O c tob e r 2 0 1 8
MAKE THANKSGIVING
amazing
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT OF THIS MINISTRY
Serving HOPE THANK YOU FOR BEING THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS
I REV. GLENN CRANFIELD President and CEO
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
wish you could sit with me and listen to some of the stories I hear from our guests. Many of which are told through grateful tears. Grateful for a place like the Mission. Gratitude for you flows from their hearts. You provided this place of hope for them. And because you did, their lives will never be the same. Food, safe shelter, and a warm bed—the basic necessities we take for granted—are answers to their desperate prayers. It’s hard to imagine this kind of need in an “It” city like Nashville. But look past Broadway, Music Row, and the Gulch, and you’ll see there are many in our community
struggling. These are “the least of these,” the ones Jesus sought out and challenges us to serve today still. Thanksgiving is coming soon. And I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our blessings than to pass them on to someone in need. Whether that’s a single mom with young children. A young man who can’t find steady work. Or a senior citizen who just can’t bear the thought of starting over again. Giving them a meal is a great place to start. We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for serving hope this holiday season.
Romans 12:13 NLT
Save the Date
TRACY LAWRENCE MISSION:POSSIBLE TURKEY FRY
Tuesday, November 2oth...........................8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
NASHVILLE PRAISE SYMPHONY CONCERT
TRACY LAWRENCE MISSION:POSSIBLE TURKEY FRY CONCERT
Saturday, November 10th..........................7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 20th.........................7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
94FM THE FISH MEAL CHALLENGE
GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY BANQUET
Wednesday, November 14 .....................6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 15th.......................6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 21st..................................... noon Thursday, November 22nd....................................... noon
SUPER TALK 99.7 WTN RADIOTHON
LIFE RECOVERY PROGRAM GRADUATION
Monday, November 19 ...........................5:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 21st..................................... 10:30 a.m.
th
th
M I S S I O N in my word s
Charlie Daniels N
ashville Rescue Mission is like a lighthouse in a stormy sea for some people who fly below our radar much of the time. The dispossessed, the forgotten, the shunned, the ones who carry around a pain in their hearts that few of us can identify with. I feel that God gave a special talent, infinite patience, and copious compassion to the people on the front lines of ministries such as Nashville Rescue Mission. I have known such people and it’s almost as if they have an extra gene that enables them to see past the superficiality of appearance and demeanor, past the addiction or affliction, and see a human being God created and Jesus died for, a precious soul adrift in an uncaring world, where even the most basic of needs are hard to come by and helping hands are rare.
“NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION IS LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE IN A STORMY SEA FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO FLY BELOW OUR RADAR MUCH OF THE TIME.” So few of us are uniquely suited to do this job, to be exposed daily to those whose lives have come off the rails for one reason or another—to the broken hearts, the broken
03
spirits, the broken bodies, and those who are qualified and willing are special to perform a godly service, and at the very least, deserve our support. My hat is off to Tracy Lawrence, who for years has championed the cause with his annual Turkey Fry supplying much-needed funds and raising awareness of the Mission and its ongoing needs. That’s how I got involved. One year Tracy invited me to play a couple of songs with his band at the event. I wholeheartedly endorse the Mission and the work they do, loving the unlovely 365 days every year. I can’t go into the streets and find those who so desperately need help, I can’t extend a hand to the hopeless or comfort the destitute or feed the hungry or speak solace to the brokenhearted, not on my own, but by making a donation to Nashville Rescue Mission I can do all these things. Would you join me? God bless those who really care.
ABOUT THE ARTIST From his Dove Award-winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor, and still a road warrior at age 81, Charlie has parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children, and others in need.
Heart of the Mission | October 2018
MAKE THANKSGIVING
amazing
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT OF THIS MINISTRY
As you join your family around the table to celebrate this Thanksgiving, know the men, women, and children who find refuge at Nashville Rescue Mission are thankful for you.
