Easter Blessings Only God Can Provide By C. Lee Clark, Rescue Mission CEO

And being found in appearance as a man, he hum-bled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! –Philippians 2:8

In our own natures, we avoid humility. Why? And do we even know we’re doing it? Philippians 2:5-7 also tells us,

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Our nature pushes us toward pride, a healthy sense of self, a wholesome arrogance that insolates us from the harsh realities of the world. Until it doesn’t. Life steps in and humbles us. Grief, loss, dependence, ad-diction, or crisis hits and all the carefully constructed protections around us fall.

Christ in his very nature, God and in being God, he made himself nothing.

Instead of following Christ’s example, our nature serves up alternatives of striving, self-seeking, medi-cating and numbing our pain through consumption

of time, resources or worse drugs, alcohol, sex. Often at the heart of it all? Pride. Making ourselves nothing is out of the question.

Our nature requires re-programing, transformation, to be wiped out and started over with a new oper-ating system. This reboot occurs daily in the life of a believer over a lifetime of following Christ.

In our homes, safe and secure, we have luxury to make choices, to give up something for Lent. We are in control, so we think in our inner natures, even of what we give up. What if we have no home to feel secure in? How different are we really from someone who has lost jobs and material belongings? We all need Easter. Not the Easter of vibrant green grassy lawns and fluffy white bunnies. We need the Easter of harsh reality culminating in overwhelming relief and gratitude.

Easter provides the jolting, shocking, hard-stop to our maddening pride. All our systems shut down at the awe inspiring news that Jesus died on a cruel cross for us. This shattering pain, this incomprehensible loss, throws our pride out the window. How can we hang onto our nature in the confrontation of God’s sacrifice?

Then with the new dawn, made fresh and clean through God’s grace, we rejoice “He is risen!”

NewsletterAPRIL 2020 | P.O. Box 11525, Roanoke, VA 24022 | rescuemission.net | (540) 343-7227

February IMPACT at a Glance

Continued on back page

May 20 Church Staff Appreciation Day 12:00 Noon - 2:00 PM

May 21 Bless My Sole 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

June 18 Bless My Sole 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

July 16 Bless M y Sole 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

For more information on the above events go to rescuemission.net and click on “Get Involved” and then “Events.”

553 FAITH ENCOUNTERS

6,057 VOLUNTEER HOURS

805 CLINIC PATIENT ENCOUNTERS

15,569 MEALS SERVED

7,404 NIGHTS OF SAFE SHELTER

2,769 CLOTHING & FURNITURE HELP

$108,740 VALUE OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDED

1,931 HOURS OF LIFE, JOB & RECOVERY SKILLS TRAINING

277 CASE MANAGEMENT & RECOVERY SUPPORT VISITS

48,856 / $6,322 RECYCLING (POUNDS) OR IN REVENUE

474 MANNA FOOD BOXES DISTRIBUTED

119,606 FOOD DONATIONS (POUNDS)

Visit our BLOG online at rescuemission.net to download and print our April 2020 Prayer Calendar

Children from the Salem Montessori School donated items for the Men’s shelter

The Peterstown Pentecostal Holiness Church donated a pearl drum set to the Fralin Chapel

Bonsack Girls in Action packed bagged lunches for guests

A group from REACH served breakfast in the kitchen

KROGER SHOPPERS: PLEASE SUPPORT THE RESCUE MISSION BY USING OUR NEW I.D. #MP457

It only takes a few minutes to become an Online Customer and register your card:

• First go to www.kroger.com

• Click on “Sign In / Register”

• After you sign in or register, at the top left click on the “MENU” button and scroll all the way down and click on “Savings” then “Kroger Community Rewards”

• Under Are You a Customer Looking to Enroll? click on “See more details and enroll today!” Under Community Rewards, click on “Enroll” or “Change Organization” if you are already enrolled.

• Enter the Rescue Mission’s NPO number (MP457) under “Find an Organization” and click “Search”

• Inside the box under Rescue Mission Of The Roanoke Valley click “Enroll”

To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see Rescue Mission of the Roanoke Valley listed on your “Community Rewards” page under Donation Summary. If already enrolled, please note that Kroger re-quires re-enrollment every August. Thank you for supporting the Rescue Mission!

Have you renewed your annual enrollment?

