SPRING 2019

AloneOceanin the

SPOTLIGHT

In a tragic instant, as his father took his dying breath, what remained of Blake’s fragile life crumbled away.

From the time he was young, Blake’s dream was to be a professional musician. Right out of high school, he started touring with a band. “I found that the drugs, sex and rock-and-roll lifestyle is very real,” he says.

But when the tour ended, Blake’s need for a daily “fix” didn’t. Music had given him self-esteem. Without that validation, he drank heavily to numb the negative emotions boiling inside.

When his father died rather quickly from cancer, the loss was more than Blake could handle. “I already felt like I was on a life raft in the middle of the ocean with my addiction, just barely...

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hanging on,” says Blake. “When my dad passed away, that sank. I was alone in an ocean, drowning.”

Blake promised his dad that

he’d get sober. And for years,

he tried.

Blake wanted to be a comfort to his mother and a good role model for his sisters. But he felt broken inside. No amount of short-term rehab helped. He always relapsed.

At Muncie Mission, Blake found a real lifeline and long-lasting help.

“I didn’t know anything about long-term recovery and the daily battle for sobriety,” says Blake.

“The Mission isn’t just a rehab. The staff are extremely caring. They give you the tools to change your life. A lot of it is the community and accountability.”

“I came in here with such low self-esteem. I felt like there’s no way I’m ever gonna get this right. But I have small victories on a daily basis. Every time I go to bed saying ‘no’ to that drink, or I cultivate friendships, that builds my self-esteem back up.”

Blake faces each day with renewed strength. “It’s not about how hard you

hit,” he says. “It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Alone in the Ocean

Your gift today offers Blake and others

true freedom from addictions.

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MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS Gifts from 7/23/2018

MEMORIAL

David AddingtonLarry & Ruth Brincefield David & Philann Lewis

Kyra and ArayaDan & Misty Tucker

Russell “Nick” Barton John & Judy Rust

Jerry BellAnonymous

Larry BeswickGeorge Reed

Carol BinghamPhiladelphia Christian Church

Kathleen Brown Jim Brown

Kenneth BrownMarlene ConnerDebra Woolston

Jean BurtonTed & Jackie Black

Elizabeth CaldwellJerry & Cami Carlson Rock & Judi Williams

Mavis F. ChicoRobert Chico

Annie & Caroline ClarkMary McDaniel

Lisa ClarkAmanda Hill

Virginia R. CocherilleDavid & Darlene Moorehead

Betty L. CookIU Health Ball Memorial Hospital

Lab

Ross CowgillKyle Cowgill Phil Haney & Delores WilliamsHal & Rhoda Haney

Joe D. CoxDavid & Renae Cox

Shelby Dalton CurfmanBeverly StevensKathy SmithAdam & Eve Hairstyling

Ron DillonDan & Mary Jenkins

John E. EllisJoanne Ellis

William E. HahnDarwin & Linda Keyton

Joene Henning Joe & Gayle Songer

David HitchensJudy Welbaum

David HoffmanBarbara Silance

Veneta HoweStan & Lisa Horner

Clyde HunterDoris Hunter

Harold HutsellMr. & Mrs. DeWayne Goldman

David IrvinJack & Mary Madill

JeffJames Freytag

Ronald A. KratzMichele Dewitt

Corvin MAlex McIntire

Agnes Nancy McKinneyWayne McKinneyDavid P Gilliam & Associates David & Lisa McKinney

Dennis McSherleyBrenda Real

Catherine & Bernell MitchellMark Hunter

Tyler MooreMark Ball Aaron & Lisa Moore Ann Baldwin

Dr. Allen NealWilma Neal

Harold G. NealWilma Neal

Our ParentsCharles & Mary Clark

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteers welcome! Contact Mariah: mhoofer@munciemission.org

BEAUTY FOR ASHES WOMEN’S SERVICES

Ray ParsonsTri-County Builders Supply Inc Lori CaudillLinda CollinsPaul & Cynthia WhitehairLouise WhitehairAnita Ciaccio Cheryl ShrieveScott & Michelle Ross

