HEART of the MISSION JULY 2015
BEATING THE HEAT ON THE STREETS YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THOSE IN NEED TO FIND REFUGE
W
A CUP OF COLD WATER
REV. GLENN CRANFIELD PRESIDENT AND CEO
“AND IF ANYONE GIVES EVEN A CUP OF COLD WATER TO ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO IS MY DISCIPLE, TRULY I TELL YOU, THAT PERSON WILL CERTAINLY NOT LOSE THEIR REWARD.” MATTHEW 10:42 NIV
Matthew 10 begins with the premise that as disciples we are all potentially homeless in a world with radically different values. Immediately after Jesus calls his disciples, He warns them they will be misunderstood and mistreated. Then Jesus gives them a charge of discipleship. I call it the “cup of cold water” discipleship test. A cup of cold water is the minimal requirement for what the Scripture calls hospitality or in the original language, xenophilia— love of the stranger. Jesus says that whoever gives a cup of cold water to these nomadic disciples will not fail to receive their reward. Hospitality is a Christian virtue. In fact, the writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for some have entertained angels unaware.”
ARE YOU TWEETING? WE ARE! Follow @NashvilleRescue on Twitter! You'll see how your donations help and learn more about the people you're helping. And if you'd like to tag us when you're here volunteering be sure to include @NashvilleRescue #HopeLivesHere. 2 HEART of the MISSION
JULY 2015
When we extend hospitality to strangers, especially those in need, we are offering them more than just a cup of cold water to quench their thirst—this cup represents a reprieve, a welcome, and a new start. With your help, at Nashville Rescue Mission we are going to exceedingly and abundantly pass the “cup of cold water” test. Your gift makes it possible for us to extend radical hospitality to the homeless by offering them so much more than a cup of cold water—we can love them and show them there is hope for eternity.
MISSION IN MY WORDS
I’ve considered myself a part of Nashville Rescue Mission’s family for almost 15 years. It started with a partnership between the Mission and NewsChannel 5 and has evolved beyond the scope of what I do at work. Volunteering at the Mission is something my wife, Yolanda, and I look forward to doing together with our children, Kayela (20) and Taylor (13). Our family is fortunate and blessed. As parents, we believe it is our responsibility to teach our children the value of serving others. The first year we volunteered, my daughter Kayela, who was around 10 at the time, kept asking about the people we were serving. She wanted to know why they were at the Mission and not at home. As a father, it was a valuable teaching moment for me. I was able to explain some of the reasons people are homeless and how the Mission helps them get back on their feet. Today, she and my son Taylor both look forward to volunteering at the Mission. As a meteorologist, I spend a lot of time studying the weather. One thing many people don’t realize is there are more heat-related deaths than there are any other weatherrelated deaths. In Nashville, this is definitely a concern for the homeless community. It’s not uncommon for temperatures in the summer to reach into the 90s for days at a time. It was only a few years ago, we had an all-time high of 107. On hot days, if someone is homeless and not in a sheltered environment, they probably aren’t properly hydrated. If their health is compromised, they aren’t going to listen to the cues their body is giving them—ignoring their thirst. It’s a good chance this person is dehydrated and at a great risk for heat stroke.
“ONE THING MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE IS THERE ARE MORE HEAT-RELATED DEATHS THAN THERE ARE ANY OTHER WEATHERRELATED DEATHS. IN NASHVILLE, THIS IS DEFINITELY OF CONCERN TO OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY.” I’m thankful Nashville Rescue Mission exists in our community. They are out on the streets during these hot days handing out bottles of water to those in need, doing what they can to help the homeless stay hydrated. I can only imagine what Nashville would be like if the Mission didn’t exist. I think we’d see a much bigger crisis than there is already. There would be many more people with no place to go. I don’t know what brings a person to the point of seeking help at the Mission. But I know regardless of the situation or circumstance, the Mission extends hope and a helping hand to those in need. It’s why I support Nashville Rescue Mission and look forward to volunteering my time there. LELAN A. STATOM, is an Emmy Award winning meteorologist who has been helping families in Middle Tennessee start their day for more than 15 years. Since 1999, he has been part of NewsChannel 5 This Morning, the station's #1 rated morning newscast. Lelan joined the station in 1993 to do the weekend weathercasts and became co-host of Talk of the Town in 2006. JULY 2015
HEART of the MISSION 3
BEATING THE HEAT ON THE STREETS
YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THOSE IN NEED TO FIND REFUGE
Paul grabbed the halfempty, plastic bottle he planned to fill with water from the bus station later that afternoon. He had been camping along the Cumberland River for two days trying to find a spot with some shade, he said. Although he could easily have stayed cool under a bridge, he chose to endure the heat so he could camp alone, hidden behind trees, boulders, and bushes. “Believe me, I appreciate it when the sun goes down,” said Paul, 40, who called himself homeless. “Summers in Nashville can be brutal. But sleeping on the streets can also be very scary. I’m not sure which one is worse.”
