A Father s Journey. 118 Years of Service

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1 118 Years of Service August 2010 A Father s Journey The LORD says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

2 Hope Changes Lives Matt McClain, Thanksgiving Banquet, 2009.

3 A Fa In the beauty surrounding Fort Collins Horsetooth Reservoir, Dave and four-year-old son David IV, otherwise known as D, cast their fishing lines into the water below. Most days they leave with nothing more than a few bites, but Dave doesn t care. The New Life Program graduate relishes lazy afternoons with his son, a cute little guy, who is one of Dave s main motivations to win the battle against alcohol abuse. Before coming to Harvest Farm, a Mission outreach that combats substance abuse through counseling, spiritual encouragement and work therapy, Dave was drowning in his responsibilities as a father. Between the care his son required after a debilitating bout with spinal meningitis, the pressure of providing as a single parent, and his scarce relationship with daughter Lexie, 10, he found himself trying to calm the chaos with weekend binges. Dave came to the Farm with a high degree of motivation to stay sober, Chaplain Dave Sterner recalls. His ability and desire to learn has given him the necessary wisdom to be effective and righteous in his new life. I started checking into Harvest Farm after I missed trick-or-treating with my son; I got so drunk that I blacked out and didn t even realize the night before was Halloween, Dave painfully recalls. I felt so much guilt and shame that I knew I had to change. On May 16, 2009, just three days into his life-changing stay at the Farm, Dave was forced to deal with the death of his estranged father. Knowing his father s absence and alcoholism had contributed to his own short-comings as a parent, Dave used the devastating news as an incentive to avoid a similar fate. With his mom taking care of D nearby, he made a commitment to invest himself fully in the program. I love welding, and I really feel like I m accomplishing something by going to school, Dave says proudly. I can t believe how many things the Farm has helped me do just in the last year! I knew there was something special about Dave when his father died early in his stay, and he resolutely determined not to go to the funeral because it would mean leaving the program, Dave s chaplain, Dave Sterner, says. His son is the light of his life, and he can t imagine how he let alcohol get in the way of that relationship.

4 Father to the fatherless, defender of the widows this is God, whose dwelling is holy. Psalm 68:5 (NLT) ther s Journey Captivated by Chaplain Sterner s animated and enlightening Bible studies, Dave s outlook and relationship with God began to flourish. As his confidence grew, he went on to earn his GED, to enroll in Front Range Community College earning an Applied Science Degree in welding, and to work full time in his uncle s cement business. I love reading the Bible, and I love my new life; the Holy Spirit has worked in me! Dave says with a smile. I want to raise my son in church and give him the things I never had. Dave graduated from the New Life Program in July, and has chosen to stay close to the Farm while he completes the outreach s post-graduate program. He s found a roommate in fellow graduate and single dad Jason, and is excited to begin renewing his relationship with daughter Lexie. I have so much love and respect for my mom, Dave says. She s been such a huge help taking care of my son, and I know that she really sees the difference in me. Two of my goals when I came to the Farm were to leave knowing Jesus and to have my relationship with my daughter back, Dave says. I m in such a better place and much more responsible as a dad; I can t thank the Denver Rescue Mission enough for what they ve done for me and my family! New Life Program participants are committed to making true life changes. This past year, 86 participants have gone on to pursue higher education, and 92% of our graduates remained self-sufficient!

