Harbor Light is a publication of Muskegon Rescue Mission and is produced tri-annually.
Mission Statement
We exist to demonstrate and proclaim God’s love to the less fortunate and homeless people of West Michigan.
Muskegon Rescue Mission
2735 E Apple Ave Ste D Muskegon, MI 49442
231.727.6090
muskegonmission.org
Board of Directors
Roger Doctor – President
Rick Ebeling – Vice President
Bryan Betten – Secretary
Chris Thompson – Treasurer
Dave Barham
Dan McKinnon
Valerie Williams
Patrick Wittkopp
Dear Friend,
Easter is just days away. The first big holiday of the year, but it’s so much more than a time for family to enjoy a festive meal, or for kids to dig into baskets of marshmallow Peeps. It’s a celebration of Jesus Christ’s victory over death, when He opened the gates of Heaven for all who believe in Him. Because He lives, so can we.
This belief is a life-changer for guests at Muskegon Rescue Mission. Here, with your help and God’s grace, they can claim victory over addiction, poverty and homelessness.
That’s because, like Easter, there’s so much more to Muskegon Rescue Mission.
As you’ll read in this issue of Harbor Light, our ministry reaches far beyond feeding and housing our guests. Through resources provided in our Community Resource Center and Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool, men, women and children overcome crises and go on to thrive in their new lives.
I’m thankful for your partnership in helping Muskegon Rescue Mission expand in recent years. As I write, the need for services continues to grow. Together, we can meet those needs and bring the hope of Easter into the lives of hurting people, all year long.
May God bless you this Easter season and always!
Serving Together,
Dan Skoglund Executive Director
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’” 1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV
Don restored his physical and spiritual health at Muskegon Rescue Mission.
You may have heard about people being one paycheck away from homelessness. In Don’s case, it was one major health crisis.
A little over two years ago, Don thought he had the flu. But when he went to the emergency room to get relief from the nausea, he learned he had suffered a heart attack. Further testing revealed that Don needed open heart surgery — and soon. Don underwent a successful quintuple bypass, but he was unable to work for a year.
“I had no insurance, no work, no income,” Don says. “I used every cent I had to pay rent. When I was out of money, I was homeless.”
Don heard about Muskegon Rescue Mission and knew it was his only option. “I had no idea what they did,” he admits. “But they had a bed and a warm meal for me, it was safe, and it was a place for me to lay my head.”
Before long, Don learned that there was much more to Muskegon Rescue Mission. He went to the Community Resource Center to look for employment. He attended chapel every night. And he joined our Man of Integrity Program, a comprehensive, year-long plan to help men rebuild their lives on a solid biblical foundation.
“For the first 90 days, I worked every single meal in the kitchen,” Don remembers. “It was drudgery, but I learned about grace, humility
and servanthood. I learned what it means to be a brother in Christ and how to love the Lord with my whole heart.”
Although Muskegon Rescue Mission had never been part of Don’s plans, he sees that it was God’s plan for him . . . and he is grateful. “I came to love this place, the people. It’s been eye-opening, life-changing. It’s like no other God experience I’ve had in church in my whole life. It’s been a heart change. And I know going forward, my life is going to be better because I’ve been here.”
Today, a proud graduate of the program, Don has now secured a job and is moving into his new home. He says, “I feel as strong as I’ve ever been. My endurance is back. My mindset is different. My priorities have changed. My mission is to do everything unto the Lord, in His will, in His timing.”
Thank you for helping Don restore his physical and spiritual health at Muskegon Rescue Mission. “This place is special,” he says.
“I FEEL AS STRONG AS I’VE EVER BEEN.”
“We have supported Muskegon Rescue Mission for the last 25 years and have seen many positive changes, impacting many lives for the better. With the help of many others, it was a joy to see the preschool, daycare facility and Community Resource Center built to help many in the community succeed in their daily lives. It has also been a pleasure to help send kids to camp where they can enjoy God’s creation and learn about His love for them, and to support the ministry of providing shelter, meals and programs to improve people’s lives.
“Our parents instilled in us that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and we are trying to live out that legacy by supporting Muskegon Rescue Mission in our estate plans. We encourage others, if you are able, to leave a lasting legacy as well, so Muskegon Rescue Mission can continue God’s important work of taking care of the less fortunate among us well into the future. To God be the glory!”
— Roger and Rebecca Tuuk
If you would like to leave a lasting legacy, see the back of the enclosed letter.
Partnerships with local organizations provide the vital connections our guests need on their journeys toward stability. Each alliance plays a vital role in helping individuals and families rebuild their lives. Your support makes these partnerships possible.
Muskegon County Clerk and Secretary of State Mobile Office
This collaboration provides onsite access to birth certificates, state IDs and driver’s licenses, all critical first steps toward housing and employment.
Muskegon County Parole
More than 300 individuals attended weekly recovery groups at the CRC in 2024, hosted by a former Mission guest offering hope and guidance.
Innovative Education
Last year, more than 200 participants in this program obtained their GEDs and diplomas, helping them move toward stability and self-sufficiency.
TrueNorth Community Services
In 2024, TrueNorth’s Housing Resource Center assisted over 1,000 individuals at the CRC in finding safe, affordable housing.
Pantry Partnerships
With the MCC Jayhawk Pantry and Baker College Pantry, we support an often-hidden group of young adults struggling with food insecurity.
Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool offers safe, affordable, high-quality childcare to families in need. The program is open to children from newborn to preschool age. Structured teaching, activities and play foster children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive potential. Meals and healthy snacks are also provided. Best of all, with 46 boys and girls enrolled and wait list of 400, it offers many opportunities to minister to these children and their families. What a blessing!
If you would like to help at Bright Futures, visit muskegonmission.org/ volunteer/ or call 231.727.6090.
This Spring we started renovations to our existing Men’s Shelter, designed to reflect a shift in the way Muskegon Rescue Mission will provide core services. As always, we will offer a dignity-filled environment where guests will be served with Christian love and compassion. The remodel will focus on four main areas:
Tiered Shelter, with three levels of accommodation: nightly emergency shelter, a dorm for temporary stays and a semi-private space for men who have progressed on their journeys.
Residential Program Wing for participants in the Man of Integrity Program will offer a supportive living environment that promotes personal growth and fosters meaningful change.
Adaptable Building Design will allow meeting spaces to be used for multiple purposes, including classrooms, chapel space, gathering halls and more.
Pantry Shopping Experience gives guests the ability to select food based on their tastes and needs, preserving their dignity and making the experience more of a hand up than a handout.
We expect to complete the project this fall. Watch for more updates in social media and in upcoming issues of Harbor Light.