Twila at Work

This week, the 3-6-5 photo chosen to represent the Mission as our profile picture was "Twila at Work." Twila is the daughter of our director of maintenance. She is a living example of the transformation that happens when God uses the work of the Mission to change the hearts of those who come through its doors.  Twila's father was saved at the Mission, graduated the program, and met his wife at the Mission. We have the opportunity to see her grow and enjoy seeing her shadow her dad.

The 3-6-5 Photo chosen to represent the Mission this week is one I call "Rosie and the Sun." I actually love this picture, taken by a very talented staff member. The Mission focuses on three key areas: food, shelter, and hope. However, the biggest part of the three is Hope. For 100 years, our main purpose has been sharing the gospel. Because this is our goal, we do everything to the best of our ability, from cooking to cleaning, because everything we do represents Christ. Sometimes, we face challenges or discouragement, but moments like the one shown here help remind us of the joy found in serving Christ. This little girl doesn't understand the concept of homelessness; had her family not found shelter at the Mission, her experience could be very different. But they did find shelter at the Mission, and we had the joy and opportunity of showing them love, not because we are so good or even because they are. But because God is. See her smile and realize that she is happy and safe because your compassion helps us help others. Thank you for being a rescuer and for making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Haven of Rest

The photo chosen for our Centennial 3-6-5 Project this week is an image of a young girl wrapped in a blanket and dozing in one of the child care rooms in our women and children's shelter. What a blessing it is to be able to provide shelter and protection to these young lives. Last month, 47 children, like this young girl, were able to find that same comfort at the City Rescue Mission of Lansing. This is only possible because of your gifts to the Mission and your prayers on behalf of our ministry. Please keep this girl and her family in your prayers, as her mother seeks stable employment and they seek permanent housing.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah Psalm 61:4

Good Friday

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Matthew 1:41

Working for a non-profit, you often use and hear the word "compassion." However, on this Good Friday, I wondered what would happen if I prayed, "Lord, today, for one day, open my eyes and allow me to see others as Christ saw them."

I truly believe that we, as humans beings, are incapable of fully seeing with the eyes of Christ. Not only because our pride too often gets in the way but also because the burden of that compassion would be unbearable.

When Christ looked out over the multitudes of those gathered to hear Him speak, He didn't just see their motives and their attitudes, the secrets of their hearts. He saw beyond what they were to what they had been. To what they could and should have been. He saw them as children, full of potential and possibilities. He saw the gifts they had been given. And how those gifts had been squandered. He saw the paths they had chosen. And how every step had only taken them further beyond even the hope of rescue.

The scars of sin...what ugly marks they must leave on the human soul. And those are the scars that Christ took upon Himself, for us, on the darkest day in human history.

Praise God that in the moment when the full ugliness of man's heart was revealed to His creator, Christ did not turn away. He spread His arms in surrender and bore the weight of that ugliness and the consequences of our sin on the cross. He dragged that darkness into the grave and left it there when He rose again.

So that we could know rescue. Because Jesus Saves. Only Jesus Saves.

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13

http://www.blueletterbible.org/knowgod.cfm

Children's Chapel

As we continue with our centennial 3-6-5 project, the photo chosen to represent the Mission as our facebook profile pic is "Children's Chapel." Last year, the Mission provided shelter to 339 children. A large part of that "shelter" is the opportunity to share the word of God with them and to show them the love of Christ. This would not be possible without your gifts to the ministry of rescue. As we pass the one year anniversary of the completion of our women's and children shelter, we look forward to the opportunity of seeing and serving more children in need. Thank you for enabling us to do so. Thank you for being a rescuer and for helping us help others!

Pay to Stay

There is something of a debate going on regarding some recent decisions at some shelters around the country to ask guests to "pay to stay." While there are pros and cons, what was more sad was the attitudes revealed by those who chose to "comment" on the article. I was especially saddened by the statements from some who claimed to work or to have worked for shelters/service agencies.

Anyone who does read the comments on any internet article recognizes that the anonymity of the internet and the fact that you don't personally know those with whom you are arguing leads to extremely negative comments that the filter of personal knowledge or direct discussion would normally "block out." However, Christ said, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). And the majority of the "mouths" who chose to speak on this particular topic were surprisingly venemous in regards to those who are homeless.

Rather than enter into the argument of "to pay or not to pay," I'd like to offer a defense for Missions and a re-statement of our purpose. Missions by their very nature are independent; however, they were founded to further the message of the gospel to men and women who were lost in sin. The cast-offs, the unwanted.

Our founder, Thomas Dolton, was an alcoholic who was violently opposed to Christianity until his own conversion. His goal in starting a Mission was to reach out to men who were as he had once been. While the face of homelessness is changing (with unemployment, poor financial decisions, domestic abuse, divorce, etc. becoming contributing factors for homelessness), the Mission should continue to reach a hand of rescue to the unloved and unlovable. We have seen men and women that the world would consider hopeless. They would make their comments and use them as examples of the homeless stereotype that is so despised. Some of those same men and women have "used the system" for years before the message of Christ, preached faithfully by Missions, began to produce fruit in their lives. God forbid that we give up on these men and women. That we stop looking at them with the eyes of Christ (as sheep having no shepherd) and being to look at them with the eyes of the world (worthless losers who don't deserve compassion).

I would never say that Mission work is easy. Or that working year-in and year-out with such men and women doesn't require us to be in constant prayer for God's strength and compassion. But I would reiterate the words of Paul, "do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thessalonians 3:13). The world is hungry for the unconditional love that can only be found through the grace of God. If Missions stop shining the light and spreading the truth that "Jesus Saves" even the ones who deserve it the least, then how will they hear? After all, the true "mission" of a Mission is not to provide a meal or a bed but to present the Good News that God's grace is sufficient for (and needed by) everyone.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:13-15

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43254521/ns/us_news-giving/t/homeless-getting-streets-could-come-cost/#.T3Di6VElarI

Easter Comes Early

The photo chosen for this week's 3-6-5 was of Tiffany (director of women and children's ministries) and Sherri (women and children's shelter manager) receiving a donation of Easter baskets for the children at our women and children's shelter. This same church also provided Christmas gifts for our guests. We are so grateful to the many in our community who think of others and look for ways not only to meet needs but also to show compassion.

What a great time of year to express compassion! Although we called this photo "Easter Comes Early," the truth is that the Mission has the opportunity to express the message of Easter all year long. This is possible because of your gifts. Thank you for being a rescuer and for helping us help others!