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Start BECAUSE OF YOU, THIS MOM HAS A SECOND CHANCE
L E T T E R f rom the P R E S I D E N T
EVERY Mother MATTERS T H A N K Y O U F O R H E L P I N G U S C E L E B R AT E A L L M O M S
I Rev. Glenn Cranfield | President and CEO
COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 NIV Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
n May, moms are celebrated, but homeless moms are usually forgotten. In my years as president and CEO of Nashville Rescue Mission, I’ve met some of the bravest, smartest, most dedicated, passionate, determined, and at the same time, challenged moms in this part of the world. The task of bringing a vulnerable new life into this world, protecting, nurturing, loving, caring, and teaching is complicated enough; let alone attempting to do so without a home or while living in an environment where physical or mental abuse exists. Many of the women come to us after living from meal to meal never knowing how or where they might find enough food to satisfy hungry little tummies.
Mothers
HONORING
Some of the women are standing in the gap to protect their kids from abusers in the home or negative influences in a challenged neighborhood. Thank God He has touched the heart of many of you who give so others have a place to escape to, a refuge of safety, shelter, warm meals, and the love of God’s people. Thank you for your faithful support which allows us to care for and celebrate all moms this month.
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Heart of the Mission | April 2018
MISSION IN MY
words
KEVIN AVERY
OF THE KEVIN & TAYLOR SHOW
A couple of years ago, my wife Tracy and I were invited to attend Nashville Rescue Mission’s annual Hearts of Hope luncheon. It was an excellent opportunity to support a cause that is near and dear to our hearts, and also see our son perform with country music legend Reba McEntire. As you can imagine, we were extremely excited. But our story and connection to those experiencing homelessness goes back about 20 years before this event; back to South Florida and a man named Mr. Jim. When we lived in South Florida, I would regularly see a homeless man around our neighborhood and often sitting outside of the local grocery store. After a few failed attempts at offering him food, I later learned he delivered flyers for a local sub shop, and they would feed him in exchange. After some awkward conversation starters, Mr. Jim and I became friends. We became such good friends that I would hope to see him on my way home from work so we could chat in the warm Florida sun. I learned Jim was from New York and made his way to Florida for the warm weather. He told me about his family, his failed marriage, and his kids that he hadn’t seen in years. Jim shared a lot of his life, and I did the same in return. He was thrilled to be one of the first to learn my wife was pregnant with our 3rd child, beaming at the news. He even came up with the name, Amber Faith, his sister’s name, and a name that fit our daughter perfectly.
“
AS WE LEARNED OF THE AWEINSPIRING WORK THE MISSION DOES EVERY DAY, TRACY AND I WERE MOVED TO TEARS.”
Mr. Jim and I had a profound impact on each other. Jim forced me out of my comfort zone and into his life. His rejection of my offers of food was an invitation for me to see him as a human being. To recognize the God-breathed dignity that was inside the dirty and gruff exterior. Jim went from the one-dimensional, lowly homeless guy, to my friend. To the man, I am proud to say named my daughter.
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It’s one of the reasons why I am excited about the work of Nashville Rescue Mission. We became personally involved with the Mission after our son Kyle played drums for Caroline Kole and Reba at that annual luncheon. As we learned of the awe-inspiring work the Mission does every day, Tracy and I were moved to tears. We were overwhelmed with emotion as we heard stories of broken people being restored by experiencing the life-changing and unconditional love of God. We saw and heard women telling of dramatic and sudden slips from normal productive lives to being destitute, homeless, and often addicted. And the common thread in these stories was the redemption and healing they found at Nashville Rescue Mission. My plea to you is to answer the call of God to participate in His work, right here in Nashville. You have the opportunity to give of yourself, satisfy the afflicted, and become a light for those in darkness. God’s graces are abundant, and we have been lavished with them! Share them! Give them freely! This is YOUR chance to make a difference, and as we say on 94FM The Fish, to let people know that They Matter!
ABOUT THE HOST
With a blend of encouraging music, real life conversations, and good clean fun, listeners will feel like Kevin and Taylor are a part of their own families. A show that moms and dads can listen to and be entertained with music and content that’s relevant to their life and enjoyable for the whole family. The best part is there’s no changing stations to avoid topics the kids in the car shouldn’t hear. Kevin and Taylor are heard weekday mornings on 94 FM the FISH. 94.1 FM, 93.7 FM, and 104.9 FM on your Nashville radio.
Heart of the Mission | April 2018
FEATURE STORY
Start BECAUSE OF YOU, THIS MOM HAS A SECOND CHANCE
“If God really exists, how could He allow all this stuff to happen to me?”
