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AGRM
board enacts several motions
The association’s board of directors met in Indianapolis in late
October for a three-day meeting. It was an excellent time as the board
passed 15 motions and held excellent discussions on several important
issues. “We’re all very pleased with AGRM’s progress
over the past year,” says board chair Rick Alvis. “We’re
on the cusp of some new and exciting things in the association, and glad
to be a part of it all.” One thing the board decided was to change
the fiscal year to from July 1 to January 1. The board also voted to change
the election procedures for district officers for more continuity on the
grassroots level. In addition, the group approved a new membership pricing
structure to go with the new membership model that was passed at the annual
business meeting last May. More information will be available in the coming
months.
Denver convention
early bird brochure in magazine
Look in your November/December issue of Rescue for the early-bird brochure
for the Denver annual convention. A complete schedule and general session
speakers are included. Like last year, you can register before December
31 for a great price break. The same information will also be online by
mid-November.
Submit your
seminar recommendations
We are still accepting requests for presentations at the May 2009 AGRM
convention in Denver. If you, or someone you know, would like to be considered
as a seminar presenter please complete the form available at www.agrm.org/convention/2009_convention.html.
If your seminar proposal is selected by the core curriculum committee,
we will contact you by December. For more information or questions regarding
the education program at the Denver convention, email Gary Meek at gmeek@agrm.org.
Port Arthur
desperate for help
The Port Cities Rescue Mission (Port Arthur, Tex.) is
in critical need of help following the devastation of Hurricane Ike in
late September. Three mission buildings lost portions of their roofs,
creating large parts of the facilities that are uninhabitable. “We’ve
got a lot of people displaced in our community,” director Ken Hill
says. “One whole city was decimated by flood waters. So many people
are coming to us for help that we can’t work on the buildings. We’re
trying to get back to capacity, but there are always more people at the
door.” The mission could use building materials and work crews,
especially craftsmen skilled in roofing, sheetrock, and mold remediation.
Contact Ken Hill at (409) 720-9046 or by email at ken@rescue.org.
“We’ve got to get the buildings closed up before the winter
rains hit,” Ken says.
New Orleans
mission weathers storms
With repairs and renovations just completed this summer from the aftermath
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, New Orleans Mission
(New Orleans, La.) leaders are rejoicing that they made it through two
more major hurricanes this summer without damage. In the mission newsletter,
executive director Ron Gonzales writes, “When the clouds finally
cleared and the sun cast its light on the dampened city, the New Orleans
Mission still stood tall. Despite the onslaught of the storm, the roof
held, the windows didn’t break, and everything inside appeared untouched.”
Gonzales adds, “It has been a challenge trying to respond to the
physical damage, the loss of staff (from 28 to 8), the loss of donors
(from 28,000 to 3,000), and the rapid increase in demand for our services.
By the grace of God, we’ve endured and reaped the benefit of His
bounty.” Please keep the mission in your prayers.
Looking down
the street...
Last month marked the sixtieth anniversary at the Modesto Gospel
Mission (Modesto, Calif.). Congratulations to Vern Deatherage
and staff. 
Gary Steward and the Hope Gospel Mission (Eau Claire,
Wisc.) celebrated 10 years of service in October. Well done!
Gary Danielson, who served more than 50 years with New Life Center
(Fargo, N.D.), went home to be with the Lord October 14.
Bill Fear, cofounder of Overcomers in Christ Ministries
(Omaha, Neb.) was promoted to glory September 21.
Hiway 80 Rescue Mission (Longview, Tex.) dedicated its
new two-story program dormitory last week. The facility also houses a
medical clinic and learning center. Congratulations to Tony Chung and
staff.
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Court
makes allowance for homeless sex offenders
By a six-to-one vote, the Georgia State Supreme Court ruled that laws
that require sex offenders to register the street addresses of their residences
are unconstitutional, placing an undue burden on offenders who are homeless.
