Aug u st 2 0 1 8
Learning to trust god
your support gav e soni a a r e ason to believ e
YOU RESTORE HOPE Thank you for caring for the least of these
T REV. GLENN CRANFIELD President and CEO
BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART, ALL YOU WHO HOPE IN THE LORD. PSALM 31:24 NIV
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here are many reasons a person might become homeless. Not having a home tells only a small part of the story. In many cases, an addiction to drugs or alcohol plays a key role. At the heart of most addiction stories is a painful truth. At some point, the mental and emotional weight of life—the hopelessness and isolation—seemed too great to face. To have any lasting effect, the cure for addiction has to do more than put distance between the person and his or her temptation. The cure must heal the heart and soul, providing tangible hope, forgiveness, and honest, trustfilled relationships, so that the need to numb the heartache falls away.
God’s passion is to give hope and restore life to the hundreds of people who come to the Mission for help each day. Our passion is to live this out by serving their immediate needs, offering friendship, and guiding them toward the free and fulfilling life God wants for us all. Your support offers more than recovery from addiction —it offers healing, connection, and a way back home. Thank you for your generous support. Thank you for helping restore hope to those who need it most.
hygiene
for humanity toiletries & hygiene products to help the homeless scan the QR code to the left and give the gift of a fresh start
M I S S I O N in my W O R D S
DR. TODD JONES Pastor
THE MISSION ... SEEKS TO HONOR THE DIGNITY OF THE POOR, THE HOMELESS, THE SICK ...
I
have known of the wonderful work of Nashville Rescue Mission since moving to Nashville in 2002, to serve as the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Our church is committed to ministries that serve the poor and the homeless, and we have supported the Mission for decades. One of my first experiences with the Mission was offering the opening prayer at an anniversary banquet. As I listened to the stories told that evening, by the people who work at the Mission, and the men and women they assist, I sensed that night, and many times since, an organization with a clear mission to help the homeless of Nashville and to offer people at the margins of our city a lifeline. This lifeline begins and ends with a focus on the dignity of each person, and a commitment to share the Good News of God’s love. This takes the form of things tangible, from a warm, safe place to stay, and a nourishing meal, to programs that offer hope and skills, and a new life to people who find themselves in dire circumstances. “NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION IS ONE ORGANIZATION WE CAN POINT TO IN SEEKING TO DEFINE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR CITY ...”
There are signs of growing prosperity everywhere in Nashville, and with it, the challenges it brings. Some of those problems remain homelessness, poverty, mental health issues, and alcohol and substance abuse issues. 03
Nashville Rescue Mission is an organization that seeks to address the crying needs of this population. As our city prospers, we do well to continue to ask questions about the heart and soul of our community. Swiss theologian Karl Barth reminded us that societies are judged by how they treat the very young, the very old, and the poor. Nashville has been a city with a soul, that is to say, a city, for all its faults, seeks to be a humane and humanizing place to live. We are a city known for world-class health care and a commitment to music, one of the sublime and humanizing influences upon the human family. We are also called to be a city that cares about poverty, homelessness, family violence, and mental health. Nashville Rescue Mission is one organization we can point to in seeking to define the heart and soul of our city, in that they are deeply committed to those who suffer at the boundaries of our community. Jesus said, “As you did it unto the least of these, so you did it unto me.” The Mission is a place that seeks to honor the dignity of the poor, the homeless, the sick, and the overlooked in our midst. As such, I can’t think of a more important organization to support! ABOUT DR. JONES Todd Jones came to serve as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville in March 2002. Originally from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, Todd graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1979. Before coming to Nashville, he served at three congregations and today has nearly 40 years in ministry. Todd and his wife Connie, a Nashville native, have four children and four grandchildren. Heart of the Mission | August 2018
F E AT U R E S TO RY
Learning to trust god
your support gave sonia a reason to believe
“In just a few years, I went from being a stay-at-home mom to a full-blown addict, homeless, addicted to meth —and asking myself, ‘How did I get here?’”
she came through the surgery and went on to become a ten-year cancer survivor.” But the final breaking point came when Sonia discovered her husband was having an affair. “Suddenly I became a single mom with two girls. I was empty, depressed, and contemplated suicide. I didn’t know how to pick up the pieces and I ended up jumping right back into another relationship.”
