Fall 2018 • Volume 54 • Issue 4

R O C K F O R D R E S C U E M I S S I O N

P.O. Box 1958 • 715 West State St. • Rockford, IL 61110 • (815) 965-5332 • rockfordrescuemission.org • info@rockfordrescuemission.org Rockford Rescue Mission shares hope and help in Jesus’ name to move people from homelessness and despair toward personal and spiritual wholeness.

You’ll be moved by his story on Page 5.

Today, Rex is on a path to a new beginning – and his heart is filled with gratitude for friends like you who are making his journey possible.

“I was hitting rock bottom… living a destructive life.”

How Your Gifts Are Changing Hearts

and LivesJanuary – July 2018

Advocacy

6,286total sessions

Food

124,722meals served

Shelter

37,569nights of lodging

Financial support from individuals, churches, businesses and organizations

make our programs and services possible. Your continued generosity truly blesses our

ministry and those we serve.

Medical Care

748clinic appointments

Spiritual Guidance

1,858spiritual decisions

Dear Friend,

Did you know loneliness can lead to homelessness? According to recent studies, relationship breakdown is a leading cause of homelessness, and feeling isolated and alone can lead to health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

But the feeling of community found inside our Mission walls – where God’s love and grace abound – can heal a hurting person from the inside out. In the care of our compassionate staff and volunteers, and in fellowship with others who are seeking a sense of belonging, they become part of a family of faith that provides the structure for a healthy, stable and meaningful life.

The holidays can be an especially lonely time for those who are homeless and separated from their families. Yet the season gives us the perfect opportunity to embrace and welcome them into ours. As God’s children, we should all be made to feel that we belong. And your continued support ensures we have the facilities and resources to fill lonely hearts with joy and thanksgiving, all year long.

We need each other. We need you! I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to be an active and vital part of our Mission family. God bless you.

Partners in Hope,

Sherry Pitney Executive Director

ReflectionsFROM THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Sherry Pitney is grateful for generous partners whose gifts provide healing and a sense of belonging to those who are homeless and lonely.

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Clothing & Personal Hygiene

163,841 items distributed

Education & Career Assistance

684Works! Center participants

Visit rockfordrescuemission.org for the latest information on these and other upcoming events.MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Executive Director Tour and Lunch, 11 AM • Rockford Rescue Mission, 715 West State StreetTo reserve your place or for more details, call (815) 965-5332.

Community Thanksgiving Banquet, NoonRockford Rescue Mission • 715 West State Street

Community Christmas Banquet, NoonRockford Rescue Mission • 715 West State Street

September 26October 24

November 28 Wednesday

November 21 Wednesday

December 24Monday

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D I D Y O U K N O W ?

That’s a lot of sheets, bath linens and clothing, plus kitchen towels

and cleaning cloths!

LAUNDRY FOR

1 5 0GUESTS A NIGHT!

THE MISSION WASHES

A vital part of our Men’s Life Recovery Program, our Servanthood Projects offer our residents opportunities to give back to

their communities in a variety of ways. Projects are held each Friday, and program participants provide helping hands with physical tasks such as landscaping, cleanup work, office moves and other forms of labor.

“Our Servanthood Projects empower residents with a sense of dignity, knowing they

are providing a great service to their neighbors in return for the life-changing guidance, direction and education they are being offered,” says Men’s Program Supervisor Mike Hedrick. “And as they work alongside community members in many kinds of environments, they see firsthand examples of sound work ethic and the success of lives lived substance free.”

In turn, the program also allows the community to see that these hard-working men can and will be positive and productive members of our society, given the appropriate support, love and accountability.

Through this program that benefits both our residents and the community, participants have served with the Rockford Fire Department, the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce and many local church congregations. They have also taken part in Rockford Sharefest, a community-wide volunteering activity that includes lake and park district cleanup.

If your church, business or civic organization has a project that could use some willing hearts and helping hands, please contact Greg Cooney at (815) 965-5332, ext. 150, or gregcooney@rockfordrescuemission.org.

Servanthood Projects Allow

Please help! Donate any brand of powdered laundry detergent, in containers of any size. Deliver your donation to 715 West State Street in Rockford, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

FAL18

Rockford Rescue MissionP.O. Box 1958Rockford, IL 61110-0458

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY / STATE / ZIP

rockfordrescuemission.org (815) 965-5332

CREDIT CARD #

EXP. DATE CIV/SEC#

PHONE #

EMAIL

FAADAFFTDDDTATDATFADTAFDFADDTAADFFTADDDFTTDDADTTTAATADTADTFAFDTFF

DONATE NOW!

m $28 to provide one night of shelter, hot meals and life essentialsm $55 to provide one day of healing through your Life Recovery Programm $75 to provide education and life-skills training m $__________ to help as much as possible

My Heartfelt Thanksgiving Giftm CHECK ENCLOSED m BILL MY CREDIT CARD

m m m m

Employees from Practice Velocity, a local medical software provider, began

partnering with the Mission in January, after a team member recommended our ministry to be this year’s recipient of the company’s support. In addition to a goal of encouraging volunteer participation from 60 percent of its team members, Practice Velocity has also pledged to secure $7,500 in donations.

“Not only has our association with the Mission enhanced relationships by encouraging team members to volunteer with their associates, it also brings awareness to the needs of our community and the resources that can be shared,” says Practice Velocity Marketing Specialist, Sarah Lee. “We believe the Mission is doing amazing work in the community and has truly helped change lives in the Rockford area.”

