Mission Moments - December 2018 Newsletter

DECEMBER 2018

CHRIST IS MY HOPE

I

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED!” Luke 2:13-14

MISSIONMOMENTS | December 2018

YEAR OF GROWTH

shared this story in last year’s December issue of Mission Moments.

“When I first came to the Mission 18 years ago, a young mother named Sue came to my office looking for help. As Sue sat there with her twin 18 month old daughters and another 4 year old daughter, tears streamed from her eyes that reflected the fear she had of having nowhere to go. They were a middle class family and her husband left her and drained all of their accounts, leaving with most of their possessions. She had nowhere else to turn, but to the Mission and we were able help them.” Sue’s story has always stayed with me. It is a blessing for me to inject hope into so many seemingly hopeless situations because at the Mission, hope lives here.

As we praise the Lord for Christ’s birth this Christmas season, I also praise Him for everything He has done at the Mission this year. In January, we opened our brand new facility for women and children, Owen’s House.

It more than doubled our capacity for this demographic of our population.

We’ve added a program for mothers with children, equipping them with many skills, from parenting to job and money management. Owen’s House is such an asset to our community. Yet, what we thought would take several years to fill is filling up quickly after just 11 months!

Needless to say, we have seen incredible, record setting growth in our ministries this year. Where we once saw approximately 1,600 different people stay at the Mission throughout the course of a year, we’re now expecting over 2,000 people. The infographic below details some of the growth we’ve seen throughout 2018. Also, individuals in our L.I.F.E. Recovery Program are staying longer and graduating from the one-year program. Our October graduation saw 17 people graduate the entire program; it was our largest class to date.

We are able to provide for all of these people and needs because of the compassionate generosity of businesses, churches, and people like you! We intentionally take no city, state, or federal funding because we want everyone in our care to know that God loves them and Jesus Christ can change their life.

The gospel message will always be the heartbeat of our ministry. Please continue to pray for us as we meet people where they are with Christ’s love and seek His direction in expanding the programs and services we offer to all who seek refuge at DRM.

CHRIST “TRULY I TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED, YOU CAN SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, ‘MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE,’ AND IT WILL MOVE. NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU.” Matthew 17:20

M

y name is Brittney Green. I am twenty-four years old and have been struggling with addiction for six years.

It began when I was seventeen with weed but eventually led to opiates and other drugs when the weed wasn’t enough.

At that time, I moved in with a group of friends. It was basically a party house. I started mixing different drugs and alcohol, not remembering how many or even what I took. I didn’t care, I just wanted to be numb. It wasn’t long before I overdosed. It scared me and I swore I was going to stop.

I went to a twenty-eight day program, and when I got out, I did good for a couple of months but fell right back into it with a different drug – meth. I was strung out for three months before meeting my husband. I stopped everything but weed, thinking it would be enough, and everything was great for a while.

In February 2015, I found out that I was pregnant with my son. Everyone was so excited and I couldn’t wait to be a mother. When I was six months pregnant, I had complications with my pregnancy and was sent to the UAB comps clinic and was put on oxycodone. I convinced myself it was okay to take the prescription because a doctor had prescribed it. I was so wrong. Once I had my son, Chip, I struggled with postpartum depression. I thought I could handle it. When Chip was nine months old, I snapped and tried to hurt my husband, my son, and my neighbors. I

IS MY

HOPE

don’t remember any of my actions. The guilt and shame of what I had done took over, and I was ready to be numb again. I remembered the feeling of numbness from the oxycodone and started doing opiates again. Over time, this didn’t satisfy so I returned to meth. Everything spiraled out of control. I destroyed my marriage, being more concerned about when I would get high again than spending time with my son. Nothing was stopping me. Then I went to jail in July 2017. I called my dad and begged him to bail me out one more time. He gave me one more chance and came and got me. I did well for three days before getting high again. The next day my dad revoked my bond and took me back to jail. I had burned my last bridge. I failed my drug test so my bond was taken away. The only way out was to go to a rehab facility.