“My parents were alcoholics,” shared Sonia. “They divorced when I was in the second grade. I didn’t see my dad drink much, but even as a little kid, I often found myself taking care of my mom because she was drunk. Looking back, I feel like I missed having a childhood. I frequently battled headaches, anxiety, and depression.” When Sonia started dating, she shifted her focus to her boyfriend. “I thought I was happy. We went to the courthouse and got married when I turned 18. Our daughter Chelsea was born right before my 19th birthday. Four years later, our daughter Lyndsay was born. I thought life was good.” BUT A SERIES OF TRAGIC EVENTS LED SONIA
down a dark path. “Shortly after celebrating their 50th anniversary, my grandfather shot and killed my grandmother, then tried to kill himself. He never admitted he did it, but he spent the rest of his life in prison. It destroyed our family. Then my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was terrified of losing her, but thankfully, 04
Sonia experiences true joy helping other women in need. Heart of the Mission | August 2018
Within three months, Sonia was pregnant. And they soon thereafter got married. Between his son, her two daughters, and Peyton, their new baby girl, Sonia’s family instantly doubled. With increasing stress, Sonia relied more and more on the pain pills the doctor had prescribed for her debilitating headaches to numb her feelings of sadness and bitterness. “WHEN MY DOCTOR GOT ARRESTED,
and I could no longer get my prescriptions, I realized I had become a full-blown addict,” said Sonia. “Until then, I had kept my drug use hidden from everyone. But after my mom died, I couldn’t hold it together. I started using meth, and things went from bad to worse.” “The next several years are a fog. I thought my kids would be better off without me. I didn’t have a job. I had nowhere to live. I wanted to die. It got to the point where my drug of choice was simply ‘more.’ I was so messed up; I missed out on a lot of important moments, like seeing Chelsea graduate high school. I was there when she got married, but when she told me she was pregnant I was still in the midst of my mess. At the time, I remember thinking, ‘How am I going to help her when I can’t even help myself?’ But for the first time in a long time, I had a genuine desire to change my life.” “Two weeks before going to detox, I suffered a major concussion in a car accident,” said Sonia. “The next day, someone burned down the house my mom left me. I was on the verge of giving up. But when I felt my grandson kick for the first time, I knew I had to get help.” “I NEVER REALLY HAD A RELATIONSHIP
with God,” said Sonia. “But in rehab, every time a church bus pulled up, I was on it.” During one of the group sessions, Sonia recalls a nurse saying that out of 70+ people in the room, only three would make it. “I remember crying out to God, ‘I want to be one of those three! I have to be one of those three.’” Sonia started making plans to go to a halfway house, but her counselor encouraged her to go through a long-term program and introduced her to Nashville Rescue Mission. “I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do when I got
there. I just knew I was believing God for a miracle because I desperately needed one. When I got to the Mission I was welcomed with open arms. I knew then I was right where I was supposed to be.” “In the Mission’s program, I learned how to have a relationship with God and how to build relationships with other people,” said Sonia. “I had never known how to do that. I learned how to communicate, and the trust that I had lost so long ago started to rebuild as I put my trust in Him. I’m not the same person I was. He transformed me.” DESPITE LOSING SO MUCH, SONIA IS QUICK
to share how the Lord has restored and blessed her in so many ways. “Today, I read the Bible … not because someone is making me, but because I want to know Him more. God has shown me time and time again that He is real and He is at work in my life. I want everyone to know it—especially my kids.”
Today, Sonia helps
others do what she once considered impossible—recover. “I have two precious grandsons. I’ve grown closer to all three of my girls. We regularly attend church together. I am truly blessed. I never imagined when I walked through the doors of the Mission that my life could be so dramatically different. I’m grateful.” Today, Sonia helps others do what she once considered impossible—recover. As the Gateway Coordinator, Sonia oversees the admission process of women to the Mission’s Life Recovery Program. “I can relate to the women who call looking for help. Many of them doubt there’s anything worth living for. But I’m here to tell them there is something worth living for and life can be different. They simply need to trust God and believe in His promises. I’m living proof. I’m thankful God has given me a front-row seat to see the miracles He’s performing every day at Nashville Rescue Mission.”
