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

Find out more ways you can help support the Gospel Rescue Mission

Ryan understands how important and therapeutic planting and growing vegetables and plants can be for people. So he took it upon himself to raise money for supplies and gather his fellow Scouts to assist with this garden project. Not only did Ryan and the Scouts build 3 gardens, but they also pulled weeds, trimmed trees and bushes, and mowed the lawn. The garden and yard all look wonderful now.

This garden will provide the moms and children with a positive activity to work on together while living at the house. Children especially love planting vegetables, watching them grow, and then eating the “fruits of their labor”. It is fun, healthy, and rewarding all in one.

THANKS RYAN and FELLOW SCOUTS – you all did a wonderful job and blessed the ladies and children!!!

3 Vegetable Gardens Built by Ryan and his Fellow Scouts

The Scouts pulled weeds and trimmed the trees and the yard looks great!

We needed to get a larger hood for the stove and a more effective fire suppression system installed. Those items served as the catalyst for a total remodel, including a new and larger stove to keep up with the increased number of meals we are providing , moving sinks, opening up the center of the kitchen for prep tables, cleaning and painting the walls, etc.

The total cost will run about $20,000, but will make the  kitchen

Wes (L) is teaching recovery principles to a student

Wes Shepherd is a tremendous example of God’s grace and His transforming powers. When Wes came to the Mission for help, he had been using drugs for 20 years. Marijuana, Meth, and cocaine took Wes in and out of homelessness and jail. Camping down by the railroad tracks at night, running the streets by day, his life had become a walking death from addiction.

Everyone wrote Wes off, except his mother who faithfully prayed for him. The prayers paid off, as Wes eventually found his way to Gospel Rescue Mission in Tucson. According to Wes, “The love I received at the Mission did not depend on anything I did and it never changed. They cared for me and loved on me in ways I’d never known. I learned that if you are willing to admit that you made a wreck of your life, then it was possible to let God do something to change it. And He did. God has transformed every area of my life, especially my relationships with my family. Today I am clean and sober and I am married for just over 2 years.”

God reached deep into Wes’ life, helping him come to grips with the hurts and scars from his past and the disappointments he created through his choices, actions, and addictions. Wes realized that despite the level to which his life had deteriorated, it wasn’t too late to turn his life over to God. He realized that God, the potter, could remold his life into something useful that could bless others.

When Wes graduated from the Mission residential recovery program about 5 years ago, he was hired as a life skills instructor and Bible teacher. He began sharing lessons and Scripture that helped change his life with the other men in the recovery program. Having lived life on the streets, he was able to relate to the men in ways that others were unable. They listened intently to what he shared. Changes began to take place in their lives as well.

In addition to teaching classes, Wes facilitates a Genesis Process recovery group with about 6-8 men. The Genesis Process recovery materials are used internationally in Christian faith based recovery programs. The materials combine principles and processes of healing from addictions with scripture.

Working at the Mission gave Wes a desire to do even more to help others who are homeless or in recovery. So, Wes purchased a large home and opened a transitional home for men in December 2006. Not only is it an affordable housing opportunity for the men, but Wes offers classes to teach the men how to live wise, responsible, moral, and lawful lives. After the success of the first home, Wes bought and opened a 2^nd transitional home. He hopes to open 2 more in the near future. Over 70 men have already benefitted from his transitional houses.

If all of this isn’t enough to help others and to keep Wes busy, Wes also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Turn Your Life Around recovery agency. The agency assists men and women to sustain recovery from drug and alcohol addiction through outpatient counseling and services including, individual and group counseling, recovery support groups, life skills training, SMART Recovery, 12 Step meetings, employment services, and peer mentoring.

One of the programs that Wes oversees at the Mission is the Community Service Program. On a weekly basis, Wes takes the men from the recovery program out into the community to perform volunteer service projects. These projects have included helping landscape homes of the elderly, cleaning a neighborhood in Marana that doesn’t have waste management services, assisting a physically handicapped elderly woman pack and move from an upstairs apartment to the first floor, to name a few.

