February 2010 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter

8/8/2019 February 2010 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter

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arry Aldrichperations Manager

andy Hessaintenance Supervisor

arry OConnor

oger Kleinlient Supervisor

David McKnightan Driver

olomona Talivaaaintenance

om Rugglestchen Manager

ill McCormickonations

David Williamsrogram Director

n ewsA Ministry of Rescue & Discipleship

A publication of the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Anchorage, Al

ServingAnchorage

Since 1965

February2010

www.anchoragerescue.org

February is the designated month of love. How exciting to see the flowers, heart shapeboxes of candy, bows, arrows and of course Cupid. It is time for sweetheart banque

Married couples renew vows and reminisce of days gone by; counting the blessings Go

has given them. Recalling the good times and the not-so-good times, but knowing that tLord was with them through it all.

However, in thinking of love, we need to remember the greatest love of all; that God gav

His Son so we through faith in Him, could have eternal life. STOP and THINK for

momentCan you imagine such love as the Father had for us; He gave His only begotte

Son. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoev

believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:16.

What Love! To think that God would give His own lovely Son to provide salvation for man th

is so unlovable is more than I can comprehend.

But, thank God when Jesus was dying on the cross, He looked out across time and saw you and

me and knew that we would need a Savior. When He was on that cross, we were on His mind.

He was sent to earth to complete salvations plan, so that we through faith in Him could be save

Again, I say, What Love.

This is abiding lovethat we abide in Him and His word abides in us.

The love that the Father had for us is to be carried on through the lives of those that believ

and trust in Him.

Is the love of the Father revealed in us? Do we really try to project this love? Does th

world see Christ in the life that we live?

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 13.if I have not love, I am become as sounding brass, o

a tinkling cymbal.and now abidth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest

these is love.

Please read again the 13th chapter of I Corinthians, and let it apply to

your life.

I Corinthians 13 John 3:16

Abiding Love


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4And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

test

omonies

Y2KOD

My name is Michael; I am 45 years old and

have lived in Alaska since 1969. I have

been at the Anchorage Gospel Rescue

Mission for seventeen months now. I

have never been happier in my life, what a change!

I can remember the time and place when I was done

facing up to my life. I was tired of trying to find

happiness and belonging. It was a lonely struggle that

finally wore me down.

I will need to review my past and bring things up to

date. It starts out somewhat the same as a lot of other

men I know, youve probably heard the story before.

I was 8 years old my father was a chronic alcoholic.

My mother had had enough, always out drinking withbuddies, never home, and spending too much money.

It was a great struggle for my mother, with three kids

and working too many jobs. I then became a child of

divorce, living with my grandparents most of the time in

Kodiak. Living in Kodiak with them was a wonderful

time for me. It is a great place for kids. It was a great

adventure, lots of old army barracks and forts, fishing,

and beach combing. My cousin and I were all over the

place.

Then my life changed again, my mother got remarriedand we moved to Anchorage. My world was turned

upside down again. This is when resentment came to

stay and make itself at home with me. I now felt I had

no place in my family and the role of eldest son was

meaningless. I felt like an outcast. This stuck with m

my entire life, even know it haunts me.

When I was very young I became very sick. My kidne

no longer worked correctly. It devastated my body an

ravished my spirit. I fought hard for many years an

got to know the hospital and its staff very well. Later

life I spent two years on a kidney dialysis machine an

underwent two transplants. In recovery and the yea

that followed, it began to wear me down. Every tim

I got a cold or flu, I was afraid that I was finally goin

to die.

Solution in a BottleI found an easement, of my fears that was torturing m

in a bottle and a very large shot glass. This workegreat, everything was ok in and with me. For a whil

alcohol became my idol and escape. I could live

another world other than the one I dreaded. Peop

places and things just had no effect on me anymor

After a couple of years of this I began to realize too lat

that this life of an altered reality was all I had left. M

life just passed me by, and began to start filling in th

ditch I was laying in. Everything and everyone I love

was gone or had grown up. I missed so many things

could never get back. I became more despondent an

just crawled deeper in my closet of intoxication.

Rehabilitation Mans Way = NO WAYI had tried more than a few times to get help to qu

drinking. With residential treatment programs, it w


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5Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:10 (NKJV)

not so hard to quit when I was sheltered and protected,

and had the company of like minded comrades. The

problem was the reason for my drinking just never got

looked at, much less solved. God just was not in the

equation. The void in me never got filled, so I would go

out and fill it with alcohol. I felt doomed. I had run out

of ideas, there was just no understanding on my own or

in anyone I knew. I had sunk as low as I could.

