Mission Moments March 2023

ALL THINGS THROUGH Christ

Themonth of March marks the anniversary of when I started at the Downtown Rescue Mission. I am now entering my 24th year of helping reach out to our community by sharing God’s love through the programs and services at the Mission.

I have worked at two other Missions and have been to many other communities that have ministries like DRM, but there is something extra special about this place and this community.

A few months back, I was asked if I ever get tired or burned out because I’ve been doing this for so long. Honestly, physically I sometimes get weary, but mentally and spiritually I’m as excited

“Today, I work for Lowe’s corporate office, and I went from homelessness to an established member of corporate America. I am a Project Coordinator for Installation Sales for two stores in New Mexico. I am thankful for your program. It made a difference in my life. I just wanted to let you know.

“God is good, and He uses your family and organization to change lives. It is up to us (in the program) to do the groundwork, but through your programs, God’s work continues to change lives when we apply the practice side of your program into a life changing application.”

“OVER MY YEARS, I

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

Philippians 4:13

Ithought I had it all together. had a family, a job, a car… but on the inside, I was angry, depressed and lonely.

My way of fixing things was to numb the pain by drinking alcohol. So that is what I did. But it didn’t work! The pain was still there.

Fighting with my family, they’d ask me, “Why can’t you just stop?” I was out of control. Then, it happened: I lost it all.

Most of my family had given up on me. The job I had for 8 years I lost because I went to work drunk. I was so ashamed to tell my family, so I’d get up every morning and act like I was going to work but was actually out drinking all day and came home thinking no one would know.

Someone, who I hurt so many times yet still cared, asked what was wrong with me. I finally broke down

and admitted that I needed help. So, we went online and learned about the Life Transformation programs at the Downtown Rescue Mission.

It wasn’t easy at first. The devil was still on my back telling me that this wasn’t for me and that I should leave. But everyday I just kept fighting through it with God’s help. Going to classes, listening to my director, and reading my Bible with prayer is helping me to see how God is working in my life.

My sisters in Christ at Owen’s House [Downtown Rescue Mission’s program for women and children] are such an encouragement! I wanted what they had. So I started believing, then came more faith, more peace and joy. One day I knew I was a child of God and I am not alone because through Jesus all things are possible. I was a new life!

Today, I have a job at the Downtown Rescue Mission thrift warehouse. I’m around people who don’t judge me because of my past. They love me, and I love them. That is all God. God is good all the time!

–Adna

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.”

MISSION IN MY WORDS A GREATER PURPOSE

Asa young child, my parents were members of a church and regularly attended. However, when I was 4 years old, my father passed away, so my mother decided we would no longer be part of the church. I was never discouraged by my mother to learn about God, but her feelings of resentment deterred me from pursuing Him.

part of my life. I now understand it isn’t about what I can do for myself, but what the Lord did, does and continues to do for me.

With my job at the Downtown Rescue Mission, I create and implement policies that help keep our campus safe, but ultimately God has put me in a position to lead by example and point others towards Christ. Even in my failures I am able to do this through Him.

My past experiences and trials help give me relatability with our clients that I use to give them hope — Hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

Growing up I was told if I worked really hard, I would have whatever I set my mind to. So, when I did well in sports, it was because I practiced hard. When I did well in school, it was because I studied hard. When I got that great career job, I deserved it because I worked hard to get it. Without knowing it, I had developed the mentality that I was self-sufficient.

I know now that it was at this point in my life God started to work on my heart.

Shortly after the start of my career, I needed an operation on my shoulder. Little did I know, it would cause a downward spiral in my life involving drug addiction. I fought addiction for 5 years, thinking I would be the one responsible for overcoming it. This blindness caused me to lose jobs, friends, and contact with my family, yet I continued to rely upon myself even to the point of becoming homeless.

It wasn’t until I overdosed and was brought back to life that I felt the Holy Spirit. God was telling me, I was His and that I had a greater purpose.

I went through Downtown Rescue Mission’s Christcentered Life Transformation program, where I not only learned the Gospel but learned what it meant to make it a

“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD, WHOSE TRUST IS THE LORD.”

Jeremiah 17:7