The Nelson Christian Community
Emergency Men's Night Shelter
All Saints has always had a desire to make a difference in our community in practical caring ways. We feel that God call us to respond to the needs of others whether or not those people are part of a church. And so the night shelter ministry was set up on our Vanguard st. site, to minister to people in need.
The night shelter has been offering short term emergency accommodation since the early eighties. It was set up by All Saints and St. Vincent de Paul. The night shelter has 6 beds, and it also offers an evening meal and cereal breakfast. Edward Andrews has been the supervisor since 1994 and lives on site in the adjacent flat.
Early 2003 it was decided that the Nelson night shelter be made a men's only night shelter.
Supervisor's testimony.
In the year 1980, I was a very sick boy. I felt as though I were
alone in the world, my body ached most of the time. I had back
trouble, and depression. I knew that I had to do something
different. And so, I began reading the bible. I was laying in bed
one day, and looking beyond the ceiling, I said something like,
"God, if you're up there I really need your help". I had reached
the end of my road.
To cut a long, long story short, I must say, that God answered my
call, and slowly but surely I began meeting up with more and more
people who helped me on to the right path. I began to realize (a
little further down the road) that these people whom I met (once I
started attending church services) must have been praying for me,
and if it weren't for those prayers, I am convinced that I would not have
made it.
And so I started to pray for others.
I began to recover, physically, mentally and spiritually.
The problem, for me was that up until that time I had lived a
selfish life, just taking all the pleasure I could get. So I made
another prayer to God, and said, "Lord, I want more of your
goodness, and your healing. You have given your life for me. Now I must live my life
for you."
Since that time I have taken many opportunities to serve God, and
in 1994 I took the opportunity to apply for work at the
Nelson Night Shelter.
Working at the Nelson night shelter has been
a great learning curve so far. One thing I am convinced of, is that
Jesus Christ changes lives for the good. And, in fact, I would not
be here if that were not so.
It is my prayer, that all who use this place will find the way to
improve their situation.
email: Edward Andrews.