"God is So Good" October '20 Mission Moments

OCTOBER 2020

God IS SO Good

FAVORITE SEASON

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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

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 and nonperishable food items for our annual Thanksgiving food drive.

Around 1,000 of these turkeys will accompany a pre-filled food box and be given out at our annual Thanksgiving Food Box Give-aWay. These food boxes, which have enough food for a family of five, will be given out to needy families throughout the community just before Thanksgiving. The rest of the turkeys and food items will be used at our Great Thanksgiving Banquet.

This year we are planning on serving over 800 Thanksgiving meals to men, women and children who come to the Mission looking for a hot meal.

LET YOUR COMPANY

Double Triple –OR–

YOUR IMPACT! MISSIONMOMENTS | October 2020

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 we come in contact with 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. Our goal is to share the gospel to everyone.

Every day at the Mission we are trying to live out the Great Commission. Please consider helping us with this endeavor 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 to provide hope through Jesus Christ!

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any companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to

charitable organizations. Most of these programs match contributions dollar for dollar, and some will even double or triple the amount of your gift! To find out if your company will match gifts to the Mission, please go to our website and look for “Matching Gifts” in the drop down menu below the “Ways to Give” homepage tab. For more information, please contact Donna at donna@downtownrescuemission.org.

God IS SO Good I

“I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THIS WONDERFUL HOUSE OF GOD DOES.”

started using drugs at an early age. I was fourteen years old when I smoked pot for the first time along with consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes. I really started using pot on a regular basis when I got to college. I drunk almost every night and would drag myself into class every morning. After barely graduating, I came back home and started working. At this time in my life, I didn’t drink as much but constantly smoked weed. I got arrested multiple times for possession, and I still vividly remember a man at jail telling me that everyone has got a possession charge and that its not that big of a deal. Smoking weed eventually graduated into a cocaine addiction and took my family and myself for thousands of dollars. I lost their trust, respect, and set resentment in their hearts.

I stopped using cocaine and only smoked weed but then addiction found its way back into my life in the form of opiates.

I was hooked and started down a very long and broken road. I started by snorting pills but when that wasn’t enough. I again graduated to using a needle and injecting them. By this time, I had met a woman and we had gotten married. For a reason I still can’t grasp, we decided to have a child. When my daughter was born, I thought I could change, but she wasn’t enough to keep me clean – I needed a heart change. I needed for myself to die and for something else to rise up in me. I remember church as a child. I remember the hands raised, the passion in the sermons, and that there was something different about these people. I had always called myself a Christian, but I didn’t really even know what that meant.

After my daughter was born, DHR immediately took her and placed her in the care of my ex-wife’s aunt and uncle. My wife and I continued in our brokenness and drug abuse. Jail, rehab, free world, repeat! I felt like I was stuck in a time loop, and I didn’t know how to escape it. My wife and I split up and by this time, I was doing every drug out there – anything to not have to feel the pain of this world for just five seconds. I tried going to church and NA/AA meetings but nothing seemed to

work. I was staying with my grandparents when they kicked me out because I stole a significant amount of money from them to feed my habit. I was homeless but still addicted. I came to the Mission as an emergency shelter guest and got into the Acts dorm because I had a job. I was still living in deceit and would cheat drug tests and lie my way out of any situation. Well, God had a plan for me the entire time! I was arrested again, only this time for some significantly more serious charges for violating probation and was looking at time. Then I ran into someone at jail who reminded me of the Life Recovery Program at the Mission. I called my lawyer and within two weeks, I was released by the judge to come here and join the program.

My very first class was the gospel of John. It was like I had been blinded by a light and someone who had been calling out to me for a very long time finally had caught my attention. I surrendered my life to Christ and He changed me. I have by no means been perfect since then. I’ve been in my fair share of trouble, but I know now I have forgiveness for my sins because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. I now go into the weight room and gym almost everyday to do what a friend and I call “Temple Maintenance”. I joined the couch to 5k program and am honestly in the best shape of my life. Christ is doing such a work in me and constantly lets me know He is on my side and that He is helping me and that He loves me. He is revealing to me what He wants my life to be and how I can serve His will. I am so thankful that I also get to help others that have been in my old shoes.

I now understand why I had to go down the road I was on.

It was so I could get here, so I can look back and extend my hand to those still trapped in addiction. It was so that I could tell them that Christ is calling for them and there is a better way, a better life! I have a strong desire to help those who are where I was. I have a home church now and attend on a regular basis.

