April 2024 Mission Moments

A JOURNEY OF

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

As“I HAD NO IDEA”

I enter my 25th year of ministry at the Downtown Rescue Mission, how quickly time flies by amazes me. It was last week that I accepted the call to work at DRM.

“THEREFORE IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.”

II Corinthians 5:17

Over the years, I have seen thousands of men, women, and children walk through the Mission’s doors. I have had the privilege of having a front-seat view of seeing God work miracles in so many lives. Many, who were stuck in a cycle of desperation, depression, and despair, found a new life in Jesus at DRM. The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

The reason DRM can help so many folks is because of this wonderful community. I have worked at three separate rescue missions and I have consulted for many other ministries around the

country. By far, this community is the most supportive and generous with its financial donations, donations to our thrift stores, and volunteering. Without your help, the Mission would not be able to provide all of the programs and services to our most vulnerable and needy neighbors. You see, we accept no federal, state, or local funding that might hinder our preaching of the Gospel. We depend on individuals, businesses, and churches to support all of what we do so that we can continue to share that salvation in Jesus Christ is the only way to change a life forever.

Thank you for being a part of changing lives every day at the Mission. I would love for you to see all that happens on our campus and invite you, your business, or your church group to take an “I had no idea” tour of the Downtown Rescue Mission. Thank you for helping.

A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION

“AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.“

Romans 8:28

MyName is Tim Henry and I’m from Sommervile, AL.

I grew up in a good family with both parents together as the middle child. As a middle child, I was picked on a lot as a kid, at home as well as at school, so I often would keep to myself. In high school, I started drinking just to ease the pain and at 18, I began taking pills, and sometimes, even selling them.

I was married at 24 and had a son one year later. Everything seemed good to my wife at the time, because it was all done behind her back. Once my wife found out, she left me. I looked for comfort from other people, and those people were the wrong crowd which

introduced me to more hard-core drugs, like meth and cocaine. This would go on for 10 years, until I realized I was missing something, but didn’t know what. I didn’t make good choices and began making money selling drugs full time and this brought girls too.

God would then gave me a wakeup call like never before. I lost 125 lbs. because of drugs and then had a small stroke, and then lost my mother to lung complications. I went into a spiral that would lead me to Huntsville, particularly, the Downtown Rescue Mission. I enrolled in the program 5 months ago now, and have gotten to know my Creator God. He has changed my life.

Even now, facing congestive heart failure, I look for Christ at work in all circumstances, and have even gotten to share my faith with nurses at the hospital. I know He is not done with me yet, and look forward to all He has ahead.

GOD IS IN CONTROL

Ican remember two years ago I was just spinning my wheels, doing the bare minimum to get by.

When my kid’s mom and I separated 7 years ago I simply lost focus and motivation to achieve success in life. So, I told myself that ‘I took care of this person for 13 years, I’m going to find someone to take care of me.’ I hit the dating scene looking for a fill for the void I thought I had in my life. After meeting a woman

“AND WE KNOW THAT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.“

Romans 8:28

online from Moulton, AL and subsequently moving in with her I can remember thinking to myself ‘Mission Complete.’ Well, she turned out to have serious mental issues and simply enjoyed telling me to pack up and get out just to change her mind 2 hours later, apologizing to me. After the third time going through this cycle, I started researching shelters close by and this is how I discovered the Downtown Rescue Mission (up until this point, I had never been to Huntsville, AL). I managed to get a ride from Moulton to the DRM and I stayed in the Men’s Emergency Shelter for about a month. While here I had heard of some type of program but when I heard that it was for a year I said ‘not for me I need to work and make money.’ So, I decided to go back home to Birmingham and do things my way. After 2 years of trying to do things on my own I realized that I was getting nowhere.

Then it hit me (now I know that it was the Holy Spirit), ‘I know of this program in Huntsville at the Downtown Rescue Mission.’ I left Birmingham for Huntsville for the sole purpose of coming to the DRM and joining the Life Transformation Program. This was the best decision of my life. I now realize that it was God calling me to come here so that I can rebuild my personal relationship with him. I just graduated the 1-year program February 13, 2024, and God created an avenue for me to build my career hear at the Downtown Rescue Mission, as a Data Analyst.

I now use every opportunity that I have to share my testimony with my brothers here and try to encourage them that God has you here for his glory. That you were called here by God.

Robert

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