Don’t Underestimate the Providence of God

Sara Walters, who was born with severe arthritis, began saving money at the age of 11 to pay for a place to live when she reached young adulthood.

As best she could, she worked part-time jobs and put money away. At the same time, she prayed hard, believing her faith in God would play an important part in reaching her goal.

“I knew my mother wouldn’t be able to care for me as I got older, and I wanted to make sure that I had a normal home,” said Walters, a member of Niekirk Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mich.

Several years ago, she was able to realize her dream, and she moved into an accessible new condominium in the Holland area. As soon as she moved in, she knew she wanted to help other people with physical disabilities do the same.

“With everything I had learned, I knew it was a fight for someone with physical disabilities to find a home,” said Walters, who uses a wheelchair. “I knew this was something God wanted me to do.”

It took several years, but she kept praying and working toward that goal. Her efforts—and those of many others—paid off in August when work began in nearby Grand Haven on Providence House, an eight-unit complex that will feature apartments for persons with physical disabilities and their caregivers.

The cost of the work is being paid for by a grant and donations totaling nearly $1 million that have come through Love INC of the Tri-Cities, an organization that provides housing as part of its extensive ministry to people in need. (Love INC refers to “Love in the name of Christ.”)

“I am amazed how God moved mountains to make this happen,” said Walters, who is also cofounder, along with Gwen Rubio, of H.O.M.E. Ministries (Housing Opportunities are no longer Mountains Everywhere).

“So many times we thought we were in over our heads, but God always helped guide us to find others—such as Love INC—who had a heart for doing this type of work.”

The women said they launched their ministry because of the compelling need for affordable homes for people with physical disabilities.

Across Michigan, there are homes for persons with other disabilities, but very few homes to purchase for persons with typical intelligence and physical disabilities, said Rubio, who became friends with Walters when she served for a time as her in-home caregiver.

“We began to contact people to see what resources were out there,” said Rubio, who now works as an English as a Second Language teacher in the Holland area.

One thing led to another, and in the process they established H.O.M.E. Ministries. They also connected with Love INC, which was committed to the idea for housing and established the Providence House capital campaign and applied for a grant from a bank in Indianapolis. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis came through with a grant for nearly $500,000, and the capital campaign is covering the rest of the cost.

Once Love INC launched the capital campaign, Walters and Rubio visited many churches across the area to raise support for the project. One of the more generous donors was her own church, Niekerk CRC, said Walters.

As part of H.O.M.E. Ministries, said Rubio, they are hoping to partner with other housing projects in the area for persons who have physical disabilities. Meanwhile, she said, "we don't sop at just creating homes. ... We are striving to create social change by providing continuing support, mentoring, education and outreach."

Along the way, Mark Stephenson, director of the CRC’s Office of Disability Concerns, has been one of their biggest cheerleaders, the women say. A September 2014 article in the ministry’s Breaking Barriers newsletter helped to get the word out on the work they were hoping to do.

“I’m astounded both by God’s providence and by the persistence of Sara and Gwen,” Stephenson said.

As they look at what has happened, the women say they are grateful to God. “It is amazing how God used two ordinary weak people to help make this happen,” said Walters.

“We’ve learned that you should never despise small beginnings. We can’t underestimate God. Providence Place is a stellar example of God again overcoming our small human minds.”

To learn more about H.O.M.E ministries, call Rubio at 616-212-6505 or email [email protected]. You can also call Walters at 616-396-8280.