DENVER MISSION & RUSS REID CO. AWARD WINNERS
DENVER (CO) RESCUE MISSION received the Bronze Award from the International Echo Awards Competition, sponsored by the Direct Marketing Association, New York, NY. The award in the Multimedia Division was for the mission's fall donor campaign and the mission's agency was the Russ Reid Company. 20,000 new donors were added to the mission's donor files, a 21% increase in response rate. The campaign added television public service announcements to the direct mail and newspaper advertising program.
The Russ Reid Company also won a Gold and Bronze Award for campaigns done for World Vision in the Direct Mail category, and a Leaders Award for a World Vision campaign in the Television and Radio category. Of the 15 awards presented, the Russ Reid Company was the agency for four of the winning campaigns.
RESCUE IS SIXTH LARGEST CHARITY
Did you know that if RESCUE mission donations were counted together, IUGM ministries would be the sixth largest charity in support in the United States? Donations to rescue missions last year were approximately $350 million. Only the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, American Cancer Society and Second Harvest received more in donations. We receive far more donations than many of the well-known national organizations and yet are not as well known, but we are working at it. We praise God for what He has done, and we know that as we serve Him faithfully, He will continue to bless.
SALUTING THE CONNERS
Tim Fagg and the staff of the LIGHT HOUSE MISSION, Terre Haute, IN sure wanted it to be a surprise, but "the best laid plans of mice and men" don't always work, and Richard and Anna Conners opened up their church weekly newsletter to discover they weren't going to a play in Bloomington, but going to a celebration of their retirement. The Conners, who have served over nine years in Terre Haute and served seven years at WHEELER RESCUE MINISTRIES, Indianapolis, did not start their rescue mission career until Richard graduated from Bible college at age 48, after being a businessman. With "lots of faith" they began a new career with Richard housed in a small office in the lobby of the Wheeler Mission. What a change for a man who owned a beauty school. Now, 16 years later, the results of that dedication are seen in Terre Haute, where they moved the mission into one of the largest buildings in the downtown area and have seen it grow and meet more community needs. The Conners are moving to Florida, but not before Delores and I, and Ray Raines, Midwestern District President, got to thank them on behalf of the IUGM for a job well done.
BIBLE STUDY FOR ABUSE VICTIMS
Oil and Wine for the Wounded is a new Bible Study resource for past abuse recovery by Bruce and Jan Willson, Directors of Hope House, a Maine-based ministry which serves single mothers. The 116 page workbook is based on the story of the Good Samaritan. You can order this from Loving and Caring Inc. at 717/293-3230; Workbooks are $10.00; Leaders Guide with cassette is $25.00. The address is 1905 Olde Homestead Lane, Lancaster, PA 17601. If ordering by mail, include $3.50 for postage or 10%, whichever is higher.
MICHAEL TEAGUE HONORED
CHRISTIANITY TODAY, in their November 11 issue, named 50 Evangelical Leaders 40 years old and under that they called the "Up and Comers." They shared that these were the movement's younger leaders--those who will shape and reshape the founder's (America's evangelical movement) original vision. We are proud that one of those "Up and Comers" is our own Michael Teague, Chief Operating Officer, UNION RESCUE MISSION, Los Angeles, CA. In the article about Michael, he shares his vision for rescue, the changing face of mission clients, and the changing programs to meet the new needs. Steve Burger is quoted as calling Michael "one of the outstanding young leaders in urban ministry today." Michael led a general session at the Denver convention and has been helping the Capetown City Mission, Capetown, South Africa as a consultant. For a copy of the 300 word article, give us a call at 800/624-5156.
COUNSELING COURSE
The Biblical Counseling Foundation will be offering a Concentrated Course in Biblical Counseling/In-Depth Discipleship in Vienna, VA April 28-May 2, 1997. Courses to be offered are Self-Confrontation, and Biblical Counseling/In-Depth Discipleship (Course A and B). For more information, contact BCF at 619/773-2667.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO THE MAX
I have always promoted community involvement, but does it have any limitation? Is leading a Pastafest over the line? Nelson Rumore doesn't think so, for he sees the "pastabilities" and has become one of the leaders of a group determined that Grand Forks, ND would hold the only Pasta Festival in the world, and do it as Nelson says, "in the land of Lutefisk." But, after all, North Dakota is a prime producer of durum wheat, pasta flour, and other noodle making ingredients, and that should make it a natural. Nelson's vision is to create the world's most memorable meatball--"the lutesball"--and who could do it better than an Italian with the first name "Nelson." He automatically has his foot in both camps. So, August 24, 1997 is the date and Nelson is noodling with the idea to invite Luciano Pavarotti to sing (after all Minot, ND got Jay Leno for their Hostefest). He already has the first donation: one ton of past donated by the Grand Forks Herald. Stay tuned for more exciting information on the Grand Pasta Party on the Prairie. I'm sure Nelson will figure a way to get something for the Grand Forks Mission out of this--maybe a lot of dough.
UGM PORTLAND IN ARTICLE
Don Michel and the UNION GOSPEL MISSION, Portland, OR were highlighted in an article titled, "Before You Give" by Barbara Von Der Heydt, in the November 23 WORLD Magazine. The article stated:
Don Michel heads the Union Gospel Mission in Portland, Ore., an effective program that has been changing the lives of the homeless. He says he has learned from his mistakes. "I thought just handing out food and clothes without question was a very compassionate thing to do. But I think now that when you give things out without accountability, you're participating in the person's harm."