Wes believes that many benefits are derived from doing community service projects. He stated “It helps build character, it moves focus from self to others, and it elevates personal esteem through accomplishment. It ultimately puts faith to practical application by serving others”. The men learn from and enjoy their experiences.

From homelessness and drugs…to recovery and sobriety…to working at the Mission leading and teaching others in their journey of recovery…to providing affordable sober housing…Wes has not only transformed his life but helped hundreds of others to do the same.

Throughout the month of July, we asked our supporters, volunteers, businesses, churches, and the community to donate non-perishable food items and canned goods that could be distributed in our emergency food boxes. In addition, KFLT radio conducted a food drive with live radio remotes at various Bashas’ Grocery Stores during the week of July 12th.

We asked…and the community responded…in a BIG way. A total of 6,153 pounds of food was donated… substantially exceeding the goal of 5,000 pounds! This food translates to about 200 emergency food boxes.

Our Community Ministries Department distributes Community Food Bank food boxes several days a week. However, people are only eligible for one food box a month. The box does help, but only to provide a few days worth of meals. So, the Mission supplements those boxes when needed with our own food box. That way people in dire need could come a second time during the month or get an additional box to add to the Food Bank box.  It really makes a significant difference for people who are hurting and hungry.

Thanks again for helping meet the needs of working poor families by providing food for

The shelves are filled with food again.

their tables!

Air conditioners and exterior foam now completed

Seven air conditioners were installed last week on the building being constructed at the new Gospel Rescue Mission Women & Children’s center.

Just today, the foam was added to the exterior walls around the entire building. It was unreal, how in just one day, this part of the project was completed. The next step is to stucco the foam on the exterior walls. The building will look much closer to completed once the stucco is added.

However, more work remains to complete the interior, such as flooring, kitchen equipment, sheet rock, etc. But each day we get closer to moving in.

Just 2 weeks ago we were contemplating having to slow down constrution, as our funds had diminished to about zero. We prayed for God to provide the funds, or to show us what we needed to do to slow down or pause the construction. In faith, we looked to God, for our answer. The very next day we received a gift of $10,000, which was followed the next day by another of $50,000, which was followed 2 days later by another of $204,000. So, just when we were contemplating US needing “to do something“, God once again came through with a jaw dropping answer to the immediate need. That’s been the case for the entire project!!!

We still need about $350,000-400,000 to complete the building, but we know that God will somehow provide that, as we get closer to again needing the funds to continue. For now, construction is going full force, with no slow down. Praise God.

Volunteers are also making regular progress completing the rooms that will be used for housing the women and children. Several are complete, including furniture and equipment. Our goal is to have the center open by year end, but God knows the day and time and we trust Him for that as well.

The expansion project has been an amazing journey of faith and just being obedient to God’s asking us to move forward trusting Him for all of the provisions. It’s been one amazing testimony after another of seeing God’s hand in the whole project. Nothing contrived or manipulated by us. Just walking step by step in faith.

Thank you to those who have supported the Mission and this project with your prayers, time, resources, and finances. It is truly God’s Mission and He has used all of our community to provide for the homeless women and children. God bless you.

A little more to go to re-stock the emergency food box shelves

The Mission is holding a “Christmas in July” food drive to restock the canned goods and non-perishable food itmes for food boxes to working poor families. The goal is at least 3,000 pounds of food that would equate to 100 food boxes. With 10 days to go, the Mission has collected 2,816 pounds!

Much thanks goes to KFLT radio that sponsored a week long food drive at Basha’s stores that totaled 879 pounds of food. Thank YOU to all who dropped off food at the Basha’s stores and to those who are dropping off food at our Mission. We will have over 2 months of food boxes through this drive. Many needy families will be helped in a time of emergency need.

Food needed includes: canned goods (vegetables, fruit, soups, and meat/fish), pasta, rice, beans, cereal, mac & cheese any other non-perishable items. You may drop off your items to either Shelter Women and Children’s 1130 W. Miracle Mile or the Men’s Center 318 W. 28th St. or Community Ministries 328 W. 28th St. Thank you.