Mission Moments February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

FROM TRIALS TO

TRIUMPH

STORIES OF HOPE

A “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT IN ORDER THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED THROUGH HIM. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY SON OF GOD.” John 3:16-18

few weeks ago, the Downtown Rescue Mission started a new podcast called “Stories of Hope.” These podcasts will focus on individual’s stories of rescue and their testimony of hope, of how God brought them out of the depths of despair and led them to stories filles with hope. We will also interview people who are involved in helping with these stories of hope, whether as a donor, volunteer, mentor or staff member of a rescue mission or other like ministries. There are so many great stories of how God truly provides hope that are inspirational and uplifting and I think they should be shared.

The first episode of the podcast was an interview with Dr. Darwin “Doc” Overholt also known as my dad. Doc has been in and around ministries that help provide hope for almost 60 years. He preceded me at the Downtown Rescue Mission and truly helped build a ministry that the community could trust and be proud of. The thousands of lives that worked through the doors of DRM during my dad’s tenure and found a place of hope is amazing.

Even though the Mission has grown tremendously since my dad retired the one constant of helping people find hope has always remained the same. That hope is only and can only be found in salvation through Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in John 3:16–18, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Thank you for partnering with the Mission so that we can share the true story of hope... faith in Jesus!

Please watch our upcoming “Stories of Hope” podcast where you can see and hear how God is truly changing lives.

Hope Lives Here!

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

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MISSIONMOMENTS | February 2024

FROM TRIALS TO “I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR MY LIFE AND HOW IT HAS SO FAR TURNED OUT TO FIND A NEW ROCK IN MY LIFE THAT IS EVERLASTING AND THAT IS CHRIST. “

M

y name is Chase, and I am from Russellville, Alabama. Raised by a good family that provided for me and loved me. Started staying away from home more than at home just partying even during high school.

Once I graduated, I moved away and continued the lifestyle. I got arrested and moved back home with my family. Started working in construction with my father, and was making a good wage working, but I was still focused on the wrong things. This was putting stress on my life and my family because I was still on probation and trying to dodge drug tests and my family. One weekend I was wrestling with a friend and had a horrible accident where the left side of my face was crushed and altered my life completely. During this time my mother and Father separated but were not divorced and were living at different properties.

I talked to my father said I wanted to live in Colorado and try to start a life there. My father agreed and 2 weeks later I was on a Greyhound to Denver, Colorado with 2 bags and $400. I stayed in Canon City, Colorado at a campground and worked at the campground when I first got there. After about 2 weeks of moving into the RV and starting a new job away from the campground, my father was calling me on my phone. I answered my phone, and my grandmother was on the line because my father had passed, and his phone was the only one that had my number. It had not hit me that

TRIUMPH

he had passed until I walked into my living room and where he always was sitting, he was not there.

I was at the financial end and tried living out of my car to try to get back on our feet, but my girl wanted to go back home. So, we moved back home, and I lived with my grandparents and she lived with her parents. I had no one to turn to or talk to because I had been gone for so long. Turned back to my old lifestyle that I thought would bring me happiness. I started partying and using substances to try to bring me happiness. The only substance in my hometown was methamphetamine so that’s what I turned to. My grandparents recognized that I was using and I was forced to leave. I knew no one and had nowhere to go.

I started living at a trap house and started selling or trading. Finally got arrested and was sent to a halfway house in Huntsville, Alabama in September of 2022. I asked to be transferred to the Downtown Rescue Mission and it was agreed upon. I came here on Nov 18th of 2022 the same day my father passed. Once in the program, I was relieved by the atmosphere I was in. No one spoke negatively, or about doing the same thing when they got out, it was all about trying to improve their lives and drawing closer to Christ. I am very thankful for my life and how it has so far turned out to find a new rock in my life that is everlasting and that is Christ. Thankful to everyone at the Downtown Rescue Mission big or small for helping provide a place and environment for me to look at myself and realize I needed him. I am currently an employee of security at the mission, I am currently attending Ktech training program in mechatronics. I have a future now, I have hope now, and I have a rock now. I give all the glory to God.

downtownrescuemission.org

MI S S ION IN M Y WOR DS

GIVING

LEGACY OF FROM THANKSGIVING BOXES TO MONTHLY SERVICE

K

irk enjoys being productive with his hands serving others. In November 2010 he participated with his church North Hills Church in Meridianville in a service project of building Thanksgiving Baskets at Downtown Rescue Mission. It was well attended with other church members and it was great time of fellowship, being productive, serving and a little

“IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS IN SERVING, KIRK HAS ALWAYS FELT THAT HE TOO HAS BEEN BLESSED BY OTHERS. KIRK IS THANKFUL TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH DRM OVER THESE PAST 13 YEARS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVING EVEN MORE.” competitive. They divided into teams to make the boxes. Near the end it became a game to see which team would build the most boxes. Now every year since then

North Hills has made it their annual service project to build Thanksgiving boxes. Kirk has participated every year except for two. In March 2022 Ray Carlson, a Deacon at North Hills, informed the church of another opportunity to serve at DRM with Feed America First every month. Kirk had just retired from Teledyne Brown after 33 years so he had the time. Kirk has been there just about every month except for 3-4 times. He enjoys working with the other volunteers loading the cars, trucks, trailers and vans with the various food products. It is a great opportunity to serve the various organization that feed those in need and at the same time get to know others while playing “real life Tetris” loading vehicle with different shaped containers in all kinds of weather. In the process of trying to be a blessing to others in serving, Kirk has always felt that he too has been blessed by others. Kirk is thankful to have had the opportunity to work with DRM over these past 13 years and looks forward to serving even more.

MISSIONMOMENTS | February 2024

SPONSORSHIP

PRESENTING SPONSORS

$10,000

• Company name and logo prominently displayed as at the Start/Finish Line, on all printed materials, sponsor banners, event brochures and posters • Recognition Prior to Start of Race & Closing Ceremony • PROMO codes for FIFTY complimentary race entries with T-shirts • Promotional table at event • Company-Provided Item in Runner Goody Bags

March 2, 2024

event starts 6 pm • race starts 7 pm

Adtran, 901 Explorer Boulevard Northwest, Huntsville, AL CUMMINGS RESEARCH PARK

OVER 1,000 RUNNERS PARTICIPATE Sponsorship online at www.drmglowrun.org FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT events@downtownrescuemission.org

256-713-4343

www.drmglowrun.org

GOLD SPONSORS

$5,500

SILVER SPONSORS

$2,500

• Company name and logo prominently displayed as Gold Sponsor on all printed materials, sponsor banner, event brochures and posters • Recognition at Race Start and during Awards Ceremony as Gold Sponsor • PROMO codes for THIRTY complimentary race entries with T-shirts • Company-Provided Item in Runner Goody Bags

• Company name and logo prominently displayed as Silver Sponsor on all printed materials, sponsor banner, event brochures and posters • Recognition during Awards Ceremony as Silver Sponsor • PROMO codes for TEN Complimentary Race Entries with T-shirts • Company-Provided Item in Runner Goody Bags

GLOW RUNNER SPONSOR 25 COMP RUNNERS $1000

• Register a maximum of 25 runners as a Team and/or Individuals (promo code given after purchase) • Recognition at Race Start and during Awards Ceremony as GLOW Sponsor • Complimentary T-shirt for each Participating Runners • Company-Provided Item in Runner Goody Bags

BRIGHT RUNNER SPONSOR 15 COMP RUNNERS $600

• Register a maximum of 15 runners as a Team and/or Individuals (promo code given after purchase) • Recognition at Race Start and during Awards Ceremony as BRIGHT Sponsor • Complimentary T-shirt for each Participating Runners • Company-Provided Item in Runner Goody Bags

HYDRATION STATIONS

$1,500

RACE ROUTE

$300

• Logo at One of the Four “Stop & Glow” Hydration Stations • Complete with Music, Lights and a 10-Foot Banner • Logo on Glowing Sign along Race Route • Company-Provided Item in Runner Goody Bags

EXHIBITOR BOOTHS $200 FOOD TRUCKS $200 KIDS FUN ZONE $1,000

WANTING TO GET INVOLVED? 1. Scan here 2. Create an account 3. See all volunteer opportunities 4. Select the event that works best for you

You can make the difference.

Life-Long Healing

Become a monthly donor and change lives.

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Donate today at downtownrescuemission.org

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED

IN DECEMBER

10,358

Lodging Provided is a proud member of

38,473

Meals Served

279

Food Boxes

®

82060

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