John was one of the many individuals who found himself homeless in the city of Fayetteville. He had lost his job, his home, and his family, and had been living on the streets for several months. He had lost all hope for a better future and had resigned himself to a life of homelessness.

One day, John heard about Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch and decided to come see if they could help him. He was welcomed by the staff, treated like family, and greeted with a warm smile by the breakfast volunteers. He was amazed at the range of services that were available, including job training and counseling, and decided to meet with one of the social work interns after just a few days of coming to breakfast.

He was particularly intrigued by the newly revamped program called Living Hope at The Lodge. While The Lodge provides a place of rest, it has become more than a night/emergency shelter. Living Hope at The

Lodge offers life skill classes, group and individual counseling, and we are in the process of adding trauma recovery to our list of services so Christ can fully restore their hope for a brighter future. John was excited for the opportunity so he applied for the program and was accepted into the community.

At first, John was a little skeptical about living with the other guys at The Lodge. He didn’t like some of the rules and was worried about how he would deal with some of the personalities. However, he soon discovered that it was perfect for him. It was clean, comfortable, and provided him with the safety and security he needed.

John also took advantage of the classes offered during the day and began to learn new life skills that would help him determine his best next step. He attended counseling sessions and worked through the issues that had led to his homelessness. He began to feel a sense of purpose again and saw hope for his future.

After several months of living at The Lodge and participating in the Living Hope program, When John completed the first three phases of the Living Hope program, he was ready to move on to the transitional housing on Frink St. He secured a job for the first time in several years. With the help of the staff, volunteers, and other participants at Operation Inasmuch, he was able to obtain his own apartment after a few months of saving up and working hard. He was proud of the progress he had made and grateful for the support he had received.

John's story is what we envision for every man who chooses to participate in our newly revamped Living Hope program. We believe homeless individuals can rebuild their lives and regain their self- sufficiency by providing them with the support and resources they need to heal from past hurts and learn new coping skills.

How can you join our team and help all the “John Does” who will enter the Living Hope program in the future?

Pray for our staff and men entering the program.
You can also join our team by becoming one of our monthly sponsors to cover the cost of meals, life skill classes, and counseling services. Our giving levels directly relate to the different stages of the Living Hope Program.
Volunteer to bring dinner or supplies to the Lodge.

Donations, grants, and fundraising events are the only source of funds for FAOIAM. We do not take government funding. Individuals, churches, bible study groups, civic groups, and businesses can become a sustainer. We appreciate your support!

Sustainer Levels:

Finding Rest - $25/month ($300 annually). The goal is 100 sustainers

Choosing Change - $100/month ($1200 annually). The goal is 50 sustainers

Igniting Hope - $1000/month ($12,000 annually) The goal is 10 sustainers

Growing Resilience - $2500/month ($30,000 annually) The goal is 1 sustainer