DELTA, Mo. -- Established in 2011, the Amen Center west of Delta continues to fulfill its mission, described by co-founder Danny Hollowell as "getting people back on their feet and introducing them to the Lord." A number of area churches help accomplish this through donations, most recently a much-needed water purification system provided by La Croix United Methodist Church.
Danny and Shirley Hollowell have committed themselves to this ministry that provides a place of shelter for people in need. Not only do they oversee the facility, situated in the former Delta Elementary School, but they live there, as well.
The Amen Center can house up to 95 men, women and children; they currently have 37 residents. Over the course of its existence, more than 1,200 people have been sheltered at the center, about 20 miles southwest of Cape Girardeau.
In describing those who have come through their doors, Danny said, "Most of them are homeless, and a lot of them have lost their job and can't pay their bills."
Some are on disability and are not able to work. The Amen Center is a place where they live, acquire life skills and find hope. To stay there, people must actively look for work and attend church services.
Danny said, "We try to help the needy. It is not a hand-out; it's a hand up." Therefore, "We have people who come in and teach about budgeting and help those who want to go to school or get their GED." The center also provides transportation to work and to medical appointments.
The ministry relies on the support of others, and the Hollowells are grateful to receive that support, which comes through donations from several churches and businesses. It was that kindness that enabled the Amen Center to receive the water purification system last summer.
La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, which, as the Southeast Missourian recently reported, "has an outreach for improving water systems both overseas and in this country," recognized that the iron and sulfur content of the water at the Amen Center was a problem. In addition to its "rotten-egg smell," it was "burning their clothes and turning them orange," Danny asserted. They also were not sure just how healthy it was to drink. Thus, they turned to someone down the street, who enabled them to obtain water from him. The only other option was to drill a well. "We were going to try to drill a new well, but there was no guarantee it would work, and that would have been $50,000" -- a tall order for a ministry with limited funds.
This is where La Croix came in. The church provided the funding, and Danny Hollowell and those who live at the Amen Center did the labor. Angel Hillman of the church said, "La Croix has been partnering with the Amen Center for the past few years. We love the work they are doing and want to help in any way we can. Through a project we were assisting with, our local mission director, Mike Litz, learned of the need for a water purification system."
La Croix did not have to fundraise for the $4,000 purification system because they already have a plan in place to help those in need. Hillman stated, "Out of every dollar that is gifted to La Croix, 10 percent is set aside to be used for mission work outside the walls, furthering the mission of the church through organizations and ministries other than our own."
Hillman praised the membership of the church, stating, "The continued generosity of those who attend La Croix allows us the chance to bless others when these opportunities arise." Key to the effort were Senior Pastor Ronald Watts, Mike Litz and Justin Kertz.
La Croix has continued its relationship with the Amen Center. Danny said that they "still come down to Bible study with us and congregate with us. There are a lot of good people there."
On Thursday, representatives of La Croix United Methodist will visit the Amen Center to "christen" the new water purification system.
Pertinent address: The Amen Center: 3600 State Highway N, Delta, MO 63744.
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