April 2016
walk a mile in my shoes
WHY WE WALKED
IN THIS EDITION:
A Letter From Frank...............................p.2
Walk a Mile Impact...............................p.2
Steven Croyle’s story.............................p.3
Walk a Mile Infographic........................p.3
Graduation Recap................................p.4
Memorials and Honors...........................p.4
April 2016
A LETTER FROM FRANK
MUNCIE MISSION
Board of Directors
Frank Baldwin
Executive Director
Board of Directors
Jim Rosema
President
Dean Meyers
Vice President
Carl Siler
Secretary
Matt Bloom
Assistant Secretary
Linn Crull
Treasurer
Dale Lindley
Assistant Treasurer
Jack Gommel
James Moore
Joseph Songer
Martin Hillary
When people come to the Muncie Mission they are often at the lowest point of their lives. Other
options have been exhausted. They arrive with their defenses alert; feeling like no one really cares. The
standard luggage for most arriving guests is a black plastic trash bag.
Here, their physical needs are met first. They’re given clothing, a warm meal, a secure place to
sleep, life skill training and more. After a few days of nutritious meals, they begin to feel better and see
how our staff cares for them and will often express a desire to learn to live a new way, to begin a new life.
In the past few years, hundreds of men have arrived. Some needed immediate or temporary
relief; others entered the recovery program to address deeper issues and start anew. Among that
number were Scott, David, Dustin and Steven. Two had arrived upon release from jail. One came from a
different city by bus, and another walked to the Mission.
For the past year these men have faced the difficult work with counselors to address addiction,
emotional and spiritual needs. Early in the program a tumor was discovered on Dustin’s brain and
required surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. It’s been a difficult year for him but our staff has been
by his side. This past January, friends, family and the community filled a local church to capacity to
celebrate as these men graduated from the Muncie Mission Program.
Because of your partnership, these lives which were once broken now have new life. They’re all
currently involved in local churches. Scott, who has musical training, was asked to be the director of the
Easter choir at his church and is working toward a college degree. David is living in his own apartment
and involved with his church. Both Dustin and Steven are working at the front desk of the Mission.
Steven’s story is included in this newsletter and Dustin’s was featured in the previous one. Dustin’s health
continues to improve.
These men are examples of residents who come to the Mission, whose lives can be changed.
Many of you have also invested in their lives. On behalf of our residents, thank you. You are making a
difference!
Gratefully,
walk a mile why we walked
Walk a Mile in my Shoes 2016 was a huge success. Not only did we meet our financial goal but we
exceeded by reaching $94,600 net, we praise the Lord for this bountiful harvest. We’re pretty sure this was
the coldest Walk a Mile in 12 years however, that didn’t stop the thousands of walkers from showing up.
Around 2,200 people were in attendance. Those that braved the elements were quickly reminded how
difficult it must be for the homeless and those families in desperate situations.
The importance of the revenue from Walk a Mile in my Shoes is considerable. This winter an 85 year
old record was broken; 80 residents checked in. Last year we prepared and served over 85,400 meals,
which represents a 13% increase (10,000 more meals) over 2014. As well, our family service division made a
huge impact on families in need by providing over 50,000 food items. Because of your generous outpouring
of care we can continue to build hope, hope for a better tomorrow for homeless individuals and families in
need who are served in our community.
Congratulations goes to Early Bird winners: Tom Parsons won the Meijer $50 gift card and Rikki
Morton won the $50 iTunes gift card.
The Golden Sneaker Award for the Largest Attendance team was secured by “Cowan Community”
with 85 walkers in attendance and the Top Fund Raising team was “Mary Blue” rising over $8,602.
Check us out on Social Media or send us an email!
Schedule a donation pickup on our website!
2
Muncie Mission Ministries
1725 S. Liberty Street, Muncie, IN 47302
765.288.9122 www.munciemission.org
April 2016
“Hell. Hard.” Those are the words 47-year-old Steven Croyle uses to describe his journey out of addiction at the Muncie
Mission. Fresh from a seven-month stint in jail, Steve literally had nowhere else to go. He had been evicted from his apartment
and his belongings had been discarded because of bedbug infestation. Feeling lost and alone, Steve searched for a place
to call home. His stepmother suggested that he go to the Muncie Mission, but after leaving jail, Steve did not want to endure
yet another structured environment. However, being court-ordered to complete an addiction recovery program made
coming to the Muncie Mission, where that was available, more palatable.
