Christ, The Center of My Life - July'19 Mission Moments

JULY 2019

Christ

THE CENTER OF MY LIFE

Freedom THROUGH Faith

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KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“FOR YOU WERE CALLED TO FREEDOM, BROTHERS. ONLY DO NOT USE YOUR FREEDOM AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH, BUT THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER.” GALATIANS 5:13

n the Fourth of July we celebrated our freedom and independence as Americans. It is truly wonderful to be an American. God has blessed us with so much that we should lift up our prayers of thanksgiving and praises to Him, not just on Independence Day, but every day. Many have died to give us our freedoms and I want to give a special thanks to our service men and women who have served and are continuing to serve our great country with valor, honor and courage.

As Americans we will celebrate our independence, but as Christians we should be celebrating our dependence on God. I am proud and very thankful that our forefathers built our country on the framework of God-inspired principles. Those Biblical principles guide our country and have been tested over the years and been found to be steadfast and everlasting. Our dependence on God allows us to be better Americans. If we truly believe the Word of God, we will first “love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and might” and then second we will “love our neighbor as ourselves”.

I believe our Christian values have benefited America to be the greatest

country in the history of man and that our country has helped to make the whole world a better place.

Depending on God has helped us to reach out with His love to those who may not always be lovable. It allows us to follow Christ’s teaching on ministering to the least of these, His brothers. Year after year Americans rank far above other country’s citizens as philanthropic and charitable. We see the same great American spirit of giving here at the Downtown Rescue Mission through the donations given throughout North Alabama and Southern Tennessee.

Over the years, our community has remained faithful in giving their time and volunteering, donating and shopping at our thrift stores, and making monetary donations to help those who are in need. Your gifts to us during this slow season will help us to reach out with the love of Christ to our neighbors who need more than just a hand out, when what they need is a helping hand up.

Christ

THE CENTER OF MY LIFE “JESUS SAID TO HIM, ‘I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.’” JOHN 14:6

M

y name is Sherri, and my testimony begins in early childhood. At a young age my father passed away from a heart attack. My family life changed and we stopped going to church as we always had done, at my mother’s choosing. I became the usual rebellious teenager when my relationship with my mother deteriorated. I wanted to be anywhere but home, so I joined the Army when I finished school.

During my service, I married another military member and we started a family. Before long, we were relocated from California to Alabama but our marriage was crumbling and we divorced shortly after. I remarried, and once again the marriage failed because God was not at the center of our lives, due to our own choosing.

Years went by and numerous addictions, promiscuities, etc., but still God was not a part of my life. On June 26, 2014, I hit rock bottom and cried out to the Lord for His help and guidance. That is that day my journey with Christ began. I moved in with my son whose family is active in the church and a great example of what I consider a “normal” family. Soon after, I hit rock bottom again, this time it was a matter of choosing life or death. For a period, I bounced between rehab and sober living programs this time with Christ in my life. Through these experiences, I came to realize that I can do nothing right or good without Him in my life.

Eventually, I decided to move in with my daughter’s family in Alabama. It didn’t take long to realize that there was another God in their lives and I needed to remove

myself from that environment. I prayed and prayed for a way out. While searching online for options I came across Downtown Rescue Mission. I called the Mission to learn more about the program and after one conversation I decided it was where I would go.

I have been learning so much in the Life Recovery Program. My relationship with Christ is growing daily and I feel in my heart that God loves me and wants the best for my life and family. All this is obtainable only in and through Jesus, he gets all the glory for without him I am nothing, but with him I am unstoppable! I am excited when I look forward at the rest of my journey with Christ at the center of my life.

https://donate.downtownrescuemission.org

MISSION IN MY WORDS

THE NORTH ALABAMA CHAPTER OF THE VIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION (NAVHPA)

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he North Alabama Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (NAVHPA) was incorporated in 2009 to ” To enhance on the local level the cohesiveness, esprit de corps and traditions of valor of rotary wing aircrews that flew in Southeast

“THE MEN WE SERVE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MEAL AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO HELP.”

meal at Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville.

We serve at the Men’s area in the dining hall. Some of these people reside at the Mission as part of one of the resident programs, others are there needing shelter on a temporary basis, and others come in off the streets for a free meal. NAVHPA serves the dinner meal at this facility on the second Thursday of each month – a very worthwhile cause and time well spent.

