Tag: Ministry

4 Features Arriving in New Homeless Shelter

Posted on September 15, 2025

Click Here to See Highlights from the Event

This August, our team stood alongside Vincent Village, Inc., project partners, and community representatives to break ground on a new homeless shelter.

“We are laying the foundation for brigher futures, stronger families. This shelter represents an $18M investment but we are just not breaking ground on a new shelter, we’re breaking ground on human potential.” – Rohli Booker, Director of Mission Advancement, Vincent Village, Inc. and Fort Wayne City Council Member

This project, which is part of a larger campaign to revitalize the southeast section of the city, was made possible through generous donations and an open network of support from the surrounding Fort Wayne community. It is a key turning point for the nonprofit organization, which has operated since 1989 with a mission to create pathways for families in need, facilitating a transition from a state of crisis to long-term stability.

Building New Opportunities

Planned by MartinRiley Architects and developed by Weigand Construction, the new transitional shelter will greatly expand the operational capacity of Vincent Village’s programming with features such as:

13 Bedrooms
Kitchen
Laundry Room
Multi-Use Youth Services Room

“Currently, our shelter’s 10 rooms. There’s only two bathrooms in the current shelter, so all the families share those bathrooms. In the new shelter, each room will have its own bathroom, building dignity and support.” – Rob Haworth, Executive Director, Vincent Village, Inc.

This facility will create a greater sense of ownership and privacy for families who are receiving care through the organization, providing spaces where they can recover and as they proactively take steps towards a new beginning. The project also involves demolition of some existing structures on Vincent Village propery, including the removal of the historic St. Hyacinth Church, which was the original home of Vincent Village 36 years ago.

A New Chapter

This event was more than groundbreaking, it was a milestone marking a new story of hope for families throughout the southeast region of Fort Wayne, Indiana. We are excited to work alongside Vincent Village and MartinRiley in helping bring the vision of this new shelter to life.

Ministry Building Bridging the Gap

Posted on June 25, 2024

A Project to Shift the Region

Organizations, community partners, employees, donors, and residents from throughout the Fort Wayne community witnessed the grand opening of the brand-new Bridge of Grace facility. Introducing and expanding ministry services, this new construction is designed to house three specific functions of Bridge of Grace’s operations:

The Early Years Academy

Bridge of Grace Offices

The Alliance Health Clinic

Early Childhood Development

The Early Years Academy supports growth and development for local children between the infant and preschool ages. Covering much of the facility’s square footage, the preschool features:

Infant Rooms
Toddler Rooms
Preschooler Wing
Outdoor Play Areas
Indoor Play Space
Staff Lounge
Conference Space
Multipurpose Room
Kitchen

“We believe in natural wonder and fostering curiosity to provide a child centered learning experience. We believe children are precious and unique individuals.”
Early Years Academy, Westminster Preschool

A Brand New Office Space

The Bridge of Grace offices are set to equip employees for their everyday workloads with:

Conference Rooms
Cafe Area
Office Suites
Cubicle Layouts
And More

Professional Healthcare Services

The Alliance Health Clinic is a special healthcare center built to provide healthcare for those in the community regardless of financial challenges, complete with:

Therapist Office
Exam Rooms
Administrative Space
Lobby
Nurse Station

For a Greater Purpose

This project comes on the heels of many years of the ministry investing in Southeast Fort Wayne. Seeing an opportunity to revitalize and uplift an overlooked and underserved area of the city, Javier Mondragon Founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace Ministries, set out to serve and breathe life into a neighborhood whose people had been ignored and forgotten by many.

“Seventeen years ago, God decided to change this community, and what a privilege to be part of the change and the transformation that is happening here in the Mount Vernon Park [Neighborhood] and Southeast Fort Wayne.”
Javier Mondragon, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Bridge of Grace Ministries

We are honored to have joined forces with Bridge of Grace in this project that will directly impact lives through avenues like education, early childhood development, healthcare, and so much more. We’re excited to see how Bridge of Grace continues to pour into the community and change Southeast Fort Wayne for the better in the years to come!

Exciting Ministry Unleashes Hope for Community

Posted on March 21, 2023

Raising Shovels for Hope

Bridge of Grace leadership, donors, and committee members gleefully tossed soil with shovels in hand, officially breaking ground for the ministry’s new Early Childhood Development Center and Comprehensive Health Clinic this March. A piece to a bigger puzzle, the project is part of their “Hope Unleashed” Capital Campaign. The 30,000 square foot building will serve the Mount-Vernon Park and Pettit-Rudisill neighborhoods in Southeast Fort Wayne. Desiring to aide an overlooked section of Fort Wayne, groups from across the city joined forces and make this happen.

“We are just so excited. This is a monumental step to be able to have an early learning center provide quality of care for children; it’s just incredible. People here not only need these services, but also, they deserve it.”
Javier Mondragon, CEO and Founder of Bridge of Grace

First Step of Many

“Hope Unleashed” currently raises funds in multiple categories such as housing, opportunity, progress, and education. As a result of the tremendous support shown for the community, the campaign garnered over $13 million in funding with a goal to reach $15 million by the end. In addition to the new facility, the donations cover home ownership programs, local business growth, park renovations, and more.

Bright Future Ahead

Weigand is proud to partner with Bridge of Grace on this project. It’s an honor to be part of such an important job. Although this is just the beginning, we look forward to seeing the profound impact this has on Southeast Fort Wayne!