Fort Collins Rescue Mission Changing Lives January 2014

FortCollinsRescueMission.org

January 2014

New Y ea r ’ s W i sh e s ...Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)

Thank you for your generous heart for the homeless in Fort Collins!

New Yea r ’ s W i sh e s

The beginning of the year feels like the perfect time to roll out resolutions.

Each January, we look back on the previous year, deciding what worked and what didn’t, what can stay the same and what needs to change. The homeless in our community aren’t any different, but for them, there’s much more at stake.

Our guests at Fort Collins Rescue Mission have set goals to find jobs, get housing, reconnect with their families, and open up savings accounts. It’s only with your financial support that we can guide them toward achieving these monumental successes and personal milestones.

Robert and KC are in the program for the second time. The first time, they didn’t understand the value of saving money.

When they left and realized they needed help, they knew they could come back to Fort Collins Rescue Mission and find it. “Tom is helping me understand, biblically, what my responsibilities as a husband are. I want to be a good spiritual leader for my family.

I also want to be able to have a place that we can call home. I want to sit in a home and do devotions with my family,” says Robert.

KC appreciates the Mission because it is allowing them to save enough money to finally have their own home. She is also seeking help emotionally. “April, my case manager, has taught me to walk away from situations that make me angry instead of blowing up at people like I used to. I feel less stressed and much happier,” she explains.

“My goal this year is to get up each Sunday and go to church with my family,” says KC.

Thank you for your desire to see the homeless succeed!

Please use the enclosed envelope to mail your donation today.

Fr om t he C EO Dear Friends, for the first time—become productive, self-sufficient citizens.

How do we know this? Because it is happening right now to people just like you and me.

As we enter this new year, we can be reminded of the words in Philippians 3:1314, that encourage us to forget what lies behind and to trust in the hope of Jesus.

This is what we will share with the people who come to us for help in 2014. Place the things behind you that have caused you trouble, and know that God loves you and has a purpose for your life. Now, this is much easier said than done. Many of the men and women we serve just do not believe that God or anyone else would forgive them for what they have done.

I thank God for another year and the opportunity it presents to us at Fort Collins Rescue Mission. However you choose to help, as a volunteer, a donor or someone who prays for us, we thank you.

The Good News for this new year, and for each one after this, is that there is hope for anyone who wants it at Fort Collins Rescue Mission. We believe that people can be changed forever in the name of Christ. People can—some

Brad Meuli, President/CEO Denver Rescue Mission/Fort Collins Rescue Mission

God Bless,

Kevin has been sober for four months.

Though they have been difficult months, he celebrates his growth and looks forward to his future. “I feel awesome—I have joy and happiness again—I feel like I’m succeeding finally, and accomplishing something. This year, I would like to get in contact with my children. I haven’t talked to them in five years, and I miss them. I hope they are understanding and welcome me back into their lives,” says Kevin.

Statistics: How You Help Change Lives

Please consider donating any of the following items: • • • • •

Women’s deodorant Feminine hygiene products Winter blankets Paper towels Sugar (brown and white)

• • • • •

10 USB flash drives Gloves Pillow cases Laundry detergent Canned vegetables

NOVEMBER

Greatest Needs

Meals Served

Beds

Chapel Attendance

Churches Involved

4,702

1,973

546

17

Please contact Heather Pulley with any questions or for exact descriptions of other “big item” needs at HPulley@FortCollinsRescue.org.

To post a note of encouragement on the Mission's Facebook page, visit Facebook.com/FortCollinsRescue.

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Changing Lives is a news publication of Fort Collins Rescue Mission.

Director: Jim Carmack Director of Communications: Christine Gallamore Designer: Rachel Vigil Writer: Rachel Greiman | 316 Jefferson Street • Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 • 970.224.4302

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Fort Collins Rescue Mission 316 Jefferson Street Fort Collins, Colorado 80524

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New Y ea r ’s W i sh e s

FortCollinsRescueMission.org

If you could make one of your New Year’s resolutions come true, which one would it be?

Losing weight?

Buying a new car?

Being nicer to your mother?

It probably wouldn’t be moving out of a homeless shelter. But for many people in our community, that’s their exact wish.