may 2007 anchorage gospel rescue mission newsletter

8/8/2019 May 2007 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter

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David M. Williams

Program Director

Larry AldrichOperations Manager

Randy Hess

Maintenance Supervisor

Larry OConnor

Greg Mann

Neil Givens

Roger Klein

Client Supervisors

David McKnightVan Driver

Shane Day

Maintenance

Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission

A Ministry of Rescue & Recoverya publication of the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Anchorage, Alaska

new

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may

2007

H appyM ot her s Day


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www.anchoragerescue.orgWe invite you to visit us on the web or

drop us an E-mail with your comments

and suggestions

2

dire

ctors

desk

Rev.Don

Bettis

To all of the mothers that reads

this newsletter I would like to

take the opportunity to wish you

a very Happy Mothers Day.

It is my privilege to honor you

on this your day. To recognize

the place that mothers influence

have on the lives of their

children. Thank God for Godly

Mothers! The old adage, the

hand that rocks the cradle is the

hand that builds the character of

the generation that will one day

lead our nation is still true. It

is you Mom, that the kids go to

when they are small and skin aknee or burn a fingerit is you

that comfort them and make

it all better. Or when they get

a little older and they get into

simple young peoples trouble

that only you can handle by

giving them comfort, assurance

and sympathy they need in their

time of distress. Some things

can be solved by a hug or a kissand letting them know that you

understand and, perhaps, give

them the advice that they need

to solve their problem.

Mothers your influence makes

all the difference in the world

as to how families turn out.

You usually take the lead in the

spiritual life of the family. Youare the one that sees to it that

everyone get to church in time

for Sunday School, has their

Bible lessons prepared, and you

are the one that leads in family

worship and talks to the children

about the Lord.

I truly hope you are there for

them when they realize that

they need a Savior and that you

have the opportunity to lead

them to a saving knowledge of

Jesus Christ and to make Him

their Lord and Savior. Mom be

there first, before the world and

the cults of this world turn their

head and heart and Christian

influence that you have provided

through the years

Godly MothersWhat a Blessing!We owe you a lot,

Keep up the good work.

A Childs PrayerOn Mothers Day

God in heaven, I thank TheeThis day on bended knee

For the wonderful motherThou hast given me!

Her heart is kind and gentleFlowing with love and care;

Her touch is warm and loving,Her life a constant prayer.

How she often draws meInto here arms to read,

Gods holy word, the BibleWords my heart should heed.

How often too, I heard herWhisper my name in prayer!

Never a childish problemBut she is always there.

God in heaven, I ask Thee,Now while I bow to pray

In Thy great loving kindnessBless my mother today!

godly mothersare a treasure indeed!


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Living Memorials...touch lives as they honor the

memory of loved ones and friends.

In Memory of

Esperanza M. Casasby Martha Cashen

In Memory of

Marjarie Garwood

by Arne B Beltz

Dorothy M. Roberts

In Memory of

Edna Loudon

by David and Marilyn Anderson

Ronald and Janis Ogle

Alene C. Lindstrand

AnonymousIn Memory of

Doris Mead

by Alfred Mead

In Memory of

John D. Schandelmeier

by Etta M. Schandelmeier

In Memory of

Alvin Syren

by A.O. and Evanne Syren

* * * * * *

pro

gram

upd

ate

DavidWilliam

s

Well its that time of the year where the ice is melting,

the birds are singing, and some of the men are chomping

at the bit to leave the program. Although there is no

hard evidence to support this theory; Im confident in

saying the yearly exodus, from the NewLife program

is not unique to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission.In fact this yearly house cleaning can be looked at as a

blessing in that God is exposing the motives of mens

hearts.

For those men who are here for the wrong reasons

the warm weather and the prospect of jobs will derail

their efforts. For those men who are here for the right

reason leaving before graduation is not an option.

One of the most difficult responsibilities we face is

determining whether or not someone is qualified to be

in the NewLife program. Gods word instructs us notto judge a mans heart:

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time;

wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what

is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of

mens hearts. At that time each will receive his praise

from God.

1Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

At the same time our intake process must judge a mans

motives. Although this is a daunting task God alwaysreveals that which is hidden. Therefore, for us here at

the Mission the term Spring Cleaning is more literal

than figurative.

