Loving thy neighbour

If you had told Jason Achilles five years ago that today he’d be sober, with a roof over his head, sleeping on a warm bed, with not one but two pets, he’d have told you you were crazy. 

Yet, he now has every one of those things, and he says it’s all thanks to the team at Nightlight, a local charity in Beenleigh who offered him the one thing he was missing; a community. 

Jason’s story is just one chapter in Nightlight’s 20-year mission to tackle the homeless crisis in Beenleigh’s backyard through more than just food or a warm blanket, but faith, fellowship, and family. 

After the senseless loss of both his parents, Jason says he found himself turning to drugs and alcohol; first, he couldn’t afford food, then his home came next. Desperate, he turned to Nightlight. 

“First, I came for a food hamper, then was homeless, and Johnny helped me get up back on my feet,” Mr Achilles said.

“He set up my home with furniture and taught me how to save.” 

Jason says what turned things around however, was the love and acceptance that Johnny and the Nightlight team showed him, making him feel he deserved to get better. 

“I felt that I had someone that actually thought that I was worth more than the drug addict that I had made myself become. I didn’t class myself as good enough for society,” Mr Achilles said. 

“They gave me a purpose in life again.” 

Since then, Jason has been volunteering for the charity, giving back to people in the same position he was, and says this keeps him on track. 

“It’s much more a family than a service; we build each other stronger by helping each other grow in faith and friendship,” he said. 

“I’d probably still be lost and homeless, couch surfing, a drug addict, and an alcoholic without Nightlight.” 

Co-owner of Nightlight Johnny Porter, who has watched Jason grow over this time, says that he feels equally blessed to be a part of his journey. 

“It allows me to know I’m doing the work God called me to do. To help the vulnerable to become the best they can be and help them find their purpose,” Mr Porter said. 

Johnny’s partner in Nightlight and life, Michaela Porter, says that helping Jason and others like him is their mission. 

“This is love in action. It’s a practical way of showing our faith, just having compassion. Love God and love your neighbour. That’s what we’re trying to do,” Mrs Porter said.

Jason and the Nightlight team can be found on Thursday nights from 6-7 pm at the Beenleigh train station, where they offer a meal, warm clothes and companionship for those in need this Winter.