“ My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” — Isaiah 32:18, NIV

I Was on the Brink of Death“ When they said they had a bed for me, I broke down in tears.

Because I knew I’d found my way home.” — By Emily

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RM_46-0506_F02AT Pre-Print SpecsRM 16.05 ATL May Newsletter (2016ATL05N)Element: NEWSLETTER – Outside Form Size: 20” x 11” Folds to: 8-1/2” x Even ThirdsInks: 4/C Process Stock: 70# White Matte Text Final Art #: 3 Date: 3/25/16DO NOT PRINT RGB KEYLINES OR TYPE

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It wasn’t all that long ago that I didn’t care if I lived or died.

I grew up in a difficult home, with lots of dysfunction. Later, I turned to alcohol and cocaine to cope with the pain . . . and I remained addicted for decades. When I started doing crack in 2004, things really spiraled downhill.

I ended up homeless, living under a bridge. I never felt safe. It’s dangerous for a single woman on the streets. I went days without eating or drinking. I was often dehydrated and sometimes had hallucinations. In winter, I feared I’d freeze to death. I ruined relationships with my family, including my two kids.

Things went from bad to worse. I’d rather not get into the details, but just suffice it to say that I got arrested, and my mug shot shows how awful things were. I was down to 90 pounds, and I looked like I was on the brink of death.

Because I was.

When you hit rock bottom like that, you tend to take stock of your life. I decided to get help. And I knew exactly where to go.

Finding Home

I had heard good things about My Sister’s House at Atlanta Mission, which helps women and children get back on their feet. >>>

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Jesus on the Streets

Dear Friend of Atlanta Mission,

Come on by for a visit!

One of the best ways to see your donations at work is to schedule a tour of Atlanta Mission. You’ll see our facilities, meet some of our staff, observe our programs at work, and interact with some of our guests.

To schedule your visit, go to atlantamission.org/tour or call 404-350-1301.

It’s very hard to imagine what it’s like to live on the streets. Even as I spend time with our guests, it can be difficult to imagine what life is like without a place to call home.

The stories almost always start with loneliness and broken or destroyed relationships. They might live on the streets with many others, but they often feel alone. The shame and hopelessness seem to grow daily, almost like a bad sore. But after a while, they no longer feel the pain — or they do things to numb it.

This is why we believe a key to turning a life around starts with a relationship, preferably one that will develop into a true friendship. A friendship is about love, trust, and commitment.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, ESV). This from a man who chose friends from unique walks of life — tax collectors, prostitutes, the blind and the lame. Jesus would certainly be on the streets with the people we serve.

Your support of Atlanta Mission is the work of Jesus, making friends with those whom no one else will befriend. And with Jesus, they’re getting more than just a friend, but a Savior.

Please pray for those we serve, that God would create relationships and friendships that build trust, change lives, and introduce a Savior who loves them more than they can ever imagine.

Thank you for your generosity, love, and friendship!

Humbled to serve with you,

Jim Reese President & CEO

facebook.com/atlantamission@atlmission @ATLmission

Check us out on social media!Stay up on the latest news and testimonies of how you are helping change the lives of those experiencing poverty and homelessness in the Atlanta area.

PO BOX 1807 ATLANTA, GA 30301 www.atlantamission.org

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image# 20160209_ATL-mission_0328_CMYK.tif is Grizzard-ownedF02AT 02_09_2016 Gary Chapman

JUST $21per day provides complete care forA HOMELESS NEIGHBORPLEASE SEND YOUR MOST GENEROUS GIFT TODAY.

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FINDING YOUR MISSION

MAY 2016

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I got here in January 2015. When the counselor said they had a bed for me, I broke down in tears. Because I knew I’d found my way home.

I went to church as a child but had ignored God for a long time. Atlanta Mission helped me reconnect with my faith. Now, I read my Bible and pray all the time.

I’m not ashamed of myself anymore, because I’m not the same person I was before. I’m a completely different human being now. I am literally a new creation in Christ.