Attorneys for a homeless convicted offender—who was arrested after
he failed to register a street address—convinced the court that
the laws amount to life sentences for offenders who have no permanent
residence. Five states have provisions that allow offenders to register
as homeless and report their whereabouts to officials each month. Other
states may follow Georgia’s lead in these cases. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/6pgwpl.
Violence against
the homeless continues
John Robert McGraham, a 55-year-old homeless man in Los Angeles, died
last month after he was doused with gasoline and set afire. His family
had tried numerous times to get him help. Loved ones and members of the
community where he stayed are mourning his death. L.A. authorities have
yet to arrest anyone in connection with the crime. McGraham is just the
latest victim of senseless crimes against homeless people in cities across
the country. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/56rtga.
Internet changing
the way the brain works
iBRAIN (HarperCollins, 2008), a new book by Gigi Vorgan and UCLA neuroscientist
Gary Small, suggests that Internet usage is changing the way the brain
functions. The author proposes that some people who focus on text messaging,
IMing, and web surfing derive a certain amount of pleasure from the activities,
not unlike the addicted brain’s responses. He implies that technical
aptitude offers benefits, such as a greater ability to filter information
and more reliable snap judgments. The downside might be a decrease in
the ability to read faces or pick up on subtle gestures. Staff members
who work with younger, more technologically advanced clients might find
this information useful. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/6csczh.
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Giving during a recession
Here’s some encouraging news from Giving USA regarding fund raising
in tough economic times: During a typical year without recession in the
United States, charitable giving increased by an average of 8.4 percent.
In years during which economic activity would qualify as a recession,
giving increased by 6.2 percent. The figures are a part of a report, Fund
Raising in Times of Uncertainty, produced by the Sharpe Group of Memphis,
Tennessee. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/65kxuw.
Women bring
family members to the mission
Nearly one-third (30 percent) of the women seeking help at rescue missions
are accompanied by a family member. This is just one of the statistics
available in the “2008 AGRM Snapshot Survey of the Homeless.”
Details of the survey will be released later this week. Those missions
who participated in the survey (137 of you from the U.S. and Canada—thank
you!) will receive the results from your area, compared to the full survey
figures, very soon. Read what USA Today has to say about homeless families
at http://tinyurl.com/6ekfe8.
Americans
believe half are in
A new Baylor University poll on religion reveals that 54 percent of Americans
believe half or more of the country’s population will make it into
heaven, including nonreligious Americans. In addition, 29 percent indicated
they really didn’t care who got into heaven, stating they had “no
opinion” on the eternal destiny of average Americans. Read more
at http://tinyurl.com/66pann.
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Hitting
the streets of Denver
Huge AGRM “attaboys” go out to the program guys from Denver
Rescue Mission (Denver, Colo.)—James Johnson, Thomas Adame, Walter
Linkins, and Patrick Gleason—who completed the Denver Marathon October
19. And congratulations to the men who completed the half-marathon as
well: Frank Torres, Christopher Reeher, Steve Scannapieco, Martin Serunkuma,
Kenneth Talbe, and William Thompson. Each of the guys beat their target
times for the race. Participation in the marathon is an annual event for
the mission; it receives media support from multiple local and national
sources. View a sample of the coverage at http://tinyurl.com/55kag5.
The marathon team members also helped with cleanup after the event and
took eight vans of donated food items back to the mission.
[Send us a blurb about your
unique ideas or simple solutions and we’ll communicate them on Easy
Street.]
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| AGRM's
Online Want Ads
POSITIONS
AVAILABLE
Albuquerque, NM: Administrative Assistant/Office Manager - Must
be experienced and possess excellent written and verbal English language
skills. Starting wage up to $13 per hour depending on experience. Benefits
begin month following first 90 days. Reply with cover letter and resume
in confidence to jennifer@joyjunction.org.