It wasn’t just about the physical addiction to drugs; he’d been through withdrawal in jail. He was sober, but he still hurt. The
pain didn’t come from the shattered hip in 2005 for which he had been prescribed pain pills. Pain came from memories
of being paid for rides with heroin by a so-called friend when he could no longer afford the pills. It came from being so
desperate for drug money he stole from his mom’s bank account. Steve discovered that real healing would take digging
deeper than ever before. He had to tackle the reasons the addiction took hold in the first place. He had to uncover the pain
behind the addiction that he had been numbing with drugs.
Early in his stay at the Mission, Steve heard Bible verses that rocked his world:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness
have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing
(James 1:2-4).” This passage resonated with Steve and he recognized truth that
day. He began paying attention during chapel and devotions and started
asking questions … lots of questions. Steve was burdened with the addiction,
loss of his possessions and loneliness. He thought being “perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing” sounded pretty appealing. The questions continued, both
about faith and about how he had hit rock bottom in his personal life as he
became more involved in chapel and bible study.
Answering these questions was by far the hardest thing he’s ever done. He
uncovered the truth behind his pain when he went through the recovery
program at the Mission. Steve tells people that he is grateful that the Liberty
Street Recovery Program isn’t a “slap a Band-Aid on it” approach. He learned
to address the root causes of his addiction. He found that it provides men
with resources for overcoming addiction. Although difficult and painful, the
program pointed him to the only real solution: a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Since graduating the program and sharing his testimony to many people,
Steve’s family has recognized a deep change in him that has prompted
questions about attending church. Through his struggle and being pointed to
Christ, he now points others to Christ through his testimony. His family has gone
from being victims of his crimes to being his biggest supporters. Steve is grateful
for this change and now has a way to deal with the pain behind his addiction,
resting in Christ. He recognizes that all of these things happened through the
grace of God at the Muncie Mission.
Check us out on Social Media or send us an email!
Schedule a donation pickup on our website!
3
Muncie Mission Ministries
1725 S. Liberty Street, Muncie, IN 47302
765.288.9122 www.munciemission.org
In Memory of
Courtney Crismore
Peg Crismore
Charles E. Davisson
Lowell Barlow
Sue Templin
Shirley Skinner
Richard “Dick” DeLong
Don Ulrich & Family
Steve & Barb Hendrixson
Dan & Elaine Scott
John Ellis
Monty & Kay Wilcoxon
M. Joanne Ellis
Deloris Goodman
William Fancil
Mr. & Mrs. Brad Benadum
Rodney & Louise Head
Mrs. Charles Benadum
Jack Fletcher
Ella Middlecoff
Al & Judith Robinson
Judy Reed
Marcia & Gwendolyn Jones
Laura & Darryl Walton
Charles Foist
Mary Ann Lorance
Mary Landis
J. David & Diane Benadum
Judith Galliher
G. (Jerry) & Nancy Benadum
Leslie Gawne
Dail E. Bowman
Joyce Gastineau
Jeff Bowman
Linda Clayton
Mary Lou Breitung
Richard & Norma Cline
Dennis O’Brien
Tyler Greathouse
C&E Sales Inc
Rita Greathouse
Grace Bromagem
Anonymous
Bromagem Heating
Jim & Joyce Johnson
Pat Bruner
Dorothy Meyer
Pat Ashcraft
Phil Hawk
Ashcraft Jewelers
Roger & Frances Nelson
Cindy Spears
Dick Howe
Sharon Marsh
Myrnajean Howe
Red Ruble
Dave Irvin
Jim & Martha Laws
Dan & Vicki Irvin
Joe & Jolena Sutherland
Jack & Mary Madill
Experimental Aircraft Assoc.
Rickey Jeffers
Chapter 266
Pamela Jeffers
Doris Edwards
Glenda Karen Hicks Johnson
Jean Gadziola
Robert & Alberta Hicks
Linda Proudfoot
Brent & Joan Hoffpauir
Whitinger & Company
Edna Irene Keller
Terry Brumley
Steve & Karen Grimes
Cindi Greer
Jack Klingensmith
Helen Ross
#1 Turn of Muncie Fire Dept.
Munsee Meats Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Cregg Sexton
Myron & Marianne Echelbarger
Dolco Packaging Engineering
Joseph & Beverly Gettinger
Dept.
