Nearly 100 years, Wayside Cross Ministries has provided Bible-based, Christ-centered restoration, recovery, and transitional housing for the impoverished, addicted, and abused. Men, women, and children are discovering new life and new hope. Aurora used to be the end of the line for people leaving Chicago. Today, Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora is a place of transformation and fresh starts. A place that got its start when one major league baseball player traded his glove for a bible. Read more about Billy Sunday and the ministry he helped inspire below. Today, Wayside has six distinct divisions with specific areas of focus and restoration, including:

• Masters Touch: a Transitional Housing and Recovery for men

• Lifespring Center: a recovery center that provides safe housing and support for single women & women with children

• Elgin Wayside Center: Homeless Support and Outreach in Elgin

• New Life Corrections Ministry:  a highly effective prison outreach and support ministry for the incarcerated and ex-offender that provides transformational care, support, and transitional housing

• Hope Outreach Ministry: is our work training and job skills development ministry that helps individuals find work and connect with the local church while residents in recovery are rebuilding their lives here 

• Urban Youth Ministry: a preventative ministry and community outreach program for at-risk youth and under-resourced families that provides free year-round after-school programs, Biblical discovery, tutoring, recreation, transportation, and summer camps that include a free Baseball League and more.  

In addition, several of our directors and staff are Moody alumni. To learn more about Wayside Cross Ministries, please visit our website!