Changing Lives Newsletter September 2014

122 Years of Service

DenverRescueMission.org

September 2014

The Whole Family Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 ESV

From the CEO Dear Friends, We all make mistakes. And as parents, we know that our children can sometimes suffer the unintended consequences of these mistakes.

Innocent people, innocent children, can be hurt by poor decisions…impacted forever by choices that have long-term ramifications.

This month’s story about Jennifer is one of those stories we hear so often at Denver Rescue Mission, where a person, a parent, has chosen addiction over taking the best possible care of his or her children. Here is a spoiler alert: Jennifer’s story has a happy ending as she was able to make some critical changes in her life with help from the Mission. She experienced the power of Jesus to change her heart, life and family forever!

One of the important pieces in this family’s transformation was the Denver Broncos Youth Center.

I am a big Broncos fan, watching almost every game, every week. I love the way the Broncos perform on the field. But more than their game-time performances, the Broncos’ commitment off the field to the youth at The Crossing, with the initial dollars to build the Broncos Youth Center and their continued commitment to this program, has been nothing short of amazing! (You may be aware that former Denver Bronco, Champ Bailey, was very committed to these kids at The Crossing over the last several years.)

Jennifer’s children, Gabrielle and Andrew, were loved-up on, encouraged and blessed by our staff in the Denver Broncos Youth Center. This was only made possible by a professional athletic organization in our city that believes in what we do and the importance of being involved with struggling youth in our community. Thank you Denver Broncos—for all of us at the Mission, this commitment to homeless youth is more important than winning the Super Bowl! (And now, let’s go win the Super Bowl!)

Go Broncos!

God Bless,

Brad Meuli President/CEO

5th Annual Harvest Farm 5k Saturday, October 4th Harvest Farm Wellington, CO Join us this fall in Wellington for the most beautiful cross-country run in Northern Colorado. This 5k race will kick off the month-long Harvest Farm Fall Festival.

This is a family 5k, meaning walkers, joggers, strollers, & tail-waggers are all welcome—so, get moo-ving and register today! Registering for the race will give you free entry into the Fall Festival!

For more information on this year’s race, to register, or to find out about the Harvest Farm Fall Festival, please visit: HarvestFarm.net.

12th Annual Harvest Farm Fall Festival & Corn Maze Harvest Farm 4240 E. County Road 66 Wellington, CO 80549 Harvest Farm’s Annual Fall Festival & Corn Maze is a community event for the whole family to enjoy. The Fall Festival is a great place for field trips, corporate parties or small groups.

We’re open every weekend starting October 3rd through October 26th.

Buy your tickets online at HarvestFarm.net.

2nd Annual Sporting Clay Shoot & Lunch Thursday, October 9th Kiowa Creek Sporting Club Bennett, CO Aim to serve the homeless this fall by joining Mission staff and supporters for lunch and a day of sport in beautiful Bennett, Colorado.

For more information and to register, please visit: DenverRescueMission.org/scs2014.

Poor children and teens are |at greater risk for:. poor academic achievement | dropping out of school | ...and developmental delays.

Chronic stress associated with living in poverty has been shown to adversely affect children’s concentration and memory, which may impact their ability to learn.

Inadequate education contributes to the cycle of poverty by making it more difficult for low-income children to lift themselves and future generations out of poverty.* *http://www.apa.org/pi/families/poverty.aspx#

The Crossing is a healthy environment for children and families coming out of poverty, providing a safe place to learn and foster healthy relationships.

The Whole Family When Jennifer talks about the day she lost custody of her children, she speaks with certainty. Certainty and sadness, but also with a flood of gratitude. “It was the absolute worst moment of my life. It was the rock bottom that I needed to hit in order to get my act together. But it was totally necessary.

I’m an alcoholic,” Jennifer says.

Jennifer started drinking at 21 and what started as a new experience became a daily habit, an addiction.

For 18 years, alcohol was her number one priority. She got married and had two children, Gabrielle and Andrew.

But alcohol remained the most important thing in her life. On a day in August 2011, everything changed when her mother-in-law called Child Protective Services.

“I hated her for it at the time, but looking back, it’s the best thing anybody could have done,” Jennifer says. At the time, she was living in a field behind a local superstore, alone and feeling hopeless. From the moment she lost her children, she had a renewed sense of determination to find sobriety and get her kids back. A friend welcomed Jennifer into her home

and she immediately joined a 9-month, out-patient sobriety program. She began researching transitional housing options. “I looked online and came across Denver Rescue Mission. I wanted in, right away. I needed a safe place and I needed to get my kids back,” she remembers.

