August 2017 Changing Lives

DenverRescueMission.org

August 2017

WORK THERAPY WORKS … rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

- Ephesians 4:28

(ESV)

“Work therapy helps me stay focused on the present. I’m building better skills, and I have a sense of achievement in starting and completing projects.”

- James

WORKING ON A FARM IS OFTEN THE LAST THING THE MEN IN OUR NEW LIFE PROGRAM EXPECTED TO BE DOING.

But this unique opportunity is a life-changing experience like no other.

WORK THERAPY “I feel like work therapy has helped me build self-discipline. It allows me time to reflect on my life and WORKS still do something productive. So while I might be sitting there pruning plants, I’m actually becoming a better person.” - Kevin Many of the people who join our New Life Program come to us after weeks, months or even years of not having steady employment. That makes it difficult to attract potential employers, and it means that basic skills in resume writing, answering interview questions, using computers, and other important job-related skills can be lost over time.

Even basic things like maintaining a regular schedule and keeping appointments are habits that can be lost when you’ve spent a long time being homeless.

That’s why a key part of rehabilitation at the Mission is work therapy. Through work therapy, we give participants an opportunity to share their gifts with us as they learn new skills they can use throughout their lives to help them experience long-term recovery.

Work therapy looks a little different at each of our long-term program facilities. At The Crossing and Champa House, work therapy can take the form of driving Mission fleet vehicles, working in one of our kitchens to prepare food for guests and program participants, helping sort and organize donations at our Ministry Outreach Center, and more. But by far, some of the most unique work therapy opportunities are available at Harvest Farm.

At the Mission's Harvest Farm in Wellington, Colorado, 72 men are able to overcome addictions, learn new skills and rebuild their lives in the New Life Program.

Work therapy at the Farm may include working in the office, preparing meals in the kitchen, working on the maintenance team, maintaining Mission vehicles including tractors and other farm equipment, or

working with the crops and farm animals. For the guys at the Farm who come from urban backgrounds, work on the Farm can be challenging and rewarding.

“It also gives these men an opportunity to do something they never thought they could do,” says Brad Rhoda, the Work Therapy Director at the Farm. “I believe there's a correlation between having experiences they never thought they’d have—like watching baby goats be born—and overcoming the idea that they can't live the rest of their life as a sober person. Just like they never thought they’d get to do some of these things, they never thought they could succeed either, but here they are, and they're thriving.”

“We build standards that create an expectation where a negative mindset is simply not acceptable,” Brad continues.

“We don't tell the guys to change their mindset or leave, but we do get together with the guys and talk it out. That allows us to help them get through their problems without drinking or shooting something into their arm—a huge victory for many of these guys.”

Your financial support is what makes the New Life Program at Harvest Farm available for men in need. This program is invaluable to each person in our long-term programs, and it has a lasting impact in our community as well. Each successful graduate is another person who is able to maintain a job, participate in our local economy and contribute to our communities in a positive way.

There are three goals of work therapy: 1. BUILD SKILLS AND HABITS Work therapy requires that men in the New Life Program become responsible for their schedules and appointments, learn to work with a team and strive to meet deadlines. By building these habits, participants learn and practice the basic skills and habits they need to be successful in the future.

2. CREATE COMMUNITY At the Farm, you’re a part of a team. Whether you work in agriculture, maintenance, the vehicle fleet crew, the kitchen, or the office, you are a valued member of a team of men working as a part of something bigger. One great example of this is how the men in the New Life Program work together to help make the annual Harvest Farm Fall Festival such a huge success every October.

Thank you for helping change lives and change our community by supporting Denver Rescue Mission today!

3. INSTILL VALUE OF WORK Good work is more than just labor, it’s meaningful and valuable. Some of the men in the program have never learned to view their work as something to be valued. Instead they’ve often approached work or a job as something to just get through each day. At the Farm, we use work therapy to help our participants see the value of a hard day’s work and experience the satisfaction of accomplishing something well.

Brad Rhoda (left), Work Therapy Director at the Farm, helps men in the New Life connect with work therapy team that best Look Program for more encouraging stories,the news and updates our Facebook page: Facebook.com/DenverRescue. suits theironstrengths and goals.

Help change lives through Harvest Farm today!

Go online to DenverRescueMission.org/Donate or use the enclosed envelope to donate now!

Letter from the CEO

Are you ready to shop ‘til you drop for a good cause?

Dear Friends,

I wish that overcoming addiction was easy, but it is just not.

If only there was a perfect method that worked 100 percent of the time. Then we could solve the life-long problem of addiction by simply offering it to everyone, knowing it worked every time. But it is just not that simple.

It takes courage to come to the Mission and say, “I do not want to live like this anymore.” It takes hard work to change old habits. That’s why when someone joins our New Life Program, they start work therapy almost immediately.