HAPPENINGS AT IUGM MEMBER MISSIONS
Billy Fox has been called as Executive Director of the CENTRAL UNION MISSION, Washington, DC and has assumed his responsibilities. Billy has been the Executive Director of the CITY RESCUE MISSION, Jacksonville, FL for the past three years. Jack and Jo Martin have completed their service as interims and have returned to Cushing, OK. The Central Union Mission joins the IUGM in thanking them for a job well done. Timothy Fagg has been named Executive Director of the LIGHT HOUSE MISSION, Terre Haute, IN succeeding Richard Connors who will retire as of December. Tim has been the Assistant Director of the mission. The ROCKFORD (IL) RESCUE MISSION has announced a $6 million capital campaign to develop a 5.5 acre campus-like complex, which will house an emergency shelter for women, emergency shelter for men, a 250 seat dining room, and a 300 seat chapel. $1 million has already been raised and has been used to sign a pledge to buy the Hembrough Motor Sales plot, which now includes a 43,000 square foot structure which will become the men's center and a 10,000 square foot building which would become a shelter for men, women, and children. They also have purchased a former grocery store in southeast Rockford which will become a mission thrift store and distribution center. The mission will sell its historic downtown property. The Rockford Register Star is endorsing the new facilities and stated: The needs the mission addresses promise only to become greater in the next few years--especially in regard to families . . . . The Rescue Mission's proactive strategy makes the most sense. It is unquestionably the most humane approach.
The editorial ended with a salute that fits the faith of the Pitney's and shares the great faith story of the rescue mission movement. The editor stated: "It is a long way from 1964 when the mission was founded by a recovering alcoholic with $9.63 and a lot of faith. We will "stay tuned" as we watch God work.
SUNSHINE RESCUE MISSION, Flagstaff, AZ is expanding and remodeling Hope Cottages, their facilities for women and families. They are now doing an "adopt a room" program, as well as raising the funds to enlarge and remodel their facilities. "Nuts to You" could be the theme of a unique money raiser at the LAS CRUCES (NM) GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION. To build the new chapel Sky Martinez, Executive Director shares, "Pecans can pay for the chapel. I'm convinced that there are enough people who own pecan trees, that if they would donate the pecans, we could complete the chapel." We only can assume that he has a market for pecans. Otherwise, he would need a lot of glue to hold all those pecans together. Michael Saccocio is the new Executive Director of the CITY MISSION OF SCHENECTADY (NY), succeeding Eivion Williams who has retired. The CITY RESCUE MISSION, Saginaw, MI has been awarded a matching grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the purpose of building a transitional shelter for women and children. The facility will serve 24 women and children for up to eighteen months. The mission must raise three times the grant for it to become a reality. "There is nothing in this grant that prohibits the mission from being a Christian program," states Executive Director Ken Streeter. "We have not strayed an inch from our policy of honoring God first in all that we do." With the help of Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, the JOHN 3:16 MISSION, Tulsa, OK held the grand opening of their new $2 million Family and Youth Center. What once was a dilapidated building and a community blight, is now a newly renovated, 33,000 square foot facility aimed at keeping families from becoming homeless. The building, which was vacant for 17 years, now includes a full-size gymnasium and several dozen rooms for various activities. Governor Keating, in speaking to the group assembled, shared: "The government can't heal souls, but organizations like John 3:16 can be the answer." Keatings father-in-law once served as the mission's director. Phil Dickinson, Executive Director shared: "the new center will be a place where family's needs can be met holistically, but unlike other social service agencies, we will try to take care of peoples' body, mind, and spiritual needs." Ben Lindsey, Executive Director, FREDERICK (MD) RESCUE MISSION, has announced his retirement as of Dec. 31. He says that he will be seeking other ways to serve and asked for our prayers. NEW MINISTRIES - EXPANSION
Hats off to Del Maxfield and the DENVER RESCUE MISSION for their commitment to PRINCE GEORGE (BC) GOSPEL MISSION. For the past two months, staffers of the Denver Mission have been on-site helping Andrew Lennox, Executive Director. The Mission is now open in its new facilities and now has ten men in its recovery program. They have already outgrown the store space and will soon be opening a larger store down the street. The IUGM EXPANSION FUND helped them tell their story to the community through their Christmas mailing. INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
News From Bogota from Pan De Vida
The American financial embargo of Colombian exports and trade is felt more and more here in Colombia. We feel it specially in the big cities by higher costs of food. The guerrilla war has made this situation worse, because they control and cut the most important roads in the country.
The children of God are exposed to the wily attack from the evil one. There are weekly news [reports] telling about assassinations of Christians. The guerrilla movement sometimes massacres Christians in the northwest of Colombia. In Bogota, sources tell about inhuman violence on street children and others on the street. Leonaro, 16, a street child was recently shot through the mouth. Everywhere in the streets of Bogota, we must be aware of gangs and robber.
Merryann (Flemming's wife) was operated on for a chronic sinusitis on the 24th of September. She is recovering well. The Pan De Vida property has been purchased, and we owe $5,000. The deed for the farm was ratified in September. A new Christian rehabilitation program for teenage mothers has just started. It is a one year program for women 13-17 years of age with babies. The girls in the teenage program "Come Back" have been employed producing didactic games. This helps financially.
Those wishing to help financially, can send funds for Pan De Vida to Evergreen Bank, Corinth Office, Corinth, NY 12822. Bank account # is 1386742485.
Report from Flemming Kjaer, President
Pan De Vida, Columbia (edited for space)
PROGRAM POT POURRI
FREDERICK (MD) RESCUE MISSION has developed a way to keep their chapel services relevant to those taking part. They have required that each speaker "know the names" of six residents before they speak the first time. Before the second time, they must know the names of the children of the six residents, and so forth. Ben Lindsey, Executive Director reports: "we seem to have overcome this problem of religiosity . . . lives are being changed . . . residents are growing in their faith. Our reputation has spread to the point that people from other states have come to discern our secret."
From the December 1996 edition of HAPPENINGS, monthly newsletter of the International Union of Gospel Missions