“I appreciated how easy it was to set up this opportunity. We emailed the Volunteer Coordinator to let him know when we were available and how many people would come, and that was all it took. When we got there, they had everything we needed to start working right away. I also appreciated the opportunity to get to know some of my teammates better. It’s always fun to learn more about your coworkers by interacting with them outside of the office. And given that I am relatively new to Practice Velocity, it was helpful in forming strong bonds with some of the people I work closest to every day.” – Practice Velocity team member and recent volunteer

Recognition and encouragement are important parts of the recovery process. That’s why we celebrate not only the completion of our Life Recovery Program, but also important milestones along the way. Ceremonies are held the first Friday of each month to honor those who have finished

each of the program’s four stages, as well as those who have achieved special accomplishments.

We recognize men and women who have completed their basic and advanced vocational training at Restoration Cafe and those who finish vocabulary, math, Word and Excel lessons in our Works! Center. We also celebrate those who have passed a GED exam. One of the most moving parts of each ceremony is when participants offer their testimonies, sharing details of the life transformation your gifts are making possible.

Celebrating Milestones ON THE JOURNEY TO RECOVERY

Volunteer Spotlight…

Practice Velocity!

Resurrected Rex

“I go by a new name now,” says Rex, a recent graduate of our Life Recovery Program. “Resurrected Rex,” as he refers to himself today, describes perfectly the transformation that has taken place in his life since coming to the Mission.

At age 28, he surrendered to the Lord and gave up the destructive behaviors he had developed over the years as a way of coping with the hurt and hardships he experienced as a child. From the age of 7, he took on the responsibility of caring for his younger siblings while his mother and stepfather worked, and he endured painful attacks by bullies who mocked him.

As he grew older, he began fighting back, encouraged by the only people who seemed to be on his side. “I found love in a gang, because I didn’t have it at home,” he says. When his actions divided his family, he left… at only 15.

Now on his own, he relied on street smarts to survive. Drug abuse and the illicit actions required to support his habit soon dominated his life. Finally, knowing the path he was on would only end in incarceration, he turned to the Mission.

Our faith-based program of recovery, advocacy and job training is what drew Rex to our doors. He had felt the Lord’s presence early on in his life but didn’t respond to it. “It wasn’t until I came to the Mission that I was actually introduced to Christ,” he explains. “And when I surrendered to Him, I began to see the blessings come.”

One of those blessings, he shares, is Brad Vander Heyden, owner of Advanced Chimney Systems, whom he met at a Mission event. Brad was so moved by Rex’s story and godly demeanor that he offered him a job when he graduated.

Today, Rex is employed as a fireplace technician, doing installation and repair work. He has his own home and is a member of Heartland Church, where he volunteers with Celebrate Recovery. He also continues to be part of our Mission family. “I’m grateful for all the blessings that have been bestowed on me, and I can’t do it without God and the Mission,” he says. “That’s why I’m staying connected and reaching out to others now.”

With a heart of Thanksgiving, Rex shares these words with Mission partners like you:

“I’m very grateful God is using you to help others. Without you, there wouldn’t be hope for someone like me.”

Thank you for your gift today and continued generosity.5

“I’m grateful every day that I wake up.”

“After meeting Rex, it became evident he has a servant’s heart and skills that could help with becoming a fireplace technician. He has become a valuable asset to our company, and in his daily work shows evidence of a life changed by Christ.”  – Brad Vander Heyden, President, Advanced Chimney Systems

An Epidemic of EXCESS

M ore than any country in the world, the U.S. is known for its tendency toward excess. Research data compiled at

becomingminimalists.com reveals:• There are 300,000 items in the

average American home.• The average American throws

away 65 pounds of clothing per year.• 25 percent of people with two-car

garages don’t have room to actually park cars inside them.In 2 Corinthians 9:8 we are offered a clear perspective: “And God is able to

make all grace overflow to you, so that, in all things and at all times, having all you need, you may overflow in every kind of good work.” Is God calling you to “give away” some excess in order to simplify your life and be a blessing to others?

Since being signed into law, the charitable IRA rollover has been a great tax planning strategy for donors “giving away” between $100 and $100,000. When you make a direct transfer from your IRA to a charity like Rockford Rescue Mission, the gift:

• Remains outside your adjusted gross income• Is tax-free• Will impact lives for generations to come

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For the full version of this article, ask for a FREE copy of “Transform Your Excess into Impact” by contacting Ted Tomita at (815) 965-5332 or tedtomita@rockfordrescuemission.org, or bless your family today with a God-honoring will at christianwill.org/rrm.

Here are just a few of the many ways you can fill hearts with gratitude and bring hope to your neighbors in need…

Respond to this newsletter with a generous gift.

Volunteer to assist with our special fall activities and events.

Donate goods to our Thrift Store and shop there for your family’s needs.

Pray for the families and individuals your partnership allows us to serve.

Follow us on for news of current needs and stories of changed lives.

To learn more about these and other partnership opportunities, visit rockfordrescuemission.org.

Ways to Help This Holiday Season

SPEND A DOLLAR – CHANGE A LIFE!

$5 OFF A PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE

SHOP NOW FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHES

2710 20TH STREET • ROCKFORD, IL 611099 A.M. - 7 P.M. (MON. - FRI.) • 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. (SAT.)

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE MINISTRY OF ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION

LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER • NO CASH VALUECANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS

OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/2018

As you give thanks for your blessings this Thanksgiving, those in our care will be giving thanks too – for you and for the gifts of comfort, compassion and life-changing opportunity you so generously provide for them.

Please continue your heartfelt support with a gift today. Because you care, your neighbors in need can overcome their challenges and embrace a new beginning.

48,156Meals Served

11,419Nights of Lodging

1,872Advocacy Sessions

This Thanksgiving Season Alone...

with grateful hearts