winter 2004 transforming lives newsletter, gospel rescue ministries

8/8/2019 Winter 2004 Transforming Lives Newsletter, Gospel Rescue Ministries

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Gospel RescueMinistriesWashington, DCItAIqt

l0 YearsIn March, the School of Tomorrow (SOT) will celebrate itslOth anniversary. with a -eoal to increase reading, computer, andeconomic literacl'. SOT has been providing affordableeducation for the homeless and working poor in Washington.Under the leadership of Marjorie Lloyd, SGThas been licensed,accredited. and au-arded thedistinction of a local CISCOAcademy. With the help ofindividual, corporate, federal, andcommunity partners, SOT hasenrolled more than 2,000 students inGED, CDL, CISCO, Small BusinessDevelopment, Economic Liter dcy,Culinary Arts, and CareerllifeStrategies. Thanks for your support!

Endeavoring to be

SOT DirectorMarjorie lrloyd

Laterxcellent

Prouide an Easter baslret for a ciild and a neal fw fieir fanth

.This Easter, in addition to handing out the baskets to children, weplan to give boxes of food to their families. Tickets will be handedout that will entitle the recipient to come back to GRM later in Aprilto pick up a food basket.Please help one or more families have a wonderful Easterholiday by sending a gift of $20 or more in the enclosedenvelope. we hope to help many needy families this Easter!

MATCHING GRANT OPPORTUI\ITY: Inoking ahead, the annual Feiastein Foundation oatchinggrant of $1 million, which is shared by many organizations serving the homeless across the country, ftilapply to all gifts received by GRM from March i to April 30,20M-. Your gift during this period wili helpus to receive a larger percentage of this matching grant. Thank you for your support!


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Wives of Turkish officials the MissionGRM was honored to have adelegation of wives of TurkishGovernment officials visit GRMon January 28 to tour our facilityand to meet the women of theFulton House of Hope. After a briefpresentation of the programsoperated by GRM and a visitto several classes in the School ofTomorrow, our Turkish guests - whowere accompanied by officialsof the LJ.S. Interagency Councilon Homelessness, HUD andCommunity Partnership - joined with the Fulton women for a nice lunch in the diningroom. The Fulton ladies shared their experiences before coming to the Fulton program,how they had been helped while at the Fulton and some of their hopes and dreams forstaning their lives anew. The Turkish visitors n'ere impressed with what they saw and-\gave expressions of encowagement to the men and u'omen at GRM. L

visit \/

\/'tff tgffiv 118{ss#-1qv rtllfllltr-MIRACLEon seventh streetDo you believe inmiracles? For 350 needychildren and their family

members, a visit to theDistrict Chop Houserestaurant on Christmas Dayturned out to be a magical,wonderful experience filledwith delicious food. funactivities, Christmas gifts and a visit withSanta Claus. This was all made possible bythe generosity of David Greenberg and hisassociates at the District Chop House, theRock Bottom restaurants in Arlington andBethesda, and many community sponsors.GRM partnered with this group by arcangingfor the children and families of GRM

residents and the local community to participate. This eventproved once again that caring organizations working togethercan make a difference in the lives of those less forfunate. Aspecial thank you to the DC Jewish Community Center,which provided more than 60 volunteers that day!

A sea ofsrnifingfaces

rfttf ,I,\" #"" "'*Fryt

Several of the Fulton House ladies diseusstheir experiences with the Turkish visitors.


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fls#', r$i ,,Wittr the "reason for the season,, alwaysand hearts, GRM reached out in many wayscelebrate the birth of Christ and to bring joyDecemb er 20, GRM partnered with theCorinthian Baptist Church for the annual

children's Christmas party. More than 500

being uppennost in our mindsover the Christmas season toto the hearts of manv. On

Ghristrnaschildren from the local community received Christmas gifts and much love.Most of the gifts were provided by the Smith and Waldecker families.Thousands of toys, games, stuffed animals and clothing items were given to the children, arong withBible-story books and a clear presentation of the true meaning of Christmas. on Christmas Eve, morethan 75 men and women in the TLM, Fulton and Samaritan pio-erams gathered in our chapel to singChristmas carols, read Scripture and receive practical gifts oi clothing-and toiletry artictes'- atong witrrlots of hugs. on Christmas Day, many volunteers joined with,ug to serve delicious meals to hundreds ofmen, women and children. Hearfi'ert thanks to ctrurch ana community partn"a, *ho p.ouid"J'-'t. -.christmas cheer to needy people in o'r community: open Door presbyterian church, chesapeakechristian Fellowship, Mt. vernon place United Meihodist church,-castle sportini Goods, andGifts for the Homeless (area law firms).' Once again, Thanksgiving at GRM was a time of celebratron, praise and giving of thanks for God'sgoodness, compassion and love. On November 20, GRM held its Annual rhant


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GRIYI glets a ner r look inside and outDrive by GRM's 5tl' street facility, and you'll notice majorimprovements to the exterior fagade with restored stucco as well

as new paint, doors, awnin..9s and windows. Stop by, comeinside, and you'll see new bathrooms on thefirst floor and a renovated third floor forour overnight guests. Also, 1'ou will find a

celebrate the Miracle on 5th Street.Showers hefore Appreciation plaques were presented to:Paradigm Construction Company for exterior work, HomeBuilders Care Foundation for interior ll'ork and WilliamLevendis for the chapel renovation.

llle welcome our new TLM Director, Walter Perrl', whojoined GRM on February 9 and who will lead the TLM andSamaritan programs into the new year. Walter has strongcredentials in all aspects of GRM's drug recovery programs.

