Downtown Rescue Mission May 2017 Newsletter

MISSIONM MENTS May 2017

Hope

Cultivating

HOPE LIVES HERE

Hope only comes through Jesus Christ

H KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! DO NOT TREMBLE OR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” Joshua 1:9

ope is a word that is used quite often. I hear people say, “I hope I win the lottery,” or “I hope my football team wins,” or “I hope you feel better”. Those statements are not really about hope, but more about wishing.

Webster’s dictionary says that hope is “to want something to happen or be true.”

So many times, we are hoping for something instead putting our hope in something. There’s a story about an old sailor who could see a storm approaching.

As the sea became choppy the old sailor calmly lowered his old heavy anchor, battened down the hatches and went to bed for the night. He knew the night would be rough, but he put his faith in that old anchor that had gotten him through so many other storms.

Hope to me only comes through my Lord and Savior

DID YOU KNOW?

Jesus Christ, and that is what we teach here at the Downtown Rescue Mission. My favorite verse is Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Which goes along with Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who is against us?”

We see men, women and children from all walks of life that are hurting and many times have just given up. The Mission teaches hope everyday because no matter where storms of life have battered us, we can always put our faith and hope in God. He is our Anchor! That’s why I say “Hope Lives Here” at the Downtown Rescue Mission!

You can shop at Kroger and help provide financial support to Mission?

STEP 1

STEP 2

Go to www.kroger.com and click on Community then Community Rewards.

Sign in or create an account to enroll.

STEP 3 Select the Mission (NPO#19080) to support us each time you shop using your Kroger Plus Card.

MISSIONMOMENTS | May 2017

C U LT I VAT I N G

Hope

Happy Mother’s Day mom!

“MY MOM DIED FOR SIX MINUTES LAST YEAR BUT PRAISE GOD CAME BACK TO LIFE”

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y name is Brenda Fenk, and I am from California. I have struggled with alcoholism for most of my life. My family in California thought that moving to live with my dad in Alabama would cure me. What we didn’t realize is that where ever you go, there you are! Nevertheless, the addiction moved with me to Alabama. I was raised Seventh-Day Adventist and went to a private SDA school. My mother has always been a godly woman and taught my sister, brothers, and I to follow the Lord. In Proverbs 22:6, the Bible instructs parents to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

My alcoholism continued to progress and I eventually lost everything, most of all my self-respect

and the respect of my family. I was at my wits’ end and I wanted to die. Praise God for my church friends who brought me to the Mission! This was the most beautiful start of a wonderful journey with the Lord in September 2015. I graduated the women’s discipleship recovery program in October 2016 and was baptized by my dad and one of the Mission’s chaplains. God has done so much in my life since arriving at the Mission to cultivate hope within my life, which was lacking for so long.

I am currently working my way back to California.

My mom died for six minutes last year but praise God came back to life. I’d like to spend good quality time with her because I’ve missed so much due to my past addiction. The intimate relationship I now have with the Lord is priceless. I’m grateful to the Lord for placing several women in my path who have spoken His truth into my life for over a year and a half. One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

MISSIONMOMENTS | May 2017

JAPERA BARNES Mission

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IN MY WORDS

ever in a million years did I see myself being a social worker in a shelter. Never in a million years did I believe that I would gain so much experience and respect for the profession from working with the homeless population. My name is Japera Barnes and I am a senior social work major at Oakwood University.

I have been interning at Downtown Rescue Mission since March 2016. God put me in place to serve at the Mission for a purpose and it has changed my life for the better.

When I began interning I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or if I’d even be any good at what I would have to do. I shadowed another intern, Jodian McCleod, from my school to learn the ropes and she showed me the basics and guided me in the right direction.

Mrs. Kim, Director of Social Work, encouraged me to dive in headfirst and work with Jodi to become more comfortable and relaxed with the clients. I felt like I

“THE CLASS IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF MY WEEK BECAUSE IT IS WHEN THE CLIENTS BECOME TRANSPARENT WITH ME…” had no idea what I was doing. I had always worked with people under the age of 20, so it was a new experience to now be working with those 18 and older. I prayed on many occasions about my internship experience and for the courage to stay strong and keep pushing through the journey. I learned so much about life and people in general and the different struggles that people face every day.

