News of the IUGM & Our Member Missions
March/April 1999

Districts, member organizations and individual members may submit the names of candidates, or individual members may submit their own names to IUGM, 1045 Swift, N. Kansas City, MO 64116. Candidates must submit the following:

• A one page resume delineating qualifications.
• A letter acknowledging willingness to serve and the office(s) for which the candidate is willing to serve.
• A letter or other communications from the candidate's Board of Directors approving the submittal when applicable.

Those submitting names should request the above material from the suggested candidate. Deadline for submission is Friday, May 14, 5 p.m. CDT. The materials must be in our office by that time for submission to the Nominating Committee.

Districts and individuals are encouraged to share their views with members of the Nominating Committee. The following are the appointed members:

• Northwest: George Verley, St. Paul, MN, Chair
• Central: Curt Thomas, Akron, OH
• Mideast: Bryan Yesilonis, Harrisburg, PA
• Niagara: Jenette Sanders, Utica, NY
• North Pacific: Rick Phillips, Yakima, WA
• Northeast: David Palmer, New York, NY
• Pacific: Vern Deatherage, Modesto, CA
• Plains and Mts.: Bob Timberlake, Omaha, NE
• Southeastern: Tom Bennett, Greenville, SC
• Southern: Leo Gray, Pensacola, FL
• Southwest: Sky Martinez, San Antonio, TX

The Nominating Committee will be meeting on Saturday, May 22 at 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree Spokane City Center Hotel, Spokane, WA.

New Districts

The ten new districts in four regions will be organized on Monday, May 24, 1999 at 4 p.m. during the annual convention in Spokane, WA. They are:

• Western Region - Pacific Northwest, Pacific, Mountains
• Central Region - North Central, South Central, Midwest
• Eastern Region - Northeast, Mideast
• Southeast Region - Mid-South, Southern

Nominating Committees are now in place for each new district. Election of new district officers will take place by mail, and installation will take place at the convention. The present districts are still in operation until the organizational meeting on May 24, 1999.

RESCUE COLLEGE UPDATE

Rescue College is an Internet-based distance education program that utilizes an on-site training component. The curriculum is a unique distance learning experience that incorporates the actual operations of a Rescue mission or other approved ministry as both "laboratory" and "classroom." The independent study component includes:

• Assigned readings
• Listening to audio tapes
• Preparing written research projects
• Proctored examinations
• On-line discussion and collaboration with other students and faculty members
• Other guided learning experiences

The college courses are offered via the Internet. Assignments and examinations are submitted via e-mail and the World Wide Web.   Students can download enrollment forms, register for courses, and pay for them on-line. Therefore, all students must have is their own personal Internet e-mail address and access to the World Wide Web. Some assistance is available to assist them to connect to the Internet. In many cases, access through public libraries and free e-mail services is sufficient.

The course work involves students in directed observation, analysis, data gathering, and evaluation of the various aspects of a rescue mission's operations. If prospective students have no current involvement with a rescue mission or similar approved ministry, they must participate in a supervised internship. Course work in Rescue College can be applied to our certificate program, our Associate in Rescue Ministry or Bachelor in Rescue Ministry degrees or for personal enrichment.

1999 RESCUE College Academic Calendar

These 3 credit hour courses each run eight weeks in length. Class size is limited to 15 Students. Those participating can expect to spend 6-10 hours per week in online activities, reading and research assignments, and listening to instructional audio tapes. The cost of the courses is $50.00 per credit hour, with material costs averaging $50 - $70.

To learn more, contact the IUGM Education Department at 1-800-624-5156  or visit the web site _ http://college.iugm.org

FREE SWEATERS

Humanity Resources has men and women's ski-type pull-over sweaters available for missions to distribute. In units of 25, up to 50 per mission. These are new and manufacturer's returns. Adult sizes. Have lots of women's sweaters. E-mail your request to harvey@a-o.com. For more information, call 828-692-3687. Leave a message and include any questions. They will call you back.

OUR MISSIONS

• VICTORY CENTER RESCUE MISSION, Clinton, IA has received a $367,750 grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a transitional housing project. The money will be used to purchase and renovate a former railroad barracks to house women and children. Ray Gimenez, Executive Director, hopes that they will be able to start the project by summer.
  
  
• UNION GOSPEL MISSION, Sacramento, CA has received two foundation grants for vocational training. One is for $5000 from the Schlinger Foundation, and one is for $25,000 from the Haldis Scampi Trust.
  
  
• Phase l has been accomplished at the UNION GOSPEL MISSION, Sioux Falls, SD. The new facilities, which replace the building destroyed by fire, include a new kitchen and dining room, chapel, and dormitory. They were open for the holidays.
  
  
• HOSPITALITY HOUSE, Wenatchee, WA has completed the purchase of their new shelter and residence of transition home for women and their children. This will enlarge the scope of their ministry.
  
  
• NEW LIFE MISSION, Kamloops, BC reports that in April 1998 they began to pray for a Women's Recovery Centre. By summer, 8 women and 2 men had formed a committee to work and pray toward a home for women with addictions. One of the needs was a suitable place and "in October the Lord provided a beautiful home through the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church." The home had been empty since August, and they had been looking for someone to use it for a good cause. They hope to have it open by April, and are praying relating to renovation, licensing, furnishings and qualified staff. Their new men's recovery center is scheduled to open in March.
  
  
• Bert Harrison of HOPE RESCUE MISSION, South Bend, IN has been awarded the Ed Dargis Community Leader Award given by the Michiana Coalition on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Bert has been a leader in the South Bend community in addiction ministry. He served as the executive director of the mission, and now serves on the staff.
  
  
• GOOD NEWS RESCUE MISSION, Redding, CA has been named the Outstanding Organization of the Year by the Association of Non-Profit Professionals, Shasta Region. 700 nonprofits were eligible. The award was given at an annual civic luncheon.
  
  
• ROCKFORD (IL) RESCUE MISSION hoped to be all moved in by the end of January. Their beautiful brand new facilities, named Hope Place, had its ribbon cutting on November l8. "We acknowledge this as a gift from God", stated Gerald Pitney, mission founder, as he offered the prayer of dedication. "It is nothing more than an instrument…. It will be used to teach and change people's hearts, minds, and lives." "This is God's Place," shared Executive Director Perry Pitney as community leadership gathered to see this beautiful new home of the mission. "To God Be the Glory."
  
  
• AMERICA'S KESWICK, Whiting NJ, reports the following about the men involved in their 120 day Colony of Mercy program (first 8 months of 1998):

  • 95% are first time entrants
  • 50% completed the program
  • Of the 109 men that took part, 12 stayed for further discipleship
  • Average age was 38 years old
  • 58% were high school graduates, less than 1% had any college
  • 61% were never married, 23% are married, 2% separated or divorced
  • 35% were addicted to cocaine, 25% alcohol, 21% heroin
  • Other substances used included marijuana, LSD, speed, and barbiturates
  • In almost every case, marijuana was involved, but not listed as primary
  • 71% of those completing the program are still doing well after 8 months
  • Of the 12 who stayed for discipleship training, 10 are doing very well

From the February 1999 edition of HAPPENINGS, monthly newsletter of the International Union of Gospel Missions