July 2013
Transforming Lives. Transforming Our City. PhoenixRescueMission.org
continued on page 2
Volunteers find many things while
serving at the Mission. Some find
purpose in helping those in need;
others find their perspectives forever changed
by what they see. Will however, found
something here he never could have expected
– his daughter.
Last year, Pastor Will Russell felt a tug
on his heart. God was leading him to start
serving others in a new way, to teach the
gospel to those that needed it most. After a brief search for the right opportunity,
Will found the Phoenix Rescue Mission.
“When I first began volunteering at the Mission, I instantly felt
like I needed to be there. It quickly became my home away from
home.”
He started his volunteer services in the kitchen, helping to
prepare meals and serving them to the individuals and families
that stream through our cafeteria every day. But as much as
he enjoyed giving words of encouragement to the souls on
the other side of the serving tray, he soon found his heart
wasn’t completely satisfied. God was telling him he could
do more.
He shared this desire with a few of our staff members
and they recommended he try teaching a discipleship class. It only took one session before
he knew had found what he was looking for. He immediately signed on to teach on a
regular basis. Every week his classes grew as word got around and he found great satisfaction
in leading several men and women to Christ.
At last, Will had finally found his place, his journey was over… or so he thought. A few
months later he received a phone call that would change his life even further. It was from an
unknown number and the woman on the other end asked to speak to “Andrew.”
“That’s my middle name, and no one has called me that for a very long time,” Pastor
Russell said. Curious, he asked who was calling. Will couldn’t believe what he heard next.
On the other end of the line was someone he hadn’t seen in over 24 years – his daughter
Scan this code with your mobile device to see Will’s story told in his own words.
Lost & Found continued from page 1
theMAINthingkeeping the main thing,
a message from Jay Cory, President and CEO
2
Will, our volunteer of the year and the focus of our
cover story this month is a perfect example of what
we try to achieve here at the Mission – a miracle we call transformation360.
Last month I explained that transformation is never a one way street. Like a ripple in a pond, every act done in
God’s name sends His power and His love in all directions - reshaping hearts and lives in 360 degrees. Just think
about Will’s story. He sacrificed his time and energy to help transform the lives of others as a volunteer, but God
didn’t stop there. He used Will’s sacrifice to do something wonderful, to transform Will’s life by reuniting him with
his estranged daughter.
Now, I can’t say that the experience of every volunteer will be as dramatic as Will’s, but I can say that I see God
working in the lives of countless people every day. He changes the hearts and minds of volunteers and clients alike on
a regular basis here at the Mission. But don’t take my word for it. Give it a try by checking out our volunteer page at
phoenixrescuemission.org/act.
Who knows? You may find God waiting for you at the door, ready to transform lives and leave you with a blessing
that will change your life forever.
“I had been praying that my daughter would come back into my life somehow, and receiving that phone call was
as if God said, ‘I heard you.’”
24 years ago, Will was a very different person. He describes himself during his 20’s as a “train wreck.” One of the
decisions he made during that time was to give up his daughter Amy for adoption. Now God was giving him a chance
to make up for lost time.
The two met the next day for breakfast. Pastor Russell took the opportunity to describe what he was like during
his 20’s and how he had turned his life around since then. He explained how God uses those experiences now to
help others who are struggling with addiction and other life challenges at the Phoenix Rescue Mission. But when
he said the words Phoenix Rescue Mission, he noticed Amy’s jaw drop. Stunned, Amy told him that she had been
volunteering at the Phoenix Rescue Mission since March… only a month before Pastor Will started in the kitchen.
Only God could have planned something like this.
Now nearly a year after their initial meeting, both still serve at the Mission and love the experience. In fact, Pastor
Will has just been named our Volunteer of the Year. They both agree that their faith is stronger than ever and hope
others will consider supporting Phoenix Rescue Mission in its efforts to help homeless men, women and children and
elderly shut-ins.
“No task is too small,” says Amy, who is a mother to two young children. “By giving back, we also receive. I’m
inspired anew every time I volunteer.”
Summer just started and we’re already experiencing record temperatures
here in Phoenix. For those caught out in the sun, excessive heat can
be dangerous and even deadly. But did you know that the dry air and
extreme temperatures pose a threat to those indoors as well? As you may have
read in our Hope Coach article this month (page 5), last year more than 50
elderly citizens died due to dehydration inside their homes.
