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True sTories from The bowery missioN Lives chaNged every day siNce 1879

Lord, if you get me out of this, I

 promise I’ll serve you.”

That would be a tall order for 

anyone but especially someone with

a fierce determination to keep his promise

to God. He eventually graduated from

our residential recovery program, then

enrolled in Bible school

voLume 13, No. 2 march 2010..

DeathbeD  vow leaDs to

life-changing ministry God did not 1, not 2, but  3  miracles! 

S       p  e  c  i    a  l      

E     a  s  t   e   r   I    s  s  u  e  

When you’ve been given a second chance,

it’s best to make the most of it. Because 

sometimes, it can change your entire life.

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anyone but especially someone with enrolled in Bible school

Maria* hated what she had become.

She just didn’t know how to make

a new start.

By day, Maria lived in a “shooting

gallery,” sharing a large abandoned 

warehouse with 20 other heroin addicts

who shot drugs into their veins. By night,

she worked as a prostitute to earn enough

money to support her drug habit.

“The only time I saw my daughter 

was when she would come to bring me

food,” Maria remembers. “She’d be crying,

telling me, ‘Mommy, you look bad. You

need help or you’re gonna die.’”

That, Maria says, was a big reason why

she came to The Bowery Mission Women’s

Center. “I didn’t want to see my daughter 

 broken-hearted,” she says.

Since coming here, Maria says she

has found a new purpose in life: helping

others. Gone are the days when she blamed 

her addiction on her drug-using parents — 

and the fact that she was raped at the age of 

7. Now, she’s using her past to offer hope

to others.

“I now know God has a purpose for my

life,” she says. “He wants me to let others

know there is hope in Christ.”

*Name changed to protect privacy.

Frank is proof that you never give up

on anyone from the streets — no

matter how many times they come

through the Mission.

After joining our program 18 times — 

and leaving 18 times! — there were more

than a few people who wanted to give

up on Frank. Even the Mission director 

hesitated when one of his s taff informed 

him Frank was drunk and needed help.

 

The next day, the director had a

change of heart, allowing Frank to come

into the Mission once again — although

he almost had to be carried in. But Frank 

didn’t remain that way. He sobered up,

started listening to what the Mission staff 

had to say, and let God take control of 

his life.

Today, he serves as associate pastor 

at a church on Staten Island, testifying

about how God — and the Mission — 

redeemed his life.

et n’t t nl t gd’ nd t k t T b mn

“Mommy, you look bad. You

need help or you’re gonna die.”

reD DoorMarch 2010 reD DoorMarch 2010  Page 2

J anae knew it was a long shot.

But she had a hungry 2-year-old at

home, no money — and a husband 

who was in jail. So she took a chance.

“Do you

know when

you’re goingto have baby

food again?”

she asked our food van delivery driver.

 Normally, the Mission

goes out and feeds the

homeless, so the van is full

of sandwiches, granola bars

and other “adult food.” But

on this day, the van also had 

several boxes of baby food and powdered 

formula — items they had been carrying

around for more than a week. When told 

there was baby food in our truck, Janae

 burst into tears.

“I feel like I won the lottery,” she

sobbed.We were grateful, too — that we

could be there to help another struggling

 New York family.

“I feel like I won

the lottery!”

Every day, your gifts give new hopeto broken, hurting men living on thestreets of New York City.

 The Bowery Mission Women’s Centerhas opened doors to a whole newworld for Maria, whose life oncerevolved around drugs, prostitutionand a cycle of misery.

 The Mission is ableto help hundreds ofhungry families —thanks to your gifts.

Leaving the Light OnA word from Ed Morgan, President 

For those who wonder if God isstill doing miracles today, meet Felix.

For years, Felix struggled with

a serious drinking problem. That ’s

one of the reasons he left his wife and 

young daughter in their native Puerto

Rico long ago. It’s also the reason

why 20 years later he ended up at

The Bowery Mission, even though he

was seriously ill at the time.

That’s when a series of events

 began that can only be described as

miraculous.

Felix

ended 

up in the

emergency

room, under the care of a young

doctor who he didn’t know, but who

seemed to know a lot about him.

