This Christmas - Don't forget your City Rescue Mission !

LadyEagle · Dec 20, 2003

Just a Reminder, Folks!

Many times our local city Rescue Missions go overlooked, but they need our help & operate 24/7 365 days a year.

Our City Rescue Missions serve thousands of meals every year, provide shelter, food, clothing, and other services for the homeless, provide counseling and Ministry to those who have addiction problems, and Lead Hungry Souls to Jesus Christ as well as providing warm meals.

Here's a little bit about one - the Nashville Rescue Mission:

The Nashville Rescue Mission takes its name very seriously. In the cold, dreary nights of winter, the act of rescuing is more than saving someone’s soul. Rescue also means saving one’s life. The Cold Patrol has done just that, more times than not. The Cold Patrol’s first night patrolling is Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8:30 p.m., led by Operations Assistant Doug Crawford.

When the overnight temperature drops below 36 degrees Fahrenheit, a van pulls out of the Mission to hit the Nashville streets and seek homeless men – and sometimes women or families – who are camped along the byways and alleyways. Two hours later, an undetermined number will enter the Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette Street, and enjoy a safe night’s sleep and in the morning, a good breakfast.

“A person can die from hypothermia overnight in temperatures above the freezing point,” explains Frank Kuntz, Operations Manager. “He is especially susceptible if he is a heavy drinker and has lost consciousness, or if he can’t reason because of drug abuse or mental illness.”

During severe winter conditions, Kuntz and other Mission staff members monitor late-breaking weather reports. If the forecast is dangerous, the van loads up. The crew, composed of staff members who rotate duty, travels to areas frequented by homeless men.

“Sometimes they gather in groups in makeshift camps, other times they are solitary,” says Kuntz. “We patrol for about 90 minutes, through downtown, by the riverfront to the steam vent called ‘The Hot Rock,’ then into North and East Nashville and West End.”

Favorite “hiding places” are Centennial Park, the Coliseum, wooded areas bordering private schools, and below interstate bridges. But the territory extends well beyond downtown. “We have received reports of homeless men in suburban areas of Metro Nashville. These men tend to be very visible to neighborhood residents,” says Kuntz. “The truth is that homeless people have always been in these areas, just fewer of them until now.”

Another factor is that the approximately 20 well-known camps have been targeted by law enforcement, and regularly broken up, according to anecdotal evidence by homeless men. “One man claimed he was chased out of three camps in one night,” adds Crawford.

This anecdotal evidence correlates with an increasing demand for services by providers. Kuntz points out that 3,882 individuals sought shelter at the Mission at least one night through October 31. This contrasts with the 3,803 individuals who stayed overnight during the entire year of 2002. “These figures include only men. There is an unknown number of homeless women and children who never use any service providers,” adds Kuntz.

When the crew finds a man whose life is in danger, they stop the van and try to persuade him to ride to the Mission. “We can’t manipulate the person, or force him to comply,” says Kuntz. “His decision must be voluntary. Unfortunately, I’ve made friends with the county coroner because I am called to help identify the bodies of men who died from exposure. These men refused our help.”

Men who decide to stay at the Mission are taken to the dormitories for a bed. Depending on their individual circumstances, they may be offered a box lunch. Regardless of how many men are staying overnight in the regular dormitories, no one is turned away who needs shelter, says Kuntz. When overcrowding occurs, men can sleep in the lobby between the security office and food service area.

From time to time, the van finds homeless women or families wandering the frigid streets at night. “We’ll take them to the Family Life Center,” continues Kuntz. “They normally stay in the chapel instead of dormitories.”

The Cold Patrol’s most important function, bar none, is saving lives. “These people die from hypothermia and frostbite, but also from violence. I remember when a passerby tossed a lit match on a homeless man and set him on fire,” says Kuntz. “Many men have pneumonia or are infected with communicable diseases. Pray with us that each and every man we find accepts a ride.”

Adds Crawford, “The worst thing that can happen is for someone to curl up on a concrete slab, close his eyes, and never again wake up.”
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http://www.nashvillerescuemission.org/vision.htm

Matthew 25:
[35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
[36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
[38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
[39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Paul of Eugene · Dec 20, 2003

We didn't forget! We just sent $50 to our local rescue mission.

LadyEagle · Dec 20, 2003

donnA · Dec 21, 2003

We don't have anything like this at all here. I wish we did, I'd rather spend my christmas there.

dianetavegia · Dec 21, 2003

We have 'The Fullerville Mission' which was started by one man and is pretty much run just by his family but all the local churches join in and help year round.

My church prepares meals EVERY FRIDAY of the year for the shut-ins in our whole county through the mission. It's about 65 meals. We also provide diapers for the women with new babies and keep the food pantry stocked.

Every year, around Thanksgiving, my family goes through toys and clothing, etc. and donates our good used things to the mission. Year round we donate things like an old computer, furniture, outgrown clothing, etc. Certain things are more needed in certain seasons, and we help according to those needs.

No one 'lives' at our 'mission'. It's open 7 days a week for prayer and for those in need to drop by and for such a small area, is such a blessing to those in need.

Diane

following-Him · Dec 21, 2003

We buy a tin of soup every week and towards Christmas also a tin of fruit and when we have filled a box take it to a shelter.
It is all too easy to fail to realise how fortunate we are.

Sheila

Dr. Bob · Dec 21, 2003

Our Mission is now supported HUGE by county as part of the homeless program. They get mega $$ but, of course, had to give up nightly preaching.

Replaced it with small group and individual Bible courses . . but we quit going each month (we went and preached and testified and helped with supper, etc). Still love them and appreciate the work, but it just isn't the same.

Rest of the support comes from their "Rescued Treasures" thrift store. We try to give boxes of stuff to sell there - dishes, clothes, books. They keep track and send a receipt for taxes.

Just dropped off four boxes on Wednesday. Thanks for the timely reminder!

LadyEagle · Dec 25, 2003

but it just isn't the same.
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That's why I fully support our mission, because they do preach the Word...

and which is why I'm against government funding for "faith-based" outreach - once the govt steps in with some $$, they start bending and changing the rules so it just isn't the same.

Johnv · Dec 26, 2003

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
Many times our local city Rescue Missions go overlooked, but they need our help & operate 24/7 365 days a year.
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Not mine. Many of the churches in our area support (by both drives and volunteering) the local rescue missions. They're vitally important to the community. I've been involved with these programs myself. It's incredibly rewarding. There's nothing more satisfying than giving without expecting.

Thanks you for pointing this out.

This Christmas - Don't forget your City Rescue Mission !

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