HEART of the MISSION
MADE NEW WITH YOUR HELP, THIS MOM GOT A BRAND NEW START
APRIL 2016
T HANK Y OU F OR GIVING HOPE YOUR SUPPORT MEANS LIVES ARE TRANSFORMED
REV. GLENN CRANFIELD
President and CEO
THIS HOPE IS A STRONG AND TRUSTWORTHY ANCHOR FOR OUR SOULS. IT LEADS US THROUGH T H E C U R TA I N I N T O G O D ' S I N N E R S A N C T U A R Y.
H E B R E WS 6 : 1 9 N LT
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hen hurting people have no place to turn, Nashville Rescue Mission shines a beacon of hope, provides safe refuge, and guides them on a journey home. Your support provides a wide array of services to meet the ever growing needs of men, women, and children crying out for help. Hot meals, safe shelter, and other emergency services meet urgent needs and help us build a relationship with men and women on the street. Our case managers assess each person to determine their unique circumstances and needs; then offer them individualized assistance and referrals for employment, housing, substance abuse, recovery, and other
YOUR STORY IS WORTH SHARING Have you volunteered at Nashville Rescue Mission, graduated from the Life Recovery Program, or been impacted by the Mission in some other way? WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY!
2 HEART of the MISSION
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services. Our 12-14 month Life Recovery Program dives deep into the hearts of men and women who are struggling with addictions and relational brokenness. With your help, our life-giving ministries work together to bring hurting people out of despair and into healing and purpose as they experience God’s love. Your partnership is a key part of this vital process. Volunteers, financial supporters, prayer partners, and donors of food, clothing, and other resources—all work together to help us give hope and restore life to hurting people in need. Thank you for your compassionate and generous support.
Visit nashvillerescuemission.org/stories SHARE
Click the “SHARE YOUR STORY” button Use your experience to encourage others!
N ASHV I LLE
MISSION IN MY WORDS
Gigi BUTLER
Faith is the first ingredient in my life. I’ve relied on my faith to get me through the best and worst of times. Second is relationships. My life has been blessed with wonderful relationships that have positively influenced my life. Third is the power of hard work. I’ve never been afraid to roll up my sleeves and get the job done. Finally is the power of love to change lives. These are the ingredients that fill my life and the very things I share in common with Nashville Rescue Mission. I first discovered a love of baking while spending summers as a kid helping my Aunt Bennie, who owned a bakery and catering business. I loved to bake, but my real dream was to become a country music artist. I moved to Nashville in 1994 with less than $500 to pursue music. I cleaned houses during the day and sang at honky tonks at night. After several years, I realized it was unlikely that I’d be the next country star. I began to focus solely on growing my cleaning business. A few years later, my brother called me, while I was in the middle of cleaning a house, to tell me he had waited in line at a cupcake bakery in New York for several hours for a red velvet cupcake. “Your cupcakes are so much better than these,” he said. “You should really consider opening a bakery in Nashville.” In February 2008, I opened the doors to my first bakery—Gigi’s Cupcakes on Broadway. I cleaned three houses that day just to pay the plumber for the shop. Then my contractor came into the store to deliver a $15,000 invoice he’d forgotten. I had a total melt down. I remember praying and asking God to show me a way out of this. It was a scary time for me, but I knew I had to get up and
make it work. This was my dream, I truly believed in it, and I was not going to fail. The customers came in, and we had a line outside our door. Eight years later, we now have 102 stores nationwide. God is so good.
"I REMEMBER PRAYING AND ASKING GOD TO SHOW ME A W A Y O U T O F T H I S ."
He’s blessed me and I want to be a blessing to others. Since Gigi’s first opened, we’ve made it a priority to give back to the community. Every day we deliver complimentary cupcakes to Nashville Rescue Mission in an effort to bring a little bit of joy to those who are experiencing homelessness. I’m honored to be a part of such an incredible mission to serve others. That’s why I have supported and will always believe in Nashville Rescue Mission.