4 HEART of the MISSION
JULY 2015
NEWCOMERS to the area quickly
alcohol or drug addiction, suffer from learn, this city is well known for its medical conditions such as diabetes humid weather. A common saying or high blood pressure, or who take in Nashville is, “It’s not the heat, it’s medications that cause sensitivity the humidity.” The summer months to the hot sun. People can become are by far the most intense, when dehydrated rapidly in extremely hot temperatures top out in the 90s or weather and anyone ‘passed out,’ lying above, and the dampness ratchets in the sun, or badly sunburned is up the heat index even further. No medically at risk. It’s why we activate doubt about it, July and August can our Hot Patrol teams whenever the be uncomfortable outside of airtemperature rises above 90 degrees.” conditioned environments. There’s “With more than half of summer also a moderate amount of rainfall days in Nashville experiencing highs in Nashville during the summer. If in the 90s, the heat can cause lots of you’re homeless, that’s a lot of external problems for the homeless, especially elements to contend with. those who are unsheltered,” said Eric “Many of the homeless men, Grindeland, senior director of guest women, and children in our services ministries at the Mission. community do not have ready access “Our Hot Patrol teams are riding to water,” said Glenn Cranfield, around, handing out bottles of water, president and CEO of Nashville with the hope of reaching those who Rescue Mission. “We recognize are homeless, addicted, and possibly that extremely hot weather poses sick, and who may not have the hardships for homeless people who insight and judgment to get out of the are elderly or disabled, struggle with heat. We want to bring them back to
“NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION MAKES IT AN EASY DECISION FOR ME. AT THE MISSION I HAVE A SAFE, COOL PLACE TO SLEEP. I CAN GET THREE MEALS A DAY. AND IN THE SUMMER, COLD WATER IS AVAILABLE ALL DAY LONG. THEY ARE GIVING ME A CHANCE TO CHANGE MY LIFE AND I’M GRATEFUL.”
the Mission, where they can get out of the heat, get cold water, and in the midst of providing them with radical hospitability, we can give them hope for a better future.” HOMELESS PEOPLE die much earlier
than the general population, with a life expectancy of 48 years, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Sometimes offering a bottle of water to a homeless person could make the difference between life and death. “I’ve slept on the streets of Nashville in the summertime,” says Joe (58), “and it’s not fun. Nashville can feel like an oven, especially when the wind is not blowing. It costs $2.00 at one of the gift shops downtown for a bottle of water. When you only have a few dollars in your pocket, you start to wonder how thirsty you really are. Thirst and hunger make people do crazy things—like getting water from
places, you wouldn’t normally. I’m done with sleeping on the streets. Nashville Rescue Mission makes it an easy decision for me. At the Mission I have a safe, cool place to sleep. I can get three meals a day. And in the summer, cold water is available all day long. They are giving me a chance to change my life and I’m grateful.” “I’ve been homeless off and on for over 10 years,” says Dewayne (53). “It’s rough sleeping outside. Not only is it hot in the summer, but it’s also dangerous. Whether it’s dealing with fleas, ticks, wild dogs, spiders, or snakes to worrying about who’s going to sneak up on you while you’re sleeping and steal your stuff or attack you.” Since coming to the Mission, Dewayne has gotten off drugs and alcohol. He’s currently interviewing for a job and hopes to eventually move into his own apartment. “Staying at the Mission has been a blessing. I have a roof over my head, and I
don’t have to worry about things like the heat, lightening, or other environmental issues.” “Whether it’s the summer or winter, we try to accommodate people in any way we can,” said Grindeland. “During the day, if it gets really hot our guests can come into the dayroom, where it’s nice and cool. This is something we make available at our Men’s Campus as well as our Women’s Campus.”
THANK YOU At Nashville Rescue Mission, those in need find more than just a cool place to rest, or a cold drink of water. With your help, those who are broken, homeless, and hurting, find hope.
JULY 2015
HEART of the MISSION 5
COME ALONGSIDE What happens when the Body of Christ comes together
Eddie Sanders was driving down Lafayette Street when he first spotted Nashville Rescue Mission’s parking lot. It would be the perfect place to host a cookout he thought to himself. Turns out he was right.
a message,” said Eddie. “Sharing the hope found in Jesus Christ is crucial, especially when you’re serving men, women, and children who find themselves at a low point in their lives. They need hope and we are there to share it.” Eddie, who says he loves working for the Lord, looks forward to the annual event that has now evolved into a partnership between his church, Morningstar Missionary Baptist Church and Fellowship Bible. While these two churches may be on opposite sides of the city, they have joined in one accord to help those in need.