We ask for your prayers at this difficult time of the

year so that the men, who are struggling against the

worldly forces that threaten to overtake them, will have

the strength to overcome. Again we thank you for your

support of this Mission and its mission.

Spr i ng Cleani ng


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te

stim

onies

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many

kinds, because you know that

the testing of your faith develops

perseverance. Perseverance must

finish its work so that you may be

mature and complete, not lacking

anything.

James 1:2-4

At the age of four I was sexually

molested and beaten so badly I was

hospitalized for several months. I

felt the presence of the Lord for the

first time when I was released from

the hospital and the detective told

me I needed to open up and learn

to forgive or else it would eat at me

for the rest of my life. Although I

can never be sure I feel he was led

by the Holy Spirit into sharing his

thoughts.

The forgiving part came easy for

me but the opening up didnt.

Although I became a loner I didnt

assign blame or take sides I just

wanted to figure life out. I knew

God was with me yet I never turned

toward him. I knew in my heart if I

did I would have to change.

I was a city kid growing up in

L.A. not really knowing what the

world wanted of me. I surrounded

myself with people who, like me,

were rebels. We never went to

school and we stayed in trouble

so its really not surprising I only

made it to the seventh grade.

Out of all the searching of was

doing the only thing I found was

drugs and alcohol. I liked it. My

stepfather was a biker in a California

motorcycle gang. There were a lot

of drugs and drinking but despite

all that I felt loved. My stepfather

taught me love, integrity, honor.

He also taught me to protect the

weak and give what you can to helpothers. But he was a drug addict.

At the same time I saw my real father

whose drug was money, houses, and

prestige; Trying to buy happiness

with material things. So you can

imagine how confused I was.

My drug use landed me behind

bars for four and a half years.

My incarceration gave me an

opportunity to think about my life.

I was still trying to figure things out

on my own and not turning toward

the Lord. Despite my refusal to

seek God he never left my side.

I met and moved in with a girl who

was a month pregnant we also have

a child together. So now I have two

boys Chris and Tyler a blessing for

sure. Unfortunately she is as bad as

I am where the drugs and alcohol

is concerned. Though she loves ourchildren with all of her heart she is

trapped in her addiction like I was.

Work has never been the problem

I have been roofing since I was

17 years old Ive also been in

the roofing Union for 12 years.

Making money or finding work

has never been a problem for

me. The problem was when the

H i sH eal i ngTouch!


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drugs and alcohol would catch up

with me I would get fired or quit.

Our home life was really bad yet

I didnt know how to change the

way I had been living for 30 years.

I had become use to this lifestyle.

She and I were poison together,more jail time and restraining

orders made for a miserable

life. I could show the boys that I

loved them but I wasnt showing

them how to live a life that

would lead to joy and happiness.

I moved to Alaska and eventually

they all moved up to join me.

We gave our relationship another

try but unfortunately the drugstook their toll on us. Between me

being away working all of the

time and the drug use it drove

her to someone else and she

moved to Oregon with the boys.

I sought solace in drugs and

sank deeper and deeper trying

to hide my pain. I was still

looking for something I was

missing, and God was still right

there all along yet I refused

to see him. I could see any

forgiveness, honor, love, or morals

I had were slipping away fast.

It took another two years for

the drugs to catch up with me.Our kids went to live with their

grandmother. My wife returned

to Alaska and we were going to

give it one more attempt. Nothing

changed the drug use continued

demoralizing sexual activity had

become a part of our behavior

pattern and we were sinking lower.

Despite a broken jaw and a D.U.I.

I still refused to turn towardGod. When she broke her leg I

knew something had to change.

We started staying at the Anchorage

Gospel Rescue Mission and after

work I would come back to the

Mission and attend their nightly

church services. God opened my

eyes and heart! I could finally see

what I needed to do I could hear

him telling me it was time.

She didnt want to stop drinking

so I ignored the Lords calling and

continued to drink. For the next

two weeks I could feel the Dogs

of Hell getting closer and closer.

I woke up one morning on the

bench out front of Brother Francis

and felt evil all around me. I was

afraid because I couldnt detect the

presence of God anymore.

