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

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

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

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.

Following Christ to a Life of Freedom

My name is Donald Jones. I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission seven months ago looking for help in getting my life back together. I had broken a twelve year sobriety after losing a good friend that I had taken care of for five years. He was very sick and needed attention 24/7. I tried other rehabilitation centers but they weren’t doing anything for me. I needed a good Christian recovery center. That is why I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission. There is a lot of Christianity here. They provide for each of my needs, even taking me to the free clinic when I need to go.

Since being in the Rescue Mission’s classes, I have learned how to cope with life. There are some really great people who care. Our men’s ministry directors have really helped a lot. I have learned about having a better and closer relationship with God. I really appreciate all that the staff has done for me. They are a true blessing!

I love these two Bible verses. Apostle John wrote in Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” John also wrote in his gospel, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Donald Jones

Hi! Shalon is my name and Jesus is my game! Now, one year ago, it wasn’t. I was using meth very heavily and had been for years. I lost everything to my addiction: my marriage, children, dignity and faith in the Lord. Since being at the DRM, I have been clean one year, regained visitation of my five year old son Ethyn, and most importantly, regained my faith! God is good all the time; all the time God is good! I thank my director for having faith in me and my sisters in Christ. Most of all, thank you, Jesus!

Shalon

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

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