The Winston House, a new addition to Heaven’s Army-Home of Amazing Grace, commenced its operations at 414 CR 318 in Cleveland on Jan. 1, 2024. This facility aims to provide guidance and support to men who are seeking to transform their lives.
Prospective participants must have completed a year-long discipleship program through Home of Amazing Grace, Shiloh Ministries, or Interfaith, and have dedicated themselves to Christian principles while striving to enhance the next phase of their journey.
Many men who have completed the discipleship classes require basic necessities that are often taken for granted, such as housing to help them reestablish themselves following challenging times, access to a driver’s license, a vehicle, assistance with legal documentation, and support in organizing their finances. Winston House serves as a crucial space where these men can make a gradual transition back to independent living.
“They’re training some godly men, but sometimes when those men graduate, where do they go now? There’s a gap. They either go back to the same places, people, and things, and take a chance of relapsing, or now they can go out and have someone to come along beside them and help them in that next journey of life,” said Lenora Purvis, founder of Heaven’s Army.
One of core principles held and practiced by Winston House, led by Kolton Parham Purvis, comes from Proverbs 27:17, which states: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
“One way we really keep order in the house is we walk in the fact that iron sharpens iron, so when we say something to each other, it’s out of love. So when we take those things, we take it on the chin and we say thank you. We keep walking and we better ourselves every single day all throughout the day,” said Kolton.
Daily life for the men in Winston House varies based on whether they have work, but every morning starts with a Bible study from 6 to 7 a.m, and then personal studies, until the work hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., where the men either go to their job, volunteer or attend a variety of classes throughout the week, with fellowship and dinner at 6:30 p.m.
“Men need to be leaders. If we’re going to change a community, if we’re going to change society, then men need to rise up.”
Lenora Purvis, Heaven’s Army Founder/CEO
At Winston House, the impact of transformation is evident in the words of Kelton, a participant in the program.
“Being here for four months, I really couldn’t see the change in myself. Everybody around me was telling me I changed a lot. But Saturday this past week I went and I worked for a guy that I had worked for before I came into the program. He told me he could tell a major difference in me. He could tell that I was walking around with more confidence, speaking better, not giving one or two short answer words. And he said I was carrying myself with more confidence, which coming from someone that I really don’t know that well and was pointing out things that he seen that I changed, it meant a lot because in four months I’ve completely changed who I was for the better,” he said.l
Kelton’s testimony highlights not only the inward transformation but also the tangible, observable changes in individuals undergoing this process. Through dedication and support, Winston House continues to foster remarkable stories of positive change and growth.
If you would like to donate to Winston House, donations can be made on their website here. Continual need items, such as trash bags, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, dish and hand soaps, cleaning supplies, spiral notebooks (5 subject preferred, but accepting all), and copy paper can be directly shipped to Heaven’s Army, 2490 FM 2518, Cleveland Texas 77327.
If you know of a young man needing guidance and are interested in what Winston House can do for them, email kolton@heavensarmy-tx.org or call 832-928-6919.