October Mission Moments

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

I NEVER KNEW!

Nextyear, I will be coming into my 25th year at the Downtown Rescue Mission. That same year DRM will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary of serving this community. My first year here does not seem so long ago, but I will be here for half of the entire Mission’s existence. That’s crazy!

During all my years at DRM, we have grown a lot. The programs we provide and the ministry outreaches that we do for the community have made this ministry an important part, not just for folks who find themselves homeless, but the community as a whole. Many still see the Mission as a place that only provides “three hots and a cot”, but this ministry is so much more.

During a tour I conducted for a donor last week, the donor stopped at about the midway point of the tour and said, “I never knew the Mission did all of this!” More times than not,

I hear those same words when I give tours.

I love all that DRM does and am excited to see what else God has in store for the Mission in the future. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Amen to that!

Thank you for your continued support and because of your partnership through your donations, Mike, Tim, Susan, Tonia... the over 290 men, women and children that stay with us every day, can find hope and a new life through Jesus Christ. Almost 50 years ago, the Downtown Rescue Mission was founded on sharing the Gospel to a lost and dying world. That is still our purpose today.

“BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS.”

Philippians 1:6

FROM DEPRESSION TO REDEMPTION

MY JOURNEY FROM ADDICTION TO MINISTRY

1 Corinthians 15:57

Iwill never forget the summer of July 4, 1976. All of the children were playing in the front yard at the same time I went through the crawl space under the house and stole my father’s homebrew beer. I got so sick on the inside of the house. They could smell the alcohol being released from my body because of how much I had drunk.

Shame and depression showed up in my life. The shame had me hiding behind depression.

I was looking for something to bring life to my spirit. As I became an adult, this became a cycle that I would repeat: I chose to use alcohol and marijuana daily.

Let’s not forget my mother and father were spiritual parents. As they prepared for church every week, I was becoming increasingly rebellious and began sneaking out of the house on Sundays. This all started after I became intoxicated for the first time years before. Later in life, I was introduced to crack cocaine at the age of 25, and I immediately started a life of jail time.

Year after year, I started realizing that God was calling me to preach the Gospel, which is the good news to all men and women. To this day, I am still a minister. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:16, “A just man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

Thankfully, I am still married to my beautiful wife of 13 years. She has been a constant and solid rock.

—James

“BUT THANKS BE TO GOD WHO GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

THE MISSION OF GOD’S LOVE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT THE DOWNTOWN RESCUE MISSION

Itook a tour of the Mission many years ago, and when I left, I said to myself “I have to donate to this place.” I have never seen a place that demonstrates God’s love and practices His teachings like the Downtown Rescue Mission.

Jesus didn’t “prequalify” the 5,000 before he fed them. At the Mission, we feed all that will come, then we feed their soul!

My name is Derrick Mitchell, and I’m the Major Gifts Officer at the Mission. I retired this past June, and then I received a phone call from Keith Overholt. He

I can’t help but think about this Bible verse in Matthew 25:40. “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

I’m committed to doing my very best for the Kingdom of God and for the men, women and children that we serve.

—Derrick

If you would like to donate or schedule a tour of the Mission, please contact: Derrick Mitchell 256-713-4313 or donors@downtownrescuemission.org

told me that there was an open position at the Mission that he wanted me to pray about. I had such a draw to the Mission, and I looked up to the ceiling and said “What

are you doing, God?”

It was hard for me to understand the opportunity that God was presenting to me. So, with much excitement, I applied for the position and was hired! There is a saying, “When you enjoy what you do at work, you will never work again.” Meaning it’s not a drudge to come to work.

I enjoy being a small part of this beautiful organization. I get to see Jesus Christ at work every day!

“THE KING WILL ANSWER AND SAY TO THEM, ‘TRULY I SAY TO YOU, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE, EVEN THE LEAST OF THEM, YOU DID IT TO ME.’”

Matthew 25:40

Thanks for your continued support as we are in need of some items: CANS OF VEGETABLES, SUGAR, CONDIMENTS, MAYO, MUSTARD, KETCHUP, SALAD DRESSINGS, COFFEE, SPAGHETTI SAUCE, WATER, & POTATOES. If your church, company, school or organization would like to host a barrel-to-fill Food Drive, contact: Ashleigh Hayes at 256-713-4316 or volunteer@downtownrescuemission.org

To donate or learn more, visit: downtownrescuemission.org