Celebrating 125 Years of Changing Lives

12 5 Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E

DenverRescueMission.org

January 2017

of Changing Lives HE REMEMBERED US

IN OUR LOW ESTATE … AND FREED US

FROM OUR ENEMIES. … HE GI V E S F OOD T O E V ERY CRE AT URE. … GIVE THANKS TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. - PSALM 136: 23-26

In the beginning, I T WA S J U S T A D R E A M — A PA S S I O N TO S E E P E O P L E W H O WERE SUFFERING FIND HOPE THROUGH THE GOSPEL A N D A PAT H WAY O U T O F T H E I R D E S P E R AT E S I T UAT I O N S .

The Mission’s work today is definitely different than what we did in 1892.

Yet, when Joshua Gravett opened a home for former prostitutes called “Market Street Mission,” his vision to see broken lives restored became the driving force behind all we do today at Denver Rescue Mission.

Thank you for helping us change lives the last 125 years.

ofof Changing Changing Lives Lives

EMERGENCY SERVICES

REHABILITATION The New Life Program provides men and single mothers the opportunity to build a strong foundation for their future through:

The Mission’s emergency services meet the immediate and often desperate needs of people experiencing homelessness in our community by providing: • Meals • Overnight shelter • Clean drinking water • Restrooms • Showers • Laundry facilities • Basic health services • Chapel services • A drug- and alcohol-free place to be during the day

These services help us build relationships and invite people to consider long-term solutions, like the life-changing programs we offer.

It’s great to be able to get off the street and be in a secure environment. I had a ruptured appendix and after surgery, I needed a place to go. The Mission was here to help me.

IN 1892: Denver Rescue Mission was founded by Joshua Gravett, the pastor of a local church

The Denver Post was founded

- Gregg

• Case management • Christian counseling • Spiritual development • Work therapy • Life-skills education • Accountability • Job readiness • Financial management training • Cultivating healthy relationships • Enhanced medical and dental services

It’s challenging to work your way out of homelessness, especially if you’re alone.

That’s why we help men and women learn to overcome destructive habits, maintain healthy community, obtain full-time employment, and provide for their own sustainable housing.

The first public basketball game was played in Massachusetts

I was living in my truck and doing drugs, and eventually,I had nowhere else to go. The Mission saved my life. Now I have a job and I’m going to school. I have a future thanks to the Mission.

The first escalator was patented in New York City

- Seth

The toothpaste tu

We’re the oldest, full-service Christian charity serving the needy in the Rocky Mountain region, and today, we serve men, women and families experiencing homelessness and poverty through these four core strategies:

S UP P OR T ER S L IK E YOU H AV E M A DE T HIS MINIS T RY P O S SIBL E F OR 125 Y E A R S. HELP US CONTINUE CHANGING LIVES TODAY AND MAIL YOUR GIFT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

COMMUNIT Y OUTRE ACH

TR ANSITIONAL PROGR AMS The STAR Transitional Program helps working families and individuals transition out of homelessness through: • Case management sessions • Life-skills training • Financial management training • Cultivating healthy community relationships • Mentoring, tutoring and relationship development for children and youth

We provide a safe and affordable place to live while The STAR Program brought participants transition out of us back together. We still homelessness,allowing families have our disagreements, and individuals to develop and but the Mission is helping us practice important life skills, learn how to communicate better and save money save money and gain the tools for the future. to provide for their own housing.

Families and seniors can also connect with mentors and receive assistance with their first month’s rent and deposit in the Mission’s Family Rescue Ministry and Family Refugee Services.

ube was invented

Macadamia nuts were first planted in Hawaii

Our community outreach programs provide people experiencing homelessness and poverty with: • Food distribution • Clothing • Furniture • Household items • Diapers and hygiene products • Special events like the Thanksgiving Banquet-in-a-Box and Adopt-A-Family program

By meeting basic needs for at-risk families and individuals, we empower people to focus on providing for their long-term needs, sometimes preventing people from experiencing homelessness.

- Justin and Ashley, with their sons Christian and Alexander

You have no idea how much this means to me.

