Joselyns' Corner Messages from the Shelter Manager Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD Marcus had learned how to disappear in plain sight. For nearly three years, he lived between park benches, borrowed couches, and the quiet corners of a city that never really noticed him. Mornings started with the same calculation: where to find coffee, where to stay warm, how to avoid trouble. Nights were heavier—filled with regret, missed chances, and the steady weight of feeling forgotten. He hadn’t always lived that way. There was a time when Marcus had a steady job, an apartment, and a sense of direction. But one injury led to lost work, which led to bills piling up, which led to drinking—at first to cope, then just to get through the day. Eventually, everything unraveled. The turning point came on a cold November afternoon. Marcus wasn’t looking for help—he was looking for a place to sit. But he noticed a small building with its doors open and a sign offering a hot meal. He hesitated. Pride had kept him from walking into places like that before. But hunger won. Inside, things were different than he expected. No judgment. No lectures. Just people who greeted him by name once they learned it, who asked if he needed anything beyond food. That place became his first step forward. The shelter didn’t just provide meals and a bed—it provided structure. Residents were expected to participate: daily routines, responsibilities, and for many, recovery meetings. At first, Marcus resisted. He didn’t like being told what to do, and he didn’t trust that anything would actually change. But something about the consistency wore down his resistance. Staff members checked in—not just about rules, but about how he was doing. Volunteers listened. Slowly, Marcus started attending the daily meetings. Then he started sharing. For the first time in years, he said out loud that he was tired of living the way he had been. Recovery wasn’t quick. There were setbacks—days when Marcus wanted to walk out, moments when old habits pulled at him. But the shelter didn’t give up on him, and eventually, he stopped giving up on himself. He began taking on small responsibilities around the facility—cleaning, helping in the kitchen, organizing supplies. What started as required chores became something more. It gave him purpose. It gave him a reason to show up. Months passed. Marcus got connected with a caseworker who helped him secure identification, then part-time work. The job wasn’t glamorous—stocking shelves at a local store—but it was steady. It was his. The biggest change, though, wasn’t external. It was internal. Marcus started to believe that his life wasn’t over—that he could rebuild, piece by piece. A year after walking through those doors, Marcus moved into a small apartment. It wasn’t much—just a one-room place with secondhand furniture—but to him, it was everything. It was stability. It was dignity. He still returned to the shelter, but now it was different. Now he came back as a volunteer. He would sit with new residents—men who looked the way he once did: guarded, tired, skeptical. He didn’t preach to them. He didn’t pretend the road was easy. He just told them the truth: “I walked in here the same way you did. I didn’t think anything could change either. But it can—if you let it.” Marcus no longer tried to disappear. He stood fully present in his life, grounded in faith, supported by community, and committed to staying on the path he had fought so hard to find. And for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t just surviving. He was thriving. Scan to donate

Everyone is welcomed to come by and take look at our facility. Mission Tours To lean how Hope Haven Gospel Mission helps neighbors in need. Sign up for a tour of our homeless shelter, kitchen, and giveaway room. Chapel Engagement Our chapel service is every Sunday at 6:30 pm, everyone is welcome! Bible study every Wednesday at 6 pm. All are welcome. Spread the word Our advocates are those who believe in and support our ministry. Follow us on Facebook and YouTube to stay in the know about chapel service and updates on completed projects.

This is a list of our current needs. If you have any questions please contact us. Ways to Support Hope Haven We are in dire need of breakfast items, such as cereal, instant oatmeal, pop tarts, milk, and breakfast bars. We would also need coffee, sugar, creamer, juice powder mix, large coffee filters. Interested in helping out but not sure where to begin? There are many ways to provide support for Hope Haven. Be sure to scroll all the way down! Through donations of supplies, clothing, and household items. Winter hats Winter gloves Through drives or campaigns with local organizations to meet a specific need. (Non-perishable food, hygiene items, socks, winter clothing, etc.) Share our website links and Facebook posts. Use Paypal to offer financial support. Use Amazon Smile to help raise support. Use our Fundraising page Volunteer as an individual, family, or group. Plus size clothing for men and women Pray for us! (<--Very important!) Men's underwear all sizes Our generous donors and volunteers make providing vital rescue and recovery services possible, free of charge, to anyone in our community who has need of them. Explore the various ways to join us in meeting the needs of the men, women, and children we serve. All gifts are tax deductible, and rest assured, we always protect your personal information. Review Us Click Here Scan to donate Giving takes many forms. Our Current List of Needs: Hygiene: shampoo deodorant razors shave cream toothbrushes toothpaste for men, women, children pads & tampons, varied absorbency Clothing & Linens undergarments & men, women, especially larger sizes; children bath towels Soup Kitchen: styrofoam 8 oz. cups, 8-9" plates, small bowls plastic cutlery napkins paper towels 33 gallon trash bags disposable salt & pepper shakers sugar coffee Ketchup Mayonnaise Children: diapers: N, 1, 2, & 5 baby wipes infant crib winter gear Miscellaneous: HE laundry detergent dryer sheets bleach latex-free gloves Bleach Liquid floor cleaner Paper towels Napkins Toilet paper Donate Items

