YES! I will help the Downtown Rescue Mission care for the homeless/hurting people of our community!

Send with check to: Downtown Rescue Mission1400 Evangel Drive, Huntsville, AL 35816

Here’s my gift of: n $50 n $100 n $250 n $_____________To give a gift by credit card, visit us online at www.downtownrescuemission.org or call 256-536-2441.

NAME

ADDRESS APT

CITY STATE ZIP

EMAIL

AUG NL16The Downtown Rescue Mission is fully financially accountable and

invites anyone to inspect our financial records during business hours.

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Statistics for June 2016Meals Served – 20,836

Lodging – 6,499Food Boxes – 603

Spiritual Decisions – 10Into Permanent Housing – 9

HELPING CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY! ®

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NEED TO SEE THE NURSE?

No, we’re not talking about flu symptoms quite yet but there is another virus whose symptoms are quite easy to detect. It’s

the SSS virus. Never heard of it? SSS stands for Sit, Soak, Sour and it infects thousands of Christians every year. Individuals sit in services, soak in Biblical teaching, then sour when faith and knowledge don’t lead to action. Praise God Jesus has provided both the vaccine and antidote: serving Him by serving others.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Want to avoid contracting this virus? In search of a cure? Sign up to volunteer at https://downtownrescuemission.org/ get-involved.

DRM thanks the nearly 2,000 individuals who have volunteered at the Mission so far this year!

A PLACE CALLED LOVEPage 3

PLEASE HELP!Page 2

THANKSGIVING EARLY BIRD COMPAIGN

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YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

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MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS Outside Flap

NEED TO SEE THE NURSE? Page 4

downtownrescuemission.org August 2016

“Students who have lived in poverty are three times more likely to drop out or fail to graduate on time than their more affluent peers.” www.gradelevelreading.net

Much Needed Repairs

During the 2014 calendar year, school districts in the United States spent

approximately $6.34 billion dollars between adding to and modernizing existing school buildings. Whether you’re talking about the schoolhouse, your home or the Mission, there will always be repairs that need to be made.

We have three key maintenance projects that need to happen this year. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring one of these needs so we can continue providing services that care for hundreds of people every month.

Double stack gas convection oven: $5,000

• Did you know? We serve an average of 21,674 meals a month and over 95% of the food we serve is donated.

(20) Sleeping mats for men’s emergency shelter: $1,625

• Did you know? The mats in our men’s emergency shelter are slept on an average of 2,443 times a month by approx. 79 men every night.

Laundry dryer drum(s) and bearings: $3,200

• Did you know? Since moving to our current campus, an average of 214 people’s clothes, towels and sheets are washed multiple times each week.

Contact Corey for more information. His number is 256-536-2441 ext. 316 or corey@downtownrescuemission.org.

A Place Called LoveHow the Lord is Working in This Young Mother’s Life

Keyera and her three children came to the Mission this year from another mission in Georgia. How she got here and how

she’s changed as a mother while she’s been here are two things we see God’s fingerprints all over.

Some events in life are etched so deeply inside our minds that we will never forget them. In this scene Keyera’s dad is in tears, family was arriving at their house one after another, as they entered their home, everyone was crying. “Dad, where’s mom?!” “Why is everyone crying?” Her dad pulled her aside and after a deep breath and swallow, informs her that her mother had passed away.

Keyera graduated from high school in 2009 and the next six years where filled with multiple pregnancies, men who didn’t love her as she loved them, domestic violence, and homelessness. “I was with a man that would go out, get high and come back fighting with me because life wasn’t what he wanted and I had

no money to give him.” She was in a pit and the way of escape was filled with fear, uncertainty and unbeknownst to her, God working behind the scenes.

“I went to DHR and broke down crying. I told the lady that no one loves

me, not even God. She told me that if God didn’t love me, He wouldn’t have provided a way to save me.” The mission she went to was full but wanted to provide her and her children the help they needed. “I had two choices: Alabama or Tennessee. I chose Alabama because it wasn’t too far from home.” In January of this year that mission provided transportation for Keyera and her children to DRM.

The first months here were quite an adjustment for her family. They were living at a place where they didn’t know anyone. She found out two of her children have special needs. And emotions, like anger, selfishness and ungratefulness, had to be dealt with properly through God’s Word. Jesus’ parable of the talents tells each of us that whatever hand we’re dealt in life, we’re responsible with what we do with it. Keyera has begun to make the most of where she is in life.