800 5,000
That’s how many homeless men, women, and children will enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this season because of you! That’s how many meals the Mission will need to serve over the course of the Thanksgiving holiday. For nearly 65 years, friends of Nashville Rescue Mission have been making sure the homeless and hungry are blessed 04
with a Thanksgiving meal and so much more. And there’s no way we can serve these thousands of people without you. THANKSGIVING IS A BEAUTIFUL TIME to enjoy a holiday
meal with family and friends. Most families have their hands full preparing a meal for a family of 10 or 15. Imagine if your table was set to feed over 800 and this was your shopping list:
9,000 pounds of turkey 5,000 dinner rolls 1,000 pounds of potatoes 800 pounds of green beans 600 pounds of dressing 100 gallons of gravy And then there’s breakfast. With your help, guests are also treated to a special breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, and more. Heart of the Mission | October 2018
Think about how long it would take you to crack 3,400 eggs or fry 1,200 pieces of sausage. It’s hard to imagine preparing a meal of this magnitude. It’s why volunteers are so valuable to the Mission. With so much to be done, volunteers help make it happen. Many things go into making Thanksgiving extra special at the Mission. From the turkeys that are donated and fried with the help of Tracy Lawrence and his friends, to the thousands of pies that are cut and served by the nearly 1,000 volunteers who join us throughout the holiday to prepare vegetables, serve meals, fill drinks, carry trays, wipe down tables, and show selfless love to the hungry and hurting.
serve someone like me,” said William, a guest of the Mission. “They don’t have to do it. I’m amazed so many people want to do it. I’m thankful for them and for the Mission.” Nashville Rescue Mission is so thankful for our volunteers and for you. None of this would be possible without you. Your support is what makes this possible. You make Thanksgiving at the Mission amazing!
ADD OUR SHOPPING LIST to yours As you shop for your own meal, please consider picking up a few of these essential items we need to make Thanksgiving special for our guests.
“I HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN from volunteers, that serving at the Mission has transformed them,” said Rev. Glenn Cranfield, president and CEO. “It gives them an opportunity to see our guests for who they really are— regular people, who are also children of God. And while volunteer spots fill up quickly during the holidays, there is always an opportunity to serve in other areas and during different times of the year: hosting a donation drive, teaching classes for program participants, doing arts and crafts with the children at our Women’s Campus, and even helping sort and organize donations in our warehouse. It takes a lot of people working together to serve the many who are in need in our community.” “I look forward all year long to serving at the Mission on Thanksgiving,” said Rhonda, a long-time volunteer. “The atmosphere is hard to describe. I think joyful best sums it up. And I’m talking about the guests just as much as the volunteers. Everyone has a smile on his or her face. The joy is contagious.” “It means so much to see people from the community take time out of their busy lives, especially on a holiday, to
1,000 Turkeys Stuffing Cranberry Sauce Potatoes Green Beans #10 Canned Vegetables Lettuce/Salad Mix Tomatoes Shredded Carrots Salad Dressing Dinner Rolls Butter Patties Eggs Onions
Bell Peppers Cheddar Cheese Sausage Biscuits Tea Bags Coffee Creamer & Sugar Pies/Pastries Aluminum Foil Foil Turkey Pans Plastic Flatware Napkins Salt Pepper
MISSION DONATION CENTER 616 7th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203
OPEN
Monday - Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Gif t OF VOLUNTEERING THIS FAMILY IS MAKING MEMORIES WHILE SERVING
THANKSGIVING AMAZING
“At the Mission, you see the love of God in action.”
volunteered by myself on Thanksgiving to check things out and that following Christmas I brought Lucy and Michael with me. We’ve been going ever since.”
For the last four years, Lee and his children Lucy and Michael have spent either Thanksgiving or Christmas at the Mission volunteering to serve those in need. need.
