Serving Christ in our own Backyard
Our youth group just completed our annual Disciple Now Weekend. This year’s theme was OVERCOME HUNGER, based around World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine project. We had 60 students fast for 30 hours and serve the Lord and their community during that time. We were blessed to serve at the Downtown Rescue Mission for some of this time. We took our students over and put them to work! Their volunteer coordinator did a great job delegating students to different jobs around the Mission campus. We normally take smaller groups to serve meals at the Mission, but we were able to meet other needs around the campus for this particular trip. We had students washing windows, hauling trash to dumpsters, stocking food in their warehouse, sorting and shelving books and even pulling weeds outside.
Before this trip, I always related serving at the Mission directly with serving meals. This particular trip changed my thought process. I learned there are so many areas and opportunities to serve at the Mission. Serving in different ways around the campus gave our students the chance to put their Faith into action!
The theme verse for our youth group is John 3:30 which says, “He must increase, and I must decrease”. Serving at the Mission allowed our students to put this verse to play in their lives. It changed their focus from themselves to instead impacting others for the sake of Jesus Christ!
We are so thankful for the work of the Downtown Rescue Mission and may God continue to be glorified through this ministry!
In HIM,
Will Harbison
Gilliam Springs Baptist Church
Luke 24:13-33
They had just witnessed the death of the carpenter from Nazareth; now all their hopes and dreams were dashed! They were returning to Emmaus devastated. What their hopes had been built on was now in a grave. They walked in despair with no hope of consolation, no where to go for comfort, no one to restore their misplaced faith.
Just then a stranger showed up questioning why they seemed so lost and in despair. They wondered how anyone could be so ignorant of the things that had gone on in the last week. They tried to explain the unexplainable, how that the One in Whom they had placed all their hope and faith had died such a horrible sinners death.
Just then, as the Stranger spoke, a light of hope once again broke through the darkness, as He recounted to them Moses’ and the prophets’ hidden things about Himself. As He tried to go on His way, they begged Him to stay with them so they could hear more of His life giving words.
Then the Visitor took on the role of the host, breaking the bread and distributing it, as they had seen Him do so many times before. As He blessed it, they made the startling discovery, that the Stranger was in fact the Christ of God, and with that revelation, the joy of their salvation came flooding in.
This good news spread through the city, the land and the world. Jesus Christ of Nazareth was not only alive, but was indeed the conqueror of death, hell and the grave. Live on, Jesus! Live on, followers! Live on, you beloved of the resurrection and the life- live- live – live
Dr. Larry Mann
Assistant Director of Men’s Ministry
Downtown Rescue Mission – April 2012 – Becoming the Person (Free Report) – Click here to download.
More and More
Growing in my Relationship with Christ
My name is Bridgette Clowers. I started using drugs at an early age. By the time I was seventeen, I had my first baby. At eighteen, I lost custody of my child to my mother. Then I started using meth. A few years passed and I had two more babies. I also lost custody of them because of my drug use.
Now I’m 30 and I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission on August 2, 2011 to change my life. I have been saved and I have let God into my heart. My relationship with Christ seems to grow more and more every day.
When I first arrived, there was no hope of seeing my girls. After two months, we contacted the adoptive parents and asked if I could see them upon completion of the program. At Christmas I had been here four months and God blessed me. I got to go home for Christmas to see all three of my children. It made my holiday happier. I’m happier now than I have ever been. I have truly been blessed by God!
Never Give Up
Luke 13:34 :”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing”. [Jesus]
Being a chaplain at any mission can, at times, be discouraging. We see lives shattered and shackled by substance abuse. Many times we pray over and plead with hundreds to join our one year program so they can get their life straight and be set free from bondage. All too often, we hear “no thanks”.
Recently, a particular homeless person who has frequented the mission for over two years returned as an overnight guest. I can remember several stories about his drunken escapades. Many times I have prayed for this gentleman. Many times I talked with him about his life and for him to possibly join our recovery program, to no avail.
