From homelessness to serving others

Submitted by New Life Ministries

Over six years ago, Jereme found himself facing homelessness. After a past filled with drugs, he was living in a camper behind a friend’s house. He was looking for hope and a church home. Because of the kindness of a friend, Jereme visited New Life Fellowship and met Pastor Jimi Staton. It did not take long for Jereme to realize that New Life was the church God was calling him to and led to Jereme’s life taking a turn he least expected.

Things began to change quickly for Jereme. “Jimi knew my situation,” explained Jereme. “He approached me one day and asked if I would be interested in living in an apartment that was located above the house that is now the Men’s Life House. The deal was that I would work 18 to 20 hours a week helping out with the church and ministries for a place to stay. Surprisingly, I didn’t say yes right away. It took me about three weeks to decide, but I eventually said yes.”

Little did Jereme realize that this was the start of a bigger plan God had in store for him. While living in the apartment, Jereme worked for the church and ministries and attended the Life Recovery Class Jimi was teaching during the week. “After living in the apartment for one year, Jimi asked me to start teaching the Life Recovery Class. I’ve been teaching this class for over five years now,” Jereme shared.

While teaching the class, Jereme began to mentor and educate men and women experiencing similar challenges he had found himself facing in the past. He also began building a connection with the nursing program at Indiana Wesleyan University alongside another church member. Through this connection, he has been able to share his testimony with nursing students and has had multiple nursing students shadow the Life Recovery Class.

God continued to move in Jereme’s life. In 2022, we were ready to open our Men’s Life House, and Jereme became the live-in night manager. “Being the night manager has let me see God moves in many ways,” shares Jereme. “The home has constantly been full. When one guy leaves, God has someone else lined up to enter. I’ve seen men come into the home at rock bottom and, through the program, graduate. They are living better lives. I’ve also seen many from my past come in and change their lives like I have. I’ve experienced the verse that says God changes men’s hearts from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.”

“Being a part of New Life has been one of the best thing that has happened in my life,” Jereme said with a smile. “It has given me a place to stay, work and serve. It has kept me on track with my journey with God.”

Jereme’s work at New Life Ministries is far from over. On top of being the Men’s Life House Night Manager and teaching Life Recovery classes, he has recently started the New Life Sponsorship Program to help connect members of New Life Fellowship with residents in the Life Houses for deeper mentorship opportunities. It is incredible to see how God continues to use Jereme to impact the lives of others.

If you want to hear Jereme’s testimony or more about how God is working in his life, we encourage you to listen to Kingdom Faith (a podcast by New Life). Jereme’s story can be heard in the episodes titled ‘A Journey to God with Jereme Wall‘ and ‘God Moves with Jereme Wall (Episode 73)‘ on Spotify, YouTube, or other podcast platforms.