The Orange County Rescue Mission E-news: May 2006

How Your Acts of Kindness Multiply for Generations to Come

Growing up with her mom, dad and sister in Huntington Beach, life seemed good to Michelle Herman — until her parents started taking drugs. She was 12 years old when her parents just stopped taking care of the kids. Her dad would sleep on a park bench at night, too stoned to come home. Soon Michelle and her sister were going to the neighbor’s house for food. Michelle became withdrawn, insecure, depressed. She began looking for love and acceptance through what she describes as “the wrong kind of men.” After high school she bounced from job to job. She stayed with an abusive man for seven years, until her son was born. She knew she wanted better for her son. But she walked right into another abusive three-year relationship.

At age 29, now with two kids to support, life seemed horrible, pointless, depressing. After she was robbed at gun-point at work, she turned to her mom for help. Her mom offered Michelle her escape from pain — drugs. Michelle loved the way the drugs made her stop feeling the pain. She hid the drug use from her kids, but they saw their mom’s life: couldn’t get out of bed, constantly losing jobs, getting evicted and finally moving into a motel. Through the thin motel walls they could hear people fighting, women getting beaten. Men would knock on the door asking Michelle if she was “working.” She heard about women getting raped.

Then a friend told her about the Orange County Rescue Mission's House of Hope. She visited on a Thursday and was accepted on Saturday — and she’s never looked back. “I hadn’t realized that I was turning into my parents — escaping into drugs and ignoring my children!” says Michelle. “If I don’t stop the cycle, my sons will end up using drugs — and their sons after them. It’s been hard facing up to what my life has become, but I have to put a stop to this now.”

And she’s doing great. She’s been clean and sober for eight months, and is about to begin a 12-month nursing program. But she says her attitude change is the biggest difference. “I want my kids to see me getting out of bed, working hard, socializing, facing reality, going to church and loving God,” she explains. “It won’t be easy, but I’m doing it for my kids. And as a side benefit, my mother has started studying the Bible with me!”

Thanks to your generosity, the cycle of drugs and abuse has been broken for another generation of children. Thank you!

1.	Your gift will be DOUBLED by a Matching Grant.
2.	Every life we touch impacts 15 others.
3.	When you break the cycle of homelessness, you stop future generations of homelessness.
4.	Many people may be spared the trauma of crime when former addicts no longer need to steal to support their habits.
5.	Every $1 we spend saves the state $7 (in police response, ER services, etc.)
6.	A changed-life testimony may inspire hundreds of people.
7.	Homeless people become taxpaying contributors instead of a drain on the system.
8.	You may get a tax break for your generosity.
9.	Your example will have an impact on others — your children, your church, other donors.
10.	Your life will be blessed in some way — you can’t out-give God!

People are shocked when it happens to them. Fred Lawyer had a steady, good-paying job and lived in a 1,400 square foot apartment with his 7-year-old son and girlfriend of 10 years. Then he lost his job. Though he had eight years experience managing grocery store warehouses, the only openings he could find were entry-level jobs paying $6.75 an hour. Even if he worked 60 hours a week, that take-home pay wouldn’t cover his rent — much less food. Soon, his savings were gone and they got evicted. He was stunned to find himself in a homeless shelter.

He found a telemarketing job. The pay was so low he could barely manage $200 a week for motel rent. The situation caused so much stress between Fred and his girlfriend that they couldn’t live together. So he slept at the Armory for four months while spending every cent to keep his son and girlfriend in a motel room. Then his girlfriend got arrested for being drunk in public and trespassing. He came to get his son, but the court saw Fred had two tickets in the past for using marijuana and that he was homeless. They wouldn’t let him have his son.

Then the Armory closed and he didn’t even have a bed. He worked by day and slept on the street or in shelters at night. Then he started coming to the Orange County Rescue Mission for food and a cot. He loved the preaching and Bible lessons. Fred saw miracles. He saw lives changed. Pastor Joe, our facility supervisor, kept inviting him to sign up for the New Life Program, telling him, “Yes, you need a job, but you need Jesus more.” When the court social worker told Fred he could complete all the requirements to get his son back by completing our program, Fred signed up.

Fred says, “It’s a joy being here. I have changed so much. And I have a whole year to pull my life together spiritually and financially, and prepare to raise my son. God — through the people at the Mission — is supplying all my needs!”

Pictured left to right: Ken McCall, Randy Poag, Renae Furlow, John Luker, Bo Marconi, Tim Bremner, Tom McCall and Jim Palmer

Orange County Rescue Mission’s Mustard Seed Ranch was excited to receive a very generous donation of $150,000 from Bo Marconi on behalf of the Marconi Foundation for Kids. The check was from the proceeds of Fight Night 8, put on by the foundation, and featured Mustard Seed Ranch as an event partner. The event took place at the Marconi Automotive Museum, Saturday, March 11, 2006. The night featured the likes of Tommy “The Hit Man” Hearns and raised $300,000 for children in need in Southern California.

Approximately 500 people attended this year’s event and according to Bo Marconi, president of the Marconi Foundation for Kids, this year's event raised the most money since its conception. Mustard Seed Ranch’s contribution check was three times more than what any charity had received in the years past. The event was so successful that Mustard Seed Ranch has been invited back to participate in Fight Night 9.