Many times a person gets weary in witnessing to the same person. It’s easy to write people off after a few times. However, recent polls show a person must be witnessed to at least seven times before accepting the truth of God. It is never too late.
I must admit I was dragging my feet this time; however, God wasn’t dragging His. This gentleman entered my office and said he was tired of the life he has been living; however, he couldn’t change on his own and wanted to join our program. Wow, I was taken back.
Never give up on witnessing; it’s never, ever too late. This gentleman is now in our program learning to trust God and is changing his life away from the bondage that controlled him.
Jesus tells us a parable of two sons in Matthew 21:28-32. First, the man in our program said “no” like the man in the parable but then he did what the father asked of him.
Thank you for your support that made this happen.
Chaplain Clyde Thompson
Revamping Our Recovery Program to More Effectively Serve Our Residents
This month marks the beginning of a new, improved recovery program. Along with the newly revised program, many rules have also changed for these individuals. To help explain these updates, I have sat down with our Sr. Director of Men’s Ministry, Dr. Kerry Walker and Sr. Director of Women and Children, Cara Henderson.
CB: How has the recovery program changed in 2012?
KW: We have condensed our class schedule to hold classes five days per week instead of two days with a goal of completing the program in a one year period.
CB: What new classes are we teaching?
CH: We are so excited about the new classes we are introducing this year! We have added “Understanding Addiction”, “Basic Christianity”, two life skill classes as well as a life application class about moral excellence based on Biblical precepts and principals.
CB: How will the revised program better help those dealing with addictions?
KW: First, they will have more time spent in classes and in study. This will overcome some of the extended down time our residents experience. Second, we are trying to remove obstacles we have identified which have been causing some of our residents to relapse. The goal is to have a much higher success rate for all our clients.
CB: What rule changes have been made for residents?
CH: We have shortened the recovery program to one year. Our residents will no longer be able to have cell phones (phone rooms are provided on campus to keep contact with family). Our residents’ time off campus will be limited with more family visitation time on campus. We have also made outside work or school an option only after graduating from our yearly program. We are adding a new transitional program to help residents after their year of study. All of the new rules are designed to help those in our program keep a better focus on their recovery while growing in their relationship with Christ.
CB: Who will be teaching the new classes?
KW: We use primarily our staff to teach our discipleship classes, but we have used specialist volunteers to teach things like financial skills and resume’ writing.
CB: In years past, the mothers staying with us have not had much of a program. What are we doing with them now?
CH: Because resources are so saturated and they are not transitioning as quickly as in the past, we want to better equip our moms with the life changing Word of God, parenting classes, life skills such as finances, resumes, etc. We are also looking to add nutrition and fitness classes.
I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” – Malachi 3:10
The Downtown Rescue Mission saved us. Before here, I felt completely lost and now I feel as though I’ve been given another chance from our Lord. Due to our Bible studies and Chapel services for times weekly, I feel as we have grown more spiritually and are walking closer to God. Dedicated volunteer tutors have helped my daughter with her academics and has helped her love of learning grow. The Downtown Rescue Mission has added a new class to learn valuable parenting skills. Lisa Young (Asst. Dir. of Women and Children) helps and provides for our kids as if they were her own! I thank the Downtown Rescue Mission for opening their doors for us with kindness and compassion.
Rainda Ruth
My name is George Ballard and I’m in the Alcohol Recovery Program at DRM. Life has had many ups and downs and during the downs my escape was alcohol. In September 2004, I found my life at rock bottom. I came to DRM and entered the program and finished in 2005. Things were good until I relapsed in late 2006. I returned to Huntsville in early 2011 finding no work and still struggling. With the help of my family, I returned to DRM in July 2011 and entered the program again.