Thank you for supporting the Rescue Mission through the Kroger Community Rewards program. Kroger has assigned the Mission a new I.D., #MP457, so make sure to use this number when enrolling or re-enrolling to designate the Rescue Mission to receive rewards from your purchases.

Students from LeHigh University volunteered to help sort donated items in the DRC

Students from IMPACT University of Georgia volunteered to help clean the Family Center.

Americares and Nestle teamed up to provide the Rescue Mission with 17 pallets of much needed water. This will ensure we can keep our guests healthy and hydrated.

Eagle Scout Troop 289Here at the Mission, we work to make every space as comforting as possi-ble for every guest that comes through our doors. The G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic is a place where many who walk through its door may be facing an uncertain medical diagnosis or be unsure about their personal health. So creating a calming environment is critical. For his Eagle Scout Project, Will Henritze of Troop 289 (Roanoke, VA) created a planter/waterfall display for the G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic that looks amazing and makes our waiting area even more comforting to those who walk through the doors. Thank you Will and to all who helped from Troop 289!

IN MEMORY OF GIVEN BY JoAnne G. Alderman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe & Anna CarrAlberta Brammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Debby & Larry GibsonJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick & Pam AmmarJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank & Miriam WardJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Donald & Sandy HowellJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Interactive Design, Inc.Jonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Joyce & David TuggleJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Kirby & Sandra RichardsonJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha & Jeff OttawayJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Libby S. SpeightJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen A. BrownJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnis & Louise RidenourJonathan Edward Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael & Grace TesoroEulesta Lee Hogan Bryant. . . . . . . . . . . Winona BeaversEulesta Lee Hogan Bryant. . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth SteckelEulesta Lee Hogan Bryant. . . . . . . . . . . Betty Jo M. TuckEulesta Lee Hogan Bryant. . . . . . . . . . . Cecelia (Celi) StoutamireBill Burnette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rodney & Margaret BurnetteSaundra Fenner Butches . . . . . . . . . . . . Marguerite ManciniYogbir Chibber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nitin Chibber Lelia S. Coates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brenda B. AllenBecky Dehart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandy S. FunkBenjamin Emerson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert A. EmersonB.G. Fisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. & Mrs. Bernard A. WingoLisa Gammons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louise GammonsIris Gibson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Debby & Larry GibsonDon & Steve Grantham . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara GranthamJohn & Patricia Guzi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry GuziHoward O. Harrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob, Linda, and Sarah MeadowsFloyd Howell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William R. HammondGus & Lois Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joy Sylvester-JohnsonMargaret Elizabeth Grissom Keffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inge E. PyleRay Kesler, Lillian Shelor & Winton Shelor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. and Mrs. Winton W. ShelorAnne Carr Kirkpatrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David G. Harrison

IN MEMORY OF GIVEN BY Becky La Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence & Irene CautilliSuzin Dillon-Lichtenstein . . . . . . . . . . . Judy & Andy DillonSuzin Dillon-Lichtenstein . . . . . . . . . . . Mary DillonHelen Sigmon McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Jo M. TuckDan McNiel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol M. ClowerForest Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobby & Betty GoodeCourtney Old. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert L. ColeRoy C. Perdue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonnie J. PerdueGarland Reese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert L. ColeMartha Rhodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flo FahrbachWarren A. Richard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John & Bonnie DunnCharlotte S. Simmons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virgie B. SeayCarla Sizemore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy EllisonMary Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark & Marty DeardorffPat Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sonny SmithEugene M. Solomon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earl & Margaret FrazierBilly Stultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rodney & Margaret BurnetteTom Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. and Mrs. William E. ThomasEffie Thompson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James ThompsonHazel White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hammond FamilyKenneth Witt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calvin L. WittMike Wright & Family Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard & Virginia WrightLoretta Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David A. WrightMartha “Penny” Zirkle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia HammondDan Zuro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynette Martin

IN HONOR OF GIVEN BYMy Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ronald MillerHelen Fitzpatrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Johanna Henretta Jesus “the Chain breaker” . . . . . . . . . . . Julie OwenOur Lord Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana S. WiseMr. & Mrs. Sidney Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Dennis R. MillerBharat D. Patel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bhanu B. PatelCarter Reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon M. ApgarJesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cory Purcell

For Memory and Honor Gifts received October 15 through November 15To Remember and Honor, to Remember and HonorIn Memory & Honor of... For Memory and Honor Gifts received

February 15 through March 15In Memory & Honor of...To Remember and Honor, to Remember and Honor

Honor Your MomWould you like to honor your mom or grandmother for Mother’s Day? Consider a gift in any amount in her honor or memory. For a gift of $1,000 or more, which can be payable over 1 year, you may request an engraved block for the Legacy Wall in the Women and Children’s Center. Deadline for gift to be included in the May newsletter is Monday, May 11th.