I just moved here to get away from a destructive relationship, and it’s helpful to have a place like the Mission to provide some stability while I start building my new life.

- Althea

Source: http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1892

The “Pledge of Allegiance” was written

“The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” was published

The first portable typewriter was patented

Letter from the CEO

Thanksgiving at the Mission The Annual Turkey Drive kicked off the Thanksgiving holiday season at Denver Rescue Mission, and thanks to donations from people like you, we collected a total of 17,500 turkeys!

In addition to providing a holiday meal at the Mission, some turkeys went to help more than 100 organizations and churches throughout Colorado provide holiday meals for struggling families and individuals in their own communities.

This past Thanksgiving, we also provided:

Dear Friends,

Denver Rescue Mission has enjoyed 125 years of service to the poor and needy—125 years of service in this great community we live in! Really, this is just hard for me to believe. I know I speak for our staff when I say it is our honor to continue this great work God has called us to. What a blessing that God has allowed this ministry to continue for so long!

We have operated under several names, including Market Street Rescue Mission, Living Waters Rescue Mission, Sunshine Rescue Mission, and now Denver Rescue Mission.

(Because of our iconic sign on the Lawrence Street Shelter, we are even known as simply “Jesus Saves” to many people on the street!). But whatever name we go by, and whoever we serve, our goal is still the same—to “love up” on people in the name of Jesus. It is our hope, our prayer and our mission to Change Lives in the Name of Christ.

I really am so thankful for the people who came before us at the Mission. These people had compassion on the poor and needy by first giving them a meal, a place to stay, some warm clothes, and encouragement. They did what Jesus would do. And to all these people, including everyone who has ever volunteered, been on staff at the Mission or given a donation of any amount, I say, “Thank you, we could not have done this without you.” Through your faithful support, you made sure this work continued another day, another month, another year, and another decade. Thanks to you, we celebrate 125 years!

Though it may sound strange, truthfully, I wish we could close the Mission. I wish we were not needed anymore and our work was complete. I wish no one was homeless, that no one suffered from drug and alcohol addiction. But frankly, I do not see any of that happening until Jesus comes again. So until then, if you or a loved one needs us, we will be here for you, feeding, clothing, sheltering, loving, and encouraging all those who come to us for help. It is not only our legacy, it is our pleasure!

125 Years Strong!

God Bless,

Brad Meuli President/CEO

• A holiday feast for more than 600 men, women and children at our annual Thanksgiving banquet at the Lawrence Street Community Center.

• A special banquet for 135 hungry people at Fort Collins Rescue Mission—a record number of people served!

• 2,500 Thanksgiving food boxes through the Banquet-in-a-Box event, supplying all the fixings for a holiday meal to families in need.

We were honored to have Governor John Hickenlooper and Denver’s Mayor Michael B. Hancock join us at the Denver Rescue Mission Thanksgiving banquet to serve meals to people in need. It was also an honor to welcome Fort Collins’ Mayor Wade Troxell to the Fort Collins Rescue Mission Thanksgiving celebration to help serve our guests a warm and welcoming meal.

We want to say a special thank you to the Denver Broncos for helping host our Banquet-in-a-Box event at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and to Venture Sports, our generous sponsor for this event.

Lastly, we want to express our gratitude for our incredible team of volunteers and donors. Thank you for making this Thanksgiving special for those experiencing homelessness in our community.

Presidents’ Day Serving Event When: Thursday, February 16 Where: Lawrence Street Community Center 2222 Lawrence Street Denver, CO 80205

Request Your Free Brochure!

Let’s be honest, most of us would rather have more answers than more questions. But in our latest free brochure, “3 Questions for a Simpler Life,” you’ll learn how three essential questions can help you simplify your life and help prepare for the future.

 Check the box on the enclosed reply card to receive your copy, or email Alice at ACavanaugh@DenRescue.org.

Standards of Excellence

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

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is committed to helping Christcentered 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 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 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 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

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 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

November

YTD (fiscal year)

Meals provided

67,397

352,622

Nights of shelter provided

28,066

140,974

Chapel attendance

12,004

2,981

Clothing distributed (lbs.)

27,593

126,460

Clinic services provided

410

1,951

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