As a volunteer with Star Ministries, Eddie was constantly “BACK IN 2009, Fellowship Bible approached us,” said Eddie. on the lookout for ways to serve those in the urban “They wanted to support Star Ministries’ Food Pantry. One community. Whether it was giving food to those in need thing led to another and they decided to come alongside us from their food pantry, or hosting picnics in the Napier in several other outreach ministry opportunities, including neighborhood for the families who live there—giving back this annual event at Nashville Rescue Mission.” has always been at the heart of their ministry. “Between the two churches, we have over 100 volunteers “When I saw the Mission’s parking lot back in 2003, who come together to cook the food, serve the food, and they had not been in their current building that long, so fellowship with the guests and with each other. We’ve I guess that’s why it never had occurred to me before,” expanded and now host the event at the Mission’s two said Eddie. “But in that moment, I knew it would be a campuses … so everyone—men, women, and children get great place to host a cookout and a wonderful ministry to to take part in the day’s festivities.” partner with. The Mission was already helping those in need, and we could come alongside them in giving back to “We believe strategic partnerships are the life-blood of the community.” an effective and sustainable ministry,” said Joel Guinness, Today, the celebration, which usually takes place around adult ministries associate at Fellowship Bible. “Our aim is Labor Day, is much more than a cookout. “Besides the to lock arms with like-minded churches and organizations food, there is entertainment, music, and there is ALWAYS that are already doing great work in particular areas of the 6 HEART of the MISSION
JULY 2015
community and throughout the world. Through these relationships we can bridge cultural gaps and answer the question, ‘What can we do to help?’ Sometimes the answer isn’t as simple as you might think.” What Fellowship has in plenty is sometimes exactly what partners’ lack—financial and equipping resources, and exposure to different kinds of strategies that can make a big difference in moving Kingdom initiatives forward. “Sometimes helping looks like giving money, sometimes it’s donating material goods, and sometimes it’s volunteering,” said Joel. “Whatever the case may be, we want to join with partners such as Morning Star and Nashville Rescue Mission to figure out how we can best help.” “It is amazing what we can do when we work together to bring glory to God,” said Joel. “It’s the church—the body of Christ—serving together. It’s a beautiful thing.”
“OUR AIM IS TO LOCK ARMS WITH LIKE-MINDED CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK IN PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.”
IT’S
GET INVOLVED If you or your church would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit nashvillerescuemission.org and click on Get Involved.
OUT THERE!
It’s hard to leave the house these days without grabbing a water bottle on the way out the door. Tennessee is HOT in July! Can you imagine living outside in this heat, with access to very few public drinking fountains?
Help us hydrate the homeless and keep them safe during the intense summer heat. Bring all WATER donations to the Mission’s Donation Center at 616 7th Ave S. It’s open Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
JULY 2015
HEART of the MISSION 7
Back-to-School
LIVES YOU HAVE
TOUCHED MAY 2015
HELP A HOMELESS STUDENT HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL We need your help in filling more than 100 backpacks with essential school supplies for the kids who call the Mission home.
OOL BACK-TO-SCH
LIST
locks o Combination o Backpacks o Facial tissues il box nc pe , 2) (# ls ci and o Pen ntibacterial soap A o r ne pe and shar wet wipes k, red) ac bl e, lu (b ns pe (quart o Ink lastic freezer bags P o d colore o Crayons and and gallon) ils nc pe ten mats e o Kindergar bl ha as w d an s er ientific o Highlight o Regular and sc rs ke ar m calculators te hi w d an ks o Glue stic S: school glue OOL UNIFORM H C S lers blue or o Scissors and ru o Bottoms: navy g) on pr (3 s o Pocket folder khaki slacks ) ch in 2 s (1 & tton-up o 3 Ring binder o Tops: white bu per (not or polo o Notebook pa d) le ru derwear college o Socks and un position o Spiral and com o Sizes: 5 to 14 s ok notebo (boys and girls) o Copy paper Bring all school supply donations to the Mission’s Donation Center at 616 7th Ave S. It’s open Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or donate online at nashvillerescuemission.org/donate.
Daily Avg
Monthly
1,665
51,627
Nights of Lodging
756
23,438
Chapel Attendance
503
15,606
Education Hours
81
2,500
Bible Class Attendance
20
616
Decisions & Prayers
31
960
Volunteer Hours
145
4,500
Meals Served
Travel n/a Assistance
37
Program n/a Graduates
7
WHAT YOU CAN DO
GIVE
VOLUNTEER
PRAY
SHARE
WRITE THEM A NOTE You can help an outstanding student start the year off right. Write them a note of encouragement on the enclosed tag.
639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203 615-255-2475 | nashvillerescuemission.org