The Mission
Become a Friend of the Mission
Donations ebb and flow over the course of the year,
but the needs of our hungry, homeless neighbors
remain constant. Making a monthly donation is an
easy way to help people in need all year long.
By joining our monthly giving program, your
monthly support has the unending ability to provide
countless meals, clothing, outreach and other vital
services to men, women, and children every single
day. We can even set up recurring automated payments
that link to your checking account or credit card.
Did you know?
Teen homelessness is emerging
as a vital concern in Oklahoma
City. These are the numbers
that we are up against:
• 41,000 homeless
and displaced
youth in Oklahoma
City
Our hungry, homeless
neighbors need your
help all year long.
To become a Friend of the Mission, please visit
cityrescue.org/give/monthly-giving or contact Treina
Castleberry at tcastleberry.org or (405) 232-2709, ext. 110.
• 1 out of 2 of these
displaced youth are
right here in the
Metro area
Experiencing the Divine in the daily
In his book Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other, Scott Simon, host of
NPR’s Weekend Edition states “Adoption is a miracle. I don’t mean just
that it’s amazing, terrific, and a wonderful thing to do. I mean that it is, as
the dictionary says, ‘a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable
by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of
divine agency.’”
Did you know there’s another “form” of adoption, called “Child Named
Charity?” This concept means an individual “adopts” a ministry they care
about, like City Rescue Mission, by adding them as a beneficiary
in their will. This act ensures a portion of the individual’s hardearned dollars will continue impacting lives long after they’ve
gone. The impact you can have by adding a charity to your
will makes a powerful statement today, and can create
a strong legacy for the future.
Is God touching your heart to “adopt” a ministry through
“divine agency”? Please consider adopting City Rescue
Mission into your will.
For the full version of this article, ask for a FREE copy of “Leveraging Your Past to Impact the Future” by simply checking
the box on the enclosed reply card or by contacting Treina Castleberry from City Rescue Mission at (405) 232-2709,
ext. 110, or [email protected], or bless your family today with a God-honoring will at christianwill.org/crmok
• 5th largest population
of displaced youth in
the nation
February 2016
The Mission
A publication of city rescue mission
help. hope. healing.
Journey of brokenness,
faith and healing
“For the first time in
my life, I felt whole.”
Arthur’s life was off to
a good start. After serving
in the Navy, earning a
college degree and starting
a family, he thought he had
everything—until it was all
taken away. Arthur asked
God for guidance, and
He brought him to City
Rescue Mission.
—Arthur, Fall 2015
Bridge to Life graduate
The Helping Youth Prepare for
Excellence (HYPE) app connects
homeless youth with critical social
services available to them. It is
available for download by texting
the word ICON to 95577.
Read about Arthur’s journey of
brokenness, faith and healing
on Page 2.
Get connected!
We know that you’re on the go. So are
we. Join our mobile community today
by texting SHELTER to 80077 and get
updates directly to your smartphone!
SMS subscription service.
Up to 4msg/mo. Msg&Data rates may apply.
Text STOP to 80077 to STOP. Full Terms:
mGive.com/EPrivacyPolicy: mGive.org/P
Yes! I want to help City Rescue Mission provide meals, care
and Easter hope for hurting men, women and children.
I’m enclosing: m $15
m $30
m $50
m $150
m $__________
Please make your check payable to:
m I would like to become a Friend of the Mission partner. I will give a monthly gift of $________.
City Rescue Mission, Inc.
m Please send me a FREE copy of “Leveraging Your Past to Impact the Future”
m I have included City Rescue Mission in my will or estate plan.
CITY RESCUE MISSION
800 West California Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
My first gift is enclosed.
ADDRESSAPT
To give a gift by credit card,
please visit us online at
cityrescue.org/donate
or call (405) 232-2709.
CITY
Thank You
NAME
STATEZIP
@
EMAIL
28879-2 FN16095
Your gift is tax deductible to the
full extent of the law. We will send
a receipt for your records.
inside
The Mission
Message from Tom
Hearts of Hope Tea
Specialized Services
Christ’s
resurrection
means new life
Where passion
and benevolence
meet
Unique needs,
special care
On page 2
On page 3
On page 3
From our President and CEO
Christ's
resurrection
means
new life
When I reflect
on the redemptive
work that Christ
has done in our community this
past year, I’m overwhelmed with
gratitude. The Lord has continued
fulfilling His promises to replace
weakness with strength,
brokenness with healing, and doubt
with faithfulness. We approach the
Easter season with excitement. It’s
rich with opportunities to provide
for homeless and near-homeless
neighbors.
I hope that the stories shared
in this issue of The Mission will
encourage and uplift you. We often
meet people like Arthur who are
hard-working and capable and find
the Lord through their struggles
with homelessness. Supporting our
work are people like Mary, who
volunteer their time and money to
serve the hurting, homeless people
who come through our doors. “My
cup overflows” as I consider the
many blessings that you offer through
your compassion (Psalm 23:5).
The people we serve are deeply
impacted by the message of
Christ’s resurrection. Through this
message, they learn about Christ’s
forgiveness, and are given hope
in their own ability to be reborn
through His forgiveness. Christ
provides the hope they need to
begin a new life in Him.
We thank God often for your
compassion and partnership in
offering hope to people in need.
Join us this Easter season in
sharing the joy of Christ’s
resurrection. Everything that we
do here is done through Him, for
Him and unto His glory.
May God bless you for caring,
Tom Jones, President and CEO
Continued from page 1
I was 100% lost
Arthur was on his way to achieving the American dream. “All I wanted
was a boy and a girl, a house, a mortgage, a couple of cars and a dog. So
when I achieved that and it was all taken away from me, I was 100% lost.”
Nothing in life came easy for Arthur.
“Without Christ or
He learned at a young age that hard
work was the only way to get by.
any belief and faith
The fight for a better future
in Him, there was
no way I was going
to make it.”
After wading through the messiness
of his parents’ divorce, Arthur had
made something of himself. Despite the
—Arthur, Fall 2015
challenges he faced as a child, he went
Bridge to Life graduate
on to finish high school, join the navy,
become a paralegal, get married and have two children. But when Arthur’s
wife left him for his best friend and took the children with her, the perfect
life that he’d worked so hard to build came crashing down.
She broke this news to him the
day they moved into their first
home. With nowhere to go, he
returned to the apartment they
had been renting—only to find
that he had 48 hours to gather his
few belongings and find a new
home—alone.
For the nine years that followed,
Arthur was caught in the cycle
of homelessness and addiction.
Tom Jones congratulates Arthur after
“Didn’t matter how hard I worked,
watching him graduate from the
things were just not right and
Bridge to Life program.
I couldn’t get it together.” Arthur
went to jail over 30 times, slept in abandoned homes, and endured an
abusive relationship. When all hope was lost, he pleaded with God to
direct him. On that night, God brought Arthur to City Rescue Mission.
Determined to make a change
The Mission
Share your passion through volunteering
Where passion and benevolence meet
After three years of donating to City Rescue Mission,
Mary wanted to do more. When she started feeling
led to volunteer, she
“If you really feel
called the Mission
to explore how she
a heart’s call to
might do so. During
do this, don’t
this conversation, her
hesitate to offer
love for party planning
came up. The Mission
your help.”
staff member said, “You
—Mary Cutter
give parties? You’re
Fifteen year volunteer
the person we’ve been
praying for! When can
you come?” This was
fifteen years ago, and
Mary continues to serve
at the Mission to this day.
Tea time with the girls
Each year, Mary volunteers as a table host at the
Hearts of Hope Tea. “A women’s tea is so fun...it has
been extremely successful and other Missions around the
country have called to get input.” Guests are not required
to pay or donate,
but each table sets a
fundraising goal. “We
have gone over our goal
every year...sometimes
we have gone $10,000
over the goal,” Mary
shares. “Women
consider it a real honor
to be invited.”
For people who
are thinking about
volunteering at the
Mission, consider
Mary’s advice:
“If you really feel
a heart’s call to do
this, don’t hesitate
to offer your help.”
A few years after
Mary first contacted the
Mission, Barbara Green
of the Hobby Lobby
founding family started
the Hearts of Hope Tea
The Hearts of Hope Tea is a beloved
for women. This event
fundraising event at City Rescue Mission.
is designed to raise
We currently have a full team of volunteers—to learn
funds specifically for the development of the Women and
Children’s Shelter. Guests enjoy a message from Barbara more about volunteering at City Rescue Mission, please
contact Treina Castleberry at (405) 232-2709, ext. 110
Green, a video with testimonials, delicious food and
or [email protected]
uplifting fellowship.
Unique needs,
special care
At the start of his program, he was terrified. “For the first time in my
life, I took a look at myself and I took a look at my situation—I just knew
I had to put all my trust in God and Jesus.” Arthur viewed the City Rescue
Mission as his opportunity to discipline himself while being surrounded
by people who cared about him. When hard times came, God gave him
the strength to push through and say, “I’m going to finish this program.”
The Specialized Services program
is tailored to meet the needs of
individuals facing mental, physical
or age-related disabilities. We have
found that individuals facing such
conditions require special attention,
as their needs are often unique from those of the other hungry,
homeless people coming through our doors.
On November 4, 2015, Arthur graduated from the Bridge to Life
program. He now has a job at a local restaurant, and has committed to
a year-long apprenticeship at Frontline Church to discern if the Lord is
calling him into ministry. While reflecting on his time at the Mission,
Arthur shared, “This place has truly changed my life...without Christ or
any belief and faith in Him, there was no way I was going to make it.”