What was the solution? I knew there had to be a way. I

had just about given up all hope. I prayed and ask God

for help.

The MissionThe story of how I became part of the Anchorage Gospel

Rescue Mission is a wonderful resurrection of me.

One night I was sitting around thinking on how I can

get out of this life I was rutted in. I kept doing things I

hated. I quote Romans 7:15, I dont understand myself

at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I dont do

it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. This is when

God stepped in to help me. At the time I didnt know or

understand what was happening to me. A compulsionwas driving and urging me on. I felt pressed to get on

the first early bus and come to the Rescue Mission, of

which I knew nothing about. This seemed crazy to me,

but I followed the urging anyways.

When I arrived at the Mission, I recognized some o

friends who were happy to see me. The staff member

the office informed me that there were no beds or room

available for me just yet. He informed me that I wou

be put on the list and to call the Mission daily. Th

had confused me because of how I had gotten here. A

I started to leave, a man came down the stairs with a

of his belonging and stated that he was leaving. The

was now a room and a bed available for me. This wonly the beginning of blessing to come, which the

is many. I started to see and understand things mu

clearer, and that the Lord had made a place for me her

The biggest change I felt was when I learned wh

repentance was, and that I could forgive myself an

others. Thus I started to peel off the layers of pain an

resentment and a whole new world and life opened u

for me. Depression is still a large challenge for me. A

times it is much stronger then I am. But one thing

have learned is that leaning on God lets me know I wget through each bout. The blues does not come to vi

me as much as it did in the past.

ConclusionWhat the future has in store for me I do not know.

would like to get involved with missionary work.

believe that getting involved at the Mission when m

program is finished is a good start. The quality of m

life is so much better and I want nothing less. God h

been so good to me.

I have a desire to give back of myself, because if I ca

be saved from a lifestyle of destruction and turmoil an

find happiness, even a small candle in a dark room ca

light the way out. Here am I, send me.

I also want to give a special thanks to the other membe

of my church and mentor there. Everyone there h

been very kind and supportive of me. They have bee

and still are a bright light in my life.

Ame

Michael McCu


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6And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all

your mind, and with all your strength.

Mark 12:30 (NKJV)

p

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David

William

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Whats in a Name?And you will know the truth, and the truth will setyou free.

John 8:32 (NLT)

Is telling the truth creatively lying? It seems to methe truth should be able to stand on its own without

pretention. When Pilate asked Christ if he were aking Jesus replied,

I was born and came into the world to testify tothe truth. All who love the truth recognize that whatI say is true.

John 18:37 (NLT)

What I mean by telling the truth creatively is thereappears to be a new trend in todays society torename things in order to take the edge off ofreality. Swine Flu is now H1N1 while quarantine

is isolation. The newest renaming to surface ischanging Alcoholic to Chronic Inebriate. Creativelychanging the name of an alcoholic to chronicinebriate does nothing to change the reality ofthe condition nor does it help the individual. Thehard truth is alcoholism is a serious often deadlycondition that affects society, the family unit,as well as the individual. It is a condition that isso destructive the city of Anchorage spends inexcess of 4 million dollars a year to deal with its

after effects. This is not something we want tominimalize because we are afraid of offending oralienating people. It should offend people for noother reason than it is an offensive disease. Thereality of it should be, in your face so that it willget our attention and hold it.

Paul tells us in Corinthians 4:16 we are wastinaway on the outside but are being reneweon the inside daily. This is not the case for thAlcoholic among us. There is no inward renewwhile outward decay is accelerated. We have treach these men and women somehow before ittoo late! The Anchorage Gospel Rescue Missiostands firm in the trenches of this war. From th

inside looking out things are getting worse. Hodo we stem the tide? What have we not tried athis point to get the Alcoholics attention?

We are at a turning point because we still believhope begins with a hot meal yet at the samtime we have to make absolutely sure we arnot enabling negative behavior. NewLife is aabout accountability and we are successful by anstretch of the imagination. It is time we begin a neoffensive in this war against Alcoholism by holdin

our guest to a higher standard of accountabilitIt is time we designed a NewLife Light, if yowill, that includes all who enter the portals of thMission.

