Darkness to Light December '21 Mission Moments by Downtown Rescue Mission

DECEMBER 2021

DARKNESS TO

LIGHT

CHRISTMAS WITHOUT HOPE

C

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THE MISSION PROVIDES CAN BRING A SHORT-TERM SENSE OF HOPE, BUT THE GREATEST HOPE WE CAN OFFER IS TO SHARE JESUS AND HIS LOVE TO EVERYONE WE MINISTER TO.”

an you imagine losing all your worldly possessions and finding yourself living under a bridge or in a field or just on the streets and having no one to depend on? At the Downtown Rescue Mission, we see men, women and children who have experienced this type of life on a regular basis. Some fall into this lifestyle though addictions, others through financial hardships, others through mental illness and others through devastating life experiences.

In most of these circumstances, they have lost all hope.

Hope is what we provide at DRM… • Hope comes from a hot nutritious meal.

• Hope comes from a warm bed.

• Hope comes from a loving hug.

• Hope comes from a listening ear.

• Hope comes from a shoulder to cry on.

• Hope comes from a safe place to stay.

• Hope comes from building lifelong friendships.

• Hope comes from a team of employees who truly care.

MISSIONMOMENTS | December 2021

But the greatest of hopes comes from Jesus who came to earth over 2,000 years ago to be born of a virgin and to ultimately pay the price for our sins with His death on the cross. Jesus is the only answer to someone who has lost all hope. All of the programs and services that the Mission provides can bring a shortterm sense of hope, but the greatest hope we can offer is to share Jesus and His love to everyone we minister to. That is the most important goal of the Mission.

During this Christmas season and throughout the year DRM will be a place that men, women and children, who might feel hopeless, can find true hope in Jesus Christ.

Your faithful partnership through prayers, donations and volunteering help the Mission continue to reach out to a lost and dying world because “Hope Lives Here”.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

DARKNESS TO

“ THROUGH MY TRIALS, THE HOLY SPIRIT DEFINITELY GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION TO MAKE DRAMATIC CHANGES IN THE WAY I WAS GOING ABOUT MY LIFE MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.”

I

was brought up in the Catholic church and was confirmed through catechism. Then I went through a period of time where religion was not a top priority. I knew who Christ was, but I was not seeking him with all my heart. I first came to the Downtown Rescue Mission in 2017 after a failed relationship left me homeless. I surrendered everything to Jesus and graduated from the Life Recovery Program the next year. I got a good job after graduation and things were going well.

When COVID hit and everything shut down, I didn’t know how to handle all the extra time alone. I started to suffer from depression and began to abuse alcohol. I had been knocked down when I thought I

LIGHT

was complete. When I needed an answer from above, I asked for it, prayed for it, and got down on my knees and begged for it. I knew I needed to come back to the Downtown Rescue Mission to reenergize my life and get back on the right path. To my amazement, that shadow of darkness turned to light.

I’m currently in the fourth step of the Life Recovery Program and am set to graduate in February 2022. I’ve learned a lot about discipline and have enjoyed the small group sessions. I’ve even started leading my own small group and mentoring to the younger men in the program. I’ll begin working in the Thrift Stores soon and after graduation I hope to stay involved with the Downtown Rescue Mission serving as a teacher.

Through my trials, the Holy Spirit definitely gave me the inspiration to make dramatic changes in the way I was going about my life mentally and spiritually.

–Tim

donate.downtownrescuemission.org

MI S S ION IN M Y WORDS

MIKE BRINKMEIER

Director of Operations, Downtown Rescue Mission

I

was in and out of church most of my life. I believed in God, but there were times I hated Him, too. I had been molested, was raised with an abusive dad, and lost my wife to cancer. We got the diagnosis just three days after our wedding. Things went downhill after she passed. I first came to Downtown Rescue Mission in 2015 as a client. My friend and I had been on a binge that I planned on ending in suicide, but he suggested the Mission instead. That decision saved my life.

“SUBMIT YOURSELVES, THEN, TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.” James 4:7

I entered the Life Recovery Program and became the first paid truck driver for the kitchen. I graduated from the program a year later and was offered to stay on full-time with the staff. I worked my way through the department and am now the Director of Operations.

I now oversee 5 full-time employees and 30 to 40 program men in maintenance, kitchen, laundry, and

transportation. We support the main campus and all seven thrift stores.

There were two main things that I feel made my recovery possible at the Mission. First and foremost is Jesus Christ. All things are possible through Him. The second thing was for me to stop making excuses.

I had a lot of bad things in my life that I saw as reasons why I did what I did, but the real reason I did them was because I chose to. I had to start holding myself accountable for my own actions.

I love everything about my job here, but the best part by far is getting to minister to the men around me. I get to show them every day that another life is possible and live by example that recovery is real and achievable.

In February I will celebrate 6 years working at Downtown Rescue Mission, and I thank God every day for giving me a second chance.

MISSIONMOMENTS | December 2021

A

KITCHEN RENOVATION

s all of us who walk in Christ are in pursuit of replacing our hearts, the Downtown Rescue Mission

is witness to God working through the generosity of many in our community. The word “remodel” does not begin to describe the scope and impact to our community that this main campus kitchen project will have for decades to come. Replacement is a much better word for this kitchen project. The Owen’s House facility kitchen is currently being used to cook between 750–1000 meals daily for both facilities. Meals are transported to the men’s facility

scheduling the new polished concrete floors to be poured

three times a day and dirty cookware is brought back to be

throughout the dining hall and new kitchen (approx.

washed between meals.

2200 sq. feet). In December, the 2 hood systems will be

The kitchen “replacement” progress update follows.

upgraded with new ducting and exhaust fans which are

Many unnecessary walls have been removed to increase

currently not functioning. New NSF and fire rated wall

efficiency and safety. The 45 year old underground waste

panels are on-site and will be installed once mechanical

lines have been replaced with new, larger diameter pipe. A

projects are complete.

new grease trap has been installed which quadruples the

Completion of this kitchen will allow the Downtown

efficiency and capacity compared to our old system. By

Rescue Mission to more than double the number of meals

the second week in November, back-filling and concrete

that we are able to provide to those in need. Words cannot

will be poured in open trenches. Late November, we are

express the gratitude for the financial support from our community to complete this project. Some issues in our kitchen had passed the point of being necessary quite a while ago. Instead of only being able to repair part of the “heart” of the Mission, we are able to replace it. By resting in God’s work through all of us, we are witness to His will, witness to His blessings to many and witness to His work here being able to carry on through the years ahead.

Thank you to all and all for His glory.

– Bryce, Men’s Kitchen Manager

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR OUR 16TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

May 6, 2021 | 12 PM Shotgun Start Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove

presented by

Register online at www.swingforshelter.org For questions about registration and sponsorships, please contact Marsha Seymour, Director of Corporate Engagement at marsha.seymour@downtownrescuemission.org.

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED

OCTOBER 2021

6,915

Lodging Provided is a proud member of

21,836

Meals Served

199

Food Boxes

®

82060

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