SINCE THEN, Lee, Lucy, and Michael have been back to volunteer on many occasions. “It’s not something we just do over the holidays,” said Lee. “We look for other opportunities to serve throughout the year. I’ve even brought a group of my co-workers to the Mission to volunteer. It’s a great experience.” Lee was drawn to the Mission because it offered him a place where his kids could serve and see first-hand the people being helped. “We talk a lot about what it means to love our neighbors. Serving at the Mission allows them to put that into practice.” Despite having done other outreach projects through their church, such as picking out Christmas gifts for kids in need, or helping to collect food for a food pantry, Lee says volunteering at the Mission was the first time they were able to volunteer together and actually see the faces of the
“I’M FROM MAINE but moved to Tennessee five and a half
years ago to be closer to my children,” said Lee. “I wanted to do something meaningful with my kids over the holidays, and the idea of helping people in need was appealing. I looked online and found Nashville Rescue Mission. I wasn’t that familiar with the Mission but was excited to see it was possible for us to all volunteer together. That first time, I 06
Heart of the Mission | October 2018
IT’S BEEN A BLESSING FOR LEE to see his kids serve
those in need. Whether it was watching his daughter Lucy crack dozens and dozens of eggs one year or his son Michael fill and refill glasses of tea for two hours straight, he is grateful for the memories they are making. It’s something he will treasure for years to come. “Volunteering at the Mission is a meaningful experience for my family and me,” shared Lee. “It’s a great way of showing love to people who are hurting and giving back to those in need.” One thing that stands out for Lee is seeing how the staff and program participants express their appreciation and gratitude towards his children for volunteering. people they were helping. “I want my children to know how fortunate they are and how blessed we are. I want them to know there are always going to be people in need. And we have a real opportunity to show them love and compassion.” “THERE’S A PART OF VOLUNTEERING that feels selfish,”
said Lee. “At the Mission, you see the love of God in action. It’s more than hearing someone say the words, ‘God Bless You.’ It’s seeing people carrying a homeless person’s tray of food and escorting them to their table. It’s very moving.” Lee’s kids genuinely enjoy volunteering at the Mission. “Although sometimes I have to remind them it’s not a contest to see who can fill someone’s glass the fastest. They can be very competitive with one another. But I never have to twist their arm to go to the Mission, and it’s something we all look forward to doing together.”
“Volunteering at the Mission is a meaningful experience for my family and me.” “I have a lot of respect and admiration for the staff at the Mission,” said Lee. “I see them living out their faith every single day. It makes me want to be a part of it—a part of something bigger than myself. I’m grateful I can give something back.” Each day the Mission hosts as many as 85 volunteers who help serve and love on our city’s neediest neighbors. Find out how you can join our team of volunteers who faithfully give of their time and talents while also making memories in the process at nashvillerescuemission.org/volunteer.
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
W
e were first introduced to the Mission in January of 2017 through the “I Had No Idea” tour. We fell in love with the work and mission behind the organization. Seeing the impact the Mission makes through personal development, housing, feeding, and loving the hundreds and thousands of our brothers and sisters in our community every single day, we had to get involved. When we were introduced to the annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry, we jumped at the chance to be involved. Teaming up with the music industry, business leaders, and community partners to fry enough 07
turkeys for the men, women, and children at the Mission to have a traditional meal on Thanksgiving is the perfect way to enter the holiday season. Our experience in serving and being at the Mission several times over the past year plus is that every person who works there, every person that we have encountered while volunteering, and every person being served—all experience God’s love and grace through every interaction. This outward living and expression of faith through service is why we support and will continue to support Nashville Rescue Mission. Heart of the Mission | October 2018
Y AC R T
L AW R E NC E
Tracy and friends will be frying over 500 turkeys to help feed Nashville’s homeless a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Please stop by, drop off a turkey, purchase a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving meal with a donation of $50, and see which of Tracy’s celebrity friends are here to help. T U E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 20, 2018
TURKEY FRY
BENEFIT CONCERT
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Doors open: 6:00 p.m. | Concert starts: 7:00 p.m.
Nashville Rescue Mission - Men’s Campus Parking Lot
Wildhorse Saloon
We invite you to write a note on the enclosed placement and include it with your gift. We would like to bless every guest who joins us this Thanksgiving with a word of hope from someone who cares.
e filled with May your heart b nksgiving. gladness this T ha CARES ND WHO FROM A FRIE
____
____________ ____________ ____________ FIRST NAME
L I V E S Y O U H AV E T O U C H E D | August 2018
HOPE lives HERE E st. 1954 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203 615-255-2475 | nashvillerescuemission.org
Daily Avg.
Monthly
1,526
47,300
Nights of Lodging
665
Chapel Attendance
Meals Served
Education Hours
Daily Avg.
Monthly
Bible Class Attendance
27
830
20,618
Volunteer Hours
76
2,354
468
14,506
Travel Assistance
n/a
39
87
2,712
Program Graduates
n/a
7