Mission Moments - October 2018 Newlsetter

OCTOBER 2018

OUT OF THE DARKNESS THROUGH

PRAYER

I

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU; AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.” Matthew 28:19-20

s r e n t r a P OF HOPE

MISSIONMOMENTS | October 2018

SH A R I NG J E SUS L OV E

truly love this time of year, when the leaves start to change their colors, the nights get cooler and the Downtown Rescue Mission is at its busiest. The Fall Season is the time of year that the Mission is at its peak level of activity.

During the next few weeks we will be collecting turkeys for our “Annual Turkey Drive”. Almost 1,000 of these turkeys will be given out at our annual Thanksgiving Food Box Give-a-Way. These food boxes, which have enough food for a family of five, will be given out to needy families throughout the community on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.

The rest of the turkeys will be used at our Great Thanksgiving Banquet.

This year we are planning on serving over 900 Thanksgiving meals to men, women and children who come to the Mission looking for a hot meal.

The meals and food boxes that we give away help fill empty stomachs, but at the Mission we are truly hoping to fill their souls with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Reaching out and sharing Christ’s love with all who come to us is our greatest ambition, whether it is in our chapel services, through our programs and services, in the cashier line at one of our thrift stores or even through a newsletter article. We will always share the gospel to a lost and dying world.

Every day at the Mission we are trying to live out the Great Commission. You can help us by praying, volunteering, donating to one of our stores or giving a financial gift the Mission.

Thank you for partnering with DRM as we continue the Great Commission!

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED HOW YOU COULD BLESS THOSE IN OUR CARE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? We recently introduced a special donor group, called Partners of Hope. This group of donors have committed to bless the Mission through their recurring monthly gifts. In return, they help us be even better stewards of all God provides by decreasing our fundraising expenses and reducing the amount of mail pieces they receive throughout the year. Partners of Hope donors receive special quarterly giving statements and updates about all the exciting things the Lord is doing at the Mission.

WE CAN HELP!

Help make an ongoing impact in the lives of men, women, and children through a monthly gift of any amount – start by visiting our website, https://www.downtownrescuemission.org, and clicking on monthly giving under the “ways to give” tab.

Become a #partnerofhope today!

OUT OF THE DARKNESS THROUGH

PRAYER

“FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD, I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU, I WILL HELP YOU, I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.” Isaiah 41:10

M

y name is Whitney and I am thirty-five years old. I have two amazing sons who are gifts from the Lord. I have been blessed with a godly man, who I am currently engaged to, and the most supportive Christian family. My road of rebellion, usage, and the need to control what God had given me caused me to lose everything. I had gotten myself so far into the darkness that, at this point, I did not see the need to pray.

I turned away from God and lived life my way. I was both homeless and jobless on and off for two years. During this time, I used drugs more and more to numb the pain.

Regardless of the many attempts I made to pick myself up and put things back together, I continued to fail. I barely spent time with my children, my relationship was falling apart, and I could not stand to contact my family.

I finally reasoned that I could not help my situation or myself. With the help of my fiancé, I came to the

Downtown Rescue Mission earlier this year. It was here that I prayed for the first time in a long time, asking God to forgive me and change me. I had spent fifteen years doing it my way – making a mess of everything.

I acknowledged my need for the Lord and was ready to live life His way. Over the past four months, God’s work in my life has left me speechless. I am starting to see, understand, and use the gifts the Holy Spirit has given me for His glory. I enjoy being in the Owen’s House praise team, building bonds with the other program women around me, and working in the emergency shelter area, ministering to women who are like who I used to be. I also enjoy playing guitar for the children’s ministry, something I have picked up over the past few months.

God is restoring my relationships and has allowed me visitation with my boys. I can now attend my oldest son’s football games! One of most impressive things God has done in my life has been giving me a passion for prayer. I never imagined the Lord would use me this way after I had hurt Him so much through my prayerlessness. Only through Christ has my life done a one-hundred eighty degree turn from who I used to be.