Since returning, I’m learning to cope with life once again sober. Putting God first in my life, He gives me the strength to live again. He is restoring my relationship my loved ones so I can be the brother and uncle to the ones I love. In Philippians 4:9, Paul wrote, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Thank you to the directors and staff who have been there for me. They have shown me there is a purpose for life. I also would like to give a special thanks to Mike, friend and DRM staff member, who has been there during my ups and downs since we met in 2004. Thank you Lord and DRM.
George Ballard
Power in the Blood of Jesus
Father, give me the words to tell a testimony of Jesus Christ in my life. How even in a world of darkness, addiction and “the life” supporting my addiction, Jesus was my Protector.
The night I cried out the Name of Jesus from my very soul to save me from a man, whose intent was to take my life, I saw the power in the Name of Jesus. That night the man thought I was alone, and before calling Jesus’ Name, so did I. I had no contact with my family and really no one would have missed me. I had lost my husband to prison. I was alone, a lost addict. The man came at me enraged, arms raised, weapon in his hands. It was then I called out the Name of Jesus and in my heart I began to pray the Lord’s Prayer. It was as if the man froze. He stopped and stood, eyes still enraged with intent, arms still raised, weapon still in hand, but he just froze there – breathing heavily. I began to slowly fall out toward the door; I never took my eyes off Jesus, praying the Lord’s Prayer in my heart. The man continued to stand still, held back by the Name of Jesus. I was amazed at what was happening. I knew then I was not alone when I saw what happened in an instant at the Name of Jesus. He saved my life – to save my soul.
Another Plan for my Life
Many times in my life of addiction, I found myself in dangerous situations. Now I know the enemy’s plan is to kill and destroy (John 10:10), but God is in control – and He had another plan for my life. God sent a warrior into the streets and alleys of Birmingham and one day she approached me to pray. I wasn’t saved that day but Rita kept showing up to pray. One day she came to the park. She heard that she needed to find me and get me off the street. The word, again, was I had trouble. By the grace of God, she found me – we prayed and that day she brought me out of Birmingham to Huntsville to the Downtown Rescue Mission. I thank God for His answer to the first prayer Rita and I prayed on the square in Birmingham – to place me in DRM, a place off the street, a place of love, compassion, strength and direction. Since coming here, I have fallen in love with my Protector, Jesus Christ, and living a life of forgiveness and salvation.
I love my DRM family, our leaders, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and the message that has been put on my heart here – the world looks at the outward appearance, Ally, but God sees the inside, my heart, the heart of a warrior for Christ. Praise God! I’m in the 3rd step of the program, making peace with my past through the love of Christ and my days are blessed, spent in the Agape Shoppe, seeing God meet people’s needs everyday and sharing the love of Jesus. And He’s not through with me yet – He will complete the good work He began in me until the return of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). I press on by the grace of God to walk in love (1 Corinthians 1:8); covered by His promise of protection (Psalm 91); standing firm in all of God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-24); knowing the truth (Proverbs 15:33; 22:4).
Safe and Sound
My name is Kevin McAnnally. Everyone here at DRM calls me Butters. I grew up in the small town of Cleveland and I have great parents and a brother. They have always been there for me. I thought I had everything I needed in life but I really did not. I started hanging around the wrong people and doing drugs. I seen how much money I could make selling them and I thought I was on top of the world. Then one day it came to a sudden stop. I went to jail and that was when I woke up and said no more. I started praying about it every day. I got out of jail and started going to church and got saved.
I came to DRM looking for help and they gave me the hope I was looking for. They teach you everything about life and how to live again. If you want to do something bad enough, you can do it. They trusted me enough to put me in security and I’m doing great. I keep the DRM safe and sound. I want to thank them for giving me hope and believing in me. They have made a new person out of me, wanting to look more and more like Jesus each day. I have a lovely wife named Karen. She has been here with me and for me the whole time I’ve been here. I am going to miss everyone when I go home for good but I won’t forget all of you at DRM. Thanks for helping me get my life back on track.