I have friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ that genuinely care about me and have helped me to get where I am now. I am beyond grateful for the work this wonderful house of God does.

God is so GOOD! –Chad P.

donate.downtownrescuemission.org

MI S S ION IN M Y WOR DS

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Misty Bevill

arla Brown, Kirstie Brown and I are all proud co-founders of the local women’s ministry called SHINE. This acronym stands for Serving Him IN Everything. We believe that one of the most solid Christian foundations given to us from the Lord is to love and serve others.

“SO DON’T HIDE YOUR LIGHT! LET IT SHINE BRIGHTLY BEFORE OTHERS, SO THAT THE COMMENDABLE THINGS YOU DO WILL SHINE AS LIGHT UPON THEM, AND THEY WILL GIVE THEIR PRAISES TO YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.” MATTHEW 5:16

Every Thursday, we meet with the Emergency Shelter women and teach lessons from the Bible in practical terms. Some of these women are hearing the Gospel for the first time, and others are learning more details about the God they already know. We boldly promote discipleship among the women there.

Furthermore, our ministry has coordinated the donation of Bibles for these precious women to call their own. We are seeing lives changed by the hope of the Gospel. Women are not only reading scripture, but also praying aloud for one another and themselves.

SHINE ministries also hosts monthly serving opportunities at the Owen’s House facility of the Mission. We help serve the evening meal to all the women. Then, following the meal, we provide children’s activities every other month while the adult women receive a time of prayer and fellowship while growing their personal relationship with the Lord.

MISSIONMOMENTS | October 2020

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

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t’s that time again! Downtown Rescue Mission is planning a drive thru giveaway of 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to those in need throughout northern Alabama and southern Tennessee.

We will also serve hundreds of traditional Thanksgiving meals to the men, women, and children in our care. As you shop for your own Thanksgiving meal, please consider purchasing and donating a few of these needed items.

If we are able to exceed our desired goal of 1,200 of each item, we will use the overage to stock our dry storage room.

Food items in this room are used to fill weekly food bags that are given away to those needing food assistance.

A huge thank you to Mission Driven Research for donating copies of the gospel of John for all 1,000 boxes that will be distributed to our community! We also thank Century Automotive, Engineers Without Borders, Ford’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Lakewood Baptist Church, North Hills Presbyterian Church, Right Way Church of God in Christ, Yulista Aviation, and other companies and churches who have received our barrels to collect food items.

All donations must be dropped off at the Mission’s entrance #2 located at 1400 Evangel Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816, by Sunday, November 15th. Donations are accepted daily between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

We need 1,200 of every item below: • Financial contributions for turkeys • Brown gravy packets • Instant stuffing (6 oz. boxes) • Instant mashed potatoes (prefer 4-8 oz.)

• Macaroni & cheese (7-14 oz. boxes) • Cranberry sauce (14-16 oz. cans) • Green beans (14-16oz. cans) • Kernel corn (14-16 oz. cans) • Yams (14-16 oz. cans)

FALL FESTIVAL

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hough it will look different than recent years, the Mission’s annual Fall Festival will take place outside, weather permitting, on Friday, October 30, from 5:007:00 p.m. on our main campus located at 1400 Evangel Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816. The trunk-or-treat event will offer guests a number of decorated vehicle trunks, each passing out candy and goodies. We are also looking into the possibility of a socially distanced hayride and other fun things for your family. We do ask that both guests and volunteers bring a face mask to wear while at the event and to distance as best as possible.

The Mission is blessed to partner with Whitesburg Baptist Church as the event’s sponsor! For more event information, please contact Sharon at 256-713-4342 or sharon.carpenter@downtownrescuemission.org.

To volunteer, please contact Corey at 256-713-4316 or corey@downtownrescuemission.org.

SEC CHALLENGE

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ur SEC Challenge has been playing for several weeks but there’s still time for you to get in the game! Compete in this virtual fundraiser by donating toward your favorite football team from the Southeastern Conference. Raise money on your own, or host a “tailgate party” for you and your friends to work together. One SEC team’s fans will finish the season with bragging rights as the most generous fan base towards the Mission and those in our care. For more information, check out our Events page at https://www.downtownrescuemission.org.

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED AUGUST 2020

Meals Served

18,457 5,295

Lodging Volunteer Hours

is a proud member of

316 ®

82060

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