5 Dear Friends, From the CEO This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to officiate at the wedding of a son of long time family friends. The young man and his beautiful bride were married outdoors at Mackinac Island in Michigan. During the ceremony, a seagull, no doubt looking for food, flew over and dropped an offering directly between the bride and groom, and myself. The groom and best man s eyes became as big as saucers as they surveyed the impact zone and realized that, somehow, no one was struck. Big smiles and chuckles ensued as we moved forward with the ceremony! I could not help but think that had any of us been just six inches forward, things would have been very different. Would this not have made for a very colorful ceremony and something memorable to tell about your wedding day? I wonder how I would have handled this situation had I been splattered with the unexpected. I hope I would have just wiped it off, laughed, and pressed on. Many of the people who come to us for help at the Denver Rescue Mission have simply been at the wrong place at the wrong time, victims of lost jobs, medical issues, domestic violence, or lost housing. Maybe it has only been a matter of a few dollars, but they were not able to avoid the disaster that has befallen them. They have been hit hard. Many of them would tell you that their reaction to bad things in their lives resulted in poor decisions on their part. Whatever their reasons for being homeless, our programs are designed to help people develop the skills and attitudes they need to be able to handle life s tough problems when they do occur. We try to model healthy lifestyles, teach them what it means to live in community and answer their questions about becoming productive, self-sufficient citizens because we want them to know what to do when the seagulls of life unload something they were not planning on receiving. Of course, we start with, God loves you and has a purpose for your life. What a great place to begin! Thanks for your support. God Bless! Denver Rescue Mission Golf Tournament Come out and hit a hole in one for the hungry and homeless! The cost is only $90 per person and includes registration, cart and a delicious lunch. The tournament will take place Friday, August 27th, at the Broadlands Golf Course. Player spots are still available! For more information, please call Lisette at , or her at lwilliams@denrescue.org. Denver Century Ride On Sunday, June 20th, nine Mission employees including President and CEO Brad Meuli participated in the Denver Century Ride. The 62- mile bike ride benefited Denver s Road Home, part of Mayor Hickenlooper s ten year plan to end homelessness. Mission Spiritual Director Lon Gregg (left) and CEO Brad Meuli (right). To post a note of encouragement for Dave, log on to Facebook and type Denver Rescue Mission in the search bar to locate our fan page. 8th Annual September 11th through October For more information, please call Brad Meuli

6 Mission Events Denver Rescue Mission Golf Tournament Friday, August 27th 7:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Broadlands Golf Course 4380 W. 144th Avenue, Broomfield, CO For more information, please contact or lwilliams@denrescue.org. Harvest Farm Fall Festival 5K Run/Walk Saturday, August 28th Registration at 7 a.m. Race Starts at 8 a.m. For more information, please visit Women Who ve Changed the Heart of the City Thursday, September 16th The Brown Palace 3 to 5 p.m. Honorees: Linda Alvarado, LaFawn Biddle, Arlene Hirschfeld, Lily Nie. To purchase tickets online, please go to and enter event code: DRMcity (All one word, not case sensitive). For more information on table and corporate sponsorships, please call Join us for an Evening of Exploration at The Wildlife Experience! Friday, October 1st 6 to 7 p.m. Silent Auction 7 to 9 p.m. Dinner 9 to 10 p.m. Live Music To purchase tickets online, please go to and enter event code: Exploration (All one word, not case sensitive). For more information on table and corporate sponsorships, please call Summer of Hope Online Auction August 9th through the13th For more information, please visit Community Support Thanks For Your Support! The Mission would like to thank King Soopers and the Colorado Rockies for collecting food and monetary donations for our Hit a Home Run Against Hunger campaign. We so appreciate your generosity and heart for the homeless! What An Adventure! A huge thank you to Wilderness Aware Rafting Company of Buena Vista, Colorado, for generously providing two special half-days of whitewater rafting for over 90 Mission New Life Program participants in June. Because of their kindness, program participants working towards a life of sobriety and selfsufficiency had an amazing mountain adventure! Statistics How You Help Meals served Beds Chapel attendance Food boxes distributed Furniture (households) Clothing (lbs.) Chiropractic Dental Medical Optical June 45,071 12,564 6, , YTD 280,448 86,816 53, , ,725 1,055 Our Outreaches Lawrence Street Shelter Emergency care: meals, overnight shelter, free health care, food box and clothing distribution. Champa House Residential facility offering long-term help toward self-sufficiency to single mothers with dependent children. Harvest Farm Long-term New Life rehabilitation program, farming and ranching operation, food and clothing distribution, youth camp, and maze. The Crossing Long-term New Life rehabilitation program; transitional housing for program graduates and homeless families; temporary housing for interns and visitors. Ministry Outreach Center Administrative and warehouse facilities; food, clothing, and household goods distribution. Family Services Transitional housing; assistance for permanent housing; mentoring for homeless working families, seniors and refugee families. Global Ministry Outreach Consultation, resources and support to city/rescue missions around the world. Changing Lives is the monthly news publication of Denver Rescue Mission Publications Manager: Christine Gallamore Designer: Kirstin Johnson Writer: Nicole Vaiana P.O. Box 5164 Denver, CO