God is Good - August 2022 Mission Moments

AUGUST 2022

God is Good

BOLD CONFIDENT FAITH

A

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“THIS WAS ACCORDING TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE THAT HE HAS REALIZED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, IN WHOM WE HAVE BOLDNESS AND ACCESS WITH CONFIDENCE THROUGH OUR FAITH IN HIM.” EPHESIANS 3:11-12

recent survey stated that 26 percent of the population of the U.S. does not believe in God. This is a staggering statistic because just a generation ago the percent of people who believed there was a God was 96 percent. Over my almost 30-year career in rescue mission work, I have seen a real shift in people’s attitudes towards Christ centered ministries like the Downtown Rescue Mission. What was once seen as an honorable pursuit of sharing the gospel is now sometimes seen as politically incorrect.

It reminds me of Daniel, one my favorite Bible heroes. He was a man of great character who was raised to second in command under Darius the king of Babylon. Many of the other leaders did not like Daniel, but try as they might, they could not find any wrong doings or corruption to accuse him of and to push him out of power. The only thing they could get Daniel on was that he worshipped and prayed to God. They devised a plan and went to the King to make a new law that only the king could be worshipped knowing that Daniel would disobey. Their plan worked, because Daniel continued to publicly

worship and pray to God even though he knew it would get him in trouble.

For disobeying he was thrown into a lions den, but Daniel had bold faith that God would take care of him and God did. (You can read the entire story in Daniel 6) The Downtown Rescue Mission will always be bold for God in our faith as we share about salvation through Jesus Christ to all who will listen. In Ephesians 3:12, Paul tells us that through Jesus we should have boldness and confidence in our faith. No matter if it is politically correct or not, we at the Mission will be a testimony through the boldness of our faith in God. I believe that only through faith in Jesus Christ can someone’s life be transformed from the grips of addiction, despair and homelessness. Please consider praying, volunteering or giving to the ministries of DRM as we go forward with bold faith to a lost and dying world.

God is good!

“LOOKING TO JESUS, THE FOUNDER AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.”

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HEBREWS 12:2

’m Bubba, 41 years old, and I’ve been through a lot in life. I’ve seen pain, hurt, and death, but I’ve also seen miracle after miracle. I am one of those miracles. Sometimes we are so caught up in the bad, the wrongs and negatives, that we don’t notice the good and positives that pass us by.

At one point, my life seemed to be full of negatives. I was abandoned by my real mother when I was two years old. The only mother I knew was my stepmother, and she mentally and physically abused me when I was real young. My middle stepbrother was the only person I was close to, and he was killed in a car accident on my sixteenth birthday. That night, I denied God and asked the devil to come into my life. The devil came into my life and gave me my first love, drugs.

By seventeen years old I had a needle in my arm. For years, I did nothing but drugs and tried many times to kill myself. I did every drug known to man every way you can do it and overdosed countless times. At twenty-seven, I had my son Tyler. I ended up taking my son away from his drugaddicted mother and handed custody over to my parents so he could be in a stable home. During this time my mother was going to church and trusting in God. The Holy Spirit was working on her and totally changing her life around.

I overdosed again, my heart rate was down to forty beats per minute, and the doctors couldn’t get it back up.

My mother, a woman, and a minister I grew up with (who was a recovering addict) prayed over my heart. My heart rate went up to ninety beats per minute, and I recovered.

This still didn’t get my attention. I started having seizures because of the drug abuse and decided to get help and did really well at a Christian facility, but then I moved back to Gadsden, where I relapsed. I noticed that drugs were all I had; no family, no friends, and the friends I did have just hung out because of the drugs. I went to my parents’ house where I got into a fight with my dad and tried to kill myself. I was in the hospital for a week and then I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission. Since then I have had a different look at myself, God, and life. If I can learn to make God my cause and learn to be uncomfortable doing it, then I will make it. Hebrews 12:2, Looking to the Author, Founder, Perfector. You can’t believe if Jesus didn’t write it.

Why am I here? Because He is the Author. God has written it out for me to be here at this moment. I’m here because my free will is out of control. Freed will is when we ask God to save us. We are responsible, and God is in control. God is good because He has blessed me with a God-fearing, God-loving mother that loves me no matter my failures. God is good because that God-fearing mother is also even a better Grandmother. God is good because I was able to see both of my kids grow up. God is good because He blessed me with a good dad that loves his grandson. God is good because He brought me to the Downtown Rescue Mission.

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MI S S ION IN M Y WORDS

RAY CARLSON

Deacon, North Hills Presbyterian Church, Meridianville AL

M

y family and I moved to Hazel Green in August of 2009 and joined North Hills Presbyterian Church.

I had been a Deacon at our previous church and wanted to serve here as well. At that time, North Hills had no organized Missions or Service program. So, in 2011 I started looking for opportunities, both locally and out of town. It wasn’t long before Downtown Rescue Mission appeared on our radar.

“I’VE FOUND DRM TO BE A ‘FULL SERVICE’ ORGANIZATION, PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE, CARING, FEEDING, CLOTHING, TRAINING, AND EQUIPPING THE LORD’S FLOCK TO GO BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD.” At first, I thought this was one more homeless shelter.

