Star Gospel Mission named a Charleston Leadership Foundation Associate
Star Gospel Mission is Charleston’s oldest independent faith-based charity, providing Christ-centered transitional housing since 1904.
Star Gospel Mission has been recognized as a Charleston Leadership Foundation Associate, one of three local Christian nonprofits to receive the honor this year.
"This status is an honor, and is representative of the respect Star Gospel Mission has in our community for transforming hearts and lives through Jesus Christ,” said Kathryn Krogh, Executive Director of Charleston Leadership Foundation.
Charleston Leadership Foundation will shine the spotlight on its Associates during its 21st annual Charleston Leadership Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Nov. 10., at the Charleston Area Convention Center.
“Star Gospel Mission has been a well-kept secret for too long,” said the Mission’s executive director, the Rev. Dr. Marion Platt. “To be receiving this recognition in the community is very exciting.”
An Opportunity to Shine
The Charleston Leadership Foundation unites local Christian leaders in their collaborative efforts to serve the community. The idea of the Associate Program came about as a way to promote, champion, and vet Christian nonprofits to the wider community. The foundation’s Associates must serve the Charleston metro area.
Since 2017, the foundation has named three nonprofit organizations every year, each with a different answer to Charleston’s needs.
The annual prayer breakfast acts as a platform for showcasing the work of those ministries. And it’s a wide platform. The breakfast is frequently attended by 1,200 community leaders each year.
“Because of this status, the brand of Star Gospel Mission will be more recognizable among people of Christian faith in the Charleston area,” said Dr. Platt. “To be vetted by CLF gives us the opportunity to grow our support base of those who want to offer their time, talents, and treasures to help us transform lives.”
The keynote speaker of this year’s prayer breakfast is Darryl Strawberry, a baseball legend who helped his teams clinch three World Series championships. Strawberry is now an ordained minister who helps inspire others to a life of faith and freedom, in part through his own testimony of redemption.
The other Charleston Leadership Foundation Associates to be featured during the breakfast include Hope To Home Furniture Resource and Lifeline Children’s Services.
A Community Asset
Star Gospel Mission is Charleston’s oldest independent faith-based charity. This fact is a valuable asset in a city that treasures its history, Dr. Platt explained. The Mission has been providing Christ-centered transitional housing since 1904.
“We’ve been able to navigate wars and natural disasters and continue to serve people in our community,” Dr. Platt said. “Our financial approach is something that is beyond reproach.”
Over the last year, Star Gospel Mission has grown a lot. The Mission has brought on more staff to serve the needs of those struggling in the face of Charleston’s housing shortage.
“The kind of work we do in the community is unique,” Dr. Platt explained.
Today, the Mission serves not only men who are experiencing homelessness, but also families at risk of losing their homes. Through the kind contributions of local church congregations and individual donors, Mission case workers provide support to help struggling families and prevent homelessness in the wider community.
While it’s rooted in tradition, Star Gospel Mission is embracing new methods of evangelistic outreach and support.
“We are looking to expand our services, both programmatically and from a facility standpoint,” Dr. Platt said.
Dr. Platt thinks it was the combination of the Star Gospel Mission’s long-standing and historic reputation and its forward-thinking momentum that captured the attention of Charleston Leadership Foundation.