We are not talking about taking away choicThe reason NewLife is successful is becauswe never compromises our biblical foundatioWe are faithful to Gods approach. God neveremoves or choice. He provides direction, followed always leads to success, and he alsalerts us to the consequences when his counsel not followed. The choice is always ours. NewLifefollows the same principles. We offer our servicefreely however there are certain behaviors wdiscourage and there are consequences whethose behaviors are entertained. This approacis also use with our guest. The difference beinNewLife is held to a higher standard. Have wbeen short changing our guest? If mediocrity the standard then mediocrity is result. If we ar

serious about helping our Alcoholic community whave to hold them to a higher standard of behaviogive them sound direction, and love them enougby allowing them to experience the consequenceof their choices good or bad. Why? Because this how God first loved us.


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You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus Christ

7

Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission P.O. Box 230510 Anchorage, Alaska 99523-0510

Here is my support gift: For Credit Card Donations:Food and Shelter: $_____Facilities Maintenance: $_____$46.25 For 25 Meals ______$74.00 For 40 Meals ______$132.20 For 72 Meals ______$277.50 For 150 Meals ______

______Other:______ I Will Pray for this Ministry.

I would like to charge my total donation of $__________________

Check One: Visa M/C Am/Ex Discover

Card Number __________________________________________Exp. Date: ______/______ Signature _______________________

Name:________________________________________________Address: ______________________________________________

Please send this coupon with your donations.

All credit card information is kept in strict confidence Make checks payable

to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission You will receive a receipt.

PLEASE SEND COUPON IN WITH YOUR DONATION

Have you included the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission in your Will or

Estate? If not will you please consider including us. It would, indeed, be

a blessing to this ministry here and it could have eternal rewards for you.

We average about one person per day making a profession of faith in Jesus

Christ and accepting Him as their Savior. By including us in your Will or

Estate you can continue to have a part in this ministry.

About Your Will


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STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission is a Non-Profit, Non-Denominationaorganization. We receive NO municipal, state or federal funds. We are not a United Wa

Agency. Your financial support and In-Kind donations makes it possible for us to providefor the poor, needy and homeless people in our community. Also, your donations allow

us to provide a Discipleship Training program. All Donations are fully tax deductible. Wwill give you a receipt for your donation.

urgent

Our supplies of theseitems is constantly in

need of replenishing

Prayer

Paper Towels

5 Gallon Trash Bags

Fresh Meat

Coffee

Bathroom Tissue

Laundry Soap

Disposable ShaversCleaning Supplies

Liquid Dish Detergent

Dinner Napkins

hampoo

urgent

Anchorage Gospel

Rescue Mission

Board of Trustees

Ed Shelton

(President)

Bob Collins

( Vice President/treasure)

Mark Soquet

Ralph Nobrega

Rev. Bob Sloan

Barbara Schmiedeskamp

Emeritus:

Cliff Hodgins

Rev. Willard Leisy

Advisory Board:

Paul Kelly

Rev. Don Bettis, Exec. Dir.

Charlotte Bettis, Asst. Dir.

Is To

The Least

The Last

The Lost

Our Ministry of

Association of

Member

Gospel

Missions

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postal

PAIDAnchorage, AKPermit # 290

Anchorage

Gospel

MissionA Ministry of

Rescue & Recovery

news

[email protected]

P.O. Box 230510Anchorage, AK99523-0510(907) 563-5603

return service requested

issi

or e

1

Abbott Loop

Community

Church

2

Wesleyan

Nazarene

(Robert Durr)

3

Anchorage

Gospel

Singers

4

Anchorage

City

Church

5

First

Presbyterian

Church

6

Calvary

Baptist

Church

7

Gods

Place

8

Church

of God

Prophecy

9

First

Assembly of

God

(Shane Day)

10

Anchorage

Church

of Christ

11

Christ

Community

Church

12

Calvary

Baptist

Church

13

Anchorage

City

Church

14

Gods

Place

15

Sherbahn

Evangelistic

Team

16

Anchorage

Native

Assembly

17

University

Baptist

(Tim Arquett)

18

Sherbahn

Evangelistic

Team

19

Sherbahn

Evangelistic

Team

20

Lighthouse

Christian

Fellowship

21

Victory

Christian

Center

22

Calvary

Baptist

Church

23

Change Point

(Greg Grebe)

24

Calvary

Baptist

Church

25

First

Evangelical

Covenant

Church

26

In His Name

Sandy

McCollum

27

Skyline

Church

28

New Light

Community

Church

Nightly Services7:30 PM to 8:30 PM

2010 Chapel Services for February 2010Sunday Monday Wednesday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

February 2010 Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter

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