The Gospel Rescuer | Blog-site for Gospel Rescue Mission Tucson AZ

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Serving on the National Board of Gospel Rescue Mission, I recently had the opportunity to attend our annual fall Board meeting. This one was held in Jamaica. Sure it sounds exotic, but for the most part the days were spent in meetings, including the first day of 7 AM to 9 PM.  The reason the meeting was held in Jamaica is that several years ago our national office, along with the support of several US Missions, helped open 2 shelters in Jamaica, one in Montego Bay and the other in Kingston.

The most enjoyable part of the meeting was a tour of the medical & food/meal drop in center and the shelter in Montego Bay. The drop in center is located in an impovereshed area of downtown. The shelter (Refuge of Hope) is located a mile away up a hill.

Of a 3 million population, an estimated 100,000 Jamaicans are homeless. In addition, many of their citizens live in homes of tin, cardboard or crumbling mortar. The shelter was actually started by the government about 5 years ago in a very run down shack of a building. However, the government soon realized that they did not have the expertise to operate homeless shelters. That’s when the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions stepped up to the plate to assist.

Unlike the United States, the Jamaican government supports the Mission, including financially. And they do so with no restrictions placed on the Mission as to sharing faith, praying, preaching, and teaching Bible studies.  In fact, the government donated the properties to the Mission and continues to assist with utilities and providing funds for several staff positions. 

Over the past 2 years, Rescue Missions from the US helped to remodel the buildings and purchased furniture. The shelter is actually several railroad type box car metal buildings (like we have for storage units in the US).  Screened in windows are all they have for ventilation and with the hot and humid weather, the units seem more like saunas. Several board members from various Missions at the board meeting pledged support to purchase fans and air conditioning for the buildings. Our Tucson Mission Board of Directors also voted to send $1,000 to help them purchase ceiling fans for the dorm areas.

The Mission in Kingston (which I wasn’t able to visit) is located in the most dangerous area of Kingston. Unlike Montego Bay, Kingston is the big urban city frought with crime, drugs and violence. People actually drive around in this area of Kingston in pick up trucks with men with rifles and guns standing in the bed of the truck. Maybe it’s good I didn’t go…certainly safer.

Gospel Rescue Missions are located throughout the United States and in Canada. So these Missions in Jamaica are our first ones outside of the North American Continent.

Needless to say, the need for homeless services and drug recovery programs in Jamaica is substantial. Although these Missions are only able to work with hundreds of men, women and children each month out of the 100,000 homeless, at least it is a start. The Gospel is given out every day along with tangible help, hope and love. That is what Rescue Missions are all about and these Missions in Jamaica certainly encapsulate that calling.

Please pray for these Missions and if you’d like to help in some way, you can contact our national office at www.agrm.org

Medical Drop in Center and cafeteria for homeless in Montego Bay

Men and women's shelter in Montego Bay, Jamaica

With Father’s Day upon us I just wanted to share some thoughts on the importance of a father in the lives of his children. I have had over 30 year’s of experience working with youth in several professional and volunteer venues, including mentoring, coaching, and teaching. I also helped raise 2 children who are now wonderful and productive adults. I don’t claim to “know all the answers”, but there are some significant observations that I’ve had during these experiences.

First and foremost, our view of the character of God is often formed based upon on how we perceive our earthly father’s character to be. Does your child see you as loving, full of grace, a teacher, supportive, approachable, and forgiving? Or does he/she see you as demanding, looking to correct their every move, critical of their efforts, afraid you will reject them, unapproachable, or scared that you won’t love him or her.

Depending upon the environment that the father sets within the home the child will view God as a God of love and grace or a God of demands and punishment.

Establishing a home that is a safe environment where your child can be held accountable and responsible for their choices and actions but is balanced with love , grace, and teaching is paramount to success.

Proverbs 22:6 says – “Train up (or teach depending on the translation) your child in the way he should go and when he is older he will not depart from it.”  Note that it says train/teach, not punish up a child or discipline up a child in the way they should go.

Here are 7 keys to help you build a home with a safe and healthy environment where your child learns to accept responsibility to make good and positive choices in behavior and attitude.

KEY ONE: Teach, teach, and teach some more.

Your home needs to be based on teaching and not punishment. Every mistake your child makes is an opportunity to help them learn what they did, why they did it, how it affected others, what they could do to “fix it”, and determine if their actions were Christlike. Teac hing is based upon a relationship and does take time to do.

KEY TWO: Allow for failure and teach from it

Your child is not perfect…and neither are you. How is it that most of us learn important life lessons? Usually it is through failure or mistakes. Use failure to teach, not punish. Do you want a boss at work that writes you up for every wrong move you make and you live in fear of punishment or losing your job? Or would you rather have a boss that helps you correct your mistake so you experience success the next time and you don’t have to work in fear? Does God give us what we deserve when we sin…or does His grace supersede and helps us learn our lesson?

