Jamaican mission project making strides
In 2004, City Rescue Mission (Jacksonville, Fla.) began mentoring the Committee for the Homeless in Jamaica to effectively address the issues of homelessness. As a result of this collaboration, the Open Arms Drop-In Centre was started in Kingston in 2006. On the eve of its second anniversary, the centre proudly reports that it currently has 481 registered clients who receive hot meals, clothing, skills training, spiritual support, mental health care, and personal hygiene care. AGRM is partnering with the center to expand its operations to include a residential treatment facility in the future. In Montego Bay, AGRM will support the expansion efforts of the Montego Bay Homeless Programme as it upgrades the Refuge of Hope Night Shelter to have 50 (rather than 26) overnight beds, introduces a structured recovery program patterned after CRM’s LifeBuilders Program, and establishes a detox center. Please keep the Jamaican projects in your prayers. Contact Patrick Hayle of City Rescue Mission at phayle@crmjax.org to find out how to assist the missions in Jamaica.

Convention registration is in the mail
Your November/December issue of Rescue magazine is in the mail. Included in the publication is initial information about the 2009 AGRM annual convention in Denver and your first opportunity to register. If you sign up before December 31, 2008, you’ll be able to take advantage of the early-bird registration discount. Look for the magazine in your mailbox soon.

Homeless turn out for historic vote
Across the nation, homeless people participated in the recent national election—many voting for the first time ever. Reports of record turnouts among homeless voters were common. According to yahoo.com, more than 200 homeless voters had cast their ballots at one polling station, the Los Angeles Mission, before noon on Election Day. Find out what motivated homeless voters at http://tinyurl.com/5jj4pr.

Snapshot survey results complete
The 20th annual AGRM Snapshot Survey of the Homeless was recently published, with many media outlets picking up the results. Local participating missions received their local numbers, compared to the national figures. The 2008 survey found that women with children made up 66 percent of the families served by AGRM rescue missions, a jump from 55 percent in 2007. This is just one piece of evidence that women with children are more readily affected by the slow economy than other groups. Our thanks to the 137 missions that participated in the survey and provided us with more than 22,600 individual responses. Read the full report at www.agrm.org/statistics/snapshot_national_2008.htm.

Arizona missions make big impact
The annual meeting of the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness last month was greatly influenced by AGRM member ministries. Ben Wenke, director of Crossroads Nogales Mission (Nogales, Ariz.), received the group’s 2008 Lifetime Achievement award, and Gordon Block of Crossroads Mission (Yuma, Ariz.) took home the honor for Outstanding Achievement in Overcoming Homelessness. In addition, a seminar, “The Role of the Gospel Rescue Mission in Ending Homelessness,” presented by Terri Leveton of Phoenix Rescue Mission (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Bert Wenke of Crossroads Nogales Mission, was among the most highly attended at the conference.

Looking down the street...
Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission (Las Cruces, N.M.) is grateful for a newly remodeled kitchen featuring a stainless steel dishwasher and restroom. The additions make the kitchen a brighter, healthier place from which to serve people.   Tony Chung has resigned as executive director of Hiway 80 Rescue Mission (Longview, Tex.) to pursue a mission start-up opportunity in Tyler, Tex. Gary Boyd has been named interim director at Hiway 80. Lighthouse Mission Ministries (Bellingham, Wash.) broke ground last week on a 24-unit center for women and children. Construction is scheduled to be complete in May next year.

Site offers answers to housing questions
With numerous homes in foreclosure, why are new ones still being built? And why is it so hard to match people who need homes with those who have them available for rent? Recently, MSN Money provided answers to some typical questions about the housing crisis. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/5mw5vk.

Doctor’s mission is to care for homeless
For 25 years, Dr. Jim O’Connell has been reaching out to people whose homes are underpasses and park benches. He’s the founder and president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which provides physical and mental health care to people on the streets. It’s believed to be the largest and most comprehensive program of its type in the nation. A new aspect of the program is a $35-million medical complex with 104 beds, a dental clinic, and a pharmacy. According to the New York Times, the organization’s goal is to offer the best possible health care services to Boston’s homeless population. Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/647mcw.

