a year of research, study and prayer, those women were no longer in need of housing, but a proposal was made to the Leadership Team of the church to purchase the home at 101 Quarterline and set up a program to walk with homeless persons and families as they worked to become self-sufficient.
In 2015 Family of God Community Church completed the purchase of the home. This 100+ year old home located at 101 Quarterline in Newaygo was already sub divided into three apartments. Through designated contributions for roofing, electric and plumbing and many hours of volunteer effort, the home was completely renovated one apartment at a time. It now provides transitional housing for 3 families.
This home provided the foundation and the name for Hope 101 Ministry and is now called Anchor Home.
The work on Anchor home led to a family in Newaygo making a very generous gift of a single-family home in Newaygo in 2017. This home has been renovated by volunteers from Family of God Community Churchand the community. This home (known as theMercer Home, named after the family that donated it) now houses larger families in need of transitional housing.
In 2018 Hope 101 Ministry Inc. became a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from Family of God Community Church.