Clients in this program receive specialized care, which is vital to their
recovery. The program’s goal is to prepare each individual to be able
to live independently away from the Mission. Thanks to your support,
we are able to assist them in finding alternative long-term housing,
which accommodates their unique needs and provides them with the
opportunity for long-term success.
Mark your calendars
Hearts of Hope Tea
February 18 at 11:30am-1:00pm
National Cowboy & Western
Heritage Museum
Bridge to Life Graduation
April 13 from 3-4pm
City Rescue Mission Chapel
The Mission
Become a Friend of the Mission
Donations ebb and flow over the course of the year,
but the needs of our hungry, homeless neighbors
remain constant. Making a monthly donation is an
easy way to help people in need all year long.
By joining our monthly giving program, your
monthly support has the unending ability to provide
countless meals, clothing, outreach and other vital
services to men, women, and children every single
day. We can even set up recurring automated payments
that link to your checking account or credit card.
Did you know?
Teen homelessness is emerging
as a vital concern in Oklahoma
City. These are the numbers
that we are up against:
• 41,000 homeless
and displaced
youth in Oklahoma
City
Our hungry, homeless
neighbors need your
help all year long.
To become a Friend of the Mission, please visit
cityrescue.org/give/monthly-giving or contact Treina
Castleberry at tcastleberry.org or (405) 232-2709, ext. 110.
• 1 out of 2 of these
displaced youth are
right here in the
Metro area
Experiencing the Divine in the daily
In his book Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other, Scott Simon, host of
NPR’s Weekend Edition states “Adoption is a miracle. I don’t mean just
that it’s amazing, terrific, and a wonderful thing to do. I mean that it is, as
the dictionary says, ‘a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable
by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of
divine agency.’”
Did you know there’s another “form” of adoption, called “Child Named
Charity?” This concept means an individual “adopts” a ministry they care
about, like City Rescue Mission, by adding them as a beneficiary
in their will. This act ensures a portion of the individual’s hardearned dollars will continue impacting lives long after they’ve
gone. The impact you can have by adding a charity to your
will makes a powerful statement today, and can create
a strong legacy for the future.
Is God touching your heart to “adopt” a ministry through
“divine agency”? Please consider adopting City Rescue
Mission into your will.
For the full version of this article, ask for a FREE copy of “Leveraging Your Past to Impact the Future” by simply checking
the box on the enclosed reply card or by contacting Treina Castleberry from City Rescue Mission at (405) 232-2709,
ext. 110, or [email protected], or bless your family today with a God-honoring will at christianwill.org/crmok
• 5th largest population
of displaced youth in
the nation
February 2016
The Mission
A publication of city rescue mission
help. hope. healing.
Journey of brokenness,
faith and healing
“For the first time in
my life, I felt whole.”
Arthur’s life was off to
a good start. After serving
in the Navy, earning a
college degree and starting
a family, he thought he had
everything—until it was all
taken away. Arthur asked
God for guidance, and
He brought him to City
Rescue Mission.
—Arthur, Fall 2015
Bridge to Life graduate
The Helping Youth Prepare for
Excellence (HYPE) app connects
homeless youth with critical social
services available to them. It is
available for download by texting
the word ICON to 95577.
Read about Arthur’s journey of
brokenness, faith and healing
on Page 2.
Get connected!
We know that you’re on the go. So are
we. Join our mobile community today
by texting SHELTER to 80077 and get
updates directly to your smartphone!
SMS subscription service.
Up to 4msg/mo. Msg&Data rates may apply.
Text STOP to 80077 to STOP. Full Terms:
mGive.com/EPrivacyPolicy: mGive.org/P
Yes! I want to help City Rescue Mission provide meals, care
and Easter hope for hurting men, women and children.
I’m enclosing: m $15
m $30
m $50
m $150
m $__________
Please make your check payable to:
m I would like to become a Friend of the Mission partner. I will give a monthly gift of $________.
City Rescue Mission, Inc.
m Please send me a FREE copy of “Leveraging Your Past to Impact the Future”
m I have included City Rescue Mission in my will or estate plan.
CITY RESCUE MISSION
800 West California Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
My first gift is enclosed.
ADDRESSAPT
To give a gift by credit card,
please visit us online at
cityrescue.org/donate
or call (405) 232-2709.
CITY
Thank You
NAME
STATEZIP
@
EMAIL
28879-2 FN16095
Your gift is tax deductible to the
full extent of the law. We will send
a receipt for your records.
inside
The Mission
Message from Tom
Hearts of Hope Tea
Specialized Services
Christ’s
resurrection
means new life
Where passion
and benevolence
meet
Unique needs,
special care
On page 2
On page 3
On page 3