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

Archive for the ‘Ministry’ Category

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

Food Boxes go to needy families

The pantry shelves are half full

Canned foods are critically low at the Mission. In conjunction with Family Life Radio, Gospel Rescue Mission is conducting a non-perishable food drive at various Basha’s Grocery Store locations around Tucson the week of July 12th. The food will be utlized in food boxes to working poor families.

Daily Basha locations for food drop off are:                                                                                                                                                                                                Monday July 12th – Catalina AZ (Oracle & Golder Ranch) 6:30 AM – 9:00 AM                                                                                                                Tuesday  July 13th - River & La Cholla 6:30 AM – 9:00 AM                                                                                                                                                   Wednesday NO LOCATION                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Thursday July 15th – Swan & Camp Lowell  6:30 AM – 9:00 AM                                                                                                                                                           Friday July 16th – Thornydale & Cortero 6:30 AM – 9:00 AM                                                                                                      

Food needed includes: canned goods (vegetables, fruit, soups, and meat/fish), pasta, rice, beans, cereal, mac & cheese any other non-perishable items. Collection boxes will remain in each location inside of the store throughout the week to drop off food. The above list of locations and times are when KFLT is with us on location for a remote broadcast.

According to GRM Community Ministry Director, Suzanne Williams, “People may only receive one box a month from the Food Bank. Although this helps, the box only lasts a few days. People often need more than the one box. So, the Mission food box supplements the Food Bank box with a GRM food box.”

The food pantry at  the Mission’s Community Ministries Department is extremely low. Layoffs, work furloughs, and difficult economic hardships are bringing about 500 families a month to the Mission for help with food. The Mission distributes about 450 emergency food boxes from the Community Food Bank and monthly distributes another 50 plus GRM emergency boxes. 

Each GRM food box contains about 30 pounds of food. The goal of the drive is to generate at least 3,000 pounds of food, which would translate to 100 food boxes or about a 2 month supply of food.

People are encouraged to drop off food on the way to work or stop in at the Basha’s location and purchase some food items. A booth will be located outside each store and there will flyers with list of the needed items. Look for the GRM truck and the Family Life Van and you will find our booth near the front door.

There is  no doubt that the ministry of Gospel Rescue Mission is to “rescue” homeless men and women and addicts who are living at the “gates of Hell“. Some have already crossed over and we go there to get them back.

Praise God He uses us as His tools to reach the least, the last, and the lost…with their lives destroyed and all hope spent. People that society and even their family have often given up on. But God hasn’t given up. He created each person, loves each one and wants a personal relationship with them…the simple and true message of John 3:16.

We also know that Satan doesn’t like what God does in His rescue ministry at the Mission. Attacks come…spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, as Satan tries to thwart God’s work. It’s amazing the crazy things that can happen each day at the Mission. So, we need to keep our perspective and realize that it is not the person or problem that is our issue. It is the wiles of the evil one. Too often we can get upset or frustrated with the circumstance or person and miss the underlying cause.

We must then remind ourselves of the spiritual battle and putting on our armor of God, as found in Ephesians 6:10-18. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness.

So, I guess it’s a good “thermometer” of sorts that we seem to regularly face some very difficult issues at the Mission, as it may indicate that Satan is not pleased with what God is doing at the Mission bringing men, women, and children to salvation, changing lives, making disciples and “rescuing” people from the gates of Hell. If nothing were happening for the “kingdom’s sake” then Satan wouldn’t care to attack. Praise God!

Below are 2 responses to a couple of the blog posts. One is from our Women’s Center Director and the other from Lisa, who was an intern from the University of Arizona this past semester. They share their insights and experiences with you.

As the Director of the Women and Children Center, it is so wonderfull to see how God is changing the lives of the women and children daily. I get blessed as I interact with those who are seeking God for the miracles and changes that are needed in their lives. I was really blessed to do chapel last month, I taught on John Chapter 5, the story aout the lame man at the pool of Betheseda, who was there for 38 years. Jesus asks, “Would you like to get well? I believe Jesus continues to ask that of each of us as Christians. He wants us to go deeper with Him so He can continue to transform our lives. I was challenged as well as the ladies, to say, “YES Jesus I want to get well.” Lilly

I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to see this (answered prayer) in action during my internship at WCC. I’ve never been one to say, “oh what a coincidence,” and instead am full aware, acknowledging and praising God for the miracles and prayers answered all around us everyday.  It’s just been such a blessing to have worked in a place where the concept of miracles versus “luck” is grasped in full. Lisa

Over 400 hot dogs were served to homeless men and several families at our Men’s Center on Memorial Day. Coming inside out of the 90 degree heat was a welcome relief in and of itself. The food, movies, and fellowship made the day go by quickly and successfully. Time was set aside to recognize the Veterans during the event.