As new to the Mission, I did not know David before the Program and during the early stages of the Program. When I met him, I met a very talented guy, with a great attitude and cheerful spirit. He is a new creation in Christ. His life is now different. Here is his Praise.
Every six weeks the Rescue Mission of Roanoke intakes new candidates for the Recovery Program. After attending AA/NA everyday, reporting to their service assignments ontime, taking behavior and bible classes for four weeks, they can graduate into Phase One of the Recovery Program. These are our current candidates for the Program.
Summer is the time for Vacation Bible School! The kids at Church of the Holy Spirit went back in time to Galilee, by the Sea. Before their classes and activities began, the kids met together to praise and give their offerings to God. In the sanctuary, Church of the Holy Spirit’s alter steps were bordered with baskets. The baskets and nets collected offerings for God’s work. Before the horn blew the call to musical worship, the kids skipped up and placed offerings on the alter steps. The children were very joyful. The music played and more kids skipped up and dropped off their gifts to God. The dancers onstage led the sanctuary in high energy praise. Kids and leaders jumped up and down, waving their hands and shouting a joyful noise. More kids trickled up to the alter and gave their money and toothbrushes to God. Toothbrushes?!
God wants toothbrushes? Yes. The kids collected toothbrushes for the Rescue Mission of Roanoke. Every night the Rescue Mission provides safe shelter for about 300 people. All of those people have really bad morning breath (just like the rest of us!). All of those people really need to brush their teeth. They are the homeless. They have no toothbrush holders or mouthwash cups or soap dispensers. All day, they carry their possessions. Would you carry your ceramic toothbrush holder around? I didn’t think so. So when they come for the night, the Rescue Mission of Roanoke provides them with a toothbrush. The Rescue Mission can give toothbrushes because we have been given to. Isn’t that just like the kids at VBS? They gave because they have been given to. In fact, Church of the Holy Spirit gave the Rescue Mission of Roanoke 1,205 toothbrushes. Those 1,205 toothbrushes were collected on the alter steps. It’s God’s stuff.
The Rescue Mission of Roanoke hosted a picnic on July 4 for the Rescue Mission community and area friends. While planning the event, Leslie did not know who was going to give up their time on the 4th of July to volunteer! Cook Sandra needed about fifty volunteers to put the event together. Some to slice, some to dice, carry, serve, grill, run…we needed a lot! Before Leslie started calling volunteers to come, the Navy called the Rescue Mission, “We will be in town on the 4th, can we come and serve?” Later that day, North Valley 7th Day Adventist called the Rescue Mission to volunteer also! Leslie asked them to set up games.
Everything came together on the 4th. The Navy came at 8am, the youth group came at 9am, the Webb family came, the Abneys, the Trompeters, the Lagues, the Lambert family, and the Graninger sisters came to help serve lunch to 600 hungry people. The Rescue Mission community is worth celebrating.