I’m anxious to see what else God has in store!

https://donate.downtownrescuemission.org

MISSION IN MY WORDS

S

DENISE CROSBY

everal ladies and I from our church, CrossPointe Church in Madison, volunteer once a month to serve meals in the evening. After dinner we have “Tuesday Night at the Movies” showing a Christ centered movie teaching Christ-like values (and a little popcorn and chocolate). We are now in our 4th year doing this at DRM.

“ONLY JESUS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. BY VOLUNTEERING AT THE DOWNTOWN RESCUE MISSION, HE HAS CHANGED MINE TOO!” My hope and prayer for the ladies at Owen’s House is that they receive from our service as much as we receive from being with them. All of us who volunteer love the Mission and what it stands for: Forgiveness and redemption and changing old into new!

When we first meet new ladies in the program, we ask questions about who they are. Many times they are very shy or ashamed and do not want to talk.

However, after a few months of good care, their skin and appearance begin to clear up, and they see more clearly. They feel renewed. They will share their story with transparency as a witness and testimony of all God is doing in their life.

Missions and giving back are important to me. I feel blessed and thankful that I can play a small part in helping a broken vessel become whole again by the grace of God. Only Jesus can change your life. By volunteering at the Downtown Rescue Mission, He has changed mine too! I cannot wait to see how Jesus is going to use these ladies for His good. Blessings to all.

MISSIONMOMENTS | October 2018

FALL DRIVES BRING HOPE “BY THIS ALL PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.” John 13:35

F

all is a great time to foster team building, friendly competition, and a sense of community through providing for the less fortunate within our community.

The Mission strives to help the working poor within our community. We can deliver empty donation barrels (while supplies last) to your company, church, or civic group for a fun food drive to provide Thanksgiving meals to 1,000 area families who are not able to afford a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We need these can and dry box food items for Thanksgiving: cranberry sauce, kernel corn, green beans, yams, instant mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, instant stuffing, and brown gravy mix.

Is your corporate culture more focused toward children? Why not have a friendly, interdepartmental, toy drive competition? Three hundred children between the ages of three and nine will receive a large bag of Christmas gifts- along with the true story of Christmas! Nativity House is an interactive tour of the Mission through scenes from the wonderful gift of Christ’s birth!

It may not feel like it now but very soon, it will be cold outside… Too cold for people to sleep outside without endangering their lives. Your small group or office can collect gloves, hats and scarves to be placed on our dining hall Christmas tree. Anyone who comes for a hot meal can take some warm gloves as well!

There are so many ways to share Christ’s love with those who truly need to know they are loved.

For more information or to request a barrel, please contact Tonia at 256-713-4343 or tonia@ downtownrescuemission.org.

SAVE THE DATE THANKSGIVING TURKEY BOX SIGN UPS

THANKSGIVING TURKEY BOX PACKING

Monday, November 5......... 9:00–11:00 a.m. & 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 18........................................2:00–4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 6......... 9:00–11:00 a.m. & 1:00–3:00 p.m.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY BOX GIVEAWAY VETERAN’S DAY CELEBRATION EVENT

Monday, November 19..........................10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

Friday, November 9...................................................10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, November 20..........................10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS TOY SIGN UPS

GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY BANQUET

Monday, November 12....... 9:00–11:00 a.m. & 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 21..................... 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 13....... 9:00–11:00 a.m. & 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 22........................ 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

VETERAN’S CELEBRATION

D

owntown Rescue Mission Veteran’s Celebration takes place on November 9th at 10:00 a.m. and will be immediately followed by a lunch provided by Outback Steakhouse. The Mae C. Jemison High School Band will be performing along with the AMC Color Guard at the service.

Each of our veterans will be recognized by branch for their years of service and given a small token of our respect and thankfulness. Many thanks to Northrup Grumman for sponsoring this event and helping us remind our homeless veterans how very loved and respected they are!

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED AUGUST 2018 Meals Served

26,986

Lodging

8,290 is a proud member of

Clothing Provided

4,906

Food Boxes

701

Into Housing

®

82060

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

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