30 Main St. PO Box 2188

Rapid City, SD 57709605-341-2844

Fax:605-718-2332csrm@cornerstonemission.org

April 2013

Everyone Has a StoryAt our recent banquet author Anne Jackson amplified on the power of forgiveness and redemption. She

told us that the original intent of a sanctuary is a place of help and healing.

Anne shared what led to her own addictions and the ensuing lifestyle that left her wounded and withdrawn, but ultimately rescued and redeemed. At Cornerstone every day has its share of dramatic stories. By meeting people where they are and sharing the love of Christ we create a place and time where they can begin the process of abandoning their fear, pride, and destructive behaviors; to identify their hurts; and to find the courage and support to begin a new life’s journey.

We were recently profiled in the Rapid City Journal. Please know there was much more to the story. We do have rules and accountability and all of the guests mentioned have accessed services before and since. We also make space for those with no place else to go on a cold night or any night regardless of the weather. Please email me at jcastleberry@cornerstonemission.org or call me at 718-8713 if you ever have any questions about our services and our policies.

Blessings,

Jimjcastleberry@cornerstonemission.orgor 718-8713

On Saturday, March 2, the Cornerstone Rescue Mission held its annual Bird and Bison Banquet in LaCroix Hall at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Kevin Thom, (pictured left) a member of the Board of Directors and Pennington County Sheriff was the master of ceremonies. The Thrift Store Boutique was again a popular spot for the evening, as were the silent auction items. Debbie Ketel and Jim Castleberry shared the spotlight along with the Cornerstone Band, Cornerstone video by The Message, and guest speaker Anne Jackson. Guests dined on the delicious dishes prepared by the Canyon Lake Resort. Thank you to all our generous sponsors, donors, volunteers, and guests!

On March 11, Cornerstone held one of our all staff training meetings. Since we have multiple locations and many employees, we schedule several different times to enable all the staff to attend. We opened with prayer, introduced new employees and facility leaders, and then Executive Director Jim Castleberry did some “vision casting” and talked a little about the economy and Cornerstone’s economics. He also facilitated training on communication and conflict resolution. Next, we were presented with the Ministry First training. The purpose of Ministry First Training is to “firm up” the foundation of Cornerstone Rescue Mission’s Ministry and to train our staff to do the same so that we remain Christ-centered and continue to operate in the role of servant to those who walk through our doors.

(Eph 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief  cornerstone.). This is an investment in the spiritual health and wellness of our staff and also provides opportunities for them to refresh and renew at the blessed feet of our Savior! Our Chaplain Mary Owais and Jacki Miller (Ministry Director) provide this training

during staff meetings at each facility. We begin (and end) each meeting with prayer and also take time for prayer requests and praise reports. We are so blessed to be able to strengthen ourselves and each other in Christ during these Ministry First trainings.

When the branches (believers) are growing all together, strong and all in unity, their focus is UP and their roots connected to the same root of the Vine (connected to Jesus) for he is the VINE they will take their peace from His peace (He is our peace), their joy from His joy and their strength from His Strength. They will be encouraged and build up strong and victorious for they are in HIM, he who died so they will live. They will know that they are totally destined to greatness because of HIM and abiding in HIM because—whoever loses his life for me will find it, Jesus said in Matthew 16:25.

All Staff Training and Ministry First

Pi DayRadio Station Kick 104 decided to celebrate Pi Day with

pies. Everyone who donated a pie received a t-shirt in exchange for the pie. Cornerstone was chosen to receive all the delicious pies. Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pictured here with some of the pies are radio station staff and our Chef. Thank you to all who donated pies and to Kick 104!

In late September of this year, Mary* came back to stay at Cornerstone Women and Children’s Home. She had been at the Mission and came as a referral to the Home. Mary is a 64-year old-lady who has had two previous stays at the Cornerstone Women and Children’s Home. Mary had obtained housing previously, but due to financial problems had lost her housing. Mary has numerous medical issues and an inability to maintain employment.

