spring 2008 bay area hope newsletter, bay area rescue mission

8/8/2019 Spring 2008 Bay Area Hope Newsletter, Bay Area Rescue Mission

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From Living in a Garbage Dump . . .

to eating at the Kings Table

My name is David. Of all thepassages in the Bible, Irelate most to the story of

the prodigal son. I once had a goodrelationship with family and many

friends. But I started using drugs andbefore long, I walked away from myfaith and everyone who loved me.The prodigal son lived in a pig styand just before I came to the BayArea Rescue Mission I wasactually living in the garbagedump. What started as arecreational use of drugsbecame a 20-year addictionto methamphetamines

and that took me to rockbottom. Then, I finally cameto my senses and admittedthat I had a problem and thatI needed help.

For too many years I was a shipwithout a rudder. I had no plan. I hadno goals. I just bounced around withno direction. But I kept hearing asmall voice saying, David, what youare doing is not right. Turn your lifearound. Its one thing to hear the

voice . . . its another to obey it.Im finding my way home

Today, because of Godslove, the compassion ofThe Prayer of One

Who Has No HomePg. 4

Encouraging Wordsfrom John

Pg. 2

My Life was LikeSinking in Quicksand

Pg. 3

Thank you forgiving a secondchance at life!

E A S T E R I S S U E 2 0 0 8 u A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E B A Y A R E A R E S C U E M I S S I O N

u 2 1 1 4 M A C D O N A L D A V E . u R I C H M O N D , C A 9 4 8 0 1 u 5 1 0 - 2 1 5 - 4 5 5 5 u w w w . B a y A r e a R e s c u e . o

the Missions staff, and wonderfulgenerosity of the Missions donors,Im finding my way home. Im a recegraduate of the Missions RecoveryProgram and now in the Rescue

Mission apprenticeship program. Ivnever been happier or more fulfilled

This Easter will be a special timefor me as I have the opportunity to

help others who are homeless aneedy. Im going to tell them

that God wants to Rescuethem, too.

Thank you for helpinpeople like me to discovthe right way to live. Yo

support of the Bay AreaRescue Mission saved mylife! What greater gift cou

you ever give a person? Thayou and God bless you for car

Of all the

passages in

the Bible,

I relate most to

the story of theprodigal son.


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understanding, values and inner strengAnd it also helps to heal the mental,physical and spiritual issues. Deuterono8:3 says, . . . man does not live on brealone but on every word that comes frthe mouth of God.

Thank you for your faithfulness

We at the Bay Area Rescue Missionthank you for your role in sharing this

message of help, healing and hope wit

The vast majority of healthprofessionals today are familiarwith the strength-giving powers of

hope. We could not agree more. Thatsbecause at the Bay Area Rescue Missionwhen people know they have hope, theyare capable of enduring the most rigorouschallenges of recovery.

The good news is that Gods messageof love is the promise of healing. Yes,

quite often the Bible provides comfort,

Youaretheheartbeatoft

heBayAreaRescueMission

Yourdonationsoftime,m

oneyandinfluenceare

thewindbeneathourwin

gs.

AMessagefrom

JohnM.Anderson

DearFriendoftheBayA

reaRescueMission,

Bythetimeyo

ureadthis,theMissionw

illhaveprovidedsometw

omillion

mealsandmorethan80,

000nightsofshelterdur

ingthepast14months.

HowwethankGodforyourpartners

hipthatallowsustopro

videhelp,

hopeandhealingtothos

ewhocomethroughourdoors.

Ivesaiditbefore,an

dIllsayitagain.Youare

theheartbeatoftheBayArea

RescueMission.Yourdona

tionsoftime,moneyand

influencearethewind

beneathourwings.With

outyoutherewouldben

oMission.Godblessyou

for

yourinvestmentintheliv

esofpeopleinneed.

Ourheartsarebroken

whenweturnpeopleaw

ay

Someonerecentlyas

kedmewhatbreaksmyh

eart.Isaidwhathurtsmo

st

isthatin2007alonewec

ouldnotfulfillmoretha

n3,000requestsfromM

oms

andKidsforshelter.And

IknowthisbreaksGod

sheart,too.Toomanyw

ome

andchildrenareleftont

hecold,wetstreets.Too

manyarewithoutfood,

clothingormedicalcare.Pleasepray

thatwewillfindasolut

iontothisheart-

breakingtragedy.

Butwhetheritsamo

ther,achildoramanin

need,wefindthatasincere

handshake,awarmhug

andawelcome,wereglad

youreherebeginstomov

e

mountainofpain.Thats

thepoweroflovealo

vethattheresurrectedC

hr

hasplacedinourheartsf

ortheneedy.

NowitsalmostEast

er.Again,wefocusonthe

newlife,newhopeand

ne

opportunitiesavailableto

allwhocometotheMis

sionforhelp.Thatswhy

w

keepthesignonourfron

tdoorthatreads,Ifyoud

onthaveafriendinthew

youllfindonehere.Than

kyouforhelpinguslive

uptothatboldpromise

.G

blessyouandkeepyoud

uringtheEasterseason.

Onbehalfofthepooran

dhomeless,

Rev.JohnM

.Anderson,ExecutiveD

irector

The ResurrectionIs Ongoing

The same power that

brought Christ back rom the

dead is still operative within

he hearts o those who are

Christs. The resurrection is

n ongoing thing a truth

alidated every day o the

ear at the Mission. Thank

ou or your loyal support o

Gods work of rescue during

his Easter season.

