Mission Manna

Once again, the City Rescue Mission of Lansing had the opportunity to participate in the BWL Annual Chili Cook-off. Since 2008, the Mission has been giving people a chance to sample "Mission Manna" at the cook-off.  The photo chosen to represent the Mission as 3-6-5 photo of the week was of one of cooks, Candy, preparing a batch of Mission Manna for the cook-off. Candy's chili was featured in the corporate category, and Abby, our kitchen manager, prepared meatless chili. Both chilis received awards, and, best of all, we were able to spread awareness of the Mission and the quality of work we are doing among homeless and low income men, women, and children in Michigan's capital area.

One of the difficult challenges of Mission work is that of public awareness: informing the public of the role we play and breaking the stereotype of what Missions and their guests are like. Not only does the cook-off give us the opportunity to meet this challenge, it also allows us to participate in a community event. We are a very active part of the community and feel blessed to be able to serve, here, in the heart of our great state.

Thank you, fellow rescuers, for helping us help others! 

The Power of Joy

CRM Centennial 3-6-5 Photo 6-7-12

Today, there is a lot of emphasis on happiness. "Do what makes you happy." I remember being taught as a child that there was a great difference between happiness and joy. We were taught that happiness was fleeting and rooted in temporary circumstances, while joy is deeper and lasts because it is based on something else deeper and more lasting than temporary circumstances.

The children at our shelter, logically, have very little to give them happiness. But it is a blessing to see how often they have joy. That joy comes because their lives, in spite of often being empty of material things, are full of love. Not just the love of family but also of the staff and volunteers. We are here to provide more than physical needs but to show the love that God has for each of them.

The 3-6-5 photo for this week is of a little boy who is undoubtedly happy but who is also experiencing a moment of joy, because of the compassion of others. He's not been given a "priceless" possession for him to keep but rather a moment of far greater value, a memory that he can hold onto. A memory of a time when people came together to show him that he, too, was of great value. Cared for and protected. Sheltered.

That's what we do. That's what we can provide every day because of our fellow rescuers, who give so faithfully to help us help others.

Thank you, for the opportunities you provide for us to give the gift of joy. Thank you for being a rescuer.

"Mission: Play" 5K

CRM Centennial 3-6-5 Photo 6.1.2012

Late summer of 2011, the South Lansing Kiwanis met with CRM staff about the possibility of building a new play area at our women and children's shelter. As our playground equipment is outdated and difficult to find replacement parts, the Kiwanis (whose main focus is children) wanted to provide a new, safe place for our young guests. This play area would be divided into two, age-specific playgrounds. The project also included new safety fencing separating the play area from the parking area and providing decorative fencing facing Maplewood Avenue. The South Lansing Kiwanis goal to purchase/build the play area was $24,000. In less than a year, these diligent Kiwanians raised over $28,000, especially thanks to Lake Trust, who provided a matching fund of up to $12,000. Some of that money was raised through a "Mission: Play" 5k, undertaken by one of the South Lansing Kiwanis members. A photo of one of our staff participating in this event was chosen to be our 3-6-5 photo for the week.

Lansing Kiwanis came together to cover costs and to build the needed fencing. We hope to have the new playground in use by the end of July. Please keep this project in your prayers. Having provided shelter for over 330 children last year, we are excited to have a safe place for them to play and to enjoy the sunshine.

They Match

The 3-6-5 Photo for this week is a photo of Shelley, who works in the women and children's shelter, and a young guest who was excited because her pink shirt matched Shelley's Mission employee uniform. I love this photo for the tenderness and affection it shows. Shelley, as a mother, can treat these children as a caregiver while still showing the structure that children desperately need. In the case of this young girl, and too many children in our shelter, there is only her mother to give her the guidance and care she needs. This can be very difficult for anyone, when they are solely responsible for such an important task as raising a child. We are grateful for the opportunity we have, while our guests stay with us, to give them added support and encouragement from women who have raised children of their own. This support and encouragement is just one more aspect of the shelter we are able to provide because you help us help others!

Pretty as a Princess

The story behind this picture, recently chosen as the Mission's 3-6-5 photo for the week, is of a birthday. Three hundred and thirty nine kids called the Mission "home" in 2011. Meaning that when that last school bell rang those same kids packed up their backpacks with books and homework and headed for the Mission.

While that image can be colored by despair, we try instead to capture that spark of real life that exists and continues regardless of the location. There is an undoubted and unarguable sadness at the thought of a homeless child. But at the Mission, there is also joy. Some of the greatest sources of that joy are the children who stay here.

In this case, the young girl looks like every other young girl celebrating her special day. She's wearing princess jewelry and coming up with her own accessories (whiskers out of pipe cleaners). Her world is not what we might consider "the normal one," but she can still have excitement and joy, because your gifts enable us to provide safety and security for all who find shelter at the Mission. Thank you for being a rescuer and for helping us help others!

Emily's Prayer

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about prayer and, to me, Emily Dolton (whose photo was chosen to represent the Mission for our 3-6-5 project this week) is a great representative for prayer. Emily Dolton founded the Mission with her husband over 100 years ago. She and her husband Thomas, like most Mission founders, were reaching a hand of help to familiar faces. Emily was raised in the knowledge of Christian things but, as an adult, made self serving choices. One of those choices was to marry a man who hated the restrictions of Christianity and loved "laughter" and "fun," the same as she did. He also loved alcohol. When their children were born, Emily began to take a look at her life and realized that her priorities had changed. She returned to her Christian heritage and discovered a personal relationship with her Savior. Thomas' feelings on her decision were negative. Her response was to pray. For ten years, she prayed for her husband. Being a firm believer that God always answers prayer (either yes, no, or not yet), I can see why Emily continued steadfast in prayer, never giving up on her faith or her husband. Now knowing the rest of the story, we know that Thomas did come to accept that "Jesus Saves," and his newfound passion for that truth led to the founding of City Rescue Mission of Lansing. For the rest of his life, Thomas would faithfully serve the Lord in this ministry to "rescue" the lost and hopeless. And Emily served at his side until he passed away in 1942. She continued to minister at the Mission until her own health declined, but she was able, daily, to witness the power of prayer, not only in her life but in the lives of those impacted by the Mission. Her prayers made a difference to her husband and family, and they continue to make a difference today, to every man, woman, and child who comes to the Mission and receives rescue. Thank you for helping us continue the work begun by the Doltons over a century ago. Thank you for being a rescuer and helping us help others!

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.