FEBRUARY 2019
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Loves
ME
FAITH IS OUR FOUNDATION
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KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO
“FOR TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE FAITH LIKE A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, YOU WILL SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, ‘MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE,’ AND IT WILL MOVE, AND NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU.” Matthew 17:20b
ast year at this time, we had just opened our new facility for women and children, named Owens House. It was a miraculous journey from its conception five years ago to it’s opening last year. God truly moved mountains for it all to come together. Faith was the most important factor in the entire project. A consultant told us that we might be able to raise $4.5 million to build the facility. We knew that we needed a building that would help with not just our current need, but future growth as well. When we submitted our needs for the project to the architects the costs came back at over $6 million. When I heard that amount I prayed, “Lord show us the way,” and He did. When all was said and done the building and operating cost actually came in at well over $7 million. As of today, the campaign has raised about $7.2 million and we give all the praise and honor to God. This same faith is what we teach to those who come to us hurting from life’s despair. No matter what their past is, no matter
It’s the season of valentine card overflow! Want to do something sweet for all the women experiencing homelessness at our Owen’s house facility? Spread some love and make them a Valentine! It can be a special way to have a #heart2heart with a woman in need. Capture a picture of your #heart2heart valentine and tag us on social media!
MISSIONMOMENTS | February 2019
where they grew up, no matter what circumstances brought them to the Downtown Rescue Mission, God has a purpose for each one of them. When they find faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they will find true salvation. After over 25 years of working in rescue missions it still amazes me to see how God can transform lives. He takes lives that were once broken and heals them. Just like the Bible tells us about the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:32, “But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.” The Mission is a place where men, women and children are finding help and hope every single day. I would love for you to come and see, first hand, the miracles that God is doing at DRM. And that new building that we built to double our capacity for women and children’s ministries has filled almost to capacity in its first year.
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“I NOW AM THANKFUL FOR THE LOVE OF THE FATHER, HIS PRESENCE THAT IS ALWAYS WITH ME, AND THE LOVE OF THOSE AT THE MISSION.”
I
remember this day like it was yesterday. I was living at a local hotel, but knew I wasn’t going to be there much longer. I had $67.00 left in my account and no clue where I was going to go. I was in the bathroom putting on my makeup when a commercial for Downtown Rescue Mission came on the TV. I called the Mission and asked the man who answered when the Mission closed. “Ma’am, we never close,” he replied, and I burst out in tears. My life completely changed during one family trip to the beach when I was around eight years old. My dad, oldest sister, and I went to Daytona, Florida. On the way back home we stopped in Woodville, Alabama, and to my surprise, they ran off and left me there with a couple I did not know, though my dad said we were somehow related (I found out later that I had no relation to this couple.) My dad said he would come back and get me but he never came back. This couple took care of me as if I was their own child. They loved me, and I grew to love them, calling them papa and momma. When I was around nineteen years old, my papa was killed on north parkway near Sparkman Drive. Momma died four to five years later of a broken heart. Since I had nowhere else to go, I moved in with their daughter and her husband. They had four children, and I never fit in there. During this time, I met my future husband at the Church of God in Gurley (AL). He was a good man – a God fearing man. We were married for eight years before divorcing. Time is a blur after this happened. I moved
quite a bit from place to place. Years later, in 2011, my ex-husband passed away, not long after apologizing to me for how he had treated me during our marriage. Even though we hadn’t been married for years, I was so lost without him. The pain was so great – not only did I miss him but everybody who had once loved me had died. I felt so alone and empty, like I had throughout my life. The battle with feelings of abandonment and loneliness became more intense and I started drinking a lot of alcohol nearly every day. I couldn’t wait to get off work to begin my drinking. This went on for the next six or so years – drinking by myself and accountable to no one. Though nobody knew of my addiction, you can believe Jesus knew. I got tired of being drunk and feeling isolated. I’ll never forget one Sunday night at church. I repented again and again but this time something was different. I felt a kind of love overcome me like I had never felt before. I asked Jesus to forgive me of all of my sins, known and unknown, and to lead and guide my steps. I was ready to surrender control over my life to Him. I had a friend bring me to the Mission in September 2017. I briefly stayed in their emergency shelter before entering their L.I.F.E. recovery program. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. By God’s grace, I will graduate their program on January 15th. He has helped me break the chains of alcoholism that used to keep me in bondage. I’m free now to serve Him with my life. Though I have felt abandoned and unloved at different times in my life, I now am thankful for the love of the Father, His presence that is always with me, and the love of those at the Mission. Linda
