What is Love?

January 2, 2019 | Filed in Changing Lives Center, Donate, General, Homelessness, Hunger, Mission Dish, Phoenix Rescue Mission, poverty, Stories of Hope, Uncategorized

What is love? A difficult question for most people, let alone men and women who have experienced a a fair amount of trauma and abuse. Yet, these men and women are learning what love looks and feels like when God is a part of their lives. Some are early in their journey. Some are deep in their truth of what the Bible says about love. February, and every day, we celebrate God's love for us and how we can walk that out in our own lives by loving like Jesus loves.

"Love is an action. God IS love. God sending his only son to die for us .. is love. Something as simple as a smile can represent love."

Michelle - Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

Tom - Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

"I didn’t know what love felt like. All I knew was hatred, shame and guilt. I didn’t realize until I came to the Phoenix Rescue Mission and actually received Jesus Christ, my personal Savior, and turned my life over to God, what love feels like. And now its like a feeling in my heart all the time. It’s amazing. I care about myself again, I care about everyone around me. The way the Mission and the staff adopted me as family. That feeling you get, it’s crazy. I don’t have problems anymore. It’s a good feeling."

"Love is selfless, and takes a lot of sacrificing of your own desires."

Tiffany - Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

Stephen - graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

"This is a good week to talk about love. When I think of love, I think of 1 Corinthians 13. What is love, what is the picture of God's love for us? Love is patient , love is kind. Love keeps no record of wrongs. It does not boast, it is not envious. And looking at 1 John also, perfect Love casts out fear, if we don’t know God, we don’t know love."

"Past experience with love hasn’t been the greatest, but a lot of that is because I didn’t have a relationship with God. Now that I do, it’s kind of re-learning everything through His eyes, His perspective. That’s where I’m at right now. I’m still learning a lot."

"Love means home. With my kids, it’s home, family, my babies. That’s love to me. Here at the Changing Lives Center, my kids aren't here with me. So I often go to our daycare on campus, and spend time with the kids. I feel an abundance of love there. It’s unconditional. This is my home right now, I feel safe and I feel love from Christ. Love from God is overpowering, just all-consuming, joy, smiling, happiness. It puts me at peace. My relationship with God now is the strongest it’s ever been. I feel God’s Spirit, that’s love."

Michelle - Client at Changing Lives Center

Brandon - Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

"Love is an unconditional acceptance and a yearning to be with someone or something. Love has no bounds, there are no stipulations as to how I can give it to someone or something."

"This is what I have sought for in love. When I think of love, I think of my mom. She showed me the most love, forgiveness, encouragement and just enjoying the company of others. That’s where I learned what love is. Enjoying and wanting to invest all of yourself regardless of cost."

"Love is to be fully known, yet accepted. Unconditionally."

Sala - Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

Arizona Gives Day

February 16, 2018 | Filed in Donate, Events, General, Homelessness, Hunger, Meals, Phoenix Rescue Mission, poverty, Uncategorized, Volunteer

Mark Your Calendars!

Arizona Gives Day helps raise awareness about Arizona nonprofits and the critical role they play in our communities and state. On April 3, the event will inspire people to give generously to nonprofits making our state stronger and creating a thriving community for all.

Arizona Gives Day is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for hungry and homeless neighbors. And you just might help the Mission win up to $10,000 in prize cash, so we can provide even more help to our neighbors in need!

That's because Arizona Gives Day awards cash prizes to the charities in our state that raise the most support, from the most dollars raised, to the most unique donations during certain hours in the day, to having the most pre-scheduled donations!

If you'd like to pre-schedule your donation, take these steps:

Visit https://www.azgives.org/phoenixrescuemission
Click the "DONATE NOW" button
When pre-scheduling a donation, you will be prompted to create an account through azgives.org
Make sure you pick your donation date as April 3, 2018 so your gift will count towards the incentive prize totals
DONATE!

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!)

What is Arizona Gives Day?

Arizona Gives Day is a powerful 24 hour online giving experience that unites Arizonans around causes they believe in. ... This single statewide day of giving has raised $10.1 million for Arizona nonprofits since 2013.

Can I pre-schedule my gift?

Yes, Donors can create an account to pre-schedule donations, set-up recurring donations and make changes to their giving throughout the year or they can checkout as a guest and give immediately.

Will I receive a receipt for my donation?

Yes, you will be sent an electronic tax receipt with a list of each organization you gave to via the email address you provide.

What does Arizona Gives do with my contact information?

Arizona Gives does not share or sell donor information to any other organization or third party, but does reserve the right to communicate with donors for the purpose of user surveys/newsletters, Arizona Gives information and general education about philanthropy.

How do I know if a nonprofit organization on azgives.org is valid?

Arizona Gives does verify if an organization is a registered 501c3 organization with the IRS. However, it is up to each individual to carry out their own 'due diligence' prior to giving a donation to determine if the organization meets their own guildelines. There are many tools available to help you determine this. These are just a few: GuideStar, Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch.