Joe & Joy Grady
Ray & Paula Raines
Howard & Carolyn Mendenhall
Robert Painter
Dick & Shirley Hochstetler
Marsha Holstein
Jean Burton
Teresa Charais
Ted & Jackie Black
Robin Rufatto
Gary Carmichael
George & Jeannine Euckert
DeWayne & Marilyn Goldman
Craig & Heidi Johnson
Frances Cashdollar
Accutech Systems
Terri Sorrell
Larry & Mary Vandeventer
Victoria Lea Fox
Union Chapel Ministries
Lois Myers
Bruce & Michele Frederick
Shirley Taylor & Family
Marilyn Carey
Shirley Paluch, Scott, Sharon
Tressie & Bill Paschal
and David
Larry & Donna Fouch
Lynne Rutovic
Gordon Johnson
Annie & Caroline Clark
Pamela Hammonds Family
Mary Coffman
Amy Radachi Family
Wayne Clark
Phill & Missy Ellis
Steve & Barb Hendrixson
Ray & Mary Anne Bayer
Albert & Mabel Cloyd
Don & Dana Randall
Zana Cloyd
Bob & Nina Oisten
Mary Coleman
Orval & Barbara Lehman
Janet Johnson
Rob & Lydia Burton
Georgia Madge Covert
Myron Lacey
Roger & Naomi Muselman
Kim Lacey
David & Karen Thomas
A. Wayne Miller
Alan Johnson
Alton & Kathy Alexander
Lancia Homes
Barbara Miller
Matthew & Brandy Fry
Sophia Carr
William & Joan Moore
Ross Miller
Dan & Carolyn DeWitt
David & Janet Miller
Catherine Lipska
Dr. H. Allen Neal
Wilma Neal
(Gifts from 07/15/2015)
Harold G. Neal
Wilma Neal
Svend G. Ohrvall
Diadra Miller
Everett Paine
Carrie Case
Earl K. Parson Sr.
E. Kenneth Parson Jr.
Howard Pearson
Relda Pearson
Myron Peterson
Gary & Rebecca Rodeffer
J P Isenbarger
Dean Pritchard
Imogene Smith
Nyal and Nora Reeves
Charles & Donna Goodwin
Bryan Richardson
Carol Ward
Newell H. Riddle
Willia Riddle
Howard Ross
David & Janet Miller
Geneva Saunders
Kathy Jo Pullen
Kenneth Addington
Harry Shelby
Halteman Villas Assoc.
Dixie Smith
Jeffery Smith
Thomas E. Sturgeon
Marilyn & DeWayne Goldman
Harriet Thomas
Ball State University
Jerome Thompson
Rosemarie Hegge
Mary Lee Bowman
Marsena Washburn
Bill & Barb Eidson
Rodney & Louise Head
Robert & Lydia Burton
Ronald & Cheryl Fauquher
Cregg & Janie Sexton
Christian Fellowship
James & Mary Barnell
Ray & Mary Anne Bayer
Christy Lea Whittemore
Wilma Neal
CONGRATS
GRADUATES!
On Friday, January 15th, 2016, 22 men
moved through our program at the Muncie
Mission into different phases. Four of them
graduated
the
program
completely.
Dave Dishroon, Steven Croyle, Dustin Kirby
and Scott Wykoff (pictured above) are the
program graduates. These men all shared
In Honor of
their testimonies and are now ready to
(Gifts from 07/15/2015)
move forward into their new lives. We invite
Jim & Carol Convy
David & Lori Convy
My Family
Kristen Hammer
Missy Ellis
M. Kay Stickle
Dan & Kim Freer
Greg & Lori Hug
Dr. Thomas Gibson
Malana Maher
Doris Humbert
Margery Swanson
Mary Ippel
Robin & Joel Singer
Dale Lindley
MKM Architecture + Design
The Lowe Family
Sophia Carr
Jon Shufelt
Brian & Leslie Shufelt
Don & Sue Whitaker
Laura & Dave Crampton
Julie Winkle
Sophia Carr
you to attend the next ceremony and help
show community support to the next set of
graduates. Just being there could make
all the difference in the world to them
and you. It truly is a blessed experience.
The Mission Needs Hygeine Items!
Due to the increasing number of people
we serve, the Muncie Mission is in need
of hygiene items. We need men and
women’s deoderant, shampoo and
soap. Toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Your help is greatly appreciated!