This months’ newsletter is about work therapy, and there are a lot of good reasons we use it as a foundational part of rehabilitation. These reasons include building skills and habits, creating community and instilling the value of work.

But the reason I like work therapy is because it gives those overcoming addiction something to help take their mind off of themselves and offers them a chance to start serving others. An addict is focused on himself, and feeding his addiction. But if he can build new habits of serving others, he feeds his addiction less, making it easier to work through.

Jesus modeled this kind of selflessness, and his words in John 20:28 have proved invaluable for those overcoming addiction, “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom of many.”

When any of us serve others, we humble ourselves as Christ did. This is what work therapy starts to do. It starts softening hearts toward others, helping our participants know that they are not alone in this world. It is the beginning of God doing his healing work in them, and there are a lot of hurting and struggling people in our community who need the power of Jesus’ love. Work therapy is just the first step as our participants work to change their lives in the name of Christ!

Thank you for partnering with us in God’s work. I appreciate your prayers and gifts for this ministry as we strive to give God all the glory!

God Bless,

Brad Meuli President/CEO

The 12th annual Shopping Extravaganza is happening Saturday, September 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Outlets at Castle Rock.

Tickets cost $30 and include lunch, a dessert bar, entertainment, and live music! But the best part is, $20 from every ticket sold will help provide meals and critical services to the homeless in our community through Denver Rescue Mission. Purchase tickets online at OutletsAtCastleRock.com.

Remember to select Denver Rescue Mission as your charity!

Thank You, Wilderness Aware!

Mission program participants and staff were blessed to receive a whitewater rafting experience thanks to our friends at Wilderness Aware in Buena Vista. More than 100 program participants and staff joined in this thrilling ride through the rapids in Browns Canyon.

We want to say a special thank you to the owner, guides and staff of Wilderness Aware for making this special event possible for the last 18 years. Most of our program participants have never experienced something like this before. The trip was challenging and fun, and a great lesson on teamwork.

Broncos Jr. Training Camp

From all the kids at the Mission, we want to say a huge thank you to the Denver Broncos for inviting us to the annual Broncos Jr. Training Camp on July 12!

The event is for inner-city youth, ages 6 to 13, and focuses on helping children and youth learn basic football skills and receive sportsmanship tips and fitness training.

Thank you Grandview High School football team for also helping out at this event!

Statistics

In its commitment to spiritual and financial accountability, as well as to community relations, Denver Rescue Mission has longstanding memberships with the following organizations:

How You Help

Our graduation ceremony on June 16 celebrated the accomplishments of more than 120 of our program participants, including 6 GED recipients.

The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions is an association of rescue missions and other rescue ministries which (1) serves local rescue ministries through education, training, consultation, conferences, conventions, and networking; (2) starts new rescue ministries; (3) shares the message of rescue; (4) promotes prayer, spiritual values and growth in the rescue family. Over 300 affiliates in US, Canada, India, Australia, South America, and Africa. Member since August 1962. AGRM.org

28,659

Caring Connection of Colorado aims to offer a recognized choice for giving in the workplace and provides local organizations and individual donors with the opportunity to support the human service agencies they know, trust and believe in. Member since 1983.

CaringConnection.org

Lawrence Street Shelter Overnight shelter for men, chapel and health clinic Champa House Residential facility offering long-term help toward self-sufficiency to single mothers with dependent children Harvest Farm Rural rehabilitation program near Fort Collins

Fort Collins Rescue Mission Meals, shelter and transitional programs The Crossing Transitional program for families and rehabilitation program for men

YTD (fiscal year)

Meals provided

62,057

Denver Rescue Mission Outreaches Lawrence Street Community Center Meals, restrooms, showers, washing machines and dryers, clean drinking water, and access to Mission staff for encouragement and guidance

June

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is committed to helping Christ-centered organizations earn the public’s trust through developing and maintaining standards of accountability that convey God-honoring ethical practices. Member since February 1991. ECFA.org

The Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau is dedicated to promoting and fostering the highest ethical relationships between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education and service excellence.

Member since November 1991. DenverBBB.org

Hats Off to Our Latest Graduates!

Congratulations graduates!

Keep up the good work!

Standards Where'sof the Excellence Beef?

821,998

Nights of shelter provided

363,238

Chapel attendance

35,454

2,705

Clothing distributed (lbs.)

27,878

378,159

Clinic services provided

424

4,805

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

Director of Communications: Christine Gallamore Designer: Rachel Titus Writer: Robert Bogan

Ministry Outreach Center Central warehouse facility including food, clothing and furniture distribution Administration & Education Entry point for Mission programs and home to the Mission’s administrative and development staff Family Services Transitional program, assistance for permanent housing, and mentoring

P.O. Box 5164 • Denver, CO 80217 • 303.297.1815