February 2008 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter
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Transcript of February 2008 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter
8/8/2019 February 2008 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter
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avid M. Williams
gram Director
arry Aldricherations Manager
andy Hess
intenance Supervisor
arry O’Connor
reg Mann
eil Givens
oger Klein
ent Supervisors
avid McKnight
n Driver
lomona Talivaaintenance
onn Baker
hn Lofquistern
Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission
A Ministry of Rescue & Recovery A publication of the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission • Anchorage, Alaska
new
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A popular song lyrist has written Love is a Many Splendor Thing! He was soooooo right – to find true love
and share a life together, the ups and downs, the ins and outs,
the three steps forward and two steps back. Then, one day it all
comes together and things smooth out. As you look back in your
memories you can say, “It worked because our life together was
built on love.”
BUT WHAT ABOUT CHRISTIAN LOVE?Christian love should endure longer and grow stronger each day that we live. We ought topractice the moral and ethical standards of Christian principals regarding love toward our
fellow man. Our love toward God should be greater than that we have for our spouse or
family members. Jesus said, “if we love them more than we love Him, we are not worthy o
Him,” Matthew 10:37 (paraphrased). We love Him because He first loved us. I John 4:19.
are reminded in John 15:9 that Jesus said, “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved yo
Continue ye in my love.”
We serve Him because we love Him. We have the love of God in us; we should prove our
love for Him by loving and helping those in need. In Matthew 5:24 Jesus said, “I say un
you love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven”....”for if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?....
John 15:12. We are commanded to love one another. In
Galatians 5:13 , we read
that by love we serve one another. Ephesians 5:2 tells us, “t
walk in love.” And Hebrews 13:1 says, to let brotherly love
continue.” Then, last but not least Jesus said , “Great
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
for his friend.” Then I would ask you to read I
Corinthians 13 and see if indeed you are living your l
in the practice of Christian love. This chapterconcludes, “and now abideth faith, hope and charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).
What a difference this old world would
be if we who are Christians would just
practice the concept of Christian love.
Valentines Day – Thoughts of
Love. . .Love. . .Love
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www.anchoragerescue.org We invite you to visit us on the web or
drop us an E-mail with your comments
and suggestions
Life in the Lobby(A life all its own)
The lobby of the mission has a life of its own. A microcosm of life o
the streets of Anchorage, it has a rhythm and cadence that is unbroke
by holidays and vacations. It is an oasis, of sorts, in a desert of lo
hope.
In the pallid, winter day-light, the evening shift gingerly takes the
chairs at the nicked desks. They answer the phone calls and question
as the jack-o-lantern orange globe shines between the branches an
buildings. Their “day” slides into an early night while the endless day
of summer are just wistful thinking.
Soon, the door begins opening and closing as the lobby’s nightly guests begin to assemble. The neon signs acro
the street flicker, strobe-like, with the passing traf fic on Tudor Road. Each guests trudges in out of the bitter win
shrugging off the snow and cold. They stamp the well-worn carpet that so many have crossed. No longer do the
seem to notice the stark white walls which are spotted like a leopard’s skin with an eclectic collection of calendarbulletin boards, framed photographs, and encouraging, spiritual messages. Everyone is greeted by the watchful ey
of the shift supervisor and occasionally treated to the quic
joke surrounded with an engaging smile.
As warmth returns to fingers and toes, the lines of broke
dreams and empty promises begin to soften on the faces
the recently arrived. A stomach-tugging aroma of an evenin
meal being prepared is rudely interrupted by the sharp tan
of an unwashed body passing by. This brief interruption
soon soothed with the sound of the chapel’s piano. A quic
look reveals brightly lit, comfortably padded pews and a largwooden cross on the wall.
There are two cloth covered tables that oppose each oth
here in this room. Both of them support pampered plants an
entertain carefully selected reading material. One of them
however, always wins every holiday season by being chosen to host an expertly crafted nativity scene. The oth
table’s resident foliage camouflages the smoked-glass window of the Chaplin’s of fice. A close look may reveal th
desk lamp, dimly outlining his head, and computer screen blue reflections on his glasses.