“You don’t recognize me, do

you?” the young woman said. “ I’m

your daughter!”

After briefly returning to The

Bowery Mission, Felix’s daughter 

invited her dad to live in her Long

Island home. Then she paid to have

her mother flown to New York,

where her parents reconciled — the

storybook ending nobody could have

imagined.

If Felix’s story teaches us

anything, it’s that the miracle of 

Easter brings with it the power to

change lives.

Thank you for continuing to

support The Bowery Mission — and 

helping to make miracles happen

every day.

“You don’t recognize

me, do you? I’m your 

daughter!”

Hundreds ofhungry peoplepass through theMission’s doorsevery month.

When you give to

 The Bowery Mission, you

provide real help to real

people — food, clothing,

shelter. The kind of help

that meets everyday needs,

and gives people hope.

If Maria, Frank and

Janae could, we’re sure

they’d want to thank you

personally. Since they

can’t, we’ll say it for them.

 Thank you for giving

hurting people hope when

they’re going through

tough times.

REtuRN thE ENCLoSED EAStER MEAL tICkEt toDAY!

Our kitchen staffand volunteers know all their hardwork is greatlyappreciated.

A hot meal anda plate full ofhope — just $1.59

Everyday miracles

More than a few people wanted

to give up on Frank.

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When you're finished with this

newsletter, please pass it along to a

friend or recycle it. Thank you!

Dn’t t t ! TR UE S TORIES FROM THE BO WER Y MIS SION  LIV ES CHANGED E VER Y DAY SINCE 18 79

 Lo rd,  ifyo  u ge t  me out oft  h is,  I

 pro mise I’ll serve you. ”

 That   wo u ld  be a   tall   orde  r fo r

an yone, bu t es pecia l  ly so meo ne  w ith

 Lou is ’credent ials.

  O neo f  the orig i nal f ound ers ofan

 inf a mous streetg a ng, Louis was one of 

 t  he k  ingp i  ns of crack cocai ne.  T hat’s 

 ho w he endedup criti cally injuredin  the

 hosp ital, s hotn inet i mes w hen adr ugdeal

 wen t bad.

   Desperate lycl i nging tol ife , Lo uis d id

 theon lyth i nghe cou ldthi n kof : He t urned

 to t heGodh ismo ther hadt o  l d h i  m about

...th e God who had the powe  rt o f orgi ve

si nsan d res to rel i ves.  

 That day  i n t heho s pita l,a mercif  ul

Godhonor edLo uis’despe ratec  ry fo r help

 —  i n wa  y s t hats t illha  v epeople shak  ing

 t heir heads  i n a maze men t.

 M I RAC LE #1:  After almosta  year

 intheho s pital, Lou isca meto  The Bowe ry

 M issio n—  bare  l y ab  l e t o walk ,bu t with

a f  ierce dete r mina tion tokee phi s pro m ise

  t o God.   He even t ually grad uated fro m

o u rr eside n tial  reco very  prog ram,  then

enro lled  i n B i  b l esc hoo l.

   M IRACLE #2: Duri nghi s drug days,

 Lo uis f aced af  e male  judgeo  n several

occasions — a judgew hoju s  t h a p pened

 to atte ndhis mot her’s churc  h . Aft erLouis

 turnedh is l i f e aro u nd, t  h et wom e  t aga in

 t hroug  h t he chu rch’ssing lesm i nistr y.

 “ Louis,I  reme m ber you, ”  the  judge

 to ldh  im,a  mazed at  the  new  man  now 

stand ing befo rehe r. E ventua lly, t  h et wo

e nded up gettingm a rried! ( T hey now 

 havetw o chi ldren.)

   M IRACLE#3: Lo uis was s erious

(continuedon page 4)

   VOLUME 13, NO. 2 MARCH 20 10

 w ww.bo wery.org

— pa ge 4 

“I thought it 

 wouldbe happil y

e ver af ter ...”

Desperate

mom hits the

 jackpo t

— pa ge 3 

— pa ge 3 

ForFrank, the

19 th t ime’s

 thecharm De spera tely cling ing  to l ife,

 Lo u is d id the on l y th i ng heco uld

 thi n k o f ...