I even got my smile back, as Atlanta Mission helped me get the dental work I needed.

Now I’m working two jobs, and I’ve even moved into a place of my own. And God is restoring relationships with my family. I couldn’t be happier.

“I Was on the Brink of Death” (Continued from pg. 1)

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RM_46-0506_F02AT Pre-Print SpecsRM 16.05 ATL May Newsletter (2016ATL05N)Element: NEWSLETTER – Inside Form Size: 20” x 11” Folds to: 8-1/2” x Even ThirdsInks: 4/C Process Stock: 70# White Matte Text Final Art #: 4 Date: 3/28/16DO NOT PRINT RGB KEYLINES OR TYPE

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“ The hardest thing about living on the streets is not knowing where you will eat or where you will lay your head at night. At times, I had to sleep on concrete or on top of a piece of cardboard.”

Speaking to the nation of Israel through the prophet Isaiah, God had some very comforting words:

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end — because I am God, your personal God” (Isaiah 43:1-3, The Message).

Those same words apply to our friends and neighbors who struggle to live on the streets of Metro Atlanta. God has called each of them by name. It’s just that many of them don’t know it yet . . . but they learn it at Atlanta Mission. We emphasize that truth to each of our guests, every single day.

Until they “get” that, though, life on the streets is brutal. These men describe what it was like before they came to Atlanta Mission and found new life:

“ I’ve Called Your Name” It’s easy to lose your identity when you’re living on the streets. But God gives every one of us a name.

“ On the streets, I had lost all hope. I didn’t think I’d live to be 27, much less 57. But God had something better for me.”

Reginald

ATLANTA MISSION

has servedmore than 1.5 MILLION MEALSin the last two years combined

Yelmo

“ I lived in an abandoned building and had to bathe with two five-gallon buckets of water. But anybody could become homeless for lots of reasons. Homeless people just need someone to talk to, someone to love them.”

Andre

AT has confirmed with client that image has model release. Initials: JB Date: 3-24 image# Reginald_BW.tif is client-supplied

AT has confirmed with client that image has model release. Initials: JB Date: 3-24 image# Andre_BW.tif is client-supplied

AT has confirmed with client that image has model release. Initials: JB Date: 3-24 image# Yelmo_BW.tif is client-supplied

YOUR SUPPORT GIVES SAFETY AND STABILITY TO KIDS ALL YEAR-ROUND

Many children who come to Atlanta Mission do not know what it is like to have a consistent place to call home. They’re often on the move, staying with family and friends, at various shelters, and even living on the streets.

Such a transient existence is no life for a child. There’s no structure or stability. The constant readjustment — in living situations and in often switching schools — is traumatic, and it affects kids in different ways. Acting out. Bad grades. Anger. Depression. Social problems. Sickness. And more.

But at My Sister’s House — Atlanta Mission’s facility for women and children — kids find the safety and stability they so desperately need. They are encouraged, they are counseled, and they are loved unconditionally. They acquire tools to help them

adapt to change and learn how to adjust to new situations. And as their mothers land on their feet and hone their parenting skills, the children begin to flourish.

My Sister’s House has a team of professionals working round the clock on these things, including counselors, teachers, and outside partners.

Finally, there’s also plenty of fun for the kids — an on-site playground, arts and crafts, games, and programs with partner organizations like After-School All-Stars, the YMCA, Wilderness Works, ChopArt, Atlanta Preservation Center, Green Room ATL, and more.

Your support makes it possible for these struggling children to find hope and healing.

Stories like Emily’s are a direct result of your kindness. The lives of men, women, and children are being transformed every day at Atlanta Mission. Thank you for your continued support!

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image# 20160209_ATL-mission_1137_CMYK.tif is Grizzard-owned from F02AT 02_09_20116 Gary Chapman

Stock Image LibraryThis pdf is low resolution and for view-only. DO NOT USE THIS PDF FOR FINAL PRINT PRODUCTION.

LOW RES© Grizzard 2016

RM_46-0506_F02AT.indd 2 4/5/16 1:46 PM