New Life News - April 2021 Issue

N EWS APRIL 2021

A BEACON OF HOPE

CELEBRATE 75 YEARS WITH US

TEMPORARY BRIDGE SHELTER

THE THREE C’S OF FAMILY PEACE

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CRM Exists to Transform the Lives of the Homeless and Needy, Serving Them Through the Love and Compassion of Jesus Christ.

KARL’S STORY: A BEACON OF HOPE Before coming to City Rescue Mission, Karl was

but I am not beat down. It

trying to find his place and continued purpose in his life in

helped me realize that there

the midst of his addiction. After going through a divorce

are those that are worse off

and feeling like he abandoned all self-control, he finally

than I am.”

found his purpose and hope with the help of CRM. On the outside, it looked

Karl positive

now

outlook

has for

a his

like Karl had it all together

future.

– a wife and children; a

to getting back into the

He

looks

forward

home; a job. But in spite of

normalcy of life, to rebuilding

all these socially determined

his life as a healthy individual

successes, he still felt alone.

that knows Christ. “I am

“I was able to hold on for

hopeful. The Mission is a

18 years; successfully raise

beacon of hope. The Mission

my children and attain a

is a place that restores lives.

home; all of the things that

It has given me time to refocus on Christ”

are considered normal, but

While Karl doesn’t know exactly what his future

in the background, I was hiding and cheating myself

will look like, he finally knows that he is not alone. “I am

and my family.” Throughout these “normal” years, Karl

not really worried about what is ahead because I know

battled with the affliction of a drug addiction. For Karl,

that He has me. I know that I am covered. My hope is

his addiction was a way to escape his loneliness, but in

to give back and help those who have been affected by

the end, he felt more isolated than ever.

substances. I am not sure what that looks like but one

Karl tried to quit his addiction on his own but was

way or another, my main desire is to be a benefit”

not successful. After a three-day using binge and feeling

On March 26, 2021, Karl participated in the first

more alone than ever, he decided that it was time to look

official LifeBuilders graduation ceremony since 2019 with

for help. He knew he needed help to successfully overcome

a renewed spirit and stronger faith. “It is by God’s grace

his addiction. “I came out of where I was and decided to

and mercy, that he has revealed to me in this journey that

seek help from others. This is not an individual fight. You

He won’t leave me; he won’t forsake me. No matter what

can’t do it by yourself, so I decided to put people in my

I do or how deep I go, He will not forsake me. I just shake

life that call me up, not call me out.” After being turned

the dust off my feet and keep steppin’.”

away at the door from another organization, Karl found himself at the doors of City Rescue Mission’s New Life Inn. “I didn’t care what was on the other side of the door, I just knew I needed help. I didn’t find City Rescue Mission, it found me. It was a true godsend.”

Throughout

his

time

in

CRM’s

LifeBuilders

program, Karl has found that he is not alone – in life and in spirit. “I have known Christ all my life, but I was spiritually weakened when I came to CRM. The enemy had fed me a lie that God was not with me and I was in this alone.

But in actuality, God was carrying me, and I realize that now. He never left me. I was the one that fell away.” He has taken time to focus on himself and has found true joy in helping others that come to City Rescue Mission.

“Through servitude, I was able to look beyond myself and began to help others and saw that – I am in a situation,

5343 Normandy Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32205 Store Hours Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

All proceeds go directly to help fund our mission to transform the lives of the homeless, needy and addicted here in Jax!

PROVIDING HOPE, HEALING AND CHANGE SINCE 1946

TEMPORARY BRIDGE SHELTER

In an effort to make an immediate impact on those experiencing homelessness in Downtown Jacksonville, City Rescue Mission takes the lead on the City’s Temporary Bridge Shelter.

With only a mere week to coordinate, City Rescue Mission (CRM) along with the City of Jacksonville and other local service providers and non-profits, opened the Temporary Bridge Shelter in Downtown Jacksonville on March 9. The temporary shelter, open for 30 days, is in response to the rapid population increase at the homeless camp at the corner of Jefferson and Beaver streets. While this was a monstrous task to take on, CRM Executive Director Paul Stasi and Mission staff looked at it as an opportunity for the Mission to truly make a positive impact on the homeless, hurting and addicted in our community. The Temporary Bridge Shelter offers more than just a bed and a hot meal; it is a place where organizations have come together to offer support and services to those in need. Services at the Temporary Bridge Shelter include housing assistance, employment assistance, mental and medical healthcare, addiction recovery, veteran assistance, and more. “Our main objective was to give people a safe place to stay while they get connected with the needed services,” says Stasi. “In my 20 years of experience, I have really seen us {service providers} come together better than ever. This has really brought us to one place, where it is a one-stopshop that enabled us to help as many people as possible at one time.”