Date Added: 10/21/2008
Flagstaff, AZ: Executive
Director - Direct subordinates in all areas of mission ministries
(Men, women & helps). Spiritually mature, strong public relations
and administration skills. BS degree preferred, rescue mission experience
a must. Contact Debbie at Sunshine Rescue Mission, 124 S. San Francisco
St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001. To contact via email: srmboard@srm-hc.org
Date Added: 10/20/2008
Long Beach, CA: Associate
Director - Primary assistant to the CEO in all matters relating
to the oversight of Mission programs/services, operations/facilities;
knowledge of development; assist planning, organizing and budgeting; staff
relations; support team-leadership. BA in BusMgt, nonprofit/public admin
– or transferable educ/exp. Contact Jim Lewis, 1430 Pacific Avenue,
Long Beach, CA 90813. Phone: 562-216-7611 Fax: 562-216-7667 To contact
via email: jlewis@lbrm.org Date Added:
10/06/2008
Panama City, FL: Women
& Familes Program Manager - Overall management of program
including interviewing, case managing, addressing behavior of clients.
Five years managing ten/plus people. Some college in management, social
services, or Christian ministry. Contact Panama City Rescue Mission, PO
Box 2359, Panama City, FL 32402. Phone: 850 215-9007 Fax: 850 763-0099
To contact via email: michaelmartin@pcrmission.org
Date Added: 10/07/2008
Seattle WA: Multiple
Openings - Donor Relations Officer, Recovery Counselor, Support
Services Supervisor, Operations Coordinator, Case Manager, Aftercare Counselor,
Middle School Outreach Staff, Children's Ministry Outreach Staff, Athletic
Program Coordinator, Community Center Assistant, Computer Lab Assistant.
Job Descriptions available upon request. Contact: Roslyn Alake, Seattle’s
Union Gospel Mission, PO Box 202, Seattle WA 98111. Phone: 206-723-0767
Fax: 206-723-1076 To contact via email: rosalake@ugm.org
Web site: http://www.ugm.org
Date Added: 09/30/2008
Seattle, WA: Program
Manager - Responsible for House and Heroes For Life Operations.
Requires strong leadership/customer service skills. Ability to share God’s
passion for service through prayer, honor, integrity, accountability and
stewardship. Contact Bread Of Life Mission, 97 S. Main St., Seattle, WA
98104. Phone: 206-682-3579 x 15 To contact via email: williep@breadoflifemission.org
Date Added: 09/26/2008
To advertise in future
Market Street Classifieds:
Individual or organizational members of the AGRM may place a 30-word classified
ad listing one available position in one issue of Street Smart at no charge,
and may renew that ad one additional time at no cost. Ads are due the
10th of the month before the ad is to be listed. Ads exceeding 30 words
will be charged at 50 cents per word. Non-member ministries, businesses,
and individuals may place an ad for $25.00 per issue for a 30-word ad.
Additional words will be charged at 50 cents per word. Ads are also placed
on the AGRM website. Member ministries may renew ads after the second
placement at $15 per issue for a 30-word ad. E-mail desired ad placement
to editor@agrm.org (subject line:
Market Street Classifieds). |
| Let
there be light
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface
of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God
said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light (Gen. 1:2–3).”
In Genesis,
we learn that darkness was over the surface of the earth. Then God said,
"Let there be light," and He separated the light from the darkness,
piercing the blackness. For light to be noticed, it has to exist apart
from the darkness and must penetrate and displace the darkness.
That’s what we do in ministry with the least and the lost—with
those in complete despair. Men, women, and children live in darkness,
without hope for anything better today than the emptiness of yesterday.
Then we bring Jesus Christ—a beacon of hope and light—into
their lives of gloom and darkness. He pierces and penetrates their lives
until they can see that He is the hope they have been seeking all along.
What a privilege
that the source of all that is good chooses us to shine His light into
these precious lives!
Contributed
by David Bugher, executive director, Light of Life Rescue Mission (Pittsburgh,
Pa.)
ATTENTION MEMBERS:
Would you like to write an encouraging devotional thought for a future
issue of Street Smart? If so, send your submission of 200 words or less
(including a related Bible verse) to editor@agrm.org.
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