A
bused from an early age, Natasha describes her childhood as a place filled with darkness. “I had no direction, no self-worth, and no boundaries. I was lost.” “My mom was an addict and an alcoholic,” said Natasha. “My dad was in the military, and I never knew him until a few years ago. I didn’t have a lot of supervision. When I got pregnant at 14, I was pressured by the principal and teachers to drop out. The show Teen Mom was pretty popular, and I guess they were afraid I would be a bad influence on the other girls in my school.” Natasha married her boyfriend shortly after their daughter Alexis was born, and they struggled to make ends meet. “When we discovered I was pregnant again, we made a difficult decision to give our son up for adoption. We knew we couldn’t give him the kind of life he deserved. It was an open adoption with a family we knew.” Within two years, Natasha was divorced, raising her daughter on her own, and battling an addiction to drugs. 04
“Even though I grew up around addicts, I never touched drugs until I was 18. But once I did, I spent the next three years battling an addiction that nearly killed me.” NATASHA MADE AN EFFORT TO GET SOBER when she was 21. That lasted a little over two years, during which time she had a good job and gave birth to another son. But her sobriety was short-lived, and when she relapsed again, she lost everything. “My addiction led me to prison. My son went to live with his father. And I relinquished custody of my daughter to my mom. By this time my mom was sober, but in poor health. She had also developed an addiction to pain medication.” At first, things were manageable, but when her mom died from a heart attack while she was still in prison, Natasha was desperate to find someone she could trust to care for Alexis until her release.
Heart of the Mission | April 2018
“I WASN’T SURE WHAT TO DO. I didn’t want to make life
for my daughter any more difficult than I already had. She had perfect attendance, was a straight-A student, and captain of her cheerleading squad. I didn’t want her to have to change schools, so I asked our neighbor to care for Alexis until I was released. We’d known her for eight years, and I thought I could trust her. I didn’t know until after I was released that she was not a kind person and was cruel to my daughter. It broke my heart.”
“HE IS REAL, AND HE CHANGED ME. I’M NOT THE PERSON I WAS. I AM THANKFUL AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE.” When Natasha was released on probation, she worked with DCS (Department of Children’s Services) to find a new placement for her daughter. She knew it was going to take some time before she could regain custody, but in the meantime, she was determined her daughter would be in a healthy setting. “I felt so guilty for what had happened to my daughter,” said Natasha. “All I could do is tell her how sorry I was for putting her in that situation. And in the midst of my apologizing, Alexis tried to console and comfort me. She should not have been in that situation. I had let her down, and it crushed me.” “GOD IS MY PROVIDER,” said Natasha. “My daughter is safe and secure in a new fostering situation, but during one of our calls my daughter told me she was wearing a bathing suit top for a bra, and two pairs of socks because her sandals were coming apart. Hearing that hurt me to the core. I almost left, but Kim Bretz, the director of the Mission’s Life Recovery
Program, convinced me not to leave and assured me God would take care of it. The next thing I knew, I was presented with boxes of clothes and shoes to look through to send to my daughter. I picked out several new outfits for her and gave them to her right before Christmas. I told her God provided this for her. And when she received a superlative award at her school for ‘best dressed,’ I knew God was showing up and showing out.” WHEN NATASHA LOOKS BACK, she can’t believe all she
has survived. “I’ve been suicidal and overdosed on numerous occasions. I’ve been beaten, was unconscious for two months, and last May almost died two different times. God snatched me up out of that. He is real, and He changed me. I’m not the person I was. I am thankful and excited about the future.” While in the Mission’s program, Natasha has had the opportunity to work in Ann’s Place, the Mission’s clothing room, where she’s not only learned about the value of work, but she’s also developed some skills such a handling inventory and providing customer service. These are skills she can take with her when she graduates. “I’VE ENJOYED LEARNING MORE ABOUT MY LORD AND SAVIOR,” said Natasha. “I am focused on reading the Bible
and learning everything I can from my life coach. I’m like a sponge trying to soak it all up. I hope one day I can help people like me.” Natasha is looking forward to reuniting with her daughter very soon.“I want to be a godly woman and mother. I want to give my daughter the things I never had, and I know it starts with putting God first. I’ve learned this and so much more in the Mission’s Life Recovery Program. I felt alone for so long. I didn’t realize all I needed was God. With Him, anything is possible. Mother’s Day is going to be extra-special this year, because it looks like Alexis will be here with me to share it. I am so thankful.” 05
Heart of the Mission | April 2018
VOLUNTEER STORY
IT’S ABOUT CHRIST and THE KIDS FIND OUT WHAT KEEPS THIS VOLUNTEER COMING BACK
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Wanda, Gina, Jean, Patrice, and Brooke love spending time with the kids at the Mission.