KEY THREE: Be careful how you use punishment and discipline

Punishment should be the last resort to get your child’s attention, not the first or second. If you do have to use discipline, make sure that the goal is to TEACH not just to inflict some type of pain to make your point. Also, don’t discipline because YOU have “had it up to here” or that you don’t want to take the time to teach. The disciplinary action should “match the crime”, don’t go overboard “to make your point”.

KEY FOUR: Build upon your child’s strengths

Your child is blessed with skills and talents. They are probably not good in everything. Find out what their strengths are and build upon these and not focus your major attention to trying to improve their deficiencies. I don’t get Math (Algebra, Geometry, etc). It’s not a matter of working harder. No matter how much I study, I just won’t get it. That’s OK. Help them in their weak areas and if they still don’t get it, it is OK.

KEY FIVE: Focus on building the character and values

The Bible teaches that out of the heart comes our words, attitudes, and behavior. Therefore, try to get past just the outward behavior and dig deeper into the values and in the character development. The outside of the vessel is not the part God cares that is clean, it is the inside of the vessel…the heart. If you change the heart (values), you change the behavior. I used to examine my children’s report card not looking with them at the grade part of the card first but the character part where the teacher grades how they are they following the rules, turning in assignments, getting along with others, etc. If their character issues are rated good and excellent, then their grades will be about as good as they can get. If the character part is not excellent, then the grades will reflect that and they will be lower than they should be.

KEY SIX: Be honest with your children about your own areas of weakness and mistakes and apoligize to them if warranted

You (and I) are not perfect. When we do make a mistake or sin we need to deal with it by confessing to God and those we hurt and apologize…this includes your children. I spanked my son about 5 times while he was growing up. On three occassions I went to him afterward and apologized and confessed that I had spanked him because I “had it up to here” and I punsihed him out of my anger. The anger was my sin and I should have done some teaching with him, not choose to let my anger determine my corrective action. I asked for his forgiveness which he gave unconditionally. Apologizing for my mistakes helped build our relationship and respect of each other.

KEY SEVEN: Communicate…don’t just talk and lecture, but listen and encourage

Spend time with your children collectively and individually by participating in activities that they enjoy and where you can talk together. Positive reinforcement and encouragment goes a long way to develop their character and your relationship with them. Listen to them, ask questions, and teach where there is opportunity. Don’t just be present…be attentive.

Yes,  a father’s role is critical in “training up – teaching a child in the way they should go”.

New building at our new women and children's center

We are making daily progress in the construction of the new building at the new homeless center. The adopt-a-rooms are also being worked on. One room has already been completed by the Voyager Chapel, including new furniture that they purchased for the room. Praise God.

President Obama signed the National Day of Prayer proclamation today. With what is currently happening in the courts this may be the last “National Day of Prayer”…let’s pray it is not.  There are various prayer activities May 6th aat different times and locations throughout the day go to  www.pimandp.org click on events. In addition there is a youth rally at Reid Park on the 7th.  I hope you will join others throughout the nation as together we pray for our nation, state, county, and city.

There is much to repent from as a nation (2nd Chronicals 7:14) and much to pray for regarding our needs. We need God’s intervention and direction for our nation.

 Here arethe President’s proclamation and prayer requests:

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2010

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer. In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.

On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.

We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.

Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those suffering from natural disasters in Haiti, Chile, and elsewhere, and the people from those countries and from around the world who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to render aid. Let us pray for the families of the West Virginia miners, and the people of Poland who so recently and unexpectedly lost many of their beloved leaders. Let us pray for the safety and success of those who have left home to serve in our Armed Forces, putting their lives at risk in order to make the world a safer place. As we remember them, let us not forget their families and the substantial sacrifices that they make every day. Let us remember the unsung heroes who struggle to build their communities, raise their families, and help their neighbors, for they are the wellspring of our greatness. Finally, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those people everywhere who join us in the aspiration for a world that is just, peaceful, free, and respectful of the dignity of every human being.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

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Today began the 2 day conference on Cultural Competency with the focus on Latino and Native American cultures. About 100 people are attending from various organizations, agencies, and ministries. The trianing is being held at the Juvenile Court Center.

It was organized by the Diverse Voices in Prevention sub-committee of the Community Prevention Coalition. GRM’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Liz Lane, serves on this committee and assisted with the organization of the event. I am the Chair of the Community Prevention Coalition and I played a small part in the event today.

It’s wonderful that the Mission continues to go “outside our walls” to collaborate with other organizations, ministries, and coalitions to make our community a better one and to raise the quality of life for us all. The Mission often plays a significant role in participating in and assuming a lead role in these various efforts throughout the year. We are taking God’s love to the community as we represent Him when we actively participate and assist these groups.