Rick PenixAnonymous

Nyal & Nora ReevesCharles & Donna Goodwin

Newell H. RiddleWillia Riddle

Paul S. RobertsMr. & Mrs. DeWayne Goldman

Geneva SaundersKathy Pullen

Larry ShirokaMr. & Mrs. DeWayne Goldman

Harold & Corinne SmelserWilma Neal

Dixie SmithJeffery Smith

Robert E. StephensonSharon Rodeffer

Angie StevensRandall Willis

Kenneth StongMerrill Stong

Sarah StongMerrill Stong

Sarah L. & LeRoy TemplinCarol Sue Templin

Helen TetraultThe Hartmeyer Family

David TylerWayne & Nancy Grile

George & Kaye ValosDouglas & Katherine White

Christy Lea Whittemore Wilma Neal

Sandra Wills David Wills

H O N O R

Ann Baldwin’s BirthdayDon & Verna Garrett

BMH 4 South Tower StaffPaul Whitehair

Paul Bjerke & Susanna Nalliah’s WeddingTina Love Natalie YanosWalter & Janice VesterRavi Thomas Mark & Darcy DillAbbie GuthrieLarry & Linda NicholsDanielle & Kyle HodgesNichol BeckmanChris & Nikki GambleAshwin MadupuStephanie, Neal, Ella & Noah

VentersDeepthi Christina KurakulaTimothy Kennedy

Landon & Lori MartinJudy & Dennis MerrittJoe & Gayle Songer Mike & Ruth Ann Tolle Eric & Kristy WestAshley Bailey Marla FischerSonny & Mary McClellan Leon & Mary Ripp Bob & Carolyn Hadsell Indira Komanapalli Harriet Woker

David EdwardsHoosier Model T Ford Club

George & Jeannine EuckertThe Tharpe Family

Dan & Kim FreerGreg & Lori Hug

Jeriann GarringerRobert Garringer

Clarence GordonLinda Eber

Roberto & Lily IseppiTerry & Cheryl Walker

Dale LindleyMKM architecture + design

Our 17 Great & Great Grand KidsTom & Shirley Marquell

Our FamilyRyan & Kristen Hammer

Sharon RenfroJennifer Lombard

Danny SmithPatty Poulson

David & Christina Smith & FamilyJustin & Amy Whitt

A HUGE THANK YOU to Christian Congregation Church for all the projects they completed at Beauty for Ashes on “Come and Go” Sunday last year.

Thirty-five people working together accomplished a lot to create a safe, healing environment for women and children in crisis:

• Moved and built fence• Built and expanded deck• Built raised garden• Planted mums• Weeded and improved landscaping• Painted mural in playroom• Created Dutch doors in playroom

The fence project specifically will provide women and children more privacy in a bigger yard and the ability to privately enter the office. The whole project gave the backyard a much needed amazing facelift!

NEW BEGINNINGS... Thanks to YOU!Blake was drowning (see cover article).

Grief from the death of his father, shame from his powerlessness to overcome addiction, crashed over him like waves of the ocean.

Blake’s encouraging story of redemption (see cover article) is a perfect example of why we’ve chosen “New Beginnings” as our theme for 2019.

The hundreds of people who come to Muncie Mission for help each day are not much different than you or me. But most have had more than their share of difficulties.

Many have faced unbelievable trauma and abuse. They’ve lost jobs and homes. They’ve often been overcome by devastating addictions that leave them penniless, heartbroken and alone.

For these precious souls, hope is a fragile thing. Can tomorrow be any better than today? Thanks to you, the answer is, “Yes!”

Your support gives people in need the fresh start they long for. Through counseling, spiritual

encouragement and programs, you help them find:

• Healing from trauma• Forgiveness for wrongs• Skills for living • Connection with others• Housing and employment• Deep and profound joy

Thank you for making new beginnings possible!

Frank Baldwin Executive Director

1725 S. Liberty Street, Muncie, IN 47302 | 765.288.9122 | MuncieMission.org | info@MuncieMission.org

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Walk A Mile UpdateU P C O M I N G E V E N T SCOMMENCEMENT • April 12, 5:30 PM, Mission Chapel

GOLF TOURNAMENT • May 30, Players Club

Thank you to everyone who joined us in February to make our 15th annual Walk a Mile a success! Together, 2,000 walkers raised $80,000 to provide meals, shelter and life-changing recovery care for our neighbors in need.