Before sharing “triumphant Mission Moments”, we invite you to think outside the proverbial box. What is your perception of being homeless? Maybe someone who is a drifter, a loser, uneducated, drug/alcohol addict. While this mindset may seem comfortable, is it really accurate? Please allow us to share the following real person, real case examples and life transformations through the power of Jesus Christ.

Keith S.

 

The Phoenix Rescue Mission and changing your life go hand in hand. I first heard about the Rescue Mission from people I was doing drugs with. I was thinking about going to a men’s shelter downtown. After the drugs and money were all gone, I was advised not to go to the Rescue Mission because you had to attend church seven days a week. All they talked about was Christ. They also told me that before you eat you had to listen to a small sermon.

 

When the drugs were gone, I entered a state of depression that was so bad, I wanted to die. 

 

Thanks to the Lord, all I could think of was getting to the Mission. When I got to the Mission, I was greeted by an angel of mercy. That person was a Caseworker. She greeted me with a warm smile and a soft and caring voice. I told her all about my depression and that all I wanted to do was die. She took me to her office and began to give me Hope.

 

My Caseworker told me that God loved me, and that I had a lot to live for. She told me I was worthy of living a good life and that God had a plan for my life. She told me about other people who had come to the Mission with problems just like me. She said that because they had turned their lives over to Christ that God was restoring them back to normal.

 

She called the help line and people came out to evaluate me. I was taken to the hospital. Before I went to the hospital, she again let me know that Christ loves me. She asked me to come back after I was released from the hospital. I was in the hospital for 17 days. I could not stop thinking about what my Caseworker had told me. 

 

I returned to the Mission and God really started working in my life. He fed me good meals to fuel my body, gave me a clean warm place to sleep, clean clothes daily, and gave me a place to shower. Most of all, God started feeding me the Word. I started reading the Word and praying. Staff was teaching me the Word day by day. 

 

I am so blessed to have the Phoenix Rescue Mission and my Caseworker. I am now 8 months sober.

 

Joseph  

Hi my name is Joseph. I am originally from Georgia where I lived for 22 years. When I was 19 years old I started drinking alcohol about 3 times a week. I stopped drinking when I came to know Christ at 20 years of age. While I was working with the fire dept. at 21 years of age, I started drinking alcohol again. This went on for another year. I then moved to the State of Washington where I entered into a drug and alcohol recovery program. It was called Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission. It was a year long program, in which I only completed six months. I didn’t drink while I was in the program. But I started drinking alcohol again several years later when I was 24 years of age because I stopped having faith. So I went back into the same program to try again. Three months into the program I relapsed. At the same time I started smoking weed and using crystal meth.

 

When I was 25 years old I moved to the State of Arizona, and was living in Florence. I was still drinking alcohol and doing drugs while working. When my mom died suddenly on March 16^th 2005, I really began drinking and using heavily, My life was going nowhere so when I was 26 years old I moved to Phoenix where I finally decided I had had enough. I applied and was accepted into the Phoenix Rescue Mission Recovery Program. Today I am doing well because I have accepted Jesus Christ back into my life. The first time I came to Bethany Bible Church, someone asked me if I will go to heaven, and I answered yes, and I told him the reason I am going to heaven is because I believe in Jesus, I trust in Jesus, and I accept Jesus with all my heart and soul, and I want that to be known. Jesus died on the cross for me, and forgave my sin. For this am forever grateful. My life is different now because I feel happy, joyful, and content. My brother and father are back in my life now, and things are getting better and better every day.

 

***Update: Joseph did not complete the program at our Mission, but he did go to another local Faith-based recovery program where he continues to be clean and sober. He stopped by the Mission just recently and we rejoiced with him! ***

 

Jack came to us from New York City with a master’s degree in theatre and many years of acting experience. However, due to a downturn within the industry, he found fewer and fewer opportunities and eventually after nearly expending all his resources, he decided to make a fresh start in Arizona.

 

He soon found that a cultural theatre base could not support him. Desperate, he worked for a commission based insurance company. Eventually, laid of from this position, he became homeless. He then came to the Phoenix Rescue Mission. 

 

It was here that a caseworker assisted Jack with employment search. Initially, he attempted to find work in his prior skill sets and education. When he was unsuccessful, his case worker assisted him in expanding to a broader based search outside his prior experience. After several months of diligence, a full time College Advisor position was secured. He was also offered shared upscale housing in Scottsdale.

  

 

John is a gentle hearted man who spent 2 years taking care of his Father and his Father’s property in Kentucky. This factor along with health issues, loss of employment, and dissolution of a 20 year marriage, led him to the Phoenix Rescue Mission. 

 

John was able to receive much needed encouragement and tools to secure full time employment. John is now employed with a major valley supermarket. Within a short time of being employed, he also acquired housing. For this he is especially grateful because he is an excellent chef and now has the freedom to do what he loves…..cook!