Spring 2004 Bay Area Hope Newsletter, Bay Area Rescue Mission

8/8/2019 Spring 2004 Bay Area Hope Newsletter, Bay Area Rescue Mission

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S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 ◆ A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E B A Y A R E A R E S C U E M I S S I O N

Serving God by Serving Others

y name is Raymond, and I did 13 years of hard time in places like San

Quentin, New Folsom, Mule Creek and Corcoran. I could get drugs whenI wanted them, make homemade weapons from just about anything, and I hadenough influence with my fellow inmates to see that I was never messed with. I wasbehind bars because at age 17 I stabbed someone in an act of random violence.

Then one day, I saw two movies: Joan of Arc and The Jesus Film. In an instant,my calloused heart was touched and God came into my life. My eyes wereopened and I asked for a Bible. But what about my homies?What would they say?

Read the Bible to pass my GED

When I told them what had happened to me, they said, “Weknow, because we’ve seen you change. But don’t slip, or we’retaking you down.” I knew they meant it.

I started studying my Bible, reading commentaries on Hebrewand Greek words from Scripture, and began to grow in my faith.When I finally passed my GED, it was because I’d readnothing but the Word of God(I also learned to type 70words per minute!).

When I was finally released

from prison, I was scared. I’dnever seen a cell phone, andwas unfamiliar with the Internet.I didn’t know where to go orwhat to do. Thank God myparole officer told me about theBay Area Rescue Mission. Here I’m growingin Christ, