spring 2009 bay area hope newsletter, bay area rescue mission

8/8/2019 Spring 2009 Bay Area Hope Newsletter, Bay Area Rescue Mission

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A beneit or the

Missions Center or

Homeless Women

and ChildrenPage 4

Encouraging Words

rom JohnPage 2

I used to start

every day using

drugs . . .Page 3

E a s t E r I s s u E 2 0 0 9 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

Not many children start off withas many strikes against them asAlan Boyd. His dad was a WWII

and Korean War vet who relentlesslyissued orders. It was an impossible

life for a four year old boy, sharedAlan, and it grew harder fromthere. I spent my childhoodin constant shamefulfrustration. My mother wasa paranoid schizophrenicand my twin sister turnedto promiscuity to try tofind acceptance.

I became a loner,continued Alan, but the

pain was more than I couldbear, so I turned to drugsand alcohol.

For the next decade,I wandered as a homelessalcoholic. I was arrested 32times for being drunk inpublic, had two visits to thepsychiatric ward, and threearrests while driving underthe influence.

Then one afternoon Iwas moving some furnitureup a steep cliff and I lost mybalance. As I fell from thecliff, I cried out, Jesus, saveme. My injuries were mildand I knew that God hadrescued me.

Alans friend, Ray, took him to thBay Area Rescue Mission to enroll inMissions Christian recovery programThat is when Alan prayed, Please JeI have been doing it all wrong, take o

my life!Today, Alan Boyd is a new m

God so changed his life thahe is now a staff member

the Rescue Mission and the reputation of havinkind and forgiving hea

Truly, Alan Boyd is RESCUED LIFE becaus

folks like you cared enoto pray and support the

Bay Area Rescue Mission!May God bless your life-saving

gifts and prayers!

As Ifell from thecliff, I criedout, Jesus,save me.

May God blessyour life-saving

gifts and prayers!

My earliest childhood memories include

angry words and blows to my bod


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Thank You for Making the Miracles of Rescue Possi

2009 Special Events andVolunteer Opportunities

Fall 2008Congratulations to all

of our Mission Graduates

The Great Thanksgiving Banquet:Thousands of meals were provided

Therefore,ifanyoneisinC

hrist,theyareanewcreatio

n;

theoldhasgone,andbehold

thenewhascome!

2ndCorinthians5:17

AMessagefromtheDirector

DearFriend,

InmyWebstersDictionar

ythatIkeepatmydesk,thew

ordHERO(and

Heroine)isdefinedasaperso

nrenownedfortheircourage

orfeatsofvalor;

anyoneadmiredfortheircha

racter,ideals,oraccomplishm

ents.

ThisEasterasIgatherwit

hourstaff,thefolksin

ourrecoveryprograms,ando

urhomelessguestsfor

ourtraditionalsunriseserviceIwillha

vethewonderful

opportunitytotellthemofth

eGreatestHerotheworldhas

everknown.Infact,Heissom

uchmorethanahero,Heis

ourSavior.

AttheBayAreaRescueM

issionwearediligenttoshare

Godslovewitheveryonewh

ocomesthroughourdoors.A

nd

weareconvincedthatitisby

themercyandgraceofJesus

thatpeoplearerescued

andlivesaresavedforallete

rnity.Infact,inthepast12m

onthsmorethan3,015

men,women,boys,andgirlsa

cceptedJesusintotheirheart

sattheBayAreaRescu

Mission...andtheirlivesw

illneverbethesame.

Yet,thereisanothergrou

pofheroesthatIwanttosha

reashortmessagewith

today.Youmightbeasking,Whoare

theseheroes?

YOU!Yourdeeds,prayers

,sacrifices,volunteerism,andfinancialsupportma

k

itveryeasyformetoidentify

youassomeonewhohasgrea

tcharacterandideals.

Youcaresomuchaboutsom

eoneyouprobablyhaveneve

rmet.Youhavedisplay

courageandactedwithbrave

ryandvalorbycomingtoap

artofourcommunity

wheremostpeopletrytoavo

id.Youletalostpeopleknow

thattheyarevaluable

Yes,tousyouareaherob

ecauseGodhasusedyoutoa

ccomplishmiraclesin

thelivesofpeoplethatmosto

fsocietythoughtwerebeyond

reclamationandho

Youareindeedalife-savingh

erotosomeone(aman,awo

man,alittlegirl,ora

littleboy)whoismakingthei

rwaytothedoorsoftheBay

AreaRescueMission

rightnow.

OnbehalfoftheHomelessandLost,Iwis

hyouandyoursaBlessed

EasterSeason,

Rev.JohnM.A

nderson,ExecutiveDirector

Consider this goldmine oopportunities available to theearliest prospectors. Stake

our claim in the 2009 volunteer goldush. Serve others and fnd yoursel

mining the most precious gem oll a harvest o blessings!

n Recovery rom HomelessnessGraduation CelebrationMarch 15

n Easter Sunrise Service andBreakast or the Homeless

April 12

n 14th Annual New Lie GolTournamentMay 11

n Kings Club GraduationCelebrationJune 7

n Labor Day VolunteerAppreciation PicnicSeptember 7

n Back to School BlockParty and BBQ

September 17n Fall Graduation

October 18

n Thanksgiving Meals andGroceriesNovember 23-25 Meals in the TentNovember 23 and 24

Food Bag Distribution orImpoverished Families

November 25 the GreatThanksgiving Banquet

n Christmas Meals and GroceriesDecember 21-23 Meals in the TentDecember 21 and 22

Food Bag Distribution orImpoverished Families

n Homeless Childrens ChristmasCelebrationDecember 24 Childrens ChristmasGospel Party

Ready to dig in?Contact Dave K, the Volunteer Guy at

10-215-4865 or send an email to:[email protected]. Go orhe gold!


