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eReceipts Now Available
Electronic receipts will come to those who request them as
soon as that system is in place. You may receive another paper receipt or two,
but hopefully no more than that. The receipt will contain the same information
as the paper receipt, but will represent a significant cost savings to the
Rescue Mission. Currently the cost of producing and mailing a paper receipt is
82 cents each. The cost of each e-Receipt is 10 cents. Our desire is to be the
best possible stewards of the resources God provides to us through you.
If you wish to begin receiving e-Receipts for your donations,
simply email the following information to
alan@prm.info.
- Account Number (a 3 or 4 digit number that can be found on
any of your PRM paper receipts)
- First Name, Last Name, Full Address
- Email address where the e-Receipt should be sent
If you wish to continue receiving paper receipts then you do
not need to do anything.
Please call 380.6909 if there are any questions.
Cover Article
“VOLUNTEERS DON’T JUST TALK LOVE THEY SHOW IT!"
My! How people have shown love to others through the
Peninsula Rescue Mission! From December 21 to January 21, at least 26 times
groups came down to help serve meals - often bringing the food, and almost
always bringing dessert. Some would on occasion share testimonies and songs
while the men ate, and they would always stay and help clean up the kitchen.
What an encouragement both to the kitchen staff and to the residents of the
Mission this was - truly an expression of love!
The Christmas season seems to bring out the best in people. We were so blessed
with volunteers in large numbers for big events this year. The ladies auxiliary
did their normal outstanding job in preparing gift bags for our residents, and
they provided money to help us buy special gifts for them as well - this year it
was pillows representing each man’s favorite sports team. Over 20 people
gathered for the assembling of the gift bags for children, and what a job they
did! The Christmas Eve feast for the homeless was the best ever, aided by
volunteers from area churches. The service following was punctuated by music,
Scripture recitation, and passing out of gifts to residents by the children
present. We thank God for the seven families who pulled off this special
evening. What a night it was of showing love to those who feel so unloved.
As the body must be fed, so at the Mission we give great attention to nourishing
the soul. Chapel services occur nine times in a typical week. Five of them are
done by our staff, and the other four are conducted by groups from local
churches. In the time period mentioned above, 23 different groups (!) graced our
chapel with music, testimonies, and messages from God’s Word. It is thrilling to
partner with so many churches in this aspect of our ministry. We need the
churches, and the churches need us as outlets for ministry gifts for their
members. As you minister with us, you clearly show God’s great love.
Nearly every Wednesday of the year we receive a visit from a friend we
affectionately call “Coach.” He brings us most of the bread we use throughout
the week. Especially appealing to those of us with an overdeveloped (and
overworked!) sweet tooth are the pies, cakes, doughnuts, and other delicacies
that often accompany the bread. This dear brother will often visit a few moments
and share with us a word for the day from the Lord (a verse of Scripture and a
brief comment on it). Once again, his hands are God’s hands, delivering love to
our hearts.
About once each month we get a call from a dear lady who had two brothers come
through the Mission a good many years ago. Her son has attended our camp several
times, also. She lets me know that they (she and her son) will be down on a
certain Monday night to help with dinner and cut hair. Usually five to seven men
get a free haircut done by loving hands and a heart grateful for what the
Mission has meant in her own family. These dear folks really know how to show
love.
Demonstrating love goes quite a ways beyond just using words. Actions are the
real, acid test of compassion. The Scripture says, “Little children, let us not
love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” It is obvious that the
many volunteers mentioned above (and numerous others besides) obey that command
by volunteering in very practical ways at the Rescue Mission. May God bless that
growing tribe of volunteers who lighten our load, expand our ministry, and show
love to so many of our clients.
Superintendent's
Corner
Expressions of God’s Love
The love of God for humankind has been the subject of much
consideration. Poems have been written about it, many of which have been set to
music. One lyric that immediately comes to mind is, “The love of God is greater
far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star and
reaches to the lowest hell...” Those familiar with the song know that it’s
beauty does not end there; what a blessed description of how God shows His love
to us!
Sermons have been preached about it for many centuries, and I
have been blessed to hear quite a few of them in my brief sojourn here. I have
even preached a few myself. One of my favorites was from Ephesians 3:18, which
contains these words, “to grasp how wide and long and deep and high is the love
of Christ.” The four dimensions of God’s love are seen here, and a wonderful
parallel to John 3:16 can be easily observed. “How wide” recalls “For God so
loved the world...” The words “how long” suggest “that He gave His only-begotten
Son...” The phrase “how deep” brings to mind “that whosoever believeth in
Him...” Finally, when I read “how high,” I cannot help but think of “should not
perish, but have everlasting life.”
Few things in life thrill me like finding such a nugget as
this in Scripture. But let me tell you about some other expressions of God’s
love that add to my joy. Recently in the shelter here, a man became sick in the
restroom after hours. A clean-up was in order, someone might have knocked on a
staff door to advise them of the need. One kind resident, however, simply took
it upon himself to take care of the problem. He didn’t ask for any appreciation
or public acknowledgment of his deed, but another individual who saw it all,
related the story to me the next morning. I privately thanked the man, telling
him I owed him a debt for his actions. He was quick to tell me that I didn’t owe
him a thing. What a reflection of God’s love in the lives of people!
It was a cold Christmas Eve, and we were about to feed about
120 people at the Mission. Our board president and his two sons had invited many
of them in a “highways and hedges” ministry that afternoon. When the folks
gathered on the front benches and sidewalk, waiting to enter the dining hall,
these three fellows blessed them with a brass trio - trumpet, trombone, and
saxophone. What a joy it was to watch the pleasure these three gave this group!
I could write all day about the ways God’s people show His
love to others here at PRM, but space is running out. Thanks for showing that
love by praying and giving to help us help others in Christ!
A Note From Alan
Introducing Jesus...
At the beginning of 2010, Faith and I began reading through the Bible . I must
confess that I started it last year, but didn’t finish it. This year needs to be
different!! We chose a reading schedule that has daily readings in the Old & New
Testament. At the time of this writing we are reading in Genesis and in Matthew.
In Gen. 3:15 and Gen. 12:1-3 we see the early promises that God is going to do
something about man’s sin. A Redeemer is promised. In Genesis chapters 5, 10,
and 11 we find the genealogies (as a child I remember these being referred to as
the“begats”) that we often skip over because the names are too hard to
pronounce. These take us from Adam all the way to Abraham whose family tree
would contain this Promised One.
Centuries later, Matthew begins his writing with another genealogy, picking up
where Moses left off in Gen. 11. Matthew shows us 42 generations from Abraham to
Jesus. All of history led up to Jesus!!! God promised to His sinful creation
that He would make a way to have restored fellowship with Him. He kept that
promise throughout the centuries of the Old Testament. Then, after 400 years of
silence, when the fulness of time had come, Matthew had the honor of introducing
his audience to their Redeemer, their Savior, their Friend.
Like Matthew, introducing people to Jesus is also the work of the Rescue
Mission. Men come to us daily looking to have many needs met. Some are looking
to have spiritual needs met, but many aren’t. However, we know the spiritual
need of a man is the most important one. Therefore, after bellies are filled,
and clothes are passed out, and warm beds are assigned, we focus on making that
most important of introductions – a sinner to his Savior!!!
Many thanks to you for helping us make that introduction!!!
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