Marjorie Edmonds-Lloyd has taken on the responsibility ofDirector of Del'elopment while remaining Director of the Schoolof Tomorrow.Tracey Meller has taken over as Director of communityOutreach, with responsibilities for volunteer coordination, churchpartners, other community partners and graphic design work.We want to express our deep appreciation for the excellent and

dedicated service provided by David George in his five years atGRM. David has taken a new position closer to his home. He was aninvaluable member of the GRM team while leading our communityoutreach efforts and supporting the staff in the area of graphic designand publications. David has touched the lives of many with hiswillingness to serve in a dedicated and God-honoring way.Thank you, David!

Showers after

How You Can Helpin the WorkplaceManv companies haveemplovee charitable givingand matching campaigns thatyou can use to give to GRM.Please check with yourhuman resourcesdepartment.

Food drives and gift-in-kindcollections are a great way tohelp GRM residents andothers in the community.We are also in needof office supplies.

Thank you!


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C( r>

a crfai"ced, Aecar??ee@o7,q_

I had been doing drugs for over 20 years. and in Mayreahzed that I was really ready to have my lif-e chan_eedI couldn't keep a job, stay in a relationship. or be true todruss.I askedcod toiqlp me_an_d to_1d_him_that_I tryas rwatching TV one day, it came to me that I should get in touch r,vith GRMbecause I had stayed there in the o"'ernight shelter several years back andhad seen the TLM -quys getting their lives together after being on drugs.I am now in the third phase here in the TLM program. I have gottenmore help here than I ever realized I could get. The counseling has

especially been good for me because it has helped me to improve my family relationships, whichare so important to me. I leamed that it was best to face my family. I have started reconciling withthem and I know it will get even better when I leave. I have also improved my education andgotten a lot of encouragement. I have no regrets about coming to GRM. When I leave, I hope toget a very goodjob either in computers or administrative assistance, and also go back to school.Eventually I want to either work as a writer or in community service. It is important to me to givev somethine back.

I was born in Plainfield, N.J., and raised by my aunt and uncle. My mom leftof 2.I felt lonely and neglected at such a young age.I started using drugs at 13 years old. I wanted to fit in with others because it seemeddidn't fit in at home. I drugged to feel good because of my life.I hated that I could not have a childhood with mv mom.

I ran a\\'ay from home and I didevery.thin-e and any'thing to _eet u'hat Iwanted, and I wanted crack, alcohol,clffies,ffi and-a-plase to sl,uep. thad times that I didn't even take baths.But for me, it felt good because I wasno longer in the same environment.

So I was happy.I had been in and out ofjail and still didn't have a desire tostop using. But today,I have one year clean and have foundGod as my higher power to help me live. I must thank theFulton House, along with Gospel Rescue Ministries, for all the progress I'vemade. Yes, I truly thank you for giving me a chance to become a child ofGod. May God bless you all.- ,stert JVkgtinnsnof2003, I

and get off drugs.God while onw


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"Closing Thoughts"John JacksonExecutive Director

Dear Friends and Partners of Gospel Rescue Ministries,Ttrant you for your faithful prayer and financial support during 2003.Our ministry is a labor of love and your support is a tremendousencouragement to us and strengthens our hearts.There are times of disappointment, discouragement and affliction butnever despair, defeat or deltruction. ' Paul reinTorces this in II Cor. 4:8-9.We clairnthe victorv which has been secured bv God. We overcome theworld by being obedient and faithful as John reinforces in I John 5:3-4.Recoverv fromdrue-and alcohgtladdi,cti-on. @ive--=-relationships, e_mploineni failures., violent and criminal life styles, loss ofself esteeni and spiritual darkness is not easy or immediate. It all startswith God's healing mercy and saving grace, and we are called upon tofocus on this with love, care and compassion.Rieht choices must be made bv those who are broken. We must lieht thewavio a rieht relationship with God throueh the truth of His Word. Butwe'must alEo provide the^needed social seirices that can help complete thetransition back into the mainstream of life. Old habits mustbe broken.Thinking patterns must be adjusted. Family relationships must be restored.Mentoriild friendships must 5e established." Educational deficiencies mustbe elimindted. Job 6pporrunities must be enhanced.We want to be there for all of these needs. We are accountable to God.James 3:1 warns us not to become teachers unless we are prepared to incura greater responsibility. We also accept our accountability to you, ourfaithful don6rs, since we are admonished to be good stewbrds of what Godhas provided.Thank you for standing with us as partners as we continue to serve thosein need' In His Service.fufu*

Gosrer, Rnscur MnqnrRlnsof Washington, DC810 sth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001(202)842-173rFax: (202)898-0285Volume 5, Issue I Winter 2004

ExBcurrvE DIRECToRJohn JacksonDon Melvin

Boeno or TRusrsesDavid Van DuzerChairman

Jane Bond William HarperJohn Jackson Albert Manola

Rudolph Pruden Charles Robins

From time to time we receive special notes of encouragement from ourfaithful supporters and I want to share two recent ones:We nrav that this donation will help you in your wonderful work for thetesi foitunate. We attend Chesapeake Chrisiian Fellowsftip in Davidson-villd and were hoppy to see thaithey supp^ortyou also. Gotl bless you all.Happv Nevv year! ptease ,r"f;:rT*"r"v for recoverv Bibtes forthd'siws and ladies in a culTent or upcoming clitis. Blessingi to you itndtheil.- .Tteunar-/(ailattp, /at tzi andUndriat

LETTERS of the MONTH

Thank you for your support and encouragement!

Al Lawrence Donald MelviJeff Wright Leesa Won

Plaosesand us un cntuil.l

M#8e,eR

[email protected]

winter 2004 transforming lives newsletter, gospel rescue ministries

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