NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID RESCUE MISSION 52641
“God never gave up on me!” INSIDE: A story of Thanksgiving
445 S. San Joaquin Street Stockton, CA 95203-3537
2015 Thanksgiving Newsletter – 51004 GCRM – Outer – PMS 130 & Black
THEvision o
THANKSGIVING2015
of the gospel center rescue mission
Why do we give thanks? Dear Mr. Sample, The Apostle Paul began his first letter to the Corinthians with thanksgiving for all the blessings God had bestowed on those who had been called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ. Later on, in Chapter 10, he talks about seeking the “good of others,” and concludes by saying, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Here at the Mission, we are thankful for so much: For food that nourishes hungry men, women and children. For being able to shelter our neighbors who are homeless. And for the programs and services that transform their lives! But it is only through you and your partnership with this ministry that this is able to happen, Mr. Sample. So on this Thanksgiving Day, we will be giving thanks to God for His many blessings, and thanks to you for helping make those blessings available to people in need!
William R. “Bill” Brown CEO
“God never gave up on me”
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t can be easy to take simple things in life for granted: Food. A job. A home. Michael had all these things and more, but when he fell into a cycle of drinking and drugs, he lost everything. “At first, I thought I was going downhill due to random circumstances, but then I realized each small choice I made was affecting my life,” Michael says. Soon enough, he was unemployed, moving from couch to couch, and stealing food just to survive. “A seed was planted.” It took landing in jail before Michael began to think about the choices he was making. “I saw
$AA.AA to feed and care for AA people $BB.BB to feed and care for BB people $CC.CC to feed and care for CC people $_______ to feed and care for as many as possible
Sample A. Sample 1234 Main Street P.O. Box 12345 Anytown, ST 12345
Michael continued >>>
445 S. San Joaquin Street • Stockton, CA 95203-3537 • (209) 320-2311 • GCRMS.org
Here’s my Thanksgiving gift to provide bountiful meals and help for people in need: ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍
others getting their lives together. If I wanted what they had, I’d have to do what they were doing. That’s when I decided to come to the Mission.” Michael joined our New Life Program, which gives men and women the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God through counseling, education, work training and spiritual guidance. “God is giving me opportunities to change.” Before coming to the Mission, Michael says he was “spiritually bankrupt.” Now, he’s taking advantage of the classes and recovery process and pursuing a relationship with Christ.
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Check enclosed
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Bill my credit card
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Donate online at www.GCRMS.org.
Gospel Center Rescue Mission P.O. Box 816 Stockton, CA 95201-0816
XXXXXXXX(Scan line)XXXXXXXX 2015 Thanksgiving Newsletter – 51004 GCRM – Newsletter – PMS 130 & Black
Thanksgiving Shopping List
y lease help us fill our pantr r and stock our shelves fo als. Thanksgiving season me d Donations can be droppe n Sa S. 5 off at the Mission at 44 . to Joaquin Street from 8 a.m day 12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Mon through Friday. For more information, call Erick at (209) 320-2316. THANK YOU!
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Turkeys Hams Potatoes Yams or sweet potatoes Green beans Lettuce Tomatoes Cucumbers Salad dressing Rolls
Coffee Juice Whole milk Pies Cookies Whipping cream Sugar Brown Sugar Butter
Pass on your values
People helping people...
>>> Michael continued
“I have grown physically, mentally and spiritually here,” Michael says. “The program has built up my character and taught me how to help myself and others.” “They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Michael was fortunate to have family who never gave up on him during the recovery process, even when times got difficult. “Now that I’m sober, my relationships with my family are even stronger.” The Mission offers hurting people a chance at new life. “God never gave up on me,” Michael says. “I thank Him every day for what He’s doing and what He will do in my life.”
Q A
: How many individuals & families are homeless on any given night in Stockton?
: 235! Gospel Center provides emergency food, clothing and shelter to hundreds of men and women with children each night.
National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 14-22 There are so many ways you can join the Mission for National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week – a national effort to raise awareness of hunger and homelessness. Skip a meal or your morning coffee and donate the money to provide food and care for people staying at the Mission. For more ways to help, call (209) 466-2138 or sign-up to volunteer at GCRMS.org. Thank you! GCRMS.org
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aking a bequest to Gospel Center Rescue Mission is a simple way to continue your legacy of care for people who are homeless, hungry and in need of the life-saving, life-changing help only Mission programs can provide. You can name the Mission as a beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy or financial account. Anyone can make a bequest, and no amount is too small. For more information, contact Name Name at XXXXXX-XXX.
A 250 pound turkey? On Thanksgiving Day, the Mission will serve a bountiful holiday dinner. Right now we’re expecting 250 people to join us. That means we’ll need 250 pounds of turkey plus the mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, veggies and pie that will make it a really great feast! I wish you could meet some of the people who will be enjoying this bountiful meal. I wish you could hear their stories. But most of all, I wish you could see the smiles on their faces and the
thanks in their eyes! It’s so amazing that just $1.92 can do all this...not only provide a meal, but a caring touch, a listening ear and an open heart. Please help us reach out to those who need a hot meal and hope this holiday by making a special Thanksgiving gift today. Use the enclosed envelope, or make a safe, secure donation online at www.GCRMS.org. THANK YOU!
2015 Thanksgiving Newsletter – 51004 GCRM – Newsletter – PMS 130 & Black