Asia during the Vietnam Era.” And to “educate the public on the role of rotary wing aviation during the Vietnam War through guest speakers, patriotic events, aircraft displays, etc.” Also we “Support other Vietnam era veterans and charities”. The Downtown Rescue Mission (DRM) is one such charity.

For the last several years, the members of the chapter and their spouses have served the evening

We only ask for five or six to serve. But we often have many more volunteer. When our volunteers speak about this service we hear things like, “When I serve these men I leave feeling good.” And “The men we serve are grateful for the meal and our willingness to help”. Also, “It makes me feel good to help these folks who just need a hand and a chance.”

MISSIONMOMENTS | July 2019

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eArded Warriors is a group of veterans that give their time and effort toward helping others by volunteering, supporting events, and now, by host a program that give free haircuts to Mission guests.

At the end of 2018 a few of the BeArded Warriors submitted photos of their beards into a radio contest and won! The prize was a $150 prize pack for free haircuts at Sports Clips and the group decided they would use the prize as a give back to veterans.

The Warriors discussed the idea with the Sports Clips owner, and decided to offer homeless veterans free haircuts for a day.

Ty Oswald, founder of the group talked about the motivation behind the idea. “Some of the homeless vets may not be in the best situation, but if they have an interview coming up a haircut can make a world of difference for first impressions. Plus, anytime you get a haircut you get a boost of confidence. Nobody doesn’t like a good haircut.”

Transportation was limited, but the BeArded Warriors came together and provided rides to and from Sports clips for 45 people.

“At first the guys were silent, but after their haircut it was like a whole new person got out of the chair. They were talking, joking, asking questions, talking to the other BeArded Warriors. It went from a very silent truck ride to

a ‘I could have drove around all afternoon and wasted 36 gallons of gas kind of thing’.”

Since December, free haircuts have been given to Mission guests twice per month.

The program, now called Styles With Smiles, has grown from one stylist giving a few haircuts to three stylist and a line of guests ready to get a cut and have fun. BeArded Warriors group members drop in throughout the day, sometimes on lunch breaks or whenever they can find the time to hang out.

“If we could do audio, you would think we were at just another barber shop in town,” Ty said. “It’s a laugh riot.”

Ty sat down with the Mission for a podcast episode recently and he wrapped up the episode with these words, “The only thing that anyone can ask of anybody is to share their time because we all have that.”

T

he GLOW Run is back by popular demand! The original Huntsville GLOW Run is back at Big Spring Park again, but this time with more people and even more fun! This year’s event will be bigger, better, and glowy-er than ever!

The fundraising goal is $30,000 and you can play a big part in that! How? The new peer-to-peer fundraising website allows you to spread the word about the race and raise extra funds, beyond registration fee, to help even more men, women, and children in our community!

You can participate in teams that you join or create to bring even more HOPE to neighbors in need! Links and pre-made posts make your fundraising page easily shared on social media, via email, and more! Events at Downtown Rescue Mission have never been this exciting!

We thank you in advance and can’t wait to see you in your coolest GLOW gear on August 3rd at Big Spring Park.

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owntown Rescue Mission has been blessed to be chosen as a Charity of Choice for The HuntsvilleMadison County Hospitality Association’s 44th Annual Taste of Huntsville.

We will be promoting the time/talents/businesses that support the Mission at the evening’s silent auction. If you are interested in getting new customers, showing off your artistic talents or, have treasures that will make great auction items, please contactTonia@downtownrescuemission. org no later than August 1st.

The Event provides attendees with “Tastes” of the fine foods and beverages served at our establishments throughout Huntsville / Madison County. “The Taste” not only provides a delight for your taste buds while restaurants compete for awards in food presentation and taste; but more importantly, the event raises money for Downtown

Rescue Mission. The Taste of Huntsville is scheduled for Tuesday evening, October 1st from 5:30 till 8 pm. It will be held at the Von Braun Center in the South Hall. Please add this event to your calendar and come enjoy great food and fun to support the Mission.

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED MAY 2019 Meals Served

28,363

1,528

Volunteer Hours

Lodging

8,178

Into Permanent Housing

5

Clothing Provided

5,460

Spiritual Decisions

8

is a proud member of

®

82060

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