GIGI BUTLER is the founder and culinary creator of Gigi’s Cupcakes. Gigi started her small bakery in Nashville, TN, in 2008 with $33 to her name. In eight short years, Gigi’s Cupcakes has grown to 102 locations and is now the largest cupcake franchise in the country. In 2015 Gigi was the first Nashville CEO to be featured on the CBS TV show Undercover Boss. APRIL 2016
HEART of the MISSION 3
MADE NEW WITH YOUR HELP, THIS MOM GOT A BRAND NEW START
For the first time in a long time, Shealana felt safe and cared for. She found comfort in knowing her son Noah was also safe and cared for. Shealana had arrived at Nashville Rescue Mission seven days earlier and it was the first time she could remember being happy. Shame and depression were normal feelings for Shealana. As a child, life taught her to believe she was worthless. She first turned to alcohol as a way to numb the pain of incomprehensible tragedies she faced growing up. With little hope, her life lacked purpose and direction. “We went to church every time the doors were open when I was little. I was 13 when my older sister went to prison and life got complicated,” said Shealana. “I fell into a deep depression. I dropped out of school and moved in with a friend. At 16, I was smoking pot and drinking every day.” 4 HEART of the MISSION
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SHE TRIED to fill her life with typical things—seven years of marriage, three children, and different jobs working here and there—but deep-seated issues were festering inside. Layers of trauma and grief, she tried to keep buried with alcohol, were triggered when the father of her children was tragically killed. It sent her on a downward spiral, and in 2006, she lost custody of her kids. “I was a single mom, with three children, living at home with my parents—and an alcoholic,” said Shealana. “I thought the state would help me, maybe with rehab or counseling. Instead, they took my kids away and put them in foster care. They kept the three of them together, but the foster parents refused to let us have contact. I was devastated. So were my parents.” TWO YEARS later Shealana’s dad died of a stroke. “I honestly think losing my kids killed my dad. He had already suffered the devastation of my sister going to prison. Not being able to see his grandchildren broke his heart, and he never recovered.” “I tried to get my life back on track when I had Noah,” said Shealana. “We lived with my mom and I became her
caregiver until she died. Grief is nothing you can prepare for. I knew she had cancer for a year and a half. Despite having a mastectomy, it took her life on Good Friday of last year. I was overcome with grief. I was drinking a twelve pack or more every day.” SHORTLY AFTER her mom’s death, Shealana received an eviction notice stating she and Noah had 30 days to move out. “We had been living with my mom. I was suddenly faced with no place to live and nowhere to go. My mom had always been my rock. Without her, I was lost. I started drinking heavily and abusing my anxiety medication.” A lethal combination of alcohol and Xanax led to an accidental overdose. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be here if a neighbor had not knocked on our door. When Noah, who was only four at the time, opened the door, the neighbor realized something was very wrong. Had he not called 911, I’m sure I would be dead.”
In the Mission’s Life Recovery Program, Shealana worked with counselors who helped her process the pain of her past. She learned that even though she had suffered horrible tragedies, her Heavenly Father loves her unconditionally. He will never leave nor forsake her. Living with dozens of other women in recovery, she discovered she’s not alone. She now has a family of sisters who have also experienced abuse, heartache, and addiction. They understand her pain and encourage her in her journey toward wholeness.
“ NOW I HAD NO PLACE TO LIVE AND HONESTLY I HAD NOWHERE TO GO. ” SHEALANA doesn’t remember the life-flight to the hospital. She just remembers waking up feeling afraid, scared, confused, frightened—but grateful. “I knew right then and there, things had to change. I had to change. I’d lost too much already. I love my son Noah, and I didn’t want to lose him, too. So, I started looking for help. A friend told me about Nashville Rescue Mission. I called and a few days later, Noah and I were walking through the doors.” She admits that first day was terrifying. She had no idea what to expect. “On day seven I called my sister. When I told her I was happy, and that I felt safe and cared for, she cried. Neither of us could ever remember a time when I could have said I was happy.”
“I BELIEVE it was God’s will for us to come to Nashville Rescue Mission. It’s been such a blessing to me and to Noah. Even though I had spent time in church as a child and I’ve always believed in God, I realized I didn’t really understand the Bible, and I didn’t have a personal relationship with Him.”
