December Mission Moments

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!”

2 Corinthians 9:15

THE GREATEST GIFT!

During the next few weeks, we will be in the hustle and bus tle of the Christmas Season.

Stores will be packed with customers, people will spend hours on their phone shopping online, and others will wait in line for hours to get the best deal — all to find that perfect gift.

Don’t get me wrong, I love giving gifts, but most of the time, the gifts we give and receive are forgotten within a few months. There is a gift that we can share that will be remembered and cherished forever. This gift is the greatest gift that anyone could ever receive. A gift that was given over 2,000 years ago, and it is still the greatest ever. That gift is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the perfect gift! Being born of a virgin, He lived a sinless life, then died as a sacrifice for all mankind and rose again on the third day. The Bible tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the

gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). What greater gift is there than living forever with our Lord in heaven? There is none.

At DRM, we share that greatest gift through everything that we do. It is the reason for our existence. Yes, we feed, house and clothe anyone in need. Yes, we provide a one-year Life Transformation Program that helps hundreds of men and women every year. Yes, we provide programs to the community to help people who are one paycheck away from being homeless. And we do many other programs and outreaches, but our main purpose and our goal is to share the greatest gift of salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that you know about and have received this gift. Merry Christmas!

“KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD’S LOVE AS YOU WAIT FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BRING YOU TO ETERNAL LIFE. BE MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO DOUBT; SNATCH OTHERS FROM THE FIRE AND SAVE THEM; TO OTHERS SHOW MERCY, MIXED WITH FEAR, HATING EVEN THE CLOTHING STAINED BY CORRUPTED FLESH.” Jude 1:21-23

Being born and raised in Madison, I had a good childhood with what I would call a “normal” family.

My dad was a hard worker and supportive father, and my mother was very loving and also a hard worker. I also had two sisters, and once we got older, the closer we got. I graduated from Bob Jones in 2007 and decided that was enough school for me. My parents told me to get a job if I was not going to be in school.

The next thing I know, I’m being graciously woken up by a drill instructor in Paris Island South Carolina. Hoorah! After basic training and infantry/FO school, I found myself headed to Afghanistan for my first tour of duty. It was not as fun as you would think. Unfortunately, this is where my mental state started to decline. After losing my brothers on the first tour and even more on the second, I could not cope with the fact that I only lost some hearing in my right ear.

I was discharged in 2014 and found myself mentally and emotionally unstable. I was at a low point. I didn’t

have hope or see a purpose in living. I’d stay busy by working non-stop until I ended up in a Birmingham Hospital due to a terrible car wreck. I had a broken back, a punctured lung, and many more injuries were making it extremely hard to work even after 4 months of physical therapy.

I was tired of living in my truck, so I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission. I entered the Life Transformation Program, and that’s when everything started to change.

I struggled at first only because I wasn’t interested in the biblical classes. However, I still had motivation to change my life and not go back to my old way of living. After being here almost six months, something had changed. I started to not only understand scripture but started believing what I was reading. I constantly asked myself, “How did I end up here?” and I now know it was to bring me to faith. That’s not anything I did, but God’s doing!

For the first time in my life since I can remember, I’m hopeful for the future.

I can finally rest in the fact that my identity is in Christ, not my own circumstances. My goal in coming to DRM was to get my life together, but now it’s more than that. I’m focused on God and enjoy helping others — who are in a place where I was — and show them that there is hope. –Michael

Thank you for supporting Downtown Rescue Mission!

MISSION IN MY WORDS

SERVING THE LORD

In 2020, after losing both of my parents and living a life that was going completely nowhere, I knew I needed a change. But it was impossible to do on my own. I needed Jesus!

So, I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission and started the Life Transformation Program at Owen’s House [DRM’s center for women and children]. While in the program, I worked in the kitchen as a cook. It was here I discovered God had given me the gift of service. I loved knowing that people, who were unable to feed themselves, were receiving three hot meals every day.

After graduating from the program, I was hired as Kitchen Manager over the women’s kitchen last year and was promoted to Director of DRM Food Service Ministries this year. I’m so grateful for the opportunity that God has given me through this place to love and serve others still struggling. Having the chance to watch each person grow closer to Jesus is a blessing!

Isaiah 43:2

Then in the spring, we planted a garden, and God blessed us with food to share with others. The women at Owen’s House also learned how to plant seeds, care for their planet, and reap the rewards of their good work.

Through the Downtown Rescue Mission, I’ve been given so many great advantages in growing my future. I attended Christian Women’s Job Corps and now NASB Biblical Counseling Education. I hope to always be in service to God through serving others in need — the hands and feet of Jesus and all He has called me to be.

Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

– Barb

“WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS, I WILL BE WITH YOU; AND WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY WILL NOT SWEEP OVER YOU. WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED; THE FLAMES WILL NOT SET YOU ABLAZE.”

Parents and Teachers, we need your help to make this Christmas a little merrier for those experiencing homeless at Downtown Rescue Mission.

Parents and Teachers, we need your help to make this Christmas a little merrier for those experiencing homeless at Downtown Rescue Mission.

Parents and Teachers, we need your help to make this Christmas a little merrier for those experiencing homeless at Downtown Rescue Mission

This is a fun yet meaningful project for public or private school, homeschool families, children’s church or Sunday School classes.

This is a fun yet meaningful project for public or private school, homeschool families, children’s church or Sunday School classes.

Here’s how it works

This is a fun yet meaningful project for public or private school, homeschool families, children’s church or Sunday School classes.

Here’s how it works

Go to https://www.downtownrescuemission.org/events click “download placemat” or scan the QRcode below.

2. Make copies of blank placemats for students to color.

Here’s how it works Go to https://www.downtownrescuemission.org/events click “download placemat” or scan the QRcode below.

3. Mail them to DRM so every guest can have a placemat.

Go to https://www.downtownrescuemission.org/events click “download placemat” or scan the QRcode below.

2. Make copies of blank placemats for students to color.

2. Make copies of blank placemats for students to color.

3. Mail them to DRM so every guest can have a placemat.

3. Mail them to DRM so every guest can have a placemat.

Please drop o at or mail to:

Downtown Rescue Mission

Please drop o at or mail to:

Please drop o at or mail to:

Downtown Rescue Mission

Attn: Holiday Placemats

Downtown Rescue Mission

Attn: Holiday Placemats

Attn: Holiday Placemats

1400 Evangel Dr NW Huntsville, AL 35816

1400 Evangel Dr NW Huntsville, AL 35816

1400 Evangel Dr NW Huntsville, AL 35816

Thank you for caring!

Thank you for caring!

Thank you for caring!