We are on X, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, and Youtube Media Contact: Pastor Willie Ponds Office: 207-457-5710 Cell: 904-930-8585 wponds85@gmail.com Mail: 209 Lincoln Street, Lewiston, ME 04240 Email Me!

We have a solid team here at Hope Haven Gospel Mission, Pastor Willie Ponds is the Executive Director, Joselyn Griggs is the Shelter Manager, R. Anthony Feole is the Security Director Joselyn Griggs Shelter Manager, R. Anthony Feole Security Director, V. Renee Robinson Ponds Communication & Events Director, Jeffrey Hutchinson Maintenance Supervisor, Dawn Page Receptionist, Marjorie Housekeeping, Hope Haven Leadership The dedicated team at Hope Haven is committed to serving those in need with care and compassion. We strive to be the hands and feet of Christ while working constantly to ensure that the dignity of everyone we encounter is maintained and that physical and spiritual needs are met. https://www.zazzle.com/seeing_scripture Pastor Willie Ponds Executive Director • pastorwilliepondshhgm @gmail.com Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, and nurtured in the Cavalier Manor area of Portsmouth, Pastor Ponds is a dedicated servant of faith, a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, and a former professional basketball athlete with a 15-year tenure in the NBA and FIBA leagues. Alongside his beloved wife, Verlene Robinson Ponds, they are blessed with a family of five children. His journey of service includes a significant tenure as Shelter Manager and Chapel Pastor at Union Mission in Norfolk, Virginia, for half a decade. His commitment to ministry continued at Trinity Rescue Mission in Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as Study Hall Coordinator, Bible Teacher, and Chaplain at Signature Medical Center from August 2007 until 2018. Presently, he is the Assistant Pastor and Outreach Pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Auburn, Maine, serving under the guidance of Senior Pastor Jon Case. Pastor Ponds is well-equipped with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Christian Education, and Biblical Studies, focusing on both the Old and New Testaments, from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia; and finishing his studies with seminary school in Richmond, Virginia. His pastoral calling was affirmed through his licensing and ordination at Grove Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, under the mentorship of Dr. Melvin O. Marriner, Senior Pastor Joselyn Griggs Shelter Manager • joselyngriggshhgm@gmail.com Hailing from Caguas, Puerto Rico, and nurtured in the community of Springfield, Massachusetts, Joselyn is a testament to faith and family. A devoted follower of Christ, she has shared a loving partnership with her husband, Bruce Griggs, for a quarter of a century and is the proud mother of five. Her proficiency shines in her command of Microsoft Office tools, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Publisher. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Office Management, Joselyn’s leadership has spanned a diverse array of roles. At Hope Haven Gospel Mission, she has skillfully overseen operations in Security, Food Service, and Donations, meticulously managed financial records, and ensured the integrity of all monetary transactions. In addition to her financial acumen, she diligently administers the payroll and oversees all procurement for the mission, ensuring the organization’s needs are met with precision and care. Security Director • anthonyfeolehhgm@gmail.com Hailing from Harlem, NY, by way of Boston, MA. He has quickly become a vital part of Hope Haven Gospel Mission. Anthony has shown a passion for helping others and keeping with our motto “Caring Like Christ”. He provides security for our facility, guests, and employees around the clock. Anthony will also assist in other day-to-day operations. Anthony comes from a security background that has assisted us here at Hope Haven Gospel Mission. V. Renee Robinson Ponds Communication & Event Director • reneepondshhgm@gmail.com Hailing from Portsmouth, Va and raised in Greenville, Ms. She returned to Portsmouth in her teens, a devoted follower of Christ. Has been married to Pastor Willie Ponds for 17 years and is mother of 5. She attended Tidewater Community College working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education from 1983-1985. Mrs. Ponds brings her vast experience to community outreach, and her years of ministry experience. She is looking forward to working with the Lewiston and Auburn communities.

