We recently connected with Pastor Willie J Watt Jr and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Pastor Willie J, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
pursue normal goals, especially when they couldn’t even count on a good night’s sleep. One instance that really hit me hard was when a mother of one of the kids came in. She was homeless and had a newborn baby in need of warmth. I asked my board if I could use some funds to get her into a motel, but they said no. Sadly, three weeks later, her newborn passed away.
I also noticed a clear connection between kids joining gangs and their families being homeless. This led me to step away from Escape Ministry and create a new one, which I named Lifeline. The name came from a program I had secretly run at Escape to help relocate kids away from gangs.
I strongly believe that many organizations, with good intentions, often allocate resources from the top down, but they often don’t reach those who need them the most, especially those at the very bottom. They try to fit people’s problems into strict criteria, and when they don’t fit, they’re left without help. This perpetuates the cycle of struggle. In contrast, Lifeline is designed to be a support system that takes a more comprehensive approach. We aim to reach out and connect with individuals, providing the support they need. This way, we hope to help them become more self-reliant. This principle is at the heart of our mission and vision for Lifeline.
Pastor Willie J, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was born and grew up in Chicago, in a tumultuous and violent family. My father, along with my Uncle, was involved in a discipleship gang, and witnessing my father’s daily abuse towards my mom was sadly routine. When tragedy struck and my best friend was fatally struck by a train at just twelve years old, my mother made a courageous decision to uproot us from Chicago one night and we settled in Dowagiac.
It wasn’t until I turned 40 that I found solace in Christ. After enduring years of violence, dark days, and even experiencing homelessness, I found sanctuary when the Pastor of the largest church in our town welcomed me in. At that moment, I surrendered my life to God, marking the beginning of a new chapter.
Becoming an ordained Pastor, my life’s purpose became centered around serving and uplifting others. Our ministry reaches out to individuals who have been pushed to the margins of society, offering not just a hand up, but a steadfast presence alongside them.
Each day, I bear witness to the transformative power of Jesus in our ministry. I vividly recall a mother with six children, separated from them due to her battle with addiction just a year ago. Today, she stands tall with over 300 days of sobriety, on the path to reunification with her children. In her own words, the support, companionship, and newfound understanding of God’s love were the cornerstones of her journey. Her testimony fuels our mission to extend a helping hand to those who feel lost. Lifeline Ministries was founded to provide hope; meaning and a venue to empower the homeless to turn their lives around. We provide a holistic, systemic and dignified approach in helping its members to create their pathways out of poverty and crisis. Our vision as a ministry serves as a beacon of hope for Ottawa County’s unsheltered and marginalized. We envision a community where nobody is left behind and the dignity of all people is upheld, secured, respected and celebrated.
In essence, our ministry doesn’t cater to a specific demographic. Through our extensive network of local organizations and available resources, we adapt and tailor our support to each individual’s unique needs.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2014, I faced an incredibly challenging period in my life. I was living on the streets and received the devastating news that I had lung cancer. At the same time, I was eagerly awaiting my wife’s return from a two-week boot camp training in the military, only to be met with the heart-wrenching request for a divorce. Following her departure, I received more devastating news: my father, my best friend, and my Uncle were all battling cancer. Tragically, within just three months, I lost all three of them. Later, I discovered that I also had prostate cancer. Since 2014, I have grappled with seven different forms of cancer, a blood disease, and faced 14 tumors on both kidneys, in addition to managing diabetes. Despite these immense challenges, every morning I muster the strength to come to work and continue to serve others.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What helped us build our reputation in the market was the connections we made with people who came to us for help. Instead of just giving them physical things, we found that what they really needed was someone to talk to and support them in figuring out their true needs. They needed someone who cared and would listen. There were times when we couldn’t provide financial assistance, but those we helped were grateful for the time we spent with them, just listening and offering information on resources. This has set our ministry apart in our community. We’re not focused on being popular or making money. Our name is well-known among the homeless community, especially those in serious need. The people we assist often pass along our contact information to others who are struggling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifelineministriesmi.org
- Instagram: lifelineministriesno2
- Facebook: LIFELine Ministries