From the President:
Dear Caring Friend, On the cover, you may have noticed the words, “A Thrill of Hope.” They’re from the Christmas...
Stories of Hope
All Articles
Michael’s Story
“Without the Mission, I’d be homeless or dead” Michael thought he had a plan. As a single father, he lost...
Marie’s Story
A Chance To Heal Marie’s daughter had recently graduated high school when the unthinkable happened. The bright, energetic 19-year-old passed...
Laura’s Story
I Wouldn’t Be Here Without You I’ll never forget the day I came to City Rescue Mission. I’d been living...
Frank’s Story
“Being around people who care made me realize my problems were temporary” It’s a moment Frank will never shake from...
Yvonne’s Story
“You helped me move forward without judgment, and I’ll always be grateful.” I was very young when I made the...
Cynthia’s Story
“My first week here, I knew this is where I needed to be.” For decades, mental illness wreaked havoc on...
Amy’s Story
“The longer I was at the Mission, the better I felt about myself.” Amy grew up in an abusive home....
Wanda’s Story
“I feel like God brought me here.” It had been decades since Wanda celebrated Christmas with her family, mostly because...
Amy’s Story
“I felt love and a sense of hope right away.” I was living in another state with my 6-year-old son,...
Janice’s Story
Janice was halfway through her senior year of high school, looking forward to prom, graduation and moving on to cosmetology...
Anna’s Story
Safe At Last Anna* is tired of running. But she couldn’t escape her abusers … until now. A single mother...
JR’s Story
“Without You, I Wouldn’t Be Here” Ask J.R. how he’s doing these days, and he gets right to the point:...
Nicoles’s Story
On Thanksgiving Day a year ago, Nicole wasn’t feeling very grateful. It was 9:30 p.m., and she and her three...
Sharda’s Story
“I feel myself getting back to the person I really am” All that Sharda wanted for her kids was hope....
Robert’s Story
“I Knew the Mission Had Something Special for Me” Robert had already hung the sheet in his prison cell, ready...
Finding Help and Healing
A Life Transformed After 20 Yearson the Street After living on the street for over 20 years, Marcus* knows what...
Blanca’s Story
“We feel safe now” When Blanca found herself homeless her first thought was the same as always: protect her young...
Steven’s Story
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you.” When Steven moved here with his wife a few years ago he...
Back to School with Scarlett
At City Rescue Mission, our staff understands the importance of primary education for children. Kids experiencing homelessness are at an...
Tish’s Story
“I don’t want my daughters to ever feel that pain,” Tish says, recalling when her daughter’s father attacked Tish and...
Thanksgiving at the Mission
“Thank you for giving me and others the opportunity to become who God intended us to be.” Raymond knows what...
Rebecca’s Story
“I’ve built and strengthened myself” As a teenager, Rebecca had a bright future — she was a world softball champion...
Scott and Deanna
“We appreciate the blessings and opportunities you have given us.” Husband and wife Scott and Deanna know all too well...
Terri’s Story
“It’s time for me to have a life.” Terri’s mom was severely bipolar, and as an only child Terri knew...
Rebecca’s Story
“My main goal is finding work and being the person I want to be.” When Rebecca got married, it felt...
Rodney’s Story
“I had somewhere to go on a journey to get myself right.” After nearly a decade of struggling to survive...
A Mother’s Journey
Tish had to overcome the unimaginable to protect her children and ensure a better future for her family. Watch her...
Debbie’s Story
“God, what am I going to do?” Debbie asked aloud. She had been struggling to survive on the streets of...
Everrett’s Story
Finding Stability After a Life of Boom-and-Bust Everett is no stranger to the boom-and-bust cycle of oil field work. “I...
Tracy’s Story
Finding Stability and Purpose Engine trouble brought Tracy to City Rescue Mission. But in truth, she’d been running on fumes...
Brandon & Jennifer’s Story
The word “home” evokes feelings of safety, comfort, and welcome. Regardless of what life throws at you or the difficulties you...