Advocates at the Home decided there were several things she would need assistance with to help improve her quality of life and secure permanent housing. Without an advocate it was unlikely that her ongoing needs would be met, and therefore Mary would continue to fall through the cracks. Her case manager from the Home worked with her to try to discern if there were other financial problems

keeping her from meeting all her needs. Mary receives Social Security benefits; however, this income was not adequate to meet her needs and sustain housing.

Mary and her case manager continued to work together and as they worked they discovered a multitude of reasons for her financial difficulties, which included her helping her children financially, and not taking care of herself and her health which she saw as “her job as a mother.” She had no housing assistance, and without any assistance rent was too expensive. Although she was on the waiting list for Pennington County Housing, this assistance was not readily available due the numbers of people ahead of her. Her case manager assisted Mary with getting on the lists for income-based housing and also provided counseling and support to help her learn how to say “no” to her children when their requests impact her well-being.

Within three months Mary obtained an apartment in a complex identified for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Women and Children’s Home was able to assist her with partial deposit funds and all the needed household items through a voucher from the Cornerstone Thrift Store.

Mary’s eyes just beamed when she returned from the Thrift Store and got ready to move into her new apartment. The Women and Children’s Home staff are happy for Mary and relieved to know that her future needs will continue to be met. Thanks to your continued support of Cornerstone, Mary and other women and children will continue to find success and independence.

*Name changed for privacy.

Welcome Back

UPDATE on DESTinATion iMAginATiongood news, the Destination imagination team

from Rapid City Christian School took second place in Pierre on Saturday, March 16th. They were featured in the March newsletter explaining

their service projects for Cornerstone. now they will progress to the State Tournament on April 6th.

We are proud of their accomplishment and excited to cheer them on to State.

2013 Cornerstone Board of Directors

Sam Fischer, PresidentFischer Furniture

Dr. Chad Carpenter, Vice PresidentCarpenter Dental

Dick McConnell, SecretaryArchitect

James CastleberryCornerstone Rescue Mission

Executive Director

Greg BarnierAttorney at Law

Fred ErdmanDoug’s Sinclair

Dr. Mark Harlow

Cameron Humphres, DirectorRapid City Regional Airport

Emily LarimerClinical Nurse Educator, VA

Ron McLaughlinPastor, Hills View E-Free

Beverly Schoenstedt, RNRC Regional Wound Care

Kevin ThomPennington County Sheriff

Dexter Wittman

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE To CoRnERSTonE RESCUE MiSSion(The enclosed envelope is for your convenience. We are serving more people every day. Your help is appreciated!)

MEN’S MiSSiONCoffee, creamer, sugar

Cream Soups(cream of mushroom, celery, etc.)

Milk & Mozzarella CheeseChicken and Beef Base

Canned fruit or fresh fruitPhone cards, gas cards, bus passes

Flat Sheets (any size), Fitted Twin Sheets & pillows

APARTMENTSLarge black trash bags

Toilet paperTwin/Queen size mattress pads

Odoban Cleaner40 & 60 Watt light bulbs

Dressers/Chests

THRiFT STORERubber Bands

Rechargeable AA & AAA BatteriesGallon Ziploc Bags

Space Bags

DEAR ONES CHiLD CARESize 5 & 6 diapers & Baby wipes

Diaper rash creamMilk and soy based formula

Infant and Toddler bibsRechargeable batteries, all sizes

Facial tissueCleaning supplies

3 Hands free trash can with lidDrapes

WOMEN & CHiLDREN’S HOME

Kleenex, & tamponsDisposable razors

Household Cleaning Supplies & Disinfectant Spray Diapers size 5 & 6Vitamin C & Juices (apple, orange, etc.)

Coffee, Creamer & SugarCanned tomatoes/spaghetti sauce

Canned vegetablesMeats

needs List

VETERANS Phone cards, gas cards, bus passes

Shoes & boots, sizes 10-13Clothing sizes XXL and larger only