VOLU N T E E R STORY
practice makes perfect the value of volunteering
“I spent 30 years working as an editor of a sports magazine— Not giving anything back, and certainly not giving enough. I decided I needed to do something, not for myself, but to help others.” After graduating from Vanderbilt with a degree in English, Charlie started his career as an editorial assistant working for Athlon Sports where he dedicated nearly 30 years of his life serving in various roles, most recently as the Editorial Director. While not a Nashville native, Charlie has lived most of his adult life in Nashville and was very familiar with Nashville Rescue Mission, despite never having volunteered. “I worked long hours. It was easy to say I didn’t have time. Three years ago, when that job went away—things changed. I decided it was time to start giving back.” A visit to the Mission’s website led to Charlie taking the “I Had No Idea” tour of the Mission. “I can see how the tour got its name,” shared Charlie. “Before the tour, I only thought of the Mission in terms of meals 06
and a place for homeless men to sleep. I truly had no idea all the amazing things that were happening behind their doors.” ANXIOUS TO GET INVOLVED, Charlie signed up
to serve breakfast ... sometimes coming as often as three or four times a week. “In looking at all the opportunities to volunteer, I could see there was a greater need during the breakfast shift, so I decided to start there. I did that regularly for four months. My youngest daughter, a senior in high school at the time, even joined me on numerous occasions.” As Charlie learned more and more about the Mission and the other opportunities to volunteer, he took a keen interest in the education department. “I guess you could say I was following in the footsteps of my grandmother, who taught in a one-room schoolhouse for over 50 years, and my mom, who taught elementary school for over 40 years. I started volunteering two days a week, tutoring and teaching men studying for the HSE exam, specifically in math, but also some creative writing.” While many of the men may not see the value in an education, Charlie has made it his mission to show them the practical, real-life application math has in today’s world. “When it comes to money, Heart of the Mission | August 2018
decimals matter. It can be the difference between 96 cents, $9.60, or $960. If you use a tape measure in your job, like a plumber, electrician, or construction worker might do, then you will need to know fractions. And if getting paid a commission is part of your job, you’ll be glad you understand how percentages work.” “VOLUNTEERING AT THE MISSION is the
highlight of my week,” said Charlie. “Over the last two years, I’ve seen many men walk into the class saying, ‘I can’t do this. It’s too hard.’ Some of them believe their addiction has caused permanent brain damage and that they’ll never be able to learn math. But I have faith. I know if we can just wake up their brain, they can and will get it. I’ve seen it happen over and over.” Frequently using sports analogies to keep the men engaged, Charlie asks the question, “If you want to be a great free throw shooter, what do you have to do? Practice. The same is true of math. Practice. Practice. Practice.
The more you do it, the better you get at it. Repetition is essential. It’s true for reading, writing, and many other things in life— you practice to get better at it.” The Mission is grateful for Charlie and many other volunteers who use their skills, time, and talents to help those in need. Visit nashvillerescuemission.org/volunteer and see how you too can get involved in changing lives.
“BUT I HAVE FAITH ... THEY CAN AND WILL GET IT.”
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
Nashville Rescue Mission’s commitment to offering hope to those in need is the primary reason we choose to support the Mission. At The Goddard School, laying the foundation to good citizenship is fostered through the development of four essential skills: friendship, compassion, cooperation, and kindness. Our children and teachers recognize the significance of giving back and being a part of our community through aiding those less fortunate. We like that our teachers can get involved at events to support the Mission, such as Hearts of Hope, where our teachers provide childcare for participants who attend the annual event. There are so many 07
ways to get involved. Children can make beautiful artwork to brighten days, books can be contributed to children of the Mission, and there is always room for volunteers in the kitchen. By supporting the Mission, our school can support our curriculum and develop future community leaders, while helping those in need.
of Hendersonville Heart of the Mission | August 2018
CELEBRATION OF HOPE
luncheon
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 11:00 a . m . - 1:00 p . m . | Music City Center
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
visit: nashvillerescuemission.org/celebration-of-hope L I V E S Y O U H AV E T O U C H E D | June 2018
HOPE lives HERE E st. 1954 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203 615-255-2475 | nashvillerescuemission.org
Daily Avg.
Monthly
1,683
50,494
Bible Class Attendance
Nights of Lodging
692
20,747
Chapel Attendance
482
14,468
78
2,326
Meals Served
Education Hours
Daily Avg.
Monthly
24
707
Volunteer Hours
105
3,142
Travel Assistance
n/a
41
Program Graduates
n/a
8