Every Friday morning I teach a class to the mothers where we talk about and learn life skills for everyday use. This is the time that I bond with the clients on a more personal level because they can

speak freely with me about the subjects we discuss.

The class is the most exciting part of my week because it is when the clients become transparent with me and express themselves all while learning different tips to take with them when they move forward from the Mission. Aside from the class, I love working with the children so I incorporated a way to give my clients a break by having something for the kids to do whether it was running around the gym or learning colors from flash cards. I bonded with the children and by doing so the mothers became more comfortable with me as well and the client – social worker relationship grew stronger.

I believe that everything happens for a reason and God makes no mistakes. I was placed at Downtown Rescue Mission to make a difference in someone’s life and I believe that I have done that. I believe that God has been with me and my clients because nothing we do would be possible without Him. I have seen my clients start from nothing to getting everything they need in a matter of time because they keep their faith strong and believe that God will always make a way.

Though I graduate in May, I will NEVER forget my time here and how amazing an experience I have had.

MISSIONMOMENTS | May 2017

F

eed America First is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) hunger relief organization based out of Murfreesboro, TN. Our mission is provide food to those who feed the hungry. We receive large-scale food donations from manufacturers, distributors, farmers, retailers, etc. and with the help of hundreds of volunteers every month, we divide and distribute the food to about 200 partner agencies (food pantries, shelters, etc.) throughout Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Every month, we distribute over 900,000+ lbs. of food and help feed 35,000 families.

The Mission is the host agency for Feed America First in the North Alabama region. Between 1520 agencies, churches, and nonprofits meet at our Madison Thrift Store (8006 Old Madison Pike, Suite 10) every month to receive 1,000 lbs. or more of food to help augment their ministry, essentially

leaving them with the only concern of how to get it to the people they serve. The cost is super low; $100 for 1,000+ lbs. of food, which is 10 cents or less per pound. If this resource would help your agency or organization, we would love to add you to our growing list of recipients! Contact John at john.niemeyer@ downtownrescuemission.org to get on board!

We also need volunteers to help with the food drop days throughout the summer months. A dozen people are needed to help us unload Feed America First’s truck and load recipients’ truck beds and trailers from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. on May 11, June 8, July 13, and August 10. Please contact Corey at corey@ downtownrescuemission.org to sign up to volunteer!

THRIFT STORE CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DATES & LOCATIONS

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e’re not clowning around, there’s only four locations left! Join us for free hotdogs, hamburgers, and store-wide savings at the remaining dates and locations below! The food will be served from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. but the savings will last all day from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thank you for donating, shopping, and supporting our ministry!

May 5 – Decatur May 12 – HSV-East May 19 – Meridianville May 26 – Athens MISSIONMOMENTS | May 2017

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owntown Rescue Mission’s inaugural HOPE MULTIPLIED campaign is an exciting new opportunity for local businesses to partner with members of our community and give back in a big way… together, we can do so much more!

HOPE MULTIPLIED is a community match campaign that offers local businesses the opportunity to partner with the members of our community – your clients, colleagues, and customers – and provide a lasting impact of hope. HOPE MULTIPLIED is a two-part twist on the traditional employer match: we are asking a select group of local businesses, our Hope Multipliers, to provide a total of $50,000 toward the campaign. We will then use the Hope Multipliers’ collective commitment to launch a fundraising campaign within our local community, every gift going twice as far!

The result will be $100,000 used to provide hope to those in our community who need it most, at a time when it is most needed. Want to know more? Contact Tonia Beverly at tonia@downtownrescuemission.org or John Niemeyer at john.niemeyer@downtownrescuemission.org.

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ark your calendars for Chick-fil-A’s North Alabama Race Series 5k Run to Rescue on June 3rd! The majority of proceeds from the race feed directly back into the Mission and our ministry to our community.

Please go to www.cfaracenorthalabama.com to register or sign up to volunteer.

HELPING CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY! Statistics for March 2017 Meals Served Lodging

20,249 6,233 844

Food Boxes Spiritual Decisions

3

Into Permanent Housing

8

WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED to help the Downtown Rescue Mission care for the homeless/hurting people of our community!

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Downtown Rescue Mission 1400 Evangel Drive Huntsville, AL 35816

Visit us online at downtownrescuemission.org or call 256-536-2441

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1400 Evangel Drive, Huntsville, AL 35816 256-536-2441

www.downtownrescuemission.org