From the Executive Director: The Power of Partnership, Driven by Faith
Over the past several weeks, the Life Center staff—together with friends and partners who walk alongside us—has been engaging in structured prayer alongside the staff of Whitewater Crossing. There is something incredibly powerful about coming together in unified prayer—seeking God’s direction and watching how the Holy Spirit moves through us and through the lives of those we serve.
One prayer in particular has resonated deeply with me:
“Holy Spirit, build us up through one another. Make us a people who pray for one another, encourage one another, confess to one another, and use our gifts for the good of the body. Guard us from isolation and independence.”
That final line—guard us from isolation and independence—speaks directly to the heart of what we strive for at the Life Center. Our work has never been meant to be done alone.
God created us for community, partnership, and shared mission. Together with our supporters, volunteers, and ministry partners, we seek to provide resources across the communities we serve in a way that honors Him—striving to be more like Jesus: seeking the lost, caring for those in need, loving our neighbors, walking with those searching for hope, and introducing many to Jesus for the very first time.
The phrase “build us up through one another” is also a reminder that just as we walk alongside our Heroes, we are called to walk alongside fellow non-profits and ministry partners. It can be easy to feel the pressure to do everything for everyone, but that is not the calling God has placed on us. Instead, we are called to be faithful stewards of our unique mission and to work in unity with others.
We see the impact of this faith-centered approach in real lives. One of our Heroes, Pamela, recently shared, “I love the prayer time with Paula each meeting. I’ve come to value prayer in every area of my life. As a result of our prayer, my husband and I got a job, caught up on our bills, and have begun an emergency fund. With my job, I found friends. All this because of prayer." Pamela’s words remind us that faith is not an add-on to our work; it is transformational, shaping how our Heroes live, lead, and love long after their time with us.
The Life Center excels at sharing hope with the hopeless, loving those who feel unloved, sharing the Word with those who are lost, walking with those who feel alone, and connecting individuals and families to resources that help them get back on track. That word—connecting—matters. We cannot be all things, and we were never meant to be.
We deeply value the partnerships God has placed in our path, especially our relationship with Whitewater Crossing Church. This partnership goes far beyond financial support. It is rooted in prayer, spiritual encouragement, small groups, pastoral care, worship, and a shared commitment to Christ. Our missions are aligned and firmly grounded in faith, allowing us to serve our community more fully and faithfully.
In the months ahead, we will introduce the Wheel of Hope—a simple yet powerful way to visualize how we walk with Heroes. At the center of the wheel is faith, grounding and guiding every area of life: home, wellness, purpose, finances, relationships, and problem-solving. When faith is strong at the center, each part of life can begin to move forward with greater stability and hope.
In closing, I hope you will join me and several other "fire starters" as we strive to ignite hope on February 19th at our annual Hope Banquet. Find all the details here.
Thank you for being part of this mission. Your prayers, partnerships, and faithfulness make it possible for us to continue building hope—together—for the glory of God.
With gratitude,
Jason Wessel
Executive Director