Dear Caring Friend, On the cover, you may have noticed the words, “A Thrill of Hope.” They’re from the Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night,” which proclaims the good news of the birth of Jesus, including this line: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” Those words are just as relevant today as when they…
Dear Caring Friend, Our cover story is about J.R., a veteran who served in Vietnam and struggles with PTSD (which you can read here.) Though he’s sheltered at City Rescue Mission, he’s one of about 135 homeless vets in Oklahoma City. Veterans Day is coming soon, a reminder that we should take every opportunity to…
Homelessness Is Not a Crime Dear Caring Friend, In April, the Oklahoma Senate passed Bill 1854, which was signed into law. This law targets homeless camps and the people who live in them. Breaking this law can result in up to 15 days in jail. Criminalizing homelessness is neither a good idea nor is it…
Finding Their Way Home, Thanks to You Dear Caring Friend, Some individuals go through decades of pain and struggle before finally landing on their feet and turning their lives around — like Robert, our cover story in this months edition of The Mission, which you can read here. Others find help and hope at a…
Making Sure There’s “Room in the Inn” We all know the story: Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, desperately seeking shelter so Mary can give birth to the baby Jesus. But time and again, they were turned away, because “there was no room for them in the inn.” Those “innkeepers” must have felt terrible about…
When you’re struggling with something, it’s comforting to know you’re not alone. You meet someone going through the same thing — or who’s been there — and it somehow makes you feel a little bit better . . . especially if they’ve come out on the other side. That’s an appropriate description of many of…
Here’s something you might not know about City Rescue Mission. Almost 200 of the individuals in our care right now are children. Their families have dealt with all manner of hardship — from job loss to eviction, mental health challenges and domestic abuse. But I don’t despair for those 200 children. Instead, I pray for…
A home is more than just a roof over someone’s head. It’s a source of safety and stability. It’s a launching pad from which we pursue our personal and professional dreams. And for an increasing number of neighbors in Oklahoma City, it’s far from a sure thing. This summer, many men, women and families will…
One bad judgment. One medical emergency. One missed paycheck. That’s all it would take. Here in Oklahoma City, a growing number of neighbors live perilously close to the edge of homelessness. You are the safety net waiting to catch them. Through your support of City Rescue Mission, you shine a beacon of hope that cuts…
At City Rescue Mission, we often talk about the path back to hope. Of course, that path looks a little different for each of the men, women and families in our care. It can be a steady uphill climb, or a long and winding odyssey full of stops and starts. That’s been the case for…