All I could do was look up to the

heavens and surrender to God. I left

my job and her. I marched straight

to the Rescue Mission because God

had revealed himself to me there

in a way I could understand. Ive

been here for 10 months. This is

the place God has taught me about

his love and how to use the things

he has given me for his will not

mine. Im learning how to be the

man he would have me be, one that

glorifies his name. I thank the Lordfor the trials and hardships that has

lead me to him.

In that second I gave my life to

Christ he took the addiction and the

sickness of perversion away from

me. He also took away the shame

associated with my actions. My

relationship with Christ has put me

into a new heart that wants to learn

more about him and also to sharewhat he has done for me to others.

To Christ goes all the Glory!

Do not conform any longer to

the pattern of this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of

your mind. Then you will be able

to test and approve what Gods

will ishis good, pleasing and

perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)


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Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission P.OB Box 230510 Anchorage, Alaska 99523-0510

Here is my support gift: For Credit Card Donations:Food and Shelter: $_____Facilities Maintenance: $_____$46.25 For 25 Meals ______$74.00 For 40 Meals ______$132.20 For 72 Meals ______$277.50 For 150 Meals ______

______Other:______ I Will Pray for this Ministry.

I would like to charge my total donation of $__________________

Check One: Visa M/C Am/Ex Discover

Card Number __________________________________________Exp. Date: ______/______ Signature _______________________

Name:________________________________________________Address: ______________________________________________

Please send this coupon with your donations.

All credit card information is kept in strict confidenceMake checks payable to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission

You will receive a receipt.

7


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Our Ministry of

is to

the least

the last

the lost

resc

ue

URGENT

Our supplies of these

items is constantly in

need of replenishing

Prayer

Paper Towels

45 Gallon Trash Bags

Fresh Meat

Coffee

Bathroom Tissue

Laundry Soap Disposable Shavers

Cleaning Supplies

Dinner Napkins

Shampoo

URGENT

Anchorage Gospel

Rescue Mission

Board of TrusteesMark Soquet, President

Bob Collins, Vice President

(and acting treasure)

Ed Shelton, Secretary

Enoch Adams

Brad Young

Emeritus:

Cliff Hodgins

Rev. Willard leisy

Advisory Board:

Paul Kelly

Rev. Don Bettis, Exec. Dir.

Charlotte Bettis, Asst. Dir.

MEMBER

resc

ueAssociation of Gospel Missions

An association of Rescue Ministries

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postal

PAID

Anchorage, AKPermit # 290

Anchorage

Gospel

MissionA Ministry of

Rescue & Recovery

res

cue

newsrescu

e

[email protected]

P.O. Box 230510Anchorage, AK99523-0510(907) 563-5603

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

STATEMENT OF FAITHThe Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission is a Non-Profit, Non-Denominationalorganization. We receive NO municipal, state or federal funds. We are not a UnitedWay Agency. Your financial support and In-Kind donations makes it possible for us toprovide for the poor, needy and homeless people in our community. Also, your donationsallow us to provide a Drug and Alcohol Recovery program. All Donations are fully taxdeductible. We will give you a receipt for your donation.

Visit us at:2823 E. Tudor Rd.Anchorage, AK 99507

Chapel Services for MaySunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1Anchorage

PilgrimNazarene

2First

AnchorageGospel

3AnchorageVineyard

Fellowship

4First

PresbyterianChurch

5CalvaryBaptistChurch

6GodsPlace

7Abbot LoopCommunity

Church

8First

Assembly ofGod

9BirchwoodCommunity

Church

10Alliance

BibleChurch

11CalvaryChurch

12Wasilla

Assemblyof God

13Gods

Place

14Church

of God ofProphecy

15Anchorage

NativeAssembly

16Christian

EvangelicalChurch

17Sherbahn

EvangelisticTeam

18Sherbahn

EvangelisticTeam

19Lighthouse

ChristianFellowship

20GraceVictory

Fellowship

21Sherbahn

EvangelisticTeam

22Attorney

Greg Grebe


24EvangelicalCovenantChurch

25In His Name

SandyMcCollum

26Southside

Churchof God

27New Light

CommunityChurch


29Grace

BrethrenEagle River

30Change Point

31ShilohBaptistChurch

Nightly Services 7:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

may 2007 anchorage gospel rescue mission newsletter

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