Small Sacrifices, Lasting Legacy – Walking in Solidarity with Christ
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”[1]
One of the earliest practices in the Christian Church is that of Lent, with written mentions of the practice dating as early as the fourth century. It is a time of fasting, reflection, and repentance, in solidarity with the greater body of Christ both globally and memorially. During Lent we remember the fasting of Jesus for 40 days and nights in the wilderness, culminating in the celebration of His resurrection.
Like many traditions that are a part of the Christian Church calendar, especially if you have been raised in a protestant evangelical denomination (like I was), this may feel very foreign. I would like to suggest a different possibility and maybe even encourage some to reconsider the value of grafting older traditions into our practice.
For many, the thought of tradition has a connotation of churchiness and vain repetition, but God taught His people to teach one another this way. Consider practices like Passover, the building of altars, or even the communion meal. He would say to His people, “… that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’”[2] or “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”[3] They were memory tools designed to teach each new generation who they were and what God had done. God would have these memorials scattered across the landscape and across the calendar all designed to connect His people with one another both in the present and in the past.
What an amazing way to remember, to take part in the experience and suffering of another. Especially when we recognize that Jesus came and suffered in order to take part in and experience our own suffering. Yet in our modern context here in 21st century America we tend to be very disinclined towards suffering, much less intentionally placing a reminder on our calendar to willingly suffer in solidarity with someone else. How beautiful was it that our early Christian fathers had the foresight to recognize that Gods people might need reminded, annually, on a calendar!
Small sacrifices, Eternal impact
Whether or not you fast during this season of lent, the sacrifices you share make a difference. They demonstrate your faith that God is your provider and that He cares for you. They stand as a testimony to your family should they ask why you support organizations like ours and you can tell of Gods life changing power. And of course, standing in solidarity with the sufferings of Christ and others reminds us that our comfort is not the highest reward in life, but it is Christ Himself who is our reward.
We exist to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of Christ to the homeless and to make known His goodness to the world around us. We can only do this together with His people, and your gifts and sacrifices towards this end are truly appreciated. Together we can do great things!
Brian Bouteller – Executive Director
The Right Deal – How Tim Played His Hand and Won
Tim has been in and out of the Mission for over 5 years. He has a friendly, cheerful disposition but at times struggled with paranoia, only made worse by a checkered past that he felt was trying to catch up to him. For a couple of years he was our laundry lead at the Mission, which kind of added to his feeling of being watched or tracked causing him to barely venture outside. He would leave for 6 months to a year, living in his car, and travelling around on a very limited social security income. After my second go around like this I was starting to feel that we were not what Tim needed. Yes, he was safe and alive here, but he was not advancing, and in some ways would digress during his stay with us.
When he called and asked if he would be able to come back to the Mission I decided to give him one more chance but told him up front things would be different this time. I had him work at our 2nd Chance thrift store which forced him to be out and about amongst people, walking back and forth through the downtown area. This seemed to ease his feelings of being trapped. I also told him he absolutely needed to get an apartment or something as a home base. If he still wanted to travel around he needed his own housing. A timeframe of 3 months was given because I was not going to do another round of long residency without much progress.
We looked into several housing options for seniors and got on multiple wait lists. Fortunately, I had him apply at an Elderly or Disabled apartment complex that would provide meals at the right time. The waitlist was usually long, but went quickly enough to enable him to move in within the timeframe I had set. He had some money saved up, so I was able to take him shopping to get his apartment set up. He has been there now for about 9 months and is really thriving. He has a good group of friends and meets regularly to play rummy. For a single 64-year-old man, he is living the dream! He even has me over for lunch sometimes, where he makes a great tuna fish sandwich with just the right amount of sweet relish.
In Tims case, along with many other men at the Mission, once I convinced him that he could do it, have his own place, and that I would help walk with him through the process, a change happened in him. He now has a confidence and a freedom that he hasn’t had for a very long time. It was over 10 years that he had gone without a stable home. I prefer cribbage over rummy, but I still look forward to joining him and his newfound friends for cards.
Bobby Galli – Men’s Coordinator
The Road to Safe Haven – A Grandmother’s Courageous Escape
For over 20 years Anne lived in silence, trapped in a marriage that drained her spirit and isolated her from the world and her family. This was her second marriage, and she was determined to honor her vows and have a lasting relationship with the man she loved. But as the years went by the love she had once hoped for was replaced with control, manipulation and cruelty. Her husband’s words cut deeper than any wound he inflicted, belittling her worth and shattering her confidence. Emotional and physical abuse left her feeling like a prisoner in her own home. She prayed daily for change, but the cycle continued with shallow apologies followed by more pain until she had had enough. She told him she was going shopping and left with nothing but her purse, 3 layers of clothes, her pockets stuffed with her jewelry, her granddaughter, and the faith that she would be OK if she just didn’t turn around.
With her heart pounding in fear and faith she traveled to a local food bank and was met by a woman who gave them shelter for two months off the grid. With her granddaughter reaching preschool age, she sought a place that would be better suited to having a school-aged child. Initially she went to her granddaughter’s father to see if he would assist them. His current situation was such that he was not able to provide them with the assistance they needed. Anne was given a resource guide that had the Gospel Rescue Missions phone number listed on it. She called and hesitantly asked “do you have rooms available for my granddaughter and I”? The resident assistant who answered the phone said, “Yes we do! Come prepared to stay”. Anne immediately felt relief and knew that she was going to be OK from that moment on. She knew that she was far enough away from her husband that she would not be easily found and that she and her granddaughter were finally safe.
Nights were the hardest for Anne. She would wake up and instinctively reach for the empty side of the bed, only to remember that she had chosen peace over pain. The doubt in her mind whispered cruel lies, like maybe he will change, maybe I should have tried harder, maybe I am the problem. Her self-worth and self-confidence shattered; she struggled to find a balance in her emotions. Slowly, through hearing Gods word and being encouraged by the chaplains and residents of the shelter she started to believe that she was not a failure, she was not forsaken, and she was following God’s calling to walk in His light. Anne wasn’t the only one struggling.
Her granddaughter Lily adored her grandfather. Though too young to understand the depth of what had happened, she could sense the change. Both Anne and Lily were very quiet when they arrived here. Neither of them talked much. Anne initially struggled to help Lily cope, but as she settled in and felt safe with the distance from her husband, she was able to help Lily move through her big emotions. Soon after arriving, Anne enrolled Lily into head start. It wasn’t long before Lily was talking up a storm, becoming friendly with everyone in the house and letting her little (big) personality shine.
At first, the road was terrifying. But little by little, Anne rediscovered herself. She filed for divorce, was elevated to resident leadership at the shelter and her faith deepened. Not because life was suddenly easy, but because she had learned firsthand that God’s peace was stronger than any storm.
Today, Anne and Lily shine so brightly in this house that it’s hard to imagine them being so fragile just months ago. I am truly inspired by Anne’s grace through the storm, her resolve to heal, to help Lily heal, and to encourage other women in need. They amaze me every day and bring a smile to my face even at the thought of them.
Monica Conley – Women’s Coordinator
National Conversation, Local Impact
Gospel Rescue Mission on Dr. Phil
Well… after having all of the major news outlets across the country along with many international journalists, we finally hit the big time… er… uh… something. We made it on the Dr. Phil show!!!
Kidding aside, last year when all the national media was rolling through town, our staff and clients, along with many others in our community, were interviewed by a team from Dr. Phil’s show, and it finally aired. You can find the full two-part episode (EP249 and EP350) on YouTube. If you want to go directly to the cuts from the Mission interview they are in episode 350 at the 22-minute mark and the 35-minute mark. Dr. Phil did a good job at exposing the most relevant views on the topic, even having a couple of folks from Grants Pass in his studio, and we felt he was gracious in basically giving the Gospel Rescue Mission the last word. This topic is not showing signs of leaving the national stage any time soon so keep your eyes open and please keep us in your prayers.
Giving Your Used Items…
A Second Chance!
At the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission, we believe in transformation. We provide shelter, job training, and mentorship to help individuals break free from homelessness and become thriving members of the community. With every donation to or purchase from our Second Chance Thrift Stores, you’re helping someone take their next step toward independence.
To learn more check out https://secondchancegp.com/
or give us a call at (541) 479-9748
Thank you for making a difference!
