Miracle Hill Ministries

Description

Miracle Hill exists that homeless children and adults receive food and shelter with compassion, hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and move toward healthy relationships and stability.

Founded in 1937, Miracle Hill Ministries is a non-profit organization in the Upstate of South Carolina dedicated to providing extensive services to individuals and families in the form of food, shelter, clothing, personal development, addiction recovery support, and residential and foster care for children. With donors’ help they have become the largest and most comprehensive provider of shelter and food to homeless children and adults in Upstate South Carolina – with nine facility locations and transitional housing throughout Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Pickens counties.

History

The Great Depression gave a new meaning to the word “despair,” especially for those who did not know where they would sleep or how their next meal would be supplied. In 1937, Dr. Paul Beacham, Attorney John Henry, and other local businessmen responded to the need by creating a soup kitchen and small mission in Greenville, South Carolina. This “Gospel Rescue Mission” evolved into what is known today as Miracle Hill Ministries, Incorporated. Today, the mission provides shelter for hundreds of people each year, including homeless men and families.

In 1957, a small thrift store was established to raise operating funds. A milk truck, donated by a local dairy farm, was used to pick up donations. Today, Miracle Hill Thrift Operations includes store locations in Greenville, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Thrift Operations also play a vital role in providing work-training skills for the men and women enrolled in Miracle Hill’s recovery programs.

Also in 1957, the mission purchased land in Pickens County to be used as a rehabilitation center for alcoholics. However, due to increasing demands to care for children who could no longer stay in their homes, the mission board established the land as Miracle Hill Children’s Home with the first building built completely by volunteer labor. The children’s home continues to serve children in need on campus as well as by providing licensed foster home placements.

In 1990, at the encouragement of state officials, Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter (formerly Palmetto Boys Shelter) was founded for at-risk teens. This facility, located in Greenville, offers a safe haven for abused, neglected and troubled boys.

Shepherd’s Gate was established in 1993 to meet the growing needs of homeless women and children. Today, the shelter continues to provide basic services as well as case management and Christian counseling.

Believing that a family environment best suits children, they began their Foster Care program in 1988 to recruit, train and support local Christian foster families.

Miracle Hill Rescue Mission – Cherokee County was established in 2000 at the request of Cherokee County’s ministerial board and concerned citizens. Located in Gaffney, SC, this shelter has operated at near capacity each night.

Miracle Hill Rescue Mission – Spartanburg County came under the direction of Miracle Hill in 2002, at the request of the former directors. Since then, the facility has served men, women and children in need while operating at capacity most nights.

Miracle Hill Renewal Center moved from its original location at Shepherd’s Gate, to its current location in Greenville in 2008. It operates a highly successful, Christ-centered recovery program for women who are battling with life dominating addictions.

Miracle Hill Overcomers Center moved from its original location at Greenville Rescue Mission, to its current location at the old monastery on Pleasantburg Drive in 2010. Overcomers is a seven-month, Christian recovery program that uses a Biblical adaptation of the 12-step recovery model for men suffering from life-dominating addictions.

At the request of the former directors, Homes for Life came under the umbrella of Miracle Hill in 2012. Homes for Life cares for young men who have aged out of the foster care program and is located in Spartanburg.

Miracle Hill’s name developed from a miracle on “The Hill” at Miracle Hill Children’s Home situated at the foot of Table Rock. Volunteer construction workers prayed that the rain would hold off around their site – and it did – on what is now known as Miracle Hill. Today, Miracle Hill Ministries helps provide miracles to others by restoring hope to those who have often lost everything.