Life in the Lobby. A close look will reveal; a refl
ection of the Life of our Lord.
a c l o
s e r l o
o k
J o h n L o
f q u i s t
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I am a Mission volunteer. I start by recognizing the
efforts of the many volunteers who have labored and
prayed for and financially supported the Anchorage
Gospel Rescue Mission from its establishment in
downtown Anchorage in about 1965.
Fact: The Mission’s vision is Jesus Saves and its
mission is a ministry of rescue and recovery.
Question 1: To fulfill its vision and mission, does
the Mission need to move from its Tudor location
to more appropriately zoned land?
Question 2: Supposing the Mission does move,
what does the community need from the Mission
for the next 100 years?
I do not offer answers. Here is what I have
discovered while inquiring: Anchorage’s Project
80s required the Mission move from downtown to
its current Tudor Road home in about 1987, which
led to today’s three problems.
Problem 1: The Mission currently sits on B3-zoned
property, on which “an emergency shelter is a legal
nonconforming use.” Under today’s Anchorage
land use policies the Mission needs to sit on PLI
(public lands and institutions) or Industrial 1 or
Industrial 2 zoned property to operate a “homelessand transient shelter.” For instance, the Mission’s
primary contemporary, Brother Francis Shelter, sits
on PLI zoned land. The Mission’s current location
on Tudor is smack dab in the midst of Anchorage
2020’s (the Anchorage’s comprehensive land use
plan) proposed redistricting to a “major employment
area” surrounded by high density housing.
s t a t u s
r e p
o r t
F r a n k T h
o m a s - M
e y e r s
Problem 2: The Mission’s “ NewLife” progra
attracted its own land use/zoning issue becau
“ NewLife” is not “an emergency shelter.” Th
Municipality of Anchorage believes that th
Mission’s “ NewLife” program is a “habilitative ca
facility” or “correctional community residenti
center” which the current B-3 zoning does n
support, but which the PLI or I1 or I2 zoning wou
support.
Problem 3: A problem with fire code/land u
violations in 2005 closed the Mission’s “ NewLife
dormitory at 2815 E Tudor. Further fire code/lan
use issues reduced emergency shelter bed space
2823 E Tudor. The net result was a lost of about 5
beds per night (about 20,400 annual bed nights).
Collateral Affect on Others: Brother Franc
Shelter, as a result of Mission’s lost beds, ha
operated well over its designed operating capaci
of 131 beds/night. Currently BFS is sleepin
from 171 to 200 nightly – 30-50% over-capaci
– causing BFS to dig deep in its skinny pocke
to come up with the additional operation expense
The Mission’s loss of bed space has impacte
the operations of just about every member of th
Municipality’s Emergency Shelter Provider Grou
– BFS of course, AWAIC, Clare House, Covena
House, McKinnel House and others. The homelethemselves have increased the camping (and the
suffering) in Campbell Park negatively impactin
the Mission’s neighbors.
What Others Want: I discovered what I believe th
Municipality and the Emergency Shelter Provide
Group want from the Mission: continuance o
emergency shelter services and “ NewLife” , plus th
addition of (lots of) transitional housing units f
moms and kids, dads and kids, intact families an
singles. In closing, I have met so many individua
in the last two months who love and care for th
state’s homeless men, women and children, an
who love, respect and worry about the Missio
Be prepared to volunteer for action for th
Lord’s lovely Mission on the Move. Pray fo
the leadership of the Anchorage Gospel Rescu
Mission. This report to be continued next issue.
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“The fear of the lord is the
beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and instruction”
Proverbs 9:10
I spend my life thinking I was
obtaining knowledge as I grew in
understanding in earthly things.
Always thinking the things that
could be touched or materially
manipulated is what life was all
about. But at the same time there
was something else present in my
thinking. There seemed to be a
void, a kind of empty place that
was always there. I knew in my
heart I was missing something,but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
There was a void and a need to fill
it.
