Dear Friends,
Greetings from the Mission where summer has arrived in full force and brought with it a whirlwind of activity! Our comprehensive residential New Life Program for men experiencing homelessness continues full speed ahead. At the moment, nineteen of our residents are employed after completing the first phase of our job readiness program. They’re working at restaurants, supermarkets, retail stores (including our own thrift stores), a security firm, a recycling plant, a senior center, a moving company, and a delivery service, just to name a few places. Each man is working closely with his counselor to create a realistic budget and save up for his own place.
In addition, five men are currently working on their GED with the help of our Learning Program staff and volunteer tutors, six are actively job searching, and twenty-four are in the Foundations Phase of our program, focusing on addiction recovery, skill development, and preparation for their own job search. Best of all, every single day in chapel we have the joy of sharing the good news of forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, restoration, hope, second chances, and new beginnings in Jesus. And we rejoice together with each man who begins to experience those realities in his life.
For many residents and graduates, these new beginnings include renewed family relationships. This graduation season, Chad proudly celebrated with his family as one son graduated from middle school and another from high school. Avyion made sure his son was dressed just right for his kindergarten ceremony, James celebrated his son earning a PhD, and Colb traveled to Ohio to witness his daughter graduate from law school! By God’s grace, each man was present for these once-in-a-lifetime milestones – thanks in large part to the help they received at the Mission. Your support helped make these proud and joyous moments possible. Thank you!
As we head further into the summer, our costs continue to rise – from air conditioning to maintenance to construction (we’re making progress on our long-awaited parking lot!). Your continued support ensures we can keep offering not just food and shelter, but life-transforming services to every man who comes to the Mission. Your gifts are an investment of hope and a way forward for men seeking help. We truly could not do this without you.
May the Lord richly bless you and those you love this summer!
In His grace and joy,
Heather L. Rice, D.Min.
Executive Director
