"That's the way our God works"

From time to time, the Mission gets an "overabundance" of a certain item. Our goal, in cases such as this, is to share that abundance with other agencies, to be sure that a needed item can get to the person in need. Lately, the Mission has had a lot of size 3 and smaller diapers arrive. One of our staff men took this excess, and other baby related items, to pregnancy services. When asking staff there if they had a need for this item, he was told that a call had come in not 10 minutes before he arrived. The mother needed size 3 diapers but couldn't afford to buy any until her check on Friday. What a blessing to know that mother was able to see her need provided for, and what a blessing to be a part of meeting that need. As our driver said when sharing the story, "That's the way our God works." He knows the need and enables us to be a part of sharing His love.

99 years and counting!

Yesterday, Betty Kellogg and two of her daughters came to the Maplewood Center for a video interview. We're trying to capture memories in preparation for the 100 year anniversary of the Mission. It was a very informative interview and also a blessing. Betty's husband, Leon, who has passed away, was a grandson of Mission founders Thomas and Emily Dolton. His paternal grandparents, Oren and Huldah Kellogg, had actually been in charge of a previous faith Mission. Thomas Dolton, before he was saved, used to listen to the music from this Mission's gospel wagon. By the time he was saved, the faith Mission had closed. So he and his wife Emily started the City Rescue Mission. Oren Kellogg gave them the former Mission's benches, organ, and hymnals.

It was interesting to hear, not just about this, but also similar stories, because it helps show the continuing "thread" of the ministry down through the years. In those early years, Thomas and Emily sometimes went without food themselves, so they could provide a meal for someone in need and present them with the gospel. Today, their determination to "meet physical needs to bring those with spiritual needs to Jesus Christ" continues as the main purpose of the City Rescue Mission, and we are only another link in a chain forged long before any of us were born.

What a blessing to be able to serve, for even a small time, as a part of this legacy of service to Michigan's capital area. To be able to make a difference in the lives of men, women, and children, today and into the future.

"the hope that is in you"

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" 1 Peter 3:15

This past summer has been full of blessings. So many people have give generously to support the ministry of rescue, and we are currently blessed to have not one but two businesses working to help provide meals for those in need: L&L with "Pack the Pantry" and Gordon Food Services with "Change for Change." We also have many businesses, churches, and organizations collecting backpacks and school supplies for our "Backpacks of Hope" giveaway on August 28. We are so grateful for everything done on behalf of those we serve and recognize that each gift is evidence of providence.

However, there are always trials to endure and obstacles to overcome. On one hand, the Mission has been greatly blessed this summer, on the other, we've seen many new challenges, not just to the ministry but to staff and guests. For this reason, we ask supporters to support us in their prayers as well. Pray for Mission leadership and staff members, we all need to make wise decision in the days ahead. Pray for our guests, the numbers continue to increase but decisions regarding the wisest use of resources lie ahead. Finally, pray for supporters, like you. We all have challenges to face and only together can we truly make a difference not just for today but for eternity.

August: a month of opportunities

This month we debut our "Pack the Pantry" food drive. We hope to make it an annual event (see www.PackThePantry.org to get a peek). This year, L&L Food Centers is hosting the drive in all seven of their Lansing area stores. We are so grateful to L&L, not just for this event but for their many long years of faithful support to the City Rescue Mission.

This week, Gordon Food Services' area stores are asking customers if they'd like to "give for a cause." This week, shoppers can round up to the nearest dollar, and those proceeds go to support the City Rescue Mission. This is to lead up to the Grand Opening of their new Okemos Store. Mark Criss, our executive director, will attend the ribbon cutting next week.

Saturday, August 28, 2010, is the 10th annual "Backpacks of Hope" giveaway. The Mission will be distributing backpacks and school supplies to children in need (as supplies last). From now until Friday the 20th, you can drop-off school supplies at 607 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing. If you know a family struggling financially, tell them to visit the "Get Help Now" page of our website (www.lcrm.org) to see how they can benefit from the giveaway. If you'd like to help with this project (daytime hours), please call our director of volunteers, Russ Kinyon, at 517.485.0145 or email him at volunteers@lcrm.org.

Gift and Bible, in the Delta Center, has started selling used books and CD's, the proceeds of which go to support the City Rescue Mission. They also accept donations of books and music for this project.