Drinking beer and smoking pot
was a normal thing for me to do
in my life and it helped fill that
void temporarily. The longer I did
the same things, the longer things
remained the same. My life was
at a point where everything wasa struggle. My job, my marriage,
friends and family, everything in
life was getting hard to handle.
I knew I needed a change, so I
moved to Hawaii.
I bought some cheap property high
up on a mountain and built a shack
at bare minimal cost. A few months
went by, but the move didn’t change
anything. I was still struggling
with all the problems I had before.
I was sitting in my rickety little
shack one evening and there was astorm brewing up on the mountain.
I got into a heated argument with
my wife about livings so far
away from everything. She had
just taken the car and left. It was
just a few minutes later when the
storm began to intensify. The wind
started howling and my little shack
began vibrating as though a fright
train was going by just outside the
door.
Everything on the shelves and the
table top was dancing around and
falling to the floor. The wind was
howling so loudly it reminded me
of the noise of an uncontrolled
trumpet blast echoing through the
air. I was sitting in the middle of
my one room shack in awe and
confusion from the violence of the
storm. Fear was just beginning to
set in when, with great force, the
wind slammed my makeshift door
open and at that moment the roof
ripped away from the walls an
lifted one side of it straight up
the air. Just when I thought the ro
was going to fly away to anoth
part of the island, the wind let u
enough to allow the roof to slaback down like the lid on a cig
box. The air pressure generate
by the roof slamming back dow
was so strong it deafened my ear
So there I sat in the middle of th
floor in an eerie silence broke
only by this ringing in my ears
still experience today.
I rememb
thinking that point
was dea
Sadly I al
thought
didn’t matt
if I was.
could still s
the violen
r a g i n
around m
but becauI was unab
to he
anything
was surreal. I lowered my hea
as if I were submitting humbly
the storm. As I sat there lookin
between my legs at the floor I sa
the bible laying open to Chapt
one of the book of James. And
began to read. As I read the wor
they began to make sense to m
My mind came alive and I w
able to grasp understanding. I w
amazed because I’ve read the
words so many times with n
effect, but now they were alive
me. My life changed instantly as
read the words of James:
“but let him ask in faith, with n
doubting, for he who doubts is lik
t e s t i m
o n i e s
J e r o m e E
s t e s
From Double
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a wave of the sea driven and tossed
by the wind. For let not that man
suppose he will receive anything
from the Lord, he is a double-
minded man, unstable in all his
ways.”James 1:6-8
I knew at that moment I was that
double-minded man James was
describing. It was then that I asked
the lord for forgiveness and to
help me with my life. That void I
carried with me was filled with a
peace and love I never had before.
It didn’t take long before I started
falling away from God’s grace.Even though Jesus Christ was the
strongest influence in my life, that
seed was not planted in good soil.
I quickly fell away from trusting
in God. I didn’t continue to be
obedient and receive his blessings
of joy and peace. After a while I
started to go through life again
with emptiness not unlike the void
I was looking to fill earlier in life.
But things were different now;
they were a whole lot worse! I
could sense God was trying to get
my attention. But I wanted to do
things my way.
Terrible things started happening
in my life. Family members were
dying but the worst was when
my mother died. My grief was
overpowering. My marriage of
twenty five years ended in divorce.
I was stabbed in the chest and while
I was recuperating someone robbed
me of all my worldly possessions.
Yet despite all this I was drinking
more and more which lead to
my going to jail for drinking and
driving. My life was ten times
worst than it had ever been before.
I found myself homeless in
Anchorage. Sleeping anywhere
I could, working odd jobs when
I could find them. It was tough
just trying to keep going. I was
miserable, homeless, and hungry!It was on a wet windy day when
I found out I could get a bed and
a meal at the Anchorage Gospel
Rescue Mission. When I got
there I was fed a hot meal, man
it tasted good to my tired and
empty stomach! In order to get a
bed for the night you are required
to attend evening chapel services.
That service was thefi
rst one I hadattended in over five years.
As I sat there waiting for the
service to begin I reflected on how
much of my life I had wasted by
not trusting God. I wasn’t clear
on where I had gone wrong I just
knew I went wrong somewhere. As
I was sitting there, deep in thought,
I began to get a sense something
was familiar. The Pastor had started
his message in the book of James.
He was speaking on the very same
scripture that led me to Christ in
the first place!
“My brethren, count it all joy when
you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith
produces patience, but let patience
have its perfect work, that you may
be perfect and complete, lackingnothing if any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask God, who gives to all
liberally and without reproach and
it will be given to him. But let him
ask in faith, with no doubting, for
he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea driven and tossed by the wind
for let not that man suppose he will
receive anything from the Lord; he
is a double-minded man, unstable
in all his ways.”
James 1:1
Once again these words stirred m
heart and once again I was reminde
that I was that double-minded maJames was talking about. It didn
take a rocket scientist to figure o
I was unstable in all my ways. Th
evening I learned of the “ NewLif
program at the Anchorage Gosp
Rescue Mission. The next mornin
I was accepted into the progra
and have been continuing in
ever since. Once again the vo
in my life was being filled by th
love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thtime the seed has fallen on ferti
ground. I’m confident my restore
relationship with Christ will stic
this time because of my ne
understanding of God’s word an
because of the many tools I hav
learned here at the Mission. Som
of these tools Christians have bee
using for hundreds of years
successfully endure struggles an
hardships through out life. Too
such as prayer, reading God’s wor
memorizing scripture, assemblin
together with other believers, an
many others. It’s truly an awesom
thing to see God working to giv
food and shelter to the homele
and hungry people of Anchorage
I would like to thank the staff
the “NewLife” program and all thsupporters that contribute to th
Anchorage Gospel Rescue Missio
You have made it possible for m
and others like me to successful
renew our lives using God’s pla
You are in our prayers always.
inded to Single in Purpose.
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Living Memorials . . . .touch lives as they honor the memory
of loved ones and friends.
In Memory of
Esperanza Casas
by Martha Cashen
In Memory of Tyler Beckham
by Duane and Neva Marsh
In Memory of
George and James Clyde
by Suzane Clyde
In Memory of
Mickey Robert Dinsmore II
by John and Donna Poff
In Memory of
Mike Howerton
by Carol HowertonIn Memory of
Dale Lindsey
by Loren and Carolyn Leman
In Memory of
Mary
by The Parkers
In Memory of
Steve Novak
by Marie Schave
In Honor of
Mary Pat Sigudson
by Patrick and Astride Rider
In Honor of
William Allen Crabtree
by William and Hyun Crabtree
In Honor of
Dr. Ken and Sharman Collins
Jim and Sally Copen
Dr. Thom and Elaine HathawayJohn and Tammy Reading
Larry and Bette Ross
Pat and Laurie Marifjeren
Zig and Muff Zellmer
by Vicki Turner
PLEASE
REMEMBERTo include the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission in
your WILL or ESTATE Planning. Thanks
Where There Is Love
Where there is loveThe heart is light,
Where there is loveThe day is bright,
Where there is loveThere is a song,
To help when things Are going wrong.
Where there is loveThere is a smile,
To make all things Seem more worthwhile.
Where there is loveThere’s quiet peace,
A tranquil placeWhere turmoils cease....
Love changes Darkness into light
And makes the heart Take “wingless flight”—
Oh, blest are they Who walk in love....
They also walk With God above,
And when man walks With God again There shall be
Peace on Earth for men.Used with permission
PRAYER REQUEST
Please pray for your Rescue Mission everyday. Pray ththe Director and Staff will seek God’s will in everything ththey do. Pray for Godly wisdom that the things that aaccomplished will be for the glory and honor of the LoJesus Christ. Also, pray for those in the“NewLife” Recove
Program. Pray that they will be successful in their recoveand will continue in their discipleship training pertaining spiritual growth. Sometimes they get so discouraged in theefforts for change to take place in their life. It would be aencouragement to them if you would just send a note orletter and tell them that you are praying for them. I know thyou do not know their names but that does not matter—Goknows. You may want to pray for our quests that stay heeach night. Pray that their heart will be open to hear aaccept the Gospel message as it is presented each nigh
Bro. Do
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Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission P.O. Box 230510 Anchorage, Alaska 99523-0510
Here is my support gift: For Credit Card Donations:Food and Shelter: $_____ Facilities Maintenance: $_____ $46.25 For 25 Meals ______ $74.00 For 40 Meals ______ $132.20 For 72 Meals ______ $277.50 For 150 Meals ______
______Other: ______ I Will Pray for this Ministry.
I would like to charge my total donation of $__________________
Check One: Visa M/C Am/Ex Discover
Card Number __________________________________________
Exp. Date: ______/______ Signature _______________________
Name:______________________________________________ __
Address: ______________________________________________
Please send this coupon with your donations.
All credit card information is kept in strict confidenceMake checks payable to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission
You will receive a receipt.
7
Thank You
For a Wonderful Christmas!Your gifts made it possible for us to provide for our
clients and guest in 2007
We Can’t do it without you!
Greetings from our “ NewLife” men.
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Our Ministry of
Is to
The least
The last
The lost
r e s c
u e
“URGENT”
Our supplies of these
items is constantly in
need of replenishing
Prayer
Paper Towels
45 Gallon Trash Bags
Fresh Meat
Coffee
Bathroom Tissue
Laundry SoapDisposable Shavers
Cleaning Supplies
Dinner Napkins
Shampoo
“URGENT”
Anchorage Gospel
Rescue Mission
Board of Trustees
Ed Shelton
(President)
Bob Collins
( Vice President/treasure)
Enoch Adams
(Secretary)
Mark Soquet
Emeritus:
Cliff Hodgins
Rev. Willard leisy Advisory Board:
Paul Kelly
Rev. Don Bettis, Exec. Dir.
Charlotte Bettis, Asst. Dir.
MEMBER
r e s c
u eAssociation of Gospel Missions
An association of Rescue Ministries
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Non-Profit OU.S. Posta
PAID
Anchorage, Permit # 29
Anchorage
Gospel
Mission A Ministry of
Rescue & Recovery
r e s c u
e
news r e s c
u e
P.O. Box 230510•Anchorage, AK•99523-0510•(907) 563-5603
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
STATEMENT OF FAITHThe Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission is a Non-Profit, Non-Denominationorganization. We receive NO municipal, state or federal funds. We are not a United WaAgency. Your financial support and In-Kind donations make it possible for us to providfor the poor, needy and homeless people in our community. Also, your donations allow uto provide a Drug and Alcohol Recovery program. All Donations are fully tax deductibleWe will give you a receipt for your donation.
Visit us at:2823 E. Tudor Rd.Anchorage, AK 99507
Chapel Services for FebruarySunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1First
PresbyterianChurch
2CalvaryBaptistChurch
3God’sPlace
4Abbot LoopCommunity
Church
5Anchorage
PilgrimNazarene
6Anchorage
GospelSingers
7AnchorageVineyard
Fellowship
8CalvaryChurch
9Wasilla
Assemblyof God
10
God’sPlace
11
Churchof God ofProphecy
12
FirstAssembly of
God
13
ChangePoint
14
ChristCommunity
Church
15
SherbahnEvangelistic
Team
16
LighthouseChristian
Fellowship
17GraceVictory
Fellowship
18Sherbahn
EvangelisticTeam
19Anchorage
NativeAssembly
20Christian
EvangelicalChurch
21Sherbahn
EvangelisticTeam
22In His Name
SandyMcCollum
23Glenn
Herman
24New Light
CommunityChurch
25CalvaryBaptistChurch
26Attorney
Greg Grebe
27CalvaryBaptistChurch
28EvangelicalCovenantChurch
29Sherbahn
EvangelisticTeam
Nightly Services 7:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.