Dear Friends,

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, my heart is overflowing with thankfulness. God has been so very good to us! The list of blessings we have experienced here at the Mission grows longer the more I pause to give thanks – answered prayers for things like healing, freedom from addictions, new life in Christ, good jobs, safe housing, reconciled families, hard-earned diplomas, friendships developed, growth in confidence, and so much more. And then there’s the love, encouragement, and practical help from an army of staff, volunteers, donors, and friends such as you who make all these joys possible by God’s grace – I’m so thankful for you!

Thanksgiving is usually a time when we think of family. For some, that’s a wonderful and warm thought. For others, it can be bittersweet. A colleague recently reminded me of Psalm 68:6 in our staff devotions one morning. “God sets the lonely in families; He leads out the prisoner with singing…” For many, the Mission has become a place of family. And it’s also been a place where those who were once prisoners find a joyful song to sing. At the Mission, deep relationships and genuine bonds of love form among residents and staff alike. And then, by God’s amazing grace, some even rebuild connections with their own families, or they have the joy of starting new ones – all while enjoying fellowship and love in the family God has brought together here at the Mission.

John is a perfect example of Psalm 68:6 beautifully lived out in real life. Two years ago, John came to the Mission from prison just two days before Thanksgiving. He thanked God on that first Thanksgiving for forgiveness, freedom, and a second chance at life after spending 45 years behind bars. By the next Thanksgiving, John had graduated from the New Life Program, was working on staff with us, and living in his own place. He joined us Thanksgiving Day to serve our residents and give thanks together. Today, John still serves on staff, is deeply rooted in his local church, and volunteers in a prison ministry, helping men like himself get established as they return to society. He’s also begun reconnecting with his own family and strengthening those relationships.

Your partnership – through giving, serving, and praying – makes real stories like John’s possible. Thank you! A blessed Thanksgiving to you and those you love! May your heart be filled with peace, joy, and the warmth of family.

With thankfulness in my heart for you,

Heather L. Rice, D.Min.
Executive Director