In time I came to realize that DRM is so much more. Sure, there are beds for transients who need a warm place to sleep, but there is a is also a full-scale program of recovery and life skills training available to those who will take advantage of it. There is Owen’s House, a place for abused women and children to heal and grow. DRM goes on to provide job skill development through its thrift stores and partnerships with local businesses. They even have the Agape Shop on site full of donated, gently loved, business attire for folks to wear to job interviews, etc.

The more time I spent talking to the staff, the more opportunities I saw. DRM provides a food outlet for the community by providing regular distributions as well as Holiday food boxes. The Holiday box program provides a great opportunity for our church to serve. We assemble the boxes every November for the Thanksgiving distribution.

It’s personally one of my favorite church activities because everyone can participate. Adults and teens assemble boxes, youth and even toddlers stack them waiting to be filled by another group the next weekend. It is a terrific ‘Full Family’ activity that we look forward to every year.

In cooperation with an organization called Feed America First, DRM serves as a second-tier distribution point to local food pantries and soup kitchens. So, in addition to those sheep that are fed daily on site, DRM facilitates feeding of the greater flock throughout the community.

In summary, I’ve found DRM to be a ‘Full Service’ organization, providing a safe place, caring, feeding, clothing, training, and equipping the Lord’s flock to go back out into the world.

Of course, not every story is a success because we live in a fallen world. But I once heard an old preacher get asked, “Why is there so much suffering in this world if God truly loves us?”. He answered, “Why are there so many dirty people in the world when God gave us soap?” DRM is truly soap by the barrel. Come, wash or be washed as needed.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Editorial Note: Ray is a retired USAF Master Sergeant who recently retired from his second career as a Computer Scientist. He has volunteered in different capacities at DRM since 2011. Thanks, Ray!

MISSIONMOMENTS | August 2022

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

T

he Downtown Rescue Mission is excited to introduce our new Senior Director of Ministry, Justin Brooks.

What brought you to the Downtown Rescue Mission? How did you hear about the position?

A: After working in Retail Management for almost 9 years, I had reached a point in my career where I wanted to do more. I had been praying for God to open a door for me to utilize my Spiritual Gifts as well as the knowledge I had gained in Management in a secular atmosphere in a more meaningful way. I’ve had an evangelist heart from the time I was 16, and over the years I have been able to partner with people from all walks of life. In a passing conversation with Keith Overholt (CEO/President) one Sunday after church, I mentioned to him my desire to work for an organization that was ministry-minded and asked if the DRM was looking to fill a position that might be a fit for me. I had no idea that 7-8 months later he would still remember that simple conversation, when he reached out to ask if I would like to be considered for the role of Senior Director of Ministry. As the next two months played out, I could see how God had been at work to bring me to this position in both my life, those of my former coworkers, and in the hearts of my new family at the DRM. What is your favorite part about being the Senior Director of Ministry?

A: The people! I have loved getting to know my staff and seeing the passion that they have for their jobs, I love the impromptu conversations with our guests and residents about their faith journey, and I love seeing lives changed by the power of God on a regular basis! I truly get to be a part of something that is meaningful, kingdom-minded, and has the potential to make an everlasting impact in the lives of others!

Have you been a pastor before?

my leadership to strengthen their own giftedness in order to make a larger impact in our community. Most importantly, I want to be led by the Spirit to implement any necessary changes while casting a vision for the future that God has planned for the ministry of DRM. Who is your hero?

A: My Dad. Call it cliche if you’d like, but he has been an example of how to serve God, both with humbleness and boldness. He worked hard to provide for my family during my childhood/ teenage years. To some degree he might tell you that he was a workaholic, or at the very least, that work followed him home. It wasn’t until I was in college did I begin to see a different person.

I came home to find a fully devoted follower of Jesus, a faithful member of the church, utilizing all the gifts, talents, and abilities he had to reach people, and even more specifically teenagers.

I know he isn’t perfect, but he has shown me what a selfless, compassionate, giving heart looks like. He may be retired now, and his ministry may look different, but he continues to live out his faith for his grandkids to see which will create a legacy to be proud of!

A: I served as a Worship Minister while in college, was a FullTime Children’s Pastor for 11 years in North Alabama and North Georgia, and have been serving as bivocational Youth Pastor for my church (Pineview Baptist) since 2015. In total I have worked in Church Ministry for over 22 years.

What is something you’ve accomplished as an adult that your younger self would be proud of?

What is your biggest goal this year at the Mission?

What is your favorite Bible verse?

A: To apply the Spiritual gifts God has given me within my role as Senior Director and to develop those he has entrusted under

A: That I didn’t shy away from leadership but followed God’s calling in spite of all the excuses I could have used, and in my younger days did use!

A: Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED JUNE 2022

7,832

Lodging Provided is a proud member of

27,412

Meals Served

171

Food Boxes

®

82060

1400 Evangel Drive | Huntsville, AL 35816 | 256-536-2441 | downtownrescuemission.org