I called my mom who graduated from the Mission’s LIFE recovery program in 2013 and asked her to help me find somewhere. I got to the Mission in August 2017 but wanted no part of it. I was angry and thought it was everyone else’s fault that I was here. I was so buried in my self-pity, guilt, and shame that I didn’t think there was hope for me. But God led me here and showed me the error of my thoughts. He is now my Hope. I am broken and imperfect but He has saved me. Since being here, God has restored broken relationships with my mom and dad, not only our individual relationships but has also allowed me to see my mom and dad make amends. God has blessed me with the opportunity to see my son every other weekend when visitation used to be only twelve hours a month. God is teaching me to have faith and seek Him in everything.

If I do, He will align my steps and everything will begin to fall into place according to His will.

https://donate.downtownrescuemission.org

MISSION IN MY WORDS

O

GARY ELDRIDGE

ne of the most valuable ways to serve others is to show them that we care. Giving our time and encouragement to someone will often be more valuable than even the most generous gift. There are many people who feel lonely and want to chat with others. Even those who have many friends and a loving family, enjoy speaking to new people. When others need our help most, we should make a special effort to show them that we care. By providing love and support we can make a real difference in the lives of others.

“I WANT TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST WHO ‘CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY’.”

In many cases we will not be able to solve someone else’s problems by ourselves, but we can advise them on what they can do for themselves, or what others can do for them. We must be careful that we do not assume our advice is always correct, but quiet and wise guidance will often be invaluable, and provides a real service to others. Telling others of the Good News of Jesus Christ is the prime example of how informing and educating others can help people change their lives. Letting others know about our own experiences, in a sincere and loving manner, can help people to discover the truth of serving the community.

I am honored to serve at the Downtown Rescue Mission. Through the years, I have been able to share the lunch time devotional for men in their emergency shelter, LIFE recovery program, and any guests that come to eat. I’ve enjoyed bringing donations, such as tennis shoes and other clothing items, to bless these individuals. I want them to know they are not forgotten. They have a purpose and much worth in

the Father’s eyes. I like sharing volunteerism at the Mission with my coworkers at Bastion Technologies.

For the past several years, we come to the Mission’s Thanksgiving Food Box Giveaway and joyfully carry the recipients’ frozen turkey and food box to their vehicle for them. In all I do, I want to follow the example of Christ who “came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many”.

Gary Eldridge System Safety Discipline (Manager) Bastion Technologies Inc. MSMAS Contract NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, AL

MISSIONMOMENTS | December 2018

“Sock”tober Success!

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e would like to thank Ford’s Chapel UMC for collecting 628 pairs of socks throughout October for the men, women, and children at the Mission. They also send members to serve dinner at our main facility every month. Ford’s Chapel is one of many churches throughout the Tennessee Valley who bless the Mission with their hands and hearts, serving those in our care and donating much needed items.

W

WINTER NEEDS LIST

e are in need of many items as the amount of people we serve increases every day, approaching and exceeding over 300 people a night:

• Nonperishable box and can food items • Clothing items for men, women, and children (all sizes): o Winter coats o Socks (new) o Underwear (new) o Gloves, scarves, and toboggans o Long-sleeve shirts o Jeans o Tennis shoes

• Specifically for children: o Teething rings (rubber like, freezable) o Baby formula (Enfamil infant, powder) o Baby food (rice cereal, etc.) o Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) o Pull-ups (sizes 4T and 5T) • Toiletry items: o Body wash (men, women, and children) o Vaseline o Kleenex o Hand sanitizer o Chap stick

Christmas SEASON

SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 – Christmas Toy Bag Packing, 10:00 a.m. – Noon SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 – Nativity House/Toy Bag Giveaway, 8:00 a.m. – Noon FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 – Christmas Candlelight Service, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 – Christmas Day Banquet, decorating 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. & lunch 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

To volunteer, please create an account and sign up at https://drm.volunteerhub.com.

YEAR-END GIVING

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s the year comes to a close, we want to express our gratitude for your faithful support and take a second to remind you about one final opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation that will go towards helping families and guests that come to the Mission through the dreadful winter months.

Holidays are painful times for those who are hungry, homeless, and hurting. You can help make this a season of caring - rather than a season of despair - by helping us provide meals and shelter for the record number of people we are expecting here at Downtown Rescue Mission between now and the end of the year.

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED OCTOBER 2018 Meals Served

28,261

Volunteer Hours

2,986 1,148

Lodging

8,428

Food Boxes

Clothing Provided

5,942

Spiritual Decisions

is a proud member of

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