Thank You for Providing Help, Hope and H


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people in need. You are a valued membof our Mission family, and we thank youadvance for your generosity.

To send your donation today, pleaseuse the remit slip enclosed. You may alsgive your gift on our secure web site atwww.BayAreaRescue.org, or call us at510-215-4555. Thank you for being ourpartner in caring for the homeless andneedy in the Bay Area during the Easter

season and throughout the year.

My name is Tara. Im thankfulfor the Bay Area RescueMission because this place

of rescue reintroduced me to Jesus.For too many years I actually thought

was in full control of my life.But my best laid plans wentowhere. They just got

me into more drugs andmore jail time. I also putmyself into a violentdomestic relationship.One things for sure:f I hadnt come herewould probably haveommitted suicide.

When I arrived at the Missionwas singing Jesus loves me, this I

know. I know Gods always been withme, but I never responded to Hisove. God was always close to me,but I refused to get close to Him.Today, its so different. My spirit ismore alive than ever. My life used tobe a pile of quicksand into which Iwas sinking deeper and deeper. Butmy Lord reached out his hand andescued me from the pit.

m grateful for everythingm receiving

So many people are involvedn my recovery, including a person

When people

know they

have hope, theyare capable of

enduring the

most rigorous

challenges of

recovery.

My Life was Like Sinking in Quicksand . . .

until a loving God rescued me.

It feels good to be rescued.Thank you for helping me

find my way home.

Taking it OneStep Further

such as you who gives your time andmoney to the Mission to help peoplein need. I appreciate the food, theclothing, the warm shelter and thearms of love that surround me each

day. For as long as Im at theBay Area Rescue Missionthis is my home a place

where the living Godlives. I thank my Lord, theMission, and I thank youfor giving me hope for abetter life. Happy Easter

to you and your family.

those who come through our doors. Itsbecause of your generosity that we remainopen. You stood beside us so faithfullyduring the recent holiday months byproviding nourishing food, safe shelter andthe opportunity to hear Gods Word. Asa result, thousands of desperate peoplefound rest for their weary souls.

Now we come to you again at thebeginning of the Easter season, asking

you to make an investment in the lives of

God was

always close to

me, but I refused

to get close

to Him.

ng for Homeless and Needy in the Bay Area

Do more than survive: liv

Do more than touch: ee

Do more than look: obser

Do more than read: abso

Do more than take notice: l

Do more than just do:do the right thing

Do more than spend: inve

Do more than have a good make it a good day

Do more than your bestoutshine yesterday

Do more than listen:understand

Do more than think: refe

Do more than chat:say something

Do more than just sing:make your song a joyul no

unto the Lord

Do more than have a good make it a great day!

And to make it a great dayDave K and become a volun

at the Mission . . .

Dave Kachurka, Director Volunteer Services at

[email protected]


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My Easter Gift

Please mail this completed form, and return it with your Easter donation, or you m

donate online atwww.BayAreaRescue.org. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed bYou will receive a receipt.

Bay Area Rescue MissionP.O. Box 1112

Richmond, CA 94802-0112

ACCOUNT NO. EXP. DATE

AME SIGNATURE

DDRESS

TY / STATE / ZIP

MAIL ADDRESS

Here is my best gift of:

m$17.90 to provide 10 meals and other assistancem$26.85 to provide 15 meals and other assistancem$53.70 to provide 30 meals and other assistancem$________ to provide as many meals and as much care as possimPlease include me in the free email newsletter.m Please bill my credit cardmVISA m MC m AMEX m DISCOVER

YES,John, please use my donationto help feed and clothe those in needduring the Easter season.

Its been said that the most used fnancial record

keeping method is a shoebox. Whatever system

you use, this is the time when most o us are gettin

ready to do taxes. Receipts . . . 1099s . . . W2s . . .

etc . . . etc.As you prepare, you may think this year you should

do something dierent. Would you like increased

returns rom low-income assets? To save income or

capital gains taxes? Added tax-ree income? To create

a personal legacy and give more to heirs?

This is the perect time to consider legacy and

planned gits to the Bay Area Rescue Mission that may

help achieve your fnancial goals. Send today or a no

obligation brochure, Creating Your Personal Legacy.

This timely piece will help you learn how the benefts

o planned giving can work oryou. To get your brochure

call: 510-215-4567 or email

[email protected].

Lord, you once reminded the prophetIsaiah that those who put their faith inyou would have the wings of eagles . . .

hat they would not be weary, and theyd walknd not faint. Lord, life is getting me downight now. I need those wings so bad. My walkeeds to be more steady. And Im not alone.

My friends on the street are as desperate as Im. I hope you hear this prayer, Lord, becausem at the end of my rope. Thank you forstening . . . and for praying for me.

The Prayer of OneWho Has No Home

Getting Out

the Shoebox

2007 Year Stats

Meals Provided 1,511,101

Beds for the Homeless 72,652 Program Graduates 187

Total number of people helped through the ministriesof the Bay Area Rescue Mission 1,013,165

Number of people who accepted Jesus in 2007 3,101

spring 2008 bay area hope newsletter, bay area rescue mission

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