You can also register, this month, to participate in the Lady Classic, a golf outing hosted by Capital Area Women's Lifestyle Magazine (visit www.cawlm.com or call 517.203.0123). CAWLM has once again chosen the Mission as their charity beneficiary for the golf outing on Thursday, September 16.

A very busy month lies ahead, and we are grateful to all of these businesses and organizations who desire to help us help others.

It just walked in the door...

On June 29, "Team Depot," a group of store associates under the direction of the Home Depot Foundation, came to the Maplewood Center to put in a full day of landscaping and other external improvements. Their efforts were greatly appreciated, and, as good hosts, we offered to serve them lunch.

The City Rescue Mission of Lansing serves two meals every day to the general public; this means that anyone in need can get a good meal at no cost to them. Our food pantry, which provides the raw materials for those meals, is stocked by the generosity of donors. The meals are prepared by our kitchen staff, no more than two of whom are together to work on meal preparation at any one time. It can be challenging, especially when you discover that you will be more than doubling the number of meals you have to prepare for lunch that day.

Just what are you going to feed everybody?

We don't always know, but we do know that the need will be met. On this particular day, a catered event had more food than they needed. Quite a bit more food.

When our executive director asked Keith, on duty that day, what he was going to send over to Maplewood for lunch, he replied, "It just came in the door."

We are so grateful to the event coordinator for giving this food to the Mission, and we are grateful to the Provider who saw this need and made sure it was met. It is doubtful that the store associates fully realized that when they came to be a blessing to the Mission and to those we serve, they were being blessed in return, by getting a true taste of Mission Manna.

All in a day's...not working...

Saturday was a very interesting day. Interesting in that I headed out into the gray, grisly morning with a carefully prepared list of "errands" to run. None of those errands involved work, well, one or two of them did, but most of them were personal errands.

First stop was my bank, where I had questions about my account. I was told to wait for the lady in the office, and while speaking with her, the conversation turned to my place of employment, the City Rescue Mission. "You work with Mark!" The lady said, and I wondered how she knew Mark. From television. I admit, I took the opportunity to brag on my boss (how often can a person do that?) and was pleased at the realization that people are beginning to recognize, not just Mark, but also the Mission.

The City Rescue Mission has existed in Lansing since 1911; our buildings on Michigan Avenue have housed our ministry since 1948. Our Jesus Saves Cross, the sign that hangs over the chapel building and is the focal point of our logo, has lit the night sky for over six decades, long before Mark was even born. But when I began working for the Mission in 2004, there was a surprising number of people who didn't know the Mission existed or why it existed.

It is so gratifying to reclaim a sense of awareness in our community, not just so supporters know that we need their help but also so that those in need know that we are here to help them. Rather a tongue twister, but it all comes down to "helping us help others." For nearly 100 years, the Mission has had the opportunity to meet physical and spiritual needs of men, women, and children. That legacy would never have been possible without the compassion and generosity of our community.

It may be rather startling when your boss' name comes up in conversation with a random stranger, especially on your day off, but it's worth it if the message connected with his name is about the Mission, the needs of those we serve, and the truth behind the words over our door: Jesus Saves.

What a Privilege

At a recent staff meeting in the chapel at the Maplewood Center, our executive director covered a passage from Paul's letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:3-16). Timothy, a protege of the Apostle Paul, was getting encouragement from his mentor on the importance of contentment in his daily life, especially as he served as a minister to the needs, physical and spiritual, of those around him. These words give us wisdom as we daily strive to follow the example left by men like Paul and Timothy.

From time to time, someone will ask if we "work" for the Mission or are we volunteers. While we do utilize several volunteers (and are extremely grateful for their faithfulness and support), the Mission does need a core group of dedicated staff members. The privilege is the opportunity to "work" for the Mission. Because we do not "work" for the "Mission" so much as work for God's glory and for the help, health, and transformation of our guests. It's a strange and wonderful feeling to "open your envelope" and see that you are getting paid to help people.

It is an awesome responsibility, as well, because while we "work" for our guests, we also "work" for our supporters. As a faith ministry, every dollar that comes to cover operational expenses (utility bills, building maintenance, staffing needs) comes from the compassionate gifts of people desiring to help us help others. Last year, we provided over 90,000 meals and 30,700 nights of shelter to men, women, and children in Michigan's capital area. Yet every meal and every bed was available solely because of a feeling of compassion and an act of generosity by you.

Thank you so much for the privilege of allowing us to serve as your hands, meeting needs, telling the good news, and reaching out to the lost. Thank you for helping us help others!