It’s been 12 years, and Gina hasn’t stopped praying for the kids she met during her first visit to Nashville Rescue Mission. “My first interaction with the Mission began through a couple who was new to our church,” said Gina. “Sherry and Bruce had been volunteering at the Mission for years. They were leading a chapel service for the women staying at the Mission and asked if anyone would be interested in doing something with the kids at the same time, allowing the mothers to engage in the service and not worry about their kids being disruptive.” Gina and her friend Jackie stepped up to the challenge. Both had experience working in children’s ministry and committed to coordinate activities for the kids. Over time, their efforts would
extend beyond this area, adding male volunteers as role models, creating a Bible study for teenagers, and hosting an annual Mother’s Day dinner for the women. “IN THE BEGINNING, OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS consisted of kids from
our youth group, along with parents, and others from various churches in our community,” said Gina. “And even though the group volunteering has changed over those 12 years, we’ve remained faithful to the calling God has given us to serve the children.”
Heart of the Mission | April 2018
“Having all the kids together in one group was especially challenging. We had kids ranging in age from 5 to 17 within a group of 40 to 50 kids. God put it on my heart to start a Bible study for the teenagers. So, we recruited more volunteers who allowed us to split the groups into two.” “Initially I thought the teens would balk at having a Bible study, but they have surprised me. It’s obvious many of them enjoy our time together, and I’m thankful for that. I get so much from hearing them pray. Hearing words of praise and thanksgiving from a teenager in the midst of such a difficult situation, it does something to me. I know God has bonded our hearts in a way that is supernatural. It’s overwhelming.”
“HEARING WORDS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FROM A TEENAGER IN THE MIDST OF SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION,
IT DOES SOMETHING TO ME.” SEEING THE VALUE OF MALE ROLE MODELS, Gina started bringing her husband about seven years ago. She has two grown sons who come when they are available, along with other men from the church community. “I think it’s important to have men involved so the children can see a man who is willing to rely on God, and pray to Him. It sets a good example for them to follow.” With a heavy burden for the mothers who are trying to parent in a shelter environment, Gina also had a strong desire to do something special for them, leading her to start an annual Mother’s Day dinner. “We come to serve the moms, to love them, encourage them, affirm them, and pray for them. It’s amazing to see their response when they realize we are there because we love Christ, and we love them.”
When asked why she continues to volunteer after all these years, Gina replied, “It’s not about the other volunteers or me. We are the instruments, and we try to yield to the burden the Lord has given us to care for the kids. It’s not just about bringing crafts and games for the kids. It’s about standing on the truth of God’s word. We want to hold up Christ to them— Christ, and Christ alone. There’s nothing else we could offer them that would make an eternal difference.”
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
DEBORAH
AND
GRACE JORDAHL
We first heard about Nashville Rescue Mission several years ago on SuperTalk 99.7. After learning more, we came to love the Christian programs the Mission offers. Everyone needs a helping hand at one time or another, and we want to help those in need in our community. My daughter Grace and I have been donating and volunteering since she was in middle school. Grace has run a coat drive by herself every year since, and I couldn’t be 07
more proud of her. Knowing the Mission depends solely on donations—without government dollars—resonated with my family and drives us to help in any way we can. Seeing the progress and Christian values our donations help support is extremely rewarding. We are honored to be a part of Nashville Rescue Mission’s family and to help all God’s people reach their highest potential.
Heart of the Mission | April 2018
Mother’s needs Day
H
elp us honor and celebrate the women at Nashville Rescue Mission with a Mother’s Day Banquet—a day filled with music, a special lunch, and goodie bags. Your gifts will show each woman she is valued, treasured, and special—especially on Mother’s Day. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Donate
• Catering for 250 moms & children • 250 gift bags • Flowers
Volunteer
• Help the kids with a Mother’s Day craft • Play with kids while their moms attend the banquet
• White tablecloths • Gifts of make-up, note cards, and jewelry for gift bags
• Sign up to serve meals
• Massages • Facials • Door prizes
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET INVOLVED THIS MOTHER'S DAY? Sign-up online by visiting: nashvillerescuemission.org/volunteer DONATION DROP OFFS
Annual Report
616 7th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37203 Open: Mon. – Sat. 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Because of your faithful support, Nashville Rescue Mission provided services and ministry to thousand of our neighbors in need this past year. Enclosed is a copy of our annual report, which shows just how much the Mission was able to accomplish with your help.
L I V E S Y O U H AV E T O U C H E D | FEBRUARY 2018
HOPE lives HERE E st. 1954 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203 615-255-2475 | nashvillerescuemission.org
Daily Avg.
monthly
Bible Class Attendance
26
730
19,325
Volunteer Hours
111
3,122
471
13,196
Travel Assistance
n/a
34
113
3,170
Program Graduates
n/a
9
Daily Avg.
monthly
Meals Served
1,463
40,957
Nights of Lodging
690
Chapel Attendance Education Hours