CHANGING LIVES FOREVER “I have come so that you may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b
A Message from Dan Brown
MISSION UPDATE MISSION PROJECTS
Spring time is a time for renewal. It is a feeling of rebirth all around us. There is nothing more exciting than witnessing the rebirth of hopes and dreams. In February, before spring arrived, I witnessed the rebirth of six (6) clients of the Mission. These men graduated from the Mission’s Overcomers Program. Their story is on page 1 of this Newsletter. I want to share with you my story of witnessing their changed lives. As I stood at the graduation I looked around and saw in the audience other Mission clients that came to support the accomplishments of these men. My heart was filled with humbleness. Of all these men, not one had a home to call their own or a car, or clothes more than could fit in one drawer and yet they had already touched the lives of their fellow Mission brothers and sisters by their example of their devotion to Christ and their changed lives. They have received the abundance that Jesus came to give to those who believe in Him. Your partnership and belief in the work of the Mission made this possible. I am grateful to you for your support of the Mission and consequently of these men. Please continue to partner and know that your support has far reaching impact, beyond measure. God bless you for your steadfast support. Dan Brown President & CEO P.S. You may have noticed a change in our communication with you. We are formatting our Newsletters in black and white to save costs--we are calling it “Vintage”. We hope you like the new look. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find us on Facebook-acrescuemission
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Atlantic City Rescue Mission PO Box 5358 Atlantic City, NJ 08404-5358
News of hope and healing from Atlantic City Rescue Mission
OUR FIRST MISSION IS SALVATION Because of your partnership we have been able to bring the message of salvation to thousands in our community.
Spring 2019
GRADUATION AT ATLANTIC CITY RESCUE MISSION On February, 8, 2019, six men graduated from the ACRM Overcomers Program. David, William, Michael, Quang, Robert and Tom received their Certificates from Pastor Bill Warner. The ceremony was held in the dining room at ACRM.
Our Programs & Services The Mission strives to change lives forever thru the Word of God. To do that, the Mission has long term programs that address the obstacles to independence. In conjunction with the Programs the Mission provides the immediate daily needs of food, shelter, clothing and safety. Work Readiness Program This is a 6 month program open to all clients of the Mission. The underpinning of the program is Biblical discipleship as it relates to the ethics of hard work, finding work and staying employed. The program addresses drug and alcohol addiction as clients work through a 16 week Bible study. The program is focused on God’s solutions and the practical application of good choices in daily life that effect employability. Clients engage in volunteer work at the Mission as well as outside the Mission. Overcomers Program The success rate of this program is 99%. The program is a 12 month discipleship, Bible study and work program open to clients at the Mission who have completed the Work Readiness Program and have accepted Christ as their Savior. The clients are taught how to examine scripture. The Overcomers delve deeply into the Word of God as the source for their life choices. Clients volunteer a full work week at the Mission assisting in various departments. (Continued on page 2 – “Programs”)
L-R: Dan Brown, Quang, Robert, William, Mark Engler, Michael, David, Bill Warner.
The Commitment To The Program The Program is a year-long commitment. The clients that graduated in February 2019 completed a one year discipleship and Bible study while working full time at the Mission. They built a strong foundation during the program that has changed their lives forever. Their dedication to the program and one another is motivating and inspirational. It is proof that we should never give up on anyone. The Graduates Speak From The Heart The first Graduate to address the audience was David. He spoke about the power of scripture in his life. Pastor Bill referred to David as the thinker, “always pondering on the Word of God.” William, the second graduate to speak, acknowledged his grandmother as the first person to lead him to Christ but then “Christ became clouded” in his life. His life went off track and (Continued on page 3 – “Graduation”)
News of hope and healing from Atlantic City Rescue Mission
Programs (Cont. from page 1) Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner The Mission serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to all who walk through the doors and are hungry. Hundreds of meals are served every day. Overnight Care The Mission offers a clean bed and shower to those that do not have a home. Clients walk in everyday tired, hungry and without hope. With help, care and counseling their situation can improve. Family Life Center A safe haven for Mom’s with children. With a safe place, clean beds, and good food, the children thrive. The families heal and start anew with hope. Food Pantry The Mission provides food every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Pantry items are bagged and ready for pick up. There are lines for the food as so many “working poor” in our community cannot afford food.
PRAISE CORNER Debra Lewis, CSW, has worked for 17 years at the Mission. She is the housing counselor. Her job is to help the clients find permanent housing. After a client has permanent housing, Ms. Lewis keeps in touch and remains available to each client. Recently a former client sent Ms. Lewis a text, “I want you to be the first one I tell today, this is my 11th year sober, Praise God”. What a testimony to the work of God in changing hearts and using the programs and staff at the Mission.
In the Family Life Center, during a homework session, one of the children, a teenager, Hanna, (not her real name) brought up the subject of organ transplants. Just like teenagers will do, right out of the blue a new ONGOING WORK AT THE MISSION subject to discuss during homework. This gave way to BY OUR VOLUNTEERS a mention of heaven. Immediately, Hanna exclaimed, “Heaven is real?” The counselor gave the message of Richard Stockton College Tutors salvation to Hannah. What an opportunity. The The Family Life Center has been blessed with volunteer children at the Mission form bonds with the staff. tutors. Stockton College students are tutoring the children Children that have stayed at the Mission have come at the Mission in their daily school work. back to visit the staff. Thank God for the Family Life Center. Women’s Bible Study A Bible study is held every Saturday at a local church for the women staying at the Mission.
Evening Chapel Services Chapel Services are held every evening after dinner. The services are provided on site by our church families. We are very grateful that services can be held nightly at the Mission. Many who come for dinner stay for the services. Agriculture – ACRM Farm ACRM works a farm in Galloway and the planting and harvesting of produce provides food for the Mission, food for the food baskets and for church pantries. The farm (Cont. on Page 3 – Agriculture)
Pastor Bill Warner teaches the Overcomers program at the Mission. He has a motto that he shares with the Overcomers, “Good choices, Good results”. One day, while walking through Atlantic City Pastor Bill noticed a big rig coming down the street and he heard the horn blow. He looked toward the truck but he couldn’t see the driver, only his elbow leaning on the driver’s door, but he heard the driver yell, “Hey Pastor Bill, good choices, good results” as he drove by. Praise God for the discipleship that takes place at the Mission.
Agriculture (Cont. from page 2)
Graduation (Cont. from page 1) circumstances led him to the Mission; and at the
also provides work experience for Mission clients. They Mission his life changed forever. Christ became clear learn about the basics of plowing and planting to the
more complex of maintaining a healthy organic field to harvesting and preparing the produce in the Mission Kitchen. The work on the fields has begun. If you would like to volunteer and help the Mission farm please contact us. To volunteer: Call 609-345-5517 ext. 165 or send an email to Volunteer@acrescuemission.org
to him again and the Lord of his life. Michael expressed his gratitude to the Mission for changing his life in Christ. He also thanked Pastor Bill and Mark Engler for their role in this change.
Quang, the youngest graduate, has worked in the ACRM kitchen as a full time volunteer throughout the program. Dara Heston, Ass. Dir. of Facilities, worked directly with Quang in the kitchen. In reference to the quality of his work and work ethic she stated, “It was amazing to witness the work of God and how a changed life impacts all of us for good and the glory of God”. Graduate Robert gave thanks to God for the change in his life and the Mission for making it possible for him and others to have this opportunity.
The final graduate received his certificate in abstention as he was ill. He came to the Mission under adverse circumstances and after the 12 month Volunteers – March 2019, Plowing the fields. Overcomer’s program he is reconciled with his ____________________________________________________ family. “The graduates exemplify the cause of the Mission Partnership Mission”, stated Dan Brown at the close of the Your partnership with the Mission helps people in ceremony. your community. We don’t walk past a hungry “Each graduate has become the type of man that helpless man, woman or child; we don’t walk past the downtrodden; together we reach out and we give will step up and step in to help. These men have become men whom I have relied on and who are them a hand up and hope. They have a warm clean willing to serve others”’ said Mark Engler, Dir. of bed at the Mission. A Men’s ministries. haven from the outdoor _________________________________________________________ elements. Your financial support is critical. Together we make the difference because we take action; together we walk the walk as God has commanded us to do. Come take a tour, see what your support has done. We look forward to meeting you, sharing with you and hearing from you. Call Bob Franklin at 609-345- Atlantic City Rescue Mission –View from Bacharach Blvd. 5517,ext 113, and set up your tour today. Located directly off of Atlantic City Expressway Exit 1 to Exit B. Come take a tour of the Mission.
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News of hope and healing from Atlantic City Rescue Mission
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News of hope and healing from Atlantic City Rescue Mission