Michelle’s Story
“You’ve helped me so much” No one knows the horrors of homelessness better than Michelle. For 10 years she struggled...
Shane’s Story
“The Mission was a godsend” Shane’s life changed in an instant. He was homeless, struggling with drug abuse. He’d spent...
Tiyonna’s Transformation
After six years of a toxic marriage – suffering physical and emotional abuse – as well as great hardship and loss...
The Power of Circumstance vs. the Power of Change
In this intimate video, several Bridge to Life graduates speak about how change has impacted their lives....Read More
Conversations with Bridge to Life Graduates
Dusty speaks with several guests of City Rescue Mission....Read More
Donna’s Story
Meet Donna. Her story of transformation was featured at Mission of Hope, and she is a touching example of the...
Tara’s Story
Before she came to City Rescue Mission, Tara was struggling with addiction, in a bad relationship and searching for a...
Ryan’s Story
Ryan’s world took a turn for the worse after his father passed away. He was young, alienated and lost. Covering...
Building a Better Future
She was addicted and suicidal with nowhere to go — and KK was only 9 years old. KK learned early...
Brenda’s Breakthrough
“You’ve given me a new beginning” When Brenda describes her life growing up as “a little crazy,” that is an...
Chris’s Story
Chris reflects on his time in the Recovery Program at City Rescue Mission and how its impacted him. More Client...
Heather’s Story
Heather is graduating from the Recovery Program with a deeper relationship with God and the knowledge that He will never...
La Toyei’s Story
“I’m so glad to feel like myself again” When La Toyei’s husband was unexpectedly and tragically killed, she didn’t know...
Thomas’s Story
Thomas knows firsthand how miserable it is to be homeless, struggling to stay warm in the winter storms. His meager...
Sharon’s Story
Sharon had always been a strong, independent person who could overcome any obstacle life threw at her. But last year...
Yassine’s Story
Yassine was ecstatic when he got the news — his green card was approved, and he could legally move to...
Jasmine’s Story
“ I feel like this is the beginning of the rest of our lives” Escape was the only thing on Jasmine’s...
Buddy’s Story
“ I knew things were finally going to be okay” Nine years ago, Buddy’s wife, Shannon, passed away in a tragic...
James’s Story
When James completed his service in the U.S. Army, he felt like the sky was the limit. Energetic and optimistic,...
James’s Journey
“I’m excited for the future” After graduating from college, James felt like the sky was the limit. He had a...
Charles’s Story
Charles talks about how he feels like a different person after completing the Recovery Program at City Rescue Mission. More...
From the President:
Dear Caring Friend, Our cover story is about J.R., a veteran who served in Vietnam and struggles with PTSD (which...
A Thank You From the President
Homelessness Is Not a Crime Dear Caring Friend, In April, the Oklahoma Senate passed Bill 1854, which was signed into...
From the President:
Finding Their Way Home, Thanks to You Dear Caring Friend, Some individuals go through decades of pain and struggle before...
Leigh Ann’s Story
The Gift of New Hope The evangelist Ruth Carter Stapleton once wrote, “Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate...
From the President:
Making Sure There’s “Room in the Inn” We all know the story: Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, desperately seeking...
From the President:
When you’re struggling with something, it’s comforting to know you’re not alone. You meet someone going through the same thing...
From the President:
Here’s something you might not know about City Rescue Mission. Almost 200 of the individuals in our care right now...
From the President:
A home is more than just a roof over someone’s head. It’s a source of safety and stability. It’s a...
From the President:
One bad judgment. One medical emergency. One missed paycheck. That’s all it would take. Here in Oklahoma City, a growing...
From the President: February 2023
At City Rescue Mission, we often talk about the path back to hope. Of course, that path looks a little...
From the President:
With Christmas right around the corner, I want to commend you for giving the best gift possible to vulnerable neighbors...
From the President: October 2022
As Thanksgiving approaches, my thoughts turn to those who will reach out to City Rescue Mission for help and hope....