Who knew that fashion comebacks could be so much fun?

Spring 2020 is a gold mine for the thrifty shopper! This season we revisit the 60’s. 70’s & 80’s for the latest Spring fashion! Crochet pieces, chunky loafers, wide leg pants, psychedelic florals, structured shoulders, sleeves, and pointy collars are ALL in play this season. If this is round two for some of these fashions for you, we say select your three favorite styles and have fun thrifting your new “Bodacious” spring fashion finds at 2nd helpings and THRIFT 460. Remember the goal is to have fun

with your wardrobe in Spring 2020 even if it is a throwback trend for you.

Throwback Trends Done Right!

The best way to incorporate spring 2020 throwback trends into your wardrobe is with shoes, accessories, and pops of color. You can update your spring wardrobe by picking a chunky loafer, a wooden heal, a flat form shoe, a crochet top, a wide leg jean, a great necklace or a woven handbag as you thrift. What will make this thrifty spring fashion current is the magic pan-tone pop of Flame Scarlet, Saffron, Chive,

Biscay Green, Coral Pink, Mosaic Blue or Grape Compote that you choose to add to your spring 2020-fashion wardrobe. The new it color will take it from trend wrong to trend right for spring 2020!

Best times to Shop!

We are filling our store with spring right now. So make sure that you start shopping daily so you do not miss your next great thriftanista treasure. Enjoy the Hunt!

Shop online at www.ebay.com/str/roanokerescuemission AND watch for our reopening celebration.

THRIFTTalkby Kelli

Brown

THRIFTING Spring 2020 Fashion

The Day Spring Christian Academy children collected several boxes of non-perishable food and donated it to the Rescue Mission

Allstate and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs donated stuffed animals from the Teddy Bear Toss for the children at our shelter

We learn again the truth that our own efforts are useless, demeaning and crass. In humble dependence on God, we find renewal, strength and bright hope for tomorrow.

Together, both the privileged and chal-lenged, we hold hands in firm faith in the only one who can save us. In a world strug-gling with natural disasters, deadly viruses and political hate, let’s go back to the start of Philippians 2:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 com-

plete my joy by being of the same mind, hav-ing the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

In light of all this, what is our call to action this Easter?

In humility, let us encourage and love one another. On my messy desk is a note from Tony, a graduate of The Way Forward Recov-ery Program. I treasure his encouragement to “keep up the good work at the Rescue Mission”. Would you send a note of encour-

agement to someone who may need one?

Mediate on Philippians 2. There is so much good material to be found in these words. Ask God to show you where you can let go of your nature and take on more of his.

Join me in praying for this work, for God’s provision of all that is needed and for his pro-tection and blessing over this ministry.

Life is messy with unexpected challenges and wonderful blessings. Let us humbly live into the blessings that only God’s nature can provide.

Easter Blessings Only God Can Provide Continued from front page

To see more pictures and to learn more about these events and more, check us out on

IMMEDIATE NEEDS• Pallet Jack

• Men and Women’s Deodorant

• Men and Women’s Razors

• Women’s Underwear (All Sizes)

• Hair Care Products for

African American Men and Women

• Dove Bar Soap (Unscented)

• Peanut Butter

• Jelly

• Milk

• Empty Tennis Ball Cans

• Bubble Wrap (New and Used)

Cheesesteak Factory & JERK HOUSE came to the Mission and served over 100 individuals in need and didn’t charge a penny

A group from the Roanoke Valley Church volunteered to pass out Manna boxes to the families in need

Children from the Blacksburg United Methodist Church volunteered at the THRIFT 460 store

Students rom Highland Park Elementary care made these placemats for our dining room guests