INSID E: E VE R YD A  Y M

IR A CL ES

 D E A  T H B E D  V O W L E A  D S  T O 

 L IF E - C H A  NG ING 

 M I N I S T R YG o 

d di d n ot  1, no t 2 ,b u t  3  mi rac les ! 

S      p  e c  i   a  l     E    a  s  t   e  r  I    s  s  u e 

W he n yo u’v e be en g ive n as ec on d ch an ce ,

it’s b es tt o ma ke t he m os to f it.Be ca u se 

s om e tim e s,i tc an c ha ng e yo ur en tir e life .

#

reD DoorMarch 2010 

When I got married and 

moved upstate, I thought

it would be “happily ever 

after,” but it didn’t work out that

way.

I used to work in social services,

right around the corner from the

Mission. But when I moved, I gave

up that job and haven’t been able to

find work for more than a year. I

guess that put a lot of pressure on my

marriage. Now my wife doesn’t see

us being together, so I have nowhere

to live.

I knew about the Mission because

I graduated from here 16 years ago. At

least I didn’t go back to doing drugs.

But it’s hard once being a social worker 

and now asking for help.

I’m disappointed by the way

things have turned out but glad the

Mission was here when I needed 

them. I have my own room, and 

 because it’s quiet and peaceful, I have

lots of time to study, read, or just

contemplate my life.

I don’t know what’s going to

happen at this point. But what I do

know is that as long as I don’t stick 

any foreign substance into my body,

I always have another chance.

Sixteen years ago, God saved 

me, and I decided to donate my time

to help others. Maybe that’s my

 purpose.

 Fill up Easter baskets with toiletries and drop them off

at the Mission office.

Bring the Mission your gently used clothing or clothes

that no longer fit when you’ve completed your spring

cleaning.

Pray that each person receiving help this Easter will

feel God’s love and respond to it.

 Drop off non-perishable items for food baskets and

Easter meals.

 Pray for God’s resurrection power to transform the

lives of men, women and children in our many programs.

Consider becoming a New York Hope Partner by filling

out the back of the response card and returning it to

the Mission in the enclosed envelope.

Hold a canned-food drive for the Mission.

 Tell your children, neighbors and church family about

the work of The Bowery Mission.

 Spend a moment reflecting about your desire to help

the less fortunate and renew your commitment.

Return the enclosed Easter Meal Ticket with a

generous gift!

227 Bowery, New York, NY 10002 • www.bowery.org

Find out more at www.bowery.org

or call 1-800-BOWERY-1. Thank You!

about the deathbed promise he made to God.

Today, he pastors a church in the Bronx and 

spends his time pleading with youth to avoid 

the drugs and gangs that almost cost him his

life.

But God had other plans for 

Louis — plans

that included The

Bowery Mission, and 

the life-changing

  possibilities that

happen every time

friends like you give.

This Easter, God is still doing miracles,

using your kindness to bring hope to the

 streets of New York City.

Thank you for giving so generously to

restore broken people to wholeness.

Dd d -

(continued from page 1)

helping matters

 By Harold K.

Harold, pictured at left, is makinga new start with help from Missionhousing specialist Richard Austin.

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To donate online, visi t our website:

www.bowery.org

The Bowery Mission is a member of the 

Christian Herald Association.

1003NL

My Story 

Name _______________________________________________________

  Address _____________________________________________________

City _______________________________________________________

State _______________________________________ ZIP _______________

E-mail Address ________________________________________________

81730NWL_NWL_3-10

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YES Ed, I know the chance for a new life often begins with one meal! Use my giftto provide nutritious meals and God’s hope to hungry people in New York City thisEaster. Here is my gift of:

 $23.85 to feed and care for 15 hungry people. $47.70 to feed and care for 30 hungry people. $55.65 to feed and care for 35 hungry people. $_______ to provide help for as many people as possible.

.

Jt $1.59t d pn n

nd!

“Louis, I remember 

 you,” the judge told

him, amazed at

the new man now

standing before her.

“It’s hard once being a

social worker and now

asking for help.”