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n 2008

My name is Jeremy and Im 23years old. I came to the Bay AreaRescue Mission because I had

nowhere else to go. I spent all mymoney on drugs and because ofall the hurt, pain, and shamehat I caused my family I

was no longer welcomed atanyones home.

Before I came to theMission, for years, I wouldtart every morning smoking

pot and using cocaine. I lived fordrugs but what I was living for wasactually destroying me. Then one day I

alled the Rescue Mission to see if I couldget a bed in the shelter they said, Yes.

After being at the Mission a few daysasked about joining the recovery program

and there was room for me. They asked ifwas ready to put my life together and Iaid, Yes. But they let me know that

my part of the bargain was to humblemyself and abide by the program rules.ts been challenging at times, but it iseally worth it!

When I was homeless and lost on thetreets, pushing a shopping cart around,always felt all alone. I hated it! During

hose days, when things would get quiet, Iknew that I wanted more than this for myife. Thats why I am so glad that I calledhe Rescue Mission and asked for a bed.

Former riends no longer ask me tobuy drugs

For years my life broke the hearts of

people who were most importantto me especially my mother.

All I wanted to do was party.I thought life was only abouthaving fun. How different mylife has become today! Nowwhen I walk down the sidewalkwith my Bible under my arm,

my old associates no longer tryto sell me drugs. Its like they treat

me with respect.

For the first time in my life, I feel likeIm doing the right thing. Christ is theanswer to all my problems. Thank you forhelping the Rescue Mission to help me.God bless you for all you do, you helpedme find my way home.

Christmas at thession was Special for

nderprivileged Kids

Holiday Food BagGiveaway Helps

Thousands of

Needy Families

WhenI was

homelessand lost on

the streets . . .I always feltall alone.

A Bright Hopefor Tomorrow!

The lovely classic

hymn, Great is Thy

Faithulness, seems

to quote some o the avorit

sayings o our homeless gue

once they come to the Bay A

Rescue Mission.

The frst is:

Morning by morning ne

mercies I see.

All I have needed, thy ha

have provided.

Great is Thy aithulness

Lord, unto me.

And the second is:

Thine own dear presen

to cheer and to guide

Strength or today and

bright hope or tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with

thousand beside!

What a joy to watch a m

or woman once enslaved to

despair become grateul and

flled with joy at the prospec

each new day.

Thank you or partneringwith the Lord to bring streng

or each day and bright hop

or tomorrow to people who

lost their way!

I Used To Start Every Day Using Drugs

Now, I Begin Every DayIn Gods Word and Prayer

We provided

1,707,982 meals83,964 nights

of lodging3,016 received Jesus


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Bay Area Rescue MissionP.O. Box 1112Richmond, CA 94802-0112

ACCOUNT NO. EXP. DATE

AME SIGNATURE

DDRESS

TY / STATE / ZIP

MAIL ADDRESS

Here is my best gif o:

m$20.50 to provide 10 meals and other assistancem$30.75 to provide 15 meals and other assistancem$61.50 to provide 30 meals and other assistancem$________ to provide as many meals and as much

care as possiblemPlease include me in the free email newsletterm Please bill my credit card

m VISA m MC m AMEX m DISCOVER

YES,John, Im happy to do my partto help provide hope and healing to theaddicted, the homeless and the lost atthis Easter season.

These are just a few of the heroes who made Thanksgiving and

Christmas 2008 a warm and wonderful holiday season for our

homeless and hungry guests! To see the complete list which

includes volunteers and generous supporters, please visit our website at

www.BayAreaRescue.org/HolidayHeroes.

Walnut CreekChristian Academy

Valley Baptist Churchof San Rafael

Bay Alarm

Carrows Restaurants

Galaxy Desserts

KFAX 1100 AM

The Spirit of the Bay KDYA 1190

The Light and KDIA1640 AM

Nations Pies

East Bay CommunityFoundationVolunteers

Sanders DickinsonFoundation

Richmond Rod andGun Club, Inc.

Volunteer Centerof the East Bay

Hooray for 2008 Holiday Heroes!

My Easter Gift

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Beautiul RossmoorGol Course

Walnut Creek

Our sponsorsand golersrank this fve-star

tournament as

their #1 avorite

gol event!

Please join

us to beneft the

Missions Center

or Homeless

Women and

Children and

change lives or

a brighter tomorrow!

Contact us soon to save yo

spot by calling the Tournament

Ofce at 510-215-4889 or emai

[email protected]

Join us for theBay Area Rescue

Missions New LifGolf Tournamen

Chevron

Saint Josephs School ofPinole

Northgate High SchoolWind Ensemble

Roughing It Day Camp

Gex-Pro

California State

Automobile Association The Original Hickory

Pit of Walnut Creek

Contra Costa CollegeComets Mens BaseballTeam

The Hercules Chamberof Commerce

National CharityLeague of Lafayette

California Academyof Performing Arts

Tabernacle BaptistChurch of Concord

Tabernacle of PraiseChurch of Oakland

Willow Spring Church

SoroptimistInternational ofRichmond

Trinity Evangelical FreeChurch of El Cerrito

Pilgrim Rest Missionary

Baptist Church

Moraga ValleyPresbyterian Church

First PresbyterianChurch of Berkeley

Wells Fargo Bank

Trinity CommunityChurch of San Rafael

Northern California

Cruisers

Berkeley Cement, Inc.

The Fox Foundation

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

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

spring 2009 bay area hope newsletter, bay area rescue mission

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