The Life Center for the Homeless

Winston James left his home at the age of 17 and went to live with his aunt and two sisters in the Fourth Ward of Houston. There, Winston was introduced to synthetic heroin. He worked as a dishwasher along with some other jobs until he was arrested. He has been shot, stabbed and beaten. A violation of his probation caused him to go to prison. Throughout his tumultuous young life, Winston went in and out hospital many times. He has had eight surgical procedures. It was during recovery from one of these procedures, that Winston had a vision from God. Right then, he realized he was going to have to change his ways, if he was going to live. Winston has lived a life that no one should repeat. Now this life of torment serves as fire in his heart to help the homeless in Houston. Winston James became an Ordained Minister in 1988. He lives to show others that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they can repent and find Jesus Christ. The definition of repent in the dictionary is: To feel remorse, contrition or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite. The definition that we prefer is the one given to us by the Gospel: To turn around completely.
In April of 1989, Pastor James began The Life Center as a 501c3 non-profit Organization. Pastor James had a vision to create a homeless care facility after experiencing homelessness himself. Pastor James' vision to help homeless individuals came to pass when the first Life Center opened at 817 West Dallas in Houston. For seven years, in the nineties, Pastor Winston James was blessed with his own Gospel television Program. He started this program with the help of Brother Elred Thomas, who donated the airtime for the Program. Pastor James' Program was named "Something Different For YOU." The Program aired on Channel 22 KLTJ, reaching the world with the Good News. The Program aired as far as India and Africa VIA satellite. Pastor James went on to have two area radio Programs on KJOJ and KWWJ. In the year 2000, Pastor James took his television Program "Something Different For YOU" to the streets of Harlem, NY and was honored to become a new member of the New York Ministers Convention.

Over the years, Pastor James has been the recipient of many awards for his wonderful work in the community. He was invited to the White House in Washington, DC in 1997 and he received the Jefferson Award for Excellency in Community Service. Also, in 1997, he received the Pinnacle Award and went on to receive an award from the Caring Institute. In 2005, Pastor James was a member of the Katrina Housing Task Force. The list of achievements go on and on for this doer in the Houston community.

Today, Pastor James has his supportive and loving wife, Betty James, and many volunteers to work with him at The Life Center for the Homeless. The many blessings that have been bestowed on The Life Center have enabled them to move from 817 W. Dallas to it's current Campus location, 4516 Old Yale St., Houston, TX 77018. In response to God's Love, The Life Center is a Kingdom Post; a place that would bring Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ and to provide excellent care for the homeless, needy, poor and destitute and to those who need help.

Currently, Pastor James is growing and expanding The Life Center Vision. To his credit, he has written, produced and directed three Christian documentary films pertaining to homelessness, four Gospel Albums and is launching the "Something Different for YOU" series. Also, there is the "Metamorphosis Project." Through this outreach Program, those people who are better known as the street walkers of our communities are Ministered to. Many of them are drawn to rap/hip-hop and R&B, so special Gospel music was written for them. We perform Concerts on the streets, parks, apartment complexes and etc... We have received rave reviews on this Project. In addition to our excellent care for Houston's most homeless and destitute, we also touch the lives of the community.