Noah loves spending time with his mom Shealana. “I feel safe here. I’ve grown closer to the Lord. I feel His presence and know this is right where we need to be,” says Shealana. “A few nights ago Noah told me he wanted to pray for the people outside. We can look out our window every day and see homeless women and children walking by. It touches my heart so much that my now 5-year-old little boy cares enough about others to pray for them. As a mom, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I’m so thankful for Nashville Rescue Mission.” There are dozens of women alongside Shealana in our Life Recovery Program right now. Hundreds more need help too. Your monthly donation as a Partner of Hope gives them hope for a future. APRIL 2016
HEART of the MISSION 5
A DIFFERENT KIND OF
stage YOUR GIFTS CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS
“I have a friend who once was homeless and stayed at Nashville Rescue Mission for almost a year. That’s how I first heard about this place.” Today, Jason Minton is sitting in the Mission’s lobby, his guitar in its case on the floor next to him. “That was eight years ago! That’s how long I’ve been playing here.” Growing up in Franklin and Nashville, Jason was surrounded by the music industry. He learned to sing, play the guitar, and write songs. He had a feeling he’d be playing on a stage one day—he didn’t realize it’d be on the one at Nashville Rescue Mission. “MY HEART wanted to do something with the talent
God has given me. I wanted to use it to serve others, so I reached out to nursing homes, rehabs, and other 6 HEART of the MISSION
APRIL 2016
nonprofits. When a staff member from the Mission called me back, he told me to come down the following Friday and sing during chapel. I’ve been performing at the Mission once or twice a month ever since.” TODAY, Jason visits both the Men’s and Women’s Campuses each month. As hundreds of homeless and hurting individuals file in for chapel, he tunes his guitar and takes his place in front of the crowd. Jason uses his platform to minister through music, often playing songs the men or women requested he learn the month before. “They like to be able to sing along, so I’ll go and learn their favorite songs.” Jason also takes time to encourage the men and women in the audience. “Each night, there’s a line of men who want to talk with me after chapel. We talk about what they’re going through, share a high five or a hug, and I try to encourage them as much as possible. This is crazy, but maybe four or five times a person has shared with me that they were planning to end their life that night. However, after
hearing a song or an encouraging word during chapel, they will be here for another day. That’s what we all need, just one more day. Each day is another chance. I’m honored to be a vessel that Christ uses to serve at Nashville Rescue Mission.”
" THAT’S WHAT WE ALL NEED, JUST ONE MORE DAY. " One of Jason’s favorite songs to sing during chapel service is called, “Running.” It’s about the struggles he’s been through, understanding that not a single person is perfect. He reminds the men and women of this. No matter where they are in life, Jesus will always provide the strength to get back up and finish the race. “It’s not about me,” Jason shares. “It’s about using my skills to pour life into others. Anyone can do that—use their talents for good.”
Do you want to help those in need by using your skills and God-given gifts? FIND OUT HOW HERE:
www.nashvillerescuemission.org/get-involved
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
April 10-16th
Week
WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOURSELF, YOU CHANGE LIVES! In honor of National Volunteer Week, we’d like to thank our outstanding volunteers. Your time and talents do make a difference. Would you like to be a difference-maker? Here are a couple areas where we could use your help:
Tutor Men & Women Preparing for HSE (High School Equivalency) Exam
Transport Men & Women to & from Your Church
(M-F, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)
(Wednesday Evenings & Sundays) APRIL 2016
HEART of the MISSION 7
BENEFIT CONCERT
LIVES YOU HAVE
RYMAN AUDITORIUM
FEBRUARY 2016
TOUCHED
APRIL 26 th / 7:00 p . m . Popular Christian artists Selah and Travis Cottrell, will be performing a benefit concert at the Ryman Auditorium with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Nashville Rescue Mission. This special night of music is Tuesday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m. With many number one hits and numerous Dove Awards to their credit, these extraordinary artists will set the stage for an incredible evening of musical entertainment and celebration joined with the 150-voice Music City Celebration Choir.
TRAVIS COT TRELL
SELAH
Travis Cottrell will be premiering his new album at the event.
HONOR A MOM WITHOUT A HOME Help 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 help show each woman she is valued, treasured, and special— especially on Mother’s Day. Please contact volunteer services at: volunteer@nashvillerescuemission.org 615-312-1544
DONATE • Catering for 250 Moms & Children • 250 Gift Bags • Flowers • White Tablecloths • Jewelry for Gift Bags
Daily Avg
Monthly
1,529
44,344
Nights of Lodging
742
21,518
Chapel Attendance
499
14,470
Education Hours
88
2,566
Bible Class Attendance
42
1,216
Decisions & Prayers
32
924
Volunteer Hours
140
4,062
Meals Served
Travel n/a Assistance
75
Program n/a Graduates
5
is a proud member of • Note Cards • Make-up • Massages • Facials • Door Prizes
VOLUNTEER • Help the kids with a Mother’s Day craft • Interact with the children while their moms attend the banquet • Sign up to serve meals
639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203 615-255-2475 | nashvillerescuemission.org