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MISSION IN OUR WORDS
LEE & MACKENZIE
BROCK
MISSION IN MACKENZIE’S WORDS
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ission is such a powerful word. In most minds, to go on mission involves a trip overseas to a culture and people group completely different than our own. While this can sometimes be the case, my husband and I have come to realize that going on mission begins by walking out our very own door and serving those in the community around us. This is how God led us to the Downtown Rescue Mission. Every Monday night, Lee and I begin our week by serving dinner together at Owen’s House. The unexpected blessing we have received throughout these months has been a precious reminder of the faithfulness of God who, just like for Israel, refuses to abandon His people. For a few hours each week, we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the women who call Owen’s House their temporary home. Every tray we hand out, every smile we share, every conversation we bring, we are showing love to a beautiful child of God who was loved so intimately that Christ died for them. That is Mission to me; showing someone that despite hardships, despite struggles, despite worldly pain, and despite feeling as if there is nothing firm to stand on, Christ can be their unmovable rock and He is enough. He satisfies. The Downtown Rescue Mission gives us the opportunity to live on Mission. They live out Matthew 25:35-40, and my husband and I are blessed and honored to be a part of it.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?’“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:35-40
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MISSION IN LEE’S WORDS
olunteering at the Mission has been such a blessing for us. Missions are all about showing people the love of Jesus Christ in a real, tangible way. The women and children are so grateful and always happy to see us. There have been days where I think I would rather go home after work and rest, and every time I leave the Mission so encouraged and filled with joy. So many people see volunteering as “what can you do for others?” But so often, missions can have a profound and positive impact on the person volunteering. Seeing these ladies maintain such a genuine faith in Christ despite difficult circumstances only serves to prove how life changing the Gospel of Christ really is. 1 Peter 3:8 tells us, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble”. That is what I see as our responsibility at the Mission, to show the ladies that we love them no matter what, because we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Additionally, 1 Thessalonians 5:14 instructs us to “encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.” I like to think that we can serve to encourage these ladies just a fraction as much as they encourage us.
MISSIONMOMENTS | February 2019
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L . I. F. E. R ECOVERY PROGRA M
ave you ever wondered what we teach the men and women who are in our twelve month, gospel-centered recovery program? We are constantly making tweaks within it so it best serves and equips our clients for life after the Mission. Below is a brief overview of each quarter in the program. We also have each client complete Foundations by Gallaty, which leads them through 260 foundational passages from Genesis to Revelation throughout the year.
through three spiritual disciplines; worship, prayer, and the study of scripture. Classes include STEPS by Chandler/Snetzer, Prayer by Keller, and 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Anders.
STEP 1: Learn the Gospel. Our main goal in the first step is to introduce our clients to the gospel through an expositional study of the “Gospel of John” class and the fundamental doctrines of our faith in the Christian Beliefs class by Grudem.
STEP 4: Example of Christ. The fourth step is a recap of gospel truth. We never graduate from the gospel. We want our clients to know that this message in which they received, in which they stand, and by which they are being saved. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). Classes include Recovering Redemption by Chandler, A Gospel Primer by Vincent, and Counter Culture by Platt.
STEP 2: Intimate Relationship. In the second step, we focus on having an intimate relationship with Christ. This is achieved
STEP 3: Follow Christ. In the third step, we focus on applying the gospel message to our past and present lives through practical steps. Classes include Experiencing God by Blackaby, War of Words by Tripp, and Financial Skills taught by Redstone Federal Credit Union.
SEE YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT IN ACTION
TAKE THE “I HAD NO IDEA” TOUR
WHICH INCLUDES OUR MAIN FACILITY FOR MEN AND OWEN’S HOUSE FACILITY FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
To schedule a tour, visit https://www.downtownrescuemission.org/contact-us/
Time is running out! Register your team for FREE… Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the “Fastest Parade” in Huntsville! Carts4Hearts is March 9th! For registration/information go to www.carts4hearts.com
QUESTIONS? Ask Tonia Camardella at 256.713.4343
or tonia@downtownrescuemission.org
LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED YEAR-END STATISTICS FOR 2018 Meals Served
318,321
9,722
Food Boxes
Lodging
96,131
Spiritual Decisions
57
Volunteer Hours
27,919
Into Permanent Housing
49
is a proud member of
®
82060
1400 Evangel Drive | Huntsville, AL 35816 | 256-536-2441 | www.downtownrescuemission.org