Full description of all our services and programs. Shelter Check-In Monday - Wednesday & Friday: 10:30 AM Monday - Wednesday & Friday: 2:30 PM Things to know: New clients should arrive as close to 5:30 pm as possible. Beds are all first-come, first-served. There are no co-ed dormitories. Bring a valid ID. (Lewiston PD will issue a shelter referral if you do not have ID - 141 Mill Street.) Limit your belongings to two bags per person. All new items brought into the shelter go through the heat room for a minimum of 12 hours. No exceptions. This is a point of entry for pest control. Be clean and sober. You must remain clean and sober for the duration of your stay. No sexual offenders will be admitted. Bring documentation showing that you have legal guardianship of any children with whom you will check in. Includes: birth certificates, DHHS paperwork, insurance statements, and final judgment. Remember that a 1-year latency rule applies when you leave or are involuntarily dismissed from the shelter. Once you are assigned a bed, it is yours until you leave. Plan to be proactive - you must actively seek housing, assistance, employment, or other means of reestablishing yourself during your stay. Bible Sudy God's Kitchen Hours Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. Dinner: Sunday, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Breakfast: Monday-Sunday 7:15 am - 8:00 am Lunch: Monday – Sunday 11:45 am - 12:30 pm . Food Pantry/Giveaway Center Monday: 10:00 am - 11:30 AM Wednesday: 10:00 am - 11:30 AM Friday: 10:00 am - 11:30 AM Closed most major holidays. Donations Receiving For the convenience of our donors, we accept donations Monday - Sunday from 8 am to 5:30 pm . If these hours do not meet your needs, simply contact our business office and we will give you more information regarding after-hours drop-off. Every Wednsday in our dining room from 6 pm till Chapel The first and thirds Sunday of the month. If the month has five Sundays the fifth Sunday is a Chapel Sunday. Faith Baptist Church The second and fourth Sundays of the month we transport to Faith Baptist Church on Washington Stree in Auburn. Transport starts at 10:30 am.

We are looking into having life skill classes for our guests. Confidence Building Classes These classes will assist our guest to build their self-confidence in not only their homemaking skills but their professional lives as well. 1 Budgetting How to budget income so that all bills are paid and a little saved for a rainy day. 2 Better Home Cleaning or keeping your home clean can be daunting. Creating a cleaning schedule can help keep you organized and not overwhelmed. 3 Coming Soon Coming Soon 4 Coming Soon Coming Soon Get in Touch This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content.

Hope Haven Gospel Mission has been assisting the community since 1982. Our History Hope Haven Gospel Mission was established in 1982 by a group of pastors that had a burden for the homeless and the hurting people on the streets of Lewiston.

We have a men's shelter, a women's shelter, a food pantry, a clothing closet, and God's Kitchen. At Hope Haven Gospel Mission. Contact Us If you have any questions about Hope Haven, about donating, or are interested in volunteering, send a message to us directly using the fields below: Office Hours Send Your details were sent successfully!

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This is the information for our Board of Directors here at Hope Haven Gospel Mission Board Of Directors Christian Gumprecht President Ron Meldrum Vice President - Treasurer Peter Laitres Member Dennis Barrett Member Mario Chadinha Member John Case Member

Stories from current and past guests on how their lives have changed. Word of the Day Nothing happens by accident. GOD always has a purpose for EVERYTHING. For prayer request please call Joselyn Griggs (207) 599-1115 Renee Ponds (207) 783-6086 Pastor Ponds (207) 740-8667 As people walk through the doors of Hope Haven Gospel Mission every day looking for help. At times that is just a meal or a bed. Other times it is just for love and encouragement to take the first steps towards a fresh start. The stories of Hope show how others have found help here. You can too! Men's Suit Drive All our guests at Hope Haven Gospel Mission attend Church 2 Sunday's a month, and are looking for employment. We would like to assist them to make the transition as smoothly as possible while they are in this chapter in their lives. Also looking for dress shirts, ties, and dress shoes in sizes 8 to 14. As Acts 20:35 states, In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” With much fear and trepidation, I realized the situation i was in. Thanks to someone at church I was told about Hope Haven. Not only are they a safe place but they also provide a meal and clothing. I was going through a really rough spot, and Hope Haven has opened its arms to assist me in getting back on my feet. They are faith based and you can feel the love and caring while there. They have helped restore my faith. Hope Has also become an active part of my healing process. They remind me that when I feel alone I am not, that GOD is always there for me........SC. When I moved back to Maine I ended up homeless, I then contacted Hope Haven . They provide me with a warm place to sleep and good meals that fill you up. The staff is warm and welcoming to all....WD.