Jennifer moved into The Crossing, sober, in December 2012. A month later, her children joined her. Daughter Gabrielle was tentative at first: “It was scary. I didn’t know where I was. But I was so happy to be with my mom.”

The Crossing was new and intimidating to the kids, but also for Jennifer. “We just stared at each other for

the first few days,” she remembers. It was her first chance at trying motherhood sober. But slowly, she learned. She watched other parents with their kids and she bonded with them, seeking advice, counsel and friendship.

The Denver Broncos Youth Center was Gabrielle’s and Andrew’s favorite place. And Jennifer doesn’t know what she would have done without it: “It was such a relief to know they were there to help support you and your kids. While you’re there, it’s easy to take for granted how wonderful the Broncos Room is.

Looking back, it was a huge blessing.”

Through a concerted effort of the Youth Center staff, Gabrielle’s reading improved by three grade levels.

Someone read with her every single day, and now reading is among her very favorite activities.

“We are going to have to continue what they started [in the Youth Center]. It’s an every day, ongoing thing. I don’t want her falling back,” Jennifer says, determined.

Jennifer had no idea The Crossing would have such a transformative effect on her family. It was where she learned how to be the mother she always wanted to be. It was where Gabrielle became more confident in reading and Andrew learned about making friends. It was also where they found Christ.

Jennifer saw something different in the staff—a joy they found in their faith. She wanted that. In April 2014, she accepted Christ.

“I don’t know of other transitional housing places that teach you about the love of Christ. I’ve learned that I can go to Him with anything, that He loves me unconditionally and has forgiven me.

And that He always provides,” she says.

Jennifer is now working and giving her attention to her newest and favorite role: being an active mother in her children’s lives. She does everything with a cheerful attitude and is loving life in their new apartment, with their new faith and their new relationships.

Without the Mission, Jennifer could still be fighting for custody of her children. She might still be fighting for sobriety. And Gabrielle and Andrew wouldn’t have the amazing mother Jennifer has grown into.

Donate today to help more families move forward with their lives and find the redeeming love of Christ.

Look for Jennifer’s story on the Mission’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/DenverRescue.

Share her inspirational words and life change!

Mission Events

Statistics

(Fiscal Year) How You Help

Shop to support Denver Rescue Mission! On Saturday, September 20th, shop ‘til you drop at the Outlets at Castle Rock.

Tickets cost $20 and include lunch, dessert bar, gift bag, free entertainment, and a chance to win gift cards! $10 from every ticket sold will help provide meals and critical services to the homeless in our community.

Contact Alexxa Gagner at AGagner@DenRescue.org for tickets or purchase tickets online at outletsatcastlerock.com.

Don’t forget to select Denver Rescue Mission as your charity!

JULY

YTD

Meals served

37,321

37,321

Bed nights

19,357

19,357

Chapel attendance

3,784

3,784

Clothing (lbs.)

12,374

12,374

971

971

Medical services

Our Outreaches Lawrence Street Shelter: Emergency care: meals, overnight shelter, free health care.

8th Annual Turkey Chase 5k Thursday, November 27th Apex Field House • Arvada, CO

Fort Collins Rescue Mission: Emergency care: meals, overnight shelter; and transitional program.

Burn off calories before the big feast, knowing your registration fee provides over 15 Thanksgiving meals to men, women and children in need in our community.

Champa House: Residential facility offering long-term help toward self-sufficiency to single mothers with dependent children.

For more information or to register, please visit: DenverRescueMission.org/turkeychase2014.

How to Keep Peace in Your Family  Request a free copy of our new legacy brochure by checking the box on the enclosed reply card.

For more information, please contact Alice at 303.313.2487 or visit our website at DenverRescueMission.org/legacygiving.

Harvest Farm: Long-term New Life rehabilitation program, farming and ranching operation, food and clothing distribution, and Fall Festival.

The Crossing: Long-term New Life rehabilitation program, transitional program for New Life graduates and homeless families, temporary housing for interns and visitors.

Ministry Outreach Center: Warehouse facilities; food, clothing and household goods distribution.

Family Services: Transitional program; assistance for permanent housing; mentoring for homeless working families, seniors and refugee families.

Global Ministry Outreach: Consultation, resources and support to city/rescue missions around the world.

Changing Lives is the monthly news publication of Denver Rescue Mission.

Director of Communications: Christine Gallamore Designer: Rachel Vigil Writer: Rachel Greiman P.O. Box 5164 • Denver, CO 80217 • 303.297.1815

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