In addition, Arizona Gives is operated in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and it will not violate or infringe the rights of others. We reserve the right to delete a nonprofit's profile from the azgives.org website, without notice and to the extent required by law, if we find any material that is offensive or claims to violate or infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.

Why should I give through the Arizona Gives website versus directly to an organization?

Arizona Gives Day (4/3/18) allows nonprofits to win additional money from the $180,000 prize pool. Some of the prizes are based on total amount raised within a particular category. Categories are based on annual revenue size or location. Nonprofits can also win prizes through random drawings just for participating or being an Alliance member. For a donation to count towards the total amount raised it must be made through the AZGives.org website in the allotted time on Arizona Gives Day.

Arizona Gives allows donors to manage and keep track of their annual giving in one place. Donors have complete control of their donations and can adjust their giving as they see fit. Donors can also create an individual fundraising campaign for the nonprofits and missions they care most about at any time of the year.

How do I know if my donation is tax deductible?

The State of Arizona has designated Phoenix Rescue Mission as a qualified charitable organization. That means all the donations you make to us can be used to receive the tax credit, up to the $400/$800 limit.

You can also find additional Arizona Tax Credit information at www.azdor.gov/taxcredits. Beginning in 2017, qualifying tax credit donations can be claimed on your previous year's taxes. Click Here for more information on this.

Estate Planning

January 30, 2018 | Filed in Donate, General, Newsletters, Phoenix Rescue Mission

Have you seen the TLC reality show, “Long Lost Family”? Each episode aims to reunite families — adoptive children seeking their birth parents, people looking for siblings they didn’t know existed, the list goes on.

While each story is unique, two strong themes consistently emerge:

1. Every person has been carrying something heavy for years
— guilt, rejection, pain, or loss of identity — and longing for
restoration.

2. Everyone just wants to belong.

The show resonates deeply because it speaks to something we’ve all experienced — a need for connection; to experience love and forgiveness. When someone decides to create a Will or Estate Plan, they often think first about the “stuff” they’ll leave behind. While you may feel a deep sentimental attachment to your china dishes or heirloom furniture, a recent trend suggests younger loved ones may not feel the same. (This was somewhat crudely identified in a recent Forbes article entitled “Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff”.) Millennials and GenXers have a tendency toward minimalism, are more mobile, and don’t mind buying furniture that’s cheaply made if it helps them achieve a certain aesthetic. What they really want from you is a legacy of love.

Here are three simple ways to leave one:

1. Button things up.

There can be unbelievable pressure and emotion locked up in executing someone’s
end-of-life wishes — especially when financial headaches or loads of personal belongings have to be taken care of. Go
the extra mile by eliminating these concerns.

2. Put your love into words.

Don’t miss an opportunity to share your faith or feelings with the next
generation. Communicating a heritage is a gift beyond value. Write it, say it,
share it.

3. Create a Will that aligns with your heart.

Carving out a plan to bless your loved ones and the ministries that have impacted your life, like Phoenix Rescue Mission, is a powerful legacy to leave behind. Let your Will be a gift of meaning and belonging. “We won’t hide them from our children. We will tell them to those who live after us. We will tell them what the Lord has done that is worthy of praise. We will talk about his power and the wonderful things he has done.” Psalm 78:4 NIRV

You’re Invited, Mission Accomplished Celebration!

January 11, 2018 | Filed in Events, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Stories of Hope

Mission:Accompished! Celebration is an opportunity to you to enjoy fellowship with other friends of Phoenix Rescue Mission and celebrate the transformed lives of those who have completed our highest program level, Ministry Training.

Consider inviting family member, friends or associates to introduce them to Phoenix Rescue Mission.

Phoenix Rescue Mission's Board of Directors invite you to attend

Mission: Accomplished! Celebration

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Doors open at 5:30pm

Program begins at 6:00pm

Glendale Nazarene Church

5902 W. Cactus Road, Glendale, AZ 85304

Due to limited seating, you must RSVP by Friday, January 19, 2018

Please RSVP at

MACJANUARY2018.eventbrite.com

or email naikasmith@phoenixrescuemission.org

Seasting is limited. RSVP soon!

Cookies for a Cause

December 4, 2017 | Filed in Changing Lives Center, Culinary Arts Program, Donate, Feeding Phoenix Updates, Homelessness, Meals, Mission Dish, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Social Enterprise, Vocational Development

Time is running out to order your Mission Possible Cookies before the holiday rush!

Mission Possible Cookies are a gift - a great gift for giving to friends, family and business associates - and an amazing gift for the women we serve at the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

See, everyday beautifully wrapped gift boxes you purchase support the Phoenix Rescue Mission's work force development programs. Women like Shannon, who earned her high school diploma while living at the Changing lives Center. Or Michelle, who completed our Kitchen Manager certification course and will begin a new career as a restaurant manager.

Mission Possible Cookies are baked fresh daily in our A-graded commercial kitchen and shipped to your door. Not only are the cookies delicious, they are Changing Lives on Cookie at a Time.

Phoenix Rescue Mission