JOIN US FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL DiFFERENCE MAKERS BANQUET Only 4 we eks left!

celebrating

MAY 6, 2021 AT 6 P.M. SOUTHBANK HOTEL JACKSONViLLE RiVERWALK FORMERLY THE LEXiNGTON HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

Join City Rescue Mission in celebrating 75 years of making a difference in our community! Founded in 1946 by three Christian businessmen, CRM has continued to transform the lives of those experiencing homelessness and hardship today. Over the past 75 their pathway to a victorious life!

The banquet will feature guest speakers, a powerful testimony from a LifeBuilders Program alumni, and recognize three DIFFERENCE MAKERS in our community.

NEW ITEMS EVERY DAY!

Treasures! All donations can be dropped off at the store during operating hours.

Call (904) 421-5173 to schedule a furniture pick up.

Do you follow us on Facebook?

John Ashmen President, Citygate Network

Rev. Andy Bales, M.A.T. CEO, Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles

SPONSORSHiP PACKAGES AVAiLABLE! RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY! VISIT CRMJAX.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

PROVIDING HOPE, HEALING AND CHANGE SINCE 1946

Paul’s Ponderings

THE THREE C’S OF FAMILY PEACE

Grieving the death of a loved Many can become one is painful, but it can be paralyzed with fear. Often, the individuals who come didn’t leave their estate in to us for help become so order. Here are three ways comfortable in their addiction to make sure that doesn’t happen to your loved ones: or negative lifestyle that this is all they know. Simply living a righteous life may cause fear 1.Construct a plan. Create or update your will. because it feels foreign. The 2.Communicate your heart. Explain your decisions, problem is that they have share personal values, causes or organizations you’ve empowered a behavior that cared about or included in your will.

Jesus disempowered. They need to hear that God did 3.Collect information. Gather important information not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and selfinto one place. control (2 Timothy 1:7). And He wants us to be strong and courageous, not afraid, or discouraged because He To learn more, request our free bulletin “3 Ways to is with us wherever we go. (Joshua 1:9).

Avoid Family Heartache.”

The truth is that God can change anyone. We, as believers, were born to release hope through the Reply with the enclosed envelope or contact love that we show, because perfect love drives out fear Angela Washington at (904) 421-5147 or awashington@crmjax.org. To bless your family with (1 John 4:18). Our job is to release that love that gives a God-honoring Will, go to christianwill.org/crm. hope to all who come to us for help.

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Easter, our Lord’s resurrection. When Jesus died on the cross, He not only died for us, but He also died as us. We are born City Rescue Mission is in need of the following items: into a new kingdom. We no longer have a heredity of sin, we have a hereditary of righteousness. Jesus is that • Fencing for New Life Inn - $40,000 perfect love that casts out all fear. We just need to help • Pavilion at New Life Inn - $30,000 • Storage Building at McDuff Campus - $21,000 others to fully understand this.

I thank God for you every day as you continue and McDuff Campus - $27,000 to bless us with your offerings. You are ministering to • Upgrade electrical system in Men’s Dorm - $18,000 Him with these offerings. The love we are able to show • Red Barn renovation - $12,000 to the hurting, hungry and hopeless is because of you.

• PPE Masks It takes a lot of courage for our students to make the • White Twin size sheet sets and pillows long journey of transformation from hopelessness to • White towels and washcloths hopefulness. So, on behalf of all those we serve, thank • Travel Size Shampoos and Conditioners you.

• Sanitizing Wipes

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Board of Directors

CRMjax.org

• • •

Flip Flops (rubber or plastic) Bus Tickets (1-way) Bibles NIV - Large print

For more information, please contact Angela Washington at (904) 421-5147 or awashington@crmjax.org.

Kendall Spencer, Chair Barbara Darby, Vice Chair Doug Milne, Secretary Brad Anderson Mark Anderson Marge Burgess Jim Dickenson All rights reserved.

Carrie Chupp Harper Robin Hyde Chad Perce Ed Perez

Trevor Ross Gary Walsh Andrea Williams Clay Yarborough

© Copyright 2020 - City Rescue Mission

PROVIDING HOPE, HEALING AND CHANGE SINCE 1946