SHERRARD PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL DISTRICT
David Sherrard, Executive Director of the RESCUE MISSION OF MAHONING VALLEY, Youngstown, OH is the new President of the Central District, due to the resignation of Gregory Preihs who has left rescue mission ministry.
SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS RULING
Good News for the CAPITAL CITY RESCUE MISSION, Albany, NY. After a long and difficult court battle, the Supreme Court-Appellate Division overturned a ruling of a lower court and the ruling of the city's Board of Zoning Appeal and cleared the way for the mission to proceed with a planned expansion into a new $2 million plus building. The lower court had agreed with the city that the mission should be considered a rooming house, not a charitable religious organization for zoning. In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated:
Here, it is not disputed that petitioner's functions are not for profit. Its mission statement also reflects its religious status. The proposed uses of the facility include providing food, clothing, shelter, counseling, medical care, educational training, and spiritual guidance to disadvantaged individuals. Even if we accepted respondent's conclusion that these activities do not fall within the definition of a house of worship, we fail to see how they do mot comport with the definition of a religious or charitable institution. Indeed, respondent never addressed this issue in its decision, although it was clearly raised by petitioner.
The city still has an opportunity to appeal. Mayor Jerry Jennings is hoping to work with the mission, and wants to help them at a different location. Executive Director Perry Jones says the mission is open to alternatives but was elated with the court decision. He said plans are underway, and a ground breaking will be soon. The mission has been searching for a new home for the past 15 years, and it looks as if it is coming closer. Let's all just keep praying.
BURGER'S BOOK GETTING GOOD REVIEWS
Delores Burger's book, Women Who Changed the Heart of the City, continues to get good reviews. The following review is from CBA Marketplace, a trade magazine dealing with Christian bookstores. They review approximately 25-30 of the over 200 new books published each month.
Burger pays tribute to women who were instrumental in the development of the rescue missions movement in the United States. While the main focus is women, she also recognizes essential men and husband-and-wife teams who have contributed to this movement.
Burger takes readers back 100 years to a time when Christians responded in a dynamic way to desperate social and spiritual conditions." She ways the rescue missions have been founded by some unlikely people--pastors, socialites, and people who were considered societal misfits.
Powerful testimonies paint a vivid pictures of city life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These stories reveal a startling resemblance to today's inner-city problems. They also give real-life examples of how God can use ordinary people to change a city by sharing the love of Jesus.
--Nancy Kanafani
COUNCILS MEET
The District President's and Track Chair Councils met recently in Kansas City. They heard reports from staff on each area of IUGM service, and discussed how the members can be better served. They discussed the District Boundary Task force recommendations and the plan to have them discussed at each district. The concept of fall regional training institutes was discussed, and there was a feeling of unity about the need. Strong Track involvement and more specialized training was a key to regional training. The President's Council, at their annual meeting, re-elected their three representatives to the board. They are: Don Moody, Southeastern District, Orlando Union Rescue Mission; Sharon Smith, Southwest District, Wichita Falls, TX; and Lee Schmookler, Northeast District, Newark, NJ. The Track Council elected Leo Gray (Association of Christian Thrift Stores, Pensacola, FL). He will succeed Darryl Brake, who will complete his term in May. The new terms begin after the IUGM Convention.
WAFT & ACTS MEET
There were over 60 present at the Women and Family Track Conference in Kansas City, and over 100 present at the Association of Christian Thrift Stores Conference in Fort Walton Beach, FL. From the reports, both conferences were a great success, but lots of work. Hats off to Lorraine Minor, Chair of WAFT, and Leo Gray, Chair of ACTS and all those that helped them make these conferences great training and networking opportunities.
PACIFIC DISTRICT ELECTS GILMAN
Jeff Gilman, Executive Director of the REDWOOD GOSPEL MISSION, Santa Rosa, CA has been elected the President of the Pacific District and will assume that responsibility following the IUGM Convention. He succeeds Giff Claiborne, who will continue as a member of the Board of Trustees.
UNDIE SUNDAY
Undie Sunday happened again at the SPRINGFIELD (MA) RESCUE MISSION in the month of February. Last year over 1,500 items were donated including underwear, socks, Tee shirts, and women's undergarments. Churches and businesses took part (for businesses it was called Undie Monday). This is a great idea during a quiet period for gaining support, and certainly meets a need, and shares with the church the vital services provided. This is also an idea that volunteers and retirees could promote in their churches whether there was a city-wide campaign or not. For more information on the Springfield program, call Heather at 413/732-0808.
NEWS FROM LOCAL MISSIONS
For the last 10 years, we have been ministering to the centers of prostitution in Bombay. But not until 1996 did we get any response. Our prayer group was praying with teams. By His grace we have found an opening in 1997. God has helped us start a prayer meeting near one of the houses of prostitution. Six have accepted Christ and they want to get rid of this bondage. In order to bring them out we must provide food, shelter, and responsible work. We are trying to rent a house in the area to minister from. It will cost about $3,520. Kindly pray for this need and responsible work. Jaya Thasiah Bombay City Mission Bombay Revival and Prayer Band 17/199, Smruthi, Sion (East) Bombay, India 400 022(Editor's Note: Why not drop Jaya a note of encouragement. They are doing a fine work in a most desperate place.)
Almanah Rescue Mission is now official. It is in Jos, Nigeria, and is operated by Rose Galadima. Rose got interested in Rescue Mission ministry while a student at Trinity in Illinois. Rose reports that they are working with 120 widows and orphans, up from seven that she started that she started with two years ago. She has had to take a job at the ECWA Theological Seminary and is teaching Educational Administration. Their work has been caught in the Muslim/Christian conflicts, but they have continued to minister. They need a van which will cost between $5,000 - $6,000 for their outreach to widows beyond the city. They now have to depend on public transportation. If you would like to contact Rose, her address is Mrs. Rose B. Galadima, Almanah Rescue Mission, C/O ECWA HG, PO Box 63, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, W. Africa
From the March 1997 edition of HAPPENINGS, monthly newsletter of the International Union of Gospel Missions