Orange County Rescue Mission President Jim Palmer said, “We are very thankful for the generosity given by Bo and Dick Marconi and their Marconi Automotive Museum to our Mustard Seed Ranch program. We are looking forward to a great event in 2007.”

On Saturday, April 29, nationally known Christian recording artist Jilleen debuted her third album, “The Hymns Experience” at Woodbridge Community Church in Irvine. The concert was sponsored in part by the Orange County Rescue Mission, who benefited as attendees were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the concert to donate for the benefit of the homeless of Orange County.

Thank you to Jilleen and all of those who donated food. There are numerous testimonies at OCRM of self-sufficient, independent life transformations that began with something as simple as a meal.

God bless you!

When Lynnette Farcone became an “empty-nester,” she found herself looking for something meaningful to do. “I feel so blessed myself, I want to give back,” she explains. Lynnette has a heart and compassion for the homeless, so when she got a flyer from the Mission, she began researching them and was “so impressed.” She chose a volunteer position in the office because she likes interacting on the phone, and since she’s been out of the work force for years, she thought this might help her brush up her job skills.

After just a few weeks she feels she is making a difference and getting back more than she gives. “I answer the phone here and am the connection between people needing help and the staff,” she says. “Sometimes just listening and being kind can make a difference, but I love it when I can refer someone to the help they need.”

Community groups, churches, families, individuals, and businesses—here’s a great way to help homeless families stay together while they rebuild their lives and become self-supporting.

Adopt a family suite or a room in the Village of Hope! The Village of Hope is an innovative, faith-based, transitional facility that will keep homeless dads, moms, and kids together, while giving parents 12 to 24 months to work on job training and life skills. To make this dream a reality, we must transform two existing military dormitories into 128 rooms for homeless families. A plaque with your name, or your group’s name, will be placed in the room. More importantly, your group will be part of creating modern-day miracles in the lives of hurting families in Orange County.

Please email John Luker or call (714) 247-4306 for more info. You can also check our Web site for volunteer work dates, construction needs, prayer requests and more.

You can’t out-give God. God multiplies the effects of all your giving — money, time, talent, love — far beyond our imagination. The stories in this newsletter month after month tell of the most amazing miracles God performs with those gifts: transformed lives!

Michelle’s story at the top of the page shows how drug use and hopelessness pass from generation to generation. But then it also shows how breaking the cycle can free the next generation of children — and their children — from that destructive path. That really is the story of what we do here. A helping hand, a hot meal, a new path, a second chance, a spiritual rebirth. God has called us to be his hands, and feet, and face to the least and the lost. We simply do our part and leave the results to Him. It just amazes me to watch how God blesses all the parties involved!

We’ve seen that this spring, too, as the Mission struggles with a serious financial crunch. Donors’ generosity to the survivors of last fall’s hurricanes means that our budget is now far below normal. We knew that if we were open and up-front with you, God’s grace and generosity would do the rest. Today, I can report that our situation is improving. But we’re not back to where we should be. Please continue to support us with your prayers and gifts. Thank you for all you do. Together we are making an immediate and eternal difference in life, after life, after life.

God bless you!

In His Service,

P. S. — God is really multiplying your gifts. Every gift you make to the Mission by June 30 will be doubled — up to $100,000! Please send your gift today...

President Jim Palmer stands with Mrs. McCabe's student volunteers

Tustin’s Currie Middle School Principal, Karla Wells, invited Jim Palmer to be “Principal of the Day” on March 23. “Principal” Palmer thoroughly enjoyed the students and faculty, making fast friends with Mrs. Helen McCabe’s Special Education class. The class wanted to see where “President” Palmer worked, so a tour and volunteer day was arranged for Thurs. April 6^th.

The class of twelve and their teachers walked to the Orange County Rescue Mission from their school, where they were greeted and signed in as volunteers. Each student had their photo taken for an official ID badge and then President Palmer took them on a tour of the donation warehouse and support offices. After watching a video on the Rescue Mission outreach programs, the group enthusiastically put together food boxes for the Rescue Mission to deliver to hungry homeless children. Jim Palmer and the Rescue Mission want to give a big thank you to Mrs. McCabe’s Special Education Class!

Recently, the Orange County Rescue Mission was privileged to be involved in the Disneyland Resort “Show Your Character” program, designed to partner local high schools with local non-profits for the purpose of teaching teenagers first-hand about community service. Lutheran High of Orange partnered with the Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) and for the next couple of months we watched these young adults plan, implement and complete the work of significant volunteer projects, which will have a direct impact on the lives of homeless men, women and children in the Orange County community.

In a special ceremony at Disney’s California Adventure® Park the Orange County Rescue Mission and Lutheran High were the recipients of this year's Show Your Character $25,000 Excellence Award. President Jim Palmer spoke to the audience gathered in the California Adventure's Hyperion Theater stating, "I was personally impressed by their hard work, their creativity in planning out the projects and their willing attitudes — while they enthusiastically jumped in to make a significant contribution towards helping the Least, the Last and the Lost of this County."

What it means to be a Christian

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4007 Santa Ana, CA 92702
Street Address: 1421 Edinger Ste. B Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: (714) 247-4300 Fax: (714) 258-4451
Toll free: (888) 946-HOPE (4673)
Web: www.rescuemission.org