“I thank God for sending me to the Mission. I know God sent me there to open my eyes. Life could be much worse right now. I thank God for placing me in a place that helps [me] know the Lord and with whatever you need help with.” Through God’s grace, accountability, Biblical teaching and a greater understanding of her children’s needs, Keyera is growing as both an individual and mother who can lead her family in a way that honors the Lord. Please pray for her as she grows in Christ and as a parent. And pray for Spirit-filled faith and guidance as she eventually transitions into our community.

MISSION MOMENTS 2

It’s a normal hot and humid Summer in the Tennessee Valley! Many people are planning

vacations or are on vacation relaxing and spending more time with family and friends. It may even feel like time has slowed down.

Here at the Downtown Rescue Mission, Summer used to be a slower time. This year is not the case. We are just as busy during the Summer months as we are the rest of the year. Currently we are averaging 216 men, women and children per day. Last year during this same time period, the average was 163. That means we have more mouths to feed, clothing to give away, and drug and alcohol counseling hours to provide. It becomes a drain on the staff and finances.

Many times when folks are taking a well-deserved vacation they forget about those in need. We see this especially with a decrease in our monthly Summer giving. In past years the decrease was more manageable because fewer people needed our ministry services, but this year it has put a major strain on our ability to help all who are coming to us in need.

My articles are usually positive and uplifting, but this year I really need to let you know we desperately need your help. Please consider helping us get through these slower financial months with a gift today. Together we are changing lives for Christ as we continue to do His kingdom work! Thank you in advance for helping!

Keith Overholt, MBA President/CEO

Students of the Challenge Youth Leadership Program (Class 22) recently traded their summer free time by volunteering

at the Downtown Rescue Mission. Joined by their supportive parents, nearly 40 students ended their week of leadership and community-based education activities with two days of community service at the Downtown Rescue Mission, the Boys and Girls Club (Farley Location) and The Village Marketplace Thrift Store.

While serving at the Downtown Rescue Mission, students and parents helped out in the kitchen, assisted with sorting and organizing clothing donations in the Agape Shoppe and led the charge for clearing out an overgrown part of the property formerly used for a garden. Students and parents also completed numerous landscaping assignments. The result was a beautifully cleared lot, ready for the next phase of development. Through these activities, Challenge Class 22 students learned the value of servant leadership and giving back to one’s community in a myriad of ways, not only as an individual, but also as a family unit.

“I just wanted to let you know that I immensely enjoyed my week experience with the Challenge Program. I’ve learned so much during this past week that I would not have learned if I wasn’t a part of this program,” said Jonathan, Program Participant and student at Bob Jones High School.

Leadership Huntsville extends a big thank you to the Downtown Rescue Mission, Challenge Class 22, their parents and all of our volunteers (especially, Miranda Duke and Mark Umansky, our Challenge Class 22 Chair and Co-Chair) for their time used to serve our community. We would also like to wish Challenge Class 22 and all students of our community (including our extended student body network) a safe and exciting school year!

Danielle R. Barnes, F-32, MGMT-5Program DirectorChallenge Youth Leadership Program, Connect Young Professionals Program, Focus Executive Briefing Program, Leadership Huntsville/Madison County

Challenge Youth Leadership Program: Servant Leaders in Action

TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING

It may only be August but WOW, it’s already August! It won’t be long until your sweet one will be adorned

in Indian and pilgrim attire rocking their custom made construction paper headpiece. Help us prepare for a big fall season through monetary gifts, turkeys and nonperishable food items.

Please Help!

STAY CONNECTEDDonate Online at: downtownrescuemission.org/donate

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter: DowntownRes.Mission @GivePeopleHope

Using your app, take a picture of the QR code to easily go to our website on your phone or tablet!

EVENTS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18: Graduation in our gymnasium

4:30 p.m. dinner & 5:00 p.m. ceremony

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21: 2nd Annual Shoot 4 Shelter

Clay Shoot Fundraising Event Limestone Hunting Preserve

8:00 a.m. start

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28: Fall Festival

5:00–7:30 p.m.

NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES

See if you can find each of our needed school supplies hidden in this fun word search game!

BACKPACKCRAYONSFOLDERSGLUEPAPER

SANITIZERMARKERSFACIALWIDEBAGS

PENCILPOCKETSTORAGECASEPENS

NOTEBOOKSPENCILSTISSUERULE

Have you found them all? Great! Now please go out and purchase some of these items for the kids at the Mission!

WordSearch