Canadian study provides heroin to addicts
The North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) suggests that medial and social costs could be drastically reduced if chronic heroin addicts were provided with controlled dosages of the drug in a medical setting. Researchers say that the treatment can help those who aren’t responsive to other types of therapy, such as methadone treatments or abstinence programs. According to NAOMI, the program helps reduce the social and economic burden of addiction, both for addicts and for society. For example, researchers say it can lower the rates of crime, unemployment, and diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/56fc67.

Kingdom of God both future and present reality
In a recent Leadership magazine survey of 700 evangelical pastors, 37 percent said they believe the kingdom of God is a future reality in heaven, 20 percent saw it as a present reality on earth, and 33 percent believed both concepts were true. Ten years ago, 58 percent believed it was future and only 9 percent present. The difference is crucial, because it shows that today’s church leaders and Christians are more likely to be directly involved in participating in work to further the kingdom of God, which directly correlates to involvement in ministry to people in need. Read the report at http://tinyurl.com/6bbfjl.

More female vets find themselves homeless
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that between 7,000 and 8,000 female veterans are homeless at any one time, representing approximately 5 percent of all female vets. Fewer female veterans (3 percent) were homeless a decade ago. An increasing number of women are serving the military, including 190,000 who have spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan. VA officials have begun establishing residential programs specifically for female veterans, according to an Associated Press report. Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/6xtqz4.

Jobless claims at seven-year high
Unemployment claims recently jumped to a seasonally adjusted 516,000, the highest figure in seven years, more evidence of the struggling economy. Experts expect future reports to be even bleaker. As you make plans and projections for services in 2009, factor in an increase in services during the weak economy. Service requests among reporting member missions are currently running 8 to12 percent above last year, perhaps a good estimation for 2009 projections. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/5u6kg6

Pie contest garners desserts for mission
The Springfield Rescue Mission (Springfield, Mass.) hosts an annual open house the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Attendees are encouraged to bring two identical, uncut pies to the event. One pie is entered in a pie contest (judged during the open house) and served as dessert to those attending the festivities. The other pie becomes a homemade treat for people attending Thanksgiving dinner at the mission.

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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

Grand Rapids, MI: Sous Chef I - Direct, evaluate, assist resident workers, special events set-up, supervise kitchen operations and volunteers, closing inspections, record meal counts, monitor health standards. Full/part-time; no degree necessary. Contact: Mel Trotter Ministries, 225 Commerce St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Phone: 616-454-8249 Fax: 616-454-5525 To contact via email: celestvaught@meltrotter.org Date Added: 11/07/2008

Modesto, CA: Assistant Director - Assist CEO and CFO in all matters relating to mission operations. Requires Christian with BA/Business Administration or equivalent education/experience, working knowledge of accounting, and excellent communication skills. Previous Rescue experience preferred. Non-smoker, pre- and post-employment drug testing required. Send resume/salary requirements to Modesto Gospel Mission, PO Box 1203, Modesto, CA 95353. Phone: 209-529-8259 Fax: 209-529-3450 To contact via email: barbara@homelessmission.org Date Added: 11/06/2008

Seeking Employment: David Scott, Jr. is seeking employment as a Program Director to help men dealing with addictions. Looking for employment in the Midwest or Northeast area. David has a MA History & Philosophy, a BA in Pastoral Theology, and is married with 4 children. Phone: 410-848-6173 Date Added: 11/11/2008

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).

That’s an emergency

“Why, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).

A news report was detailing the accounts of a near-fatal plane crash. On the screen, viewers could read the exchange between the control tower and the pilot, as the audio was not very clear.

As the plane entered New York airspace, the pilot notified the air traffic controller: “We are minimum fuel, sir.”

“You’re declaring emergency at this time; time is 22:57,” the air traffic controller responded. “I need souls on board and when you arrive.”

“157 souls on board,” the pilot declared. “We have exactly 38 minutes of fuel remaining.”

“Thirty-eight minutes of fuel,” the controller acknowledged. “That is an emergency.”

What an interesting exchange during a dramatic time. Suddenly, ordinary was extraordinary. Passengers turned into “souls”!

The truth is that these passengers weren’t headed to destinations unknown. They were headed into eternity. Every day when we leave our homes, whether for work or play, we are headed toward eternity. And so are the people who come into our missions. Let’s make sure we treat their arrival with appropriate urgency.

Adapted from devotion by Mike Ruffin at devotions.com

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.