April 2013 Newsletter

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Investing In People

Daniel graduated from Bible college nearly ten years ago. Ironically, he majored in Missions; or, providentially, God guided him (knowing the choices he would make) to both major and live in a mission(s). His father was a foreign missionary, and there was a hope, no doubt, that Daniel would follow suit.

There are striking similarities between living on the campus of a Bible college and a Gospel Rescue Mission. Both nonprofits have communal living situations. There are chapels, Bible studies, dormitories, dining rooms, curfews, rules about behavior, attitude, language, work, dress codes. Both focus on learning and relationships. For Daniel, our Mission was a refresher course, a retreat of a more humble means. It was a place to withdraw to a safe, separate location from normal engagement in life for a time.

Maybe it was the rebellion to parental expectations or the enticements of the Daniel selecting produce from our walk-in cooler to cook a meal. world that had drawn him away. So intense was his circumstance and related stress, that it affected him medically, emotionally, spiritually. He lost his wife, job, health and was hospitalized. Daniel had fallen from grace, as we say. God’s grace was still on him; he needed to know God’s mercy. We know the nature of the situation. It did not matter to us, other than in counseling, nor is detailing it critical to this story. Our focus is on moving forward, having a new life, forgiveness, not identifying with the past, like a label to be burdened with forever.

Daniel was back to basics to build a stronger foundation for the rest of his life. He said, “I have structure and stability in my life now. I have learned to have devotions again, Bible studies, church. I rise up early to pray, getting back to the Lord. I’m letting people in my life rather than having a wall. I’m learning to invest in people and allowing them to help me. I had to let go of a lot of things to get the most out of this experience. Relationships are important, a few key relationships. I never had that before in my adult life. I also learned about how to spend time and money. My Bible verse is from Psalms 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Years ago, Daniel had gone to an inner city mission with his church youth group several times, even presented a message a half dozen times. Part of his healing process has been preaching in chapel again, only here. He started as a substitute, now he has a regular monthly time. Daniel has connected with a domestic subculture group that he can uniquely minister to. A window, so to speak, has opened to at least explore, test, discern, awaken to the possibilities. Sometimes it takes a crash in life to perceive the Lord’s conviction of His presence or even a call to ministry, whether volunteering or becoming staff. That’s exciting, rebuilding, hopeful.

Daniel did not graduate from the Mission’s New Life Program; he did not need that much time. He has successfully re-entered society again, employed, housed, befriended. He is giving back in an evangelistic ministry here, doing what he wanted or was called to do when he graduated Bible college.