That’s 50 lives, 50 deaths that could
have been prevented by something
as simple as a case of water. It’s
unacceptable and this year, as a
part of our Code Red initiative,
Phoenix Rescue Mission is
doing something about it.
In addition to our Hope Coach heat relief efforts,
volunteers and staff will be visiting elderly communities on a
weekly basis to perform wellness checks, to educate men and
women about the dehydrating effects of various medications
and to provide each of them with provisions designed to keep
them safe and healthy.
“Because many seniors live a sedentary lifestyle, they often don’t begin to feel thirsty until dehydration has
already set in. Combine this with the draining effects of many medications and you have a potentially life-threatening
situation,” said Jay Cory, our President & CEO. “We
have the opportunity to save lives this summer with
simple things like education and bottles of water.
There’s no reason the needs of this vulnerable
population should continue to be ignored.”
For more information on Code Red
and how you can get involved, please
visit phoenixrescuemission.org/codered
or call 602-346-3363.
3
Elderly at RiskLast year, more than 50 elderly died from dehydration inside their homes.
Volunteers and staff visit elderly communities, educating the men and women about dehydration.
A case of water can mean the difference between life and death for the elderly.
4
If you’ve ever had a chance to visit the Mission, you may have been surprised by the energetic and overall cheery
attitude of our staff and volunteers. After all, serving food, teaching a course or distributing water on the streets
doesn’t seem very exciting by itself. But there’s a perfectly rational explanation for their warm smiles and the
bounce in their step.
They’ve caught the vision.
You see, there’s something special that happens when you walk through our doors, when you come face to face
with the people we serve and actually witness the hope and transformation for yourself. It’s a feeling that’s infectious
and addictive - knowing that what you are doing is having a real impact, and saving real lives.
The members of Pebble Creek Community Church got their first glimpse of the vision last June when a few
representatives took a simple tour of our Emergency Center and Changing Lives Center. Struck by what they saw,
they immediately pledged their financial support.
The vision grew in October when Pebble Creek’s pastor attended our
Quarterly Celebration. He would later comment that he felt Christ’s presence
They Caught the Vision
as he listened to the amazing stories of our men and
women in recovery. Then in January, the vision finally
took hold when a member of their Missions Committee,
Bruce Sharp, experienced his own tour of the Changing
Lives Center. He was so moved by the work that he
championed a significant gift request to assist our
women in recovery. The Missions Committee agreed
immediately.
But it didn’t stop there.
In April, we were invited to present our vision to the
entire congregation of Pebble Creek Community Church.
Through the amazing testimony of Diane, one of our
recent recovery graduates, the vision spread like wildfire
throughout the church body. A men’s group signed up
to begin serving meals, a ladies group started a Christmas
Shoebox project for the Changing Lives Center, and a
member of the church matched the Mission Committee’s
funding out of her own pocket to help the men, women
and children we serve!
It’s impossible to truly describe what it’s like to “catch
the vision,” you just have to see for yourself. This summer
we encourage you to take the time to get involved and
find out, or better yet, get your church or neighborhood
group active in our work of rescue.
The Phoenix Rescue Mission is always looking for new volunteers - spirited men and women willing
to donate their time and energy to spread hope to those who need it most!
Our family of volunteers is our most precious resource. They bring life to our ministry through their hard work, kind hearts and helping hands.
From serving meals to street outreach there are countless ways a volunteer can make a difference here at the mission.
For a full list of opportunities or to sign up, please visit our website at phoenixrescuemission.org/act/volunteer or by scanning the QR code with your smart phone, or by calling Sofia at (602) 346-3363. We hope to see you soon!
You can catch the Vision, too!
continued on page 6
5
There’s a significant portion of our Phoenix
community that is suffering in silence. They
are all around us, but only the most severe
cases ever catch our eye. They are independent,
isolated and alone, and every year more than 50 of
them die in their homes because of it.
I’m speaking about some of our most vulnerable
neighbors, our city’s elderly.
Just a couple weeks ago I had an opportunity to ride along in the Hope Coach to help distribute water and
supplies to a few of our cities’ seniors. I imagined a day of delivering provisions to homes filled with lace doilies and
old family photos. I pictured places not unlike my grandparent’s house with their knickknacks and china cabinets and
plastic covered sofas.
I was completely unprepared for what I saw.
Our first stop blew me away. As I exited the van, I saw an elderly woman
waiting for us on the front steps of her home, a small domed structure that
looked like some sort of desert igloo. Her front yard was in total disarray.
Old milk cartons, cinderblocks and trash littered the dirt surrounding her
house. As I watched this sweet-looking old lady close her rusted front door
and hobble towards us through the debris, my heart was in my shoes…
So this was what it really meant to be elderly and forgotten.
I never expected it to be this bad. To see someone that could easily be
my grandmother live this way broke my heart. The last time I saw similar
conditions was on a mission trip south of the border… a trip I’ll never forget. But this was Phoenix; this was only 20
minutes from my home. I’m embarrassed to say - I never had a clue.
The woman’s name was Susan and I could tell that she didn’t get many visitors by how excited she was to see us.
We took down her contact information and gave her a couple of cases of water and some hygiene supplies. That’s
when Chaplain Cliff, the Hope Coach Coordinator offered to pray for her.
As a photographer, I’m privy to the private moments during prayer. I get to watch
the expressions of people lost in communication with God. As Chaplain Cliff began
to speak I could see Susan’s emotions begin overwhelm her, her lips started to quiver
as she tried her best to hold back the tears. At that moment what she was feeling was
written all over her face. Life was hard for this woman, almost unbearable - and it
meant the world to her just knowing that someone out there truly cared for her.
I’d like to say that Susan was the only elderly person we met that day desperate for
help and human contact. But that wasn’t the case.
A short trip down the road brought us to the front door of Joe, who greeted us
in his walker in front of a house no larger than my office. Next door was Earnest, an
older gentleman who had lived in the same rundown apartment for the past 6 years
Susan’s home looked like a desert igloo.
Chaplain Cliff and Sofia Ontiveros with the Community Engagement Department pray with Susan.
To mail a gift: P.O. Box 63005 ~ Phoenix, AZ 85082-3005For shelter & meal service: 1801 S. 35th Avenue ~ Phoenix, AZ 85009602-233-3000 ~ www.phoenixrescuemission.org
Hope TotesForgotten continued from page 5
Phoenix Rescue Mission would like to thank you for a tremendous year. As you can see, your support really made a difference for men, women and children in the Phoenix area:(Figures from Jan. - Dec. 2012)
• Total Meals Provided 305,393
• Chapel Service Attendees 25,605
• Bed Nights of Shelter 51,069
• Permanent Job Placements 183
• Volunteer Service Hours 20,168
• Bottles of Water Distributed 370,260
Mission Mileposts
Need a summer project you can do with your kids? Make Hope Totes for the Hope Coach to distribute to the homeless as part of Code Red Summer Heat Relief. We need your help to build lifesaving totes with the following items:
Place the items in a one-gallon Ziplock bag and bring them to the Mission Donation Center, 1468 N. 26th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. For more information, please call 602-233-3000.
Bottled Water
Sunscreen with an SPF of 30+
Lip Balm with SPF
White, Athletic Socks
Shoelaces
Deodorant
Travel-size Soap, Shampoo
and Conditioner
A Note of Encouragement
because a spinal cord injury gave him no other options.
Across the street we met Delores, an older mother whose
son was in jail and unable to care for her any longer.
Each stop was another tragic story, another lonely
soul – each
of them
living in
unimaginable
conditions
and many of
them utterly
alone. But it
doesn’t have
to be this
way.
Together
we can do
something
about it.
This summer Phoenix Rescue Mission has made it
a priority to bring hope and relief to elderly people like
Susan as part of their Code Red initiative. I’m asking
you to join me in support of their efforts by donating
cases of water, imperishable foods and hygiene supplies
to the Mission at 1468 N 26th Avenue. Financial gifts
also make a huge difference. You can give online at
phoenixrescuemission.org/give or by mail in the envelope
provided. Also, make sure you check out the article on
page 3 to learn about more ways you can help the elderly
beat the heat this summer.
Together we can bring hope to hopeless situations and
provide the regular contact and support that keeps people
like Susan, Joe, Earnest and Delores safe and healthy. For
more information on drop off locations or how you can
take your own ride on the hope coach, please call 602-
346-3363 or visit phoenixrescuemission.org.
Joe greets Chaplain Cliff and is grateful for what the Hope Coach brings.