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Cover Article
When
Mom Can’t, God (and We) Can
Almost everyone can identify with the
dependence of children on Mothers. They bring us into this world; then they feed
us, clothe us, and clean us up whe n we are messy. They help us learn to talk and
walk, and then they teach us how to use those blessed abilities! They cry when
we get on the school bus for the first time, and they wipe away our tears when
troubles come to us. They advise us about choosing good friends, and they make
us do other things that are good for us. If we are blessed, we live long enough
to appreciate them for their input in our lives; and hopefully they live long
enough to hear us say, “Thanks.”
Sometimes Moms have to cut us loose
from depending on them too much. Somehow not everyone learns when and how to
take care of themselves (and then to help take care of those who did so much for
them!). Then there are those occasions where Mom passes away, and her help is
out of reach. We meet many people (mostly men) who fall into one of those “Mom
can’t help me any more” categories.
 Mom’s absence doesn’t end the need for
wise counsel in the vicissitudes (“unexpected changes”) of life. The boy who
looked to Mom for clothes, laundry, meals, and love is now the man who still
needs those things. Very often in our encounters, we see men who have left a
trail of broken male-female relationships behind them. The wife who should be
there to complete this incomplete creature (and we are all incomplete to some
degree) isn’t there, by her choice, or his.
Enter the Rescue Mission. Granted, an
organization, even a ministry, cannot be to a man all that he needs. Yet with
the Lord’s help, we can provide counsel, clothes, meals, and even do some
laundry for a man (all, of course, on a limited and temporary basis). We can
definitely show the love of God in Christ by kind words pleasantly spoken, by
acts of kindness done one-on-one or in groups. We can share the life-changing
gospel of Christ that is the supreme proof and act of God’s love to mankind.
“God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son...”
 We impress often on our staff that how we treat a man who is
“down on his luck” may be how he perceives God. So our house rules, designed to
help people get along when living in large numbers in close quarters, must be
administered in kindness and love. Our wonderful plates of food are not an end
in themselves, but a way of showing people God’s love. A ride to the probation
office should be more than just “getting a lift;” it should be an opportunity to
lift a man’s spirits. Keeping a clean and orderly facility is designed to create
an environment of peace and comfort for troubled souls who find themselves our
guests. All of this is about showing men that we care because God cares.
If in our many encounters with needy people, we can remind
them of mother’s love, and if we can show them God’s love, there is a much
greater chance that the gospel can penetrate their hearts and bring them to God.
Then, and only then, can life begin to really be what God meant it to be. Pray
often and fervently for us as we labor in the trenches, snatching men from the
fires of this world. Keep our names before the throne of grace so that we can
effectively minister to those who come to us with such great needs. Your
prayers, gifts, encouraging words, and helping hands enhance and enlarge our
ministry opportunities. We are so very grateful to God for you.
Superintendent's
Corner
Moms & Dads
Many little children think they have the most beautiful Mom
in the world. They also often think that their Dad can do just about anything.
It’s strange how as they get older, they think less noble things about their
parents. It is not uncommon for kids to wish they had different parents, but it
is most commonly unkind. Then comes the maturity to know the real value of the
parents and parenting you had. How eye-opening this can be!
The older I become, and the farther removed from having
living parents I grow, the more I appreciate what God gave me in them. I can say
the same about my wife’s parents, even though her mother is still living. Each
family prepared us well for our own family. They instilled in us ethics and
values that abide even now. I often remark that Barbara is “low-maintenance,” in
a good way. Jim & Lena did not spoil her with “stuff,” and that has made my job
of provision much easier.
I was raised in a very similar economic environment, and
contentment with our station in life comes easy. My mom was a homemaker, and my
wife stepped right into that role in the home we established. Both were happy in
a career of keeping a home and raising a family, and I am doubly blessed because
of that. Mom was there after school to help put the pieces of the day back
together. It has been a joy for me to have Barbara continue that tradition and
greet me at home after the work day. It is an added thrill to see the mothers of
our grandchildren doing the same!
For the values of home, family, Christ, church, and country,
we can thank our parents. It was their examples of honesty, integrity,
patriotism, holiness, industry, purity, spousal faithfulness, and more that
paved the way for any success we experience in life. It is my desire to glorify
God and honor our parents by telling just a little of our story here.
For those with living parents, take time to honor them while you can. No one
ever repented of honoring their parents; no one ever failed to honor them
without regret. “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon
the land...”
A Note From Alan
Transition Time
Most of you are familiar with our Overcomers Program - a life skills program
that allows men to spend several months focusing on God’s work in their lives.
During this time their physical needs are met to relieve the stress of paying
bills, buying groceries, paying rent, etc.
However, you may not be as familiar with the next phase – the Work Transition
Program (WTP). This is a six-month program where an Overcomer makes his way back
into the working world. While continuing to reside at PRM, he secures his own
employment. He is required to have his finances monitored to insure he is
properly preparing to exit the Mission altogether.
Mr. Fox is one gentlemen currently (at the time of this writing) going through
the WTP. He has done very well!! He catches the bus in downtown Newport News and
rides to near Ft. Eustis. There he meets up with the rest of the crew and rides
a work van another forty-five minutes to reach the site where he operates a fork
lift for a concrete construction company.
Sadly many of our program men do not make it to this level. Some leave before
they complete the Overcomers Program. Others leave after getting only a couple
of paychecks in their pockets. However, Mr. Fox seems to understand the value of
this program. He is saving money which will enable him to be more selective as
he looks for a place to live.
Our goal is, of course, to help make the transition back into the working world
as smooth as possible. This smooth transition increases the chances that men
will not become discouraged or overwhelmed, and, in the process, abandon their
walk with the Lord.
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