Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64and respect continues into the first meal at Rescue Mission Alliance in Van Nuys, California, says Executive Director Wade Trimmer. “In our din- ing room, each table has a table sign containing the family’s last name. Our new guests always feel welcome and special when they see that they have a place at our table.” THE COMFORTS OF HOME Stu Butler, executive director/CEO Haven of Rest in Anderson, South Carolina, says they have three main goals for their first impressions. “We want three things to stand out to our guests when they arrive: First, that we are clearly a Christian facility, this is accomplished by symbols (such as the cross) and exhibiting a Christian spirit of unity and fellowship. Second, we have spent the past year remodel- ing with new furniture, linens, and fresh paint to present a clean and crisp environment. Third, we strive to provide excellent meals in a friendly setting. We recently purchased round tables for our dining room to foster community and fellowship.” And at rescue missions, the added welcome of Christian love completes the picture. “The first experience we want all of our guests to have is we are a mission that has created a culture of love and grace,” says Curt Floski, exec- utive director of The Shepherd’s House in Bend, Oregon. “If you’re looking for a place to live openly, honestly, and authentically before Jesus and others, you have found your home.” Presenting a good first impression takes work, but it’s worthwhile to create an environment that fosters new life, as one mission guest named Amanda shared: “When I checked in with my son I was scared. I was very intimidated by the whirlwind of papers to be signed and the rundown of the rules. Everyone was being nice, but I was so used to watching my back that I was still on my guard. I started to feel welcomed by the staff when I realized they were there to protect me. When my son and I got into our room, we plopped down on the big comfortable bed and slept for hours. When I woke up I knew we were safe.” Ĩ 46 WWW.AGRM.ORG JULY/AUGUST 2016 First Steps What do guests see when they walk through your door? “The first experience we want all of our guests to have is we are a mission that has created a culture of love and grace,” First impressions, in every facet of life, are critical. I believe our guests size us up in the first 10 seconds they are in our space. We work hard to create a space that inspires hope and confidence that they can get the kind of help they need. We do this by creating an entry space into our building that has these qualities: 1. Clean (extremely). 2. Well lit. 3. Professional, extroverted staff member to greet. 4. Artwork and general decor that communicates joy and hope. 5. A comfortable waiting area should they have to wait. 6. A lot of communication, using their name and an inviting posture. 7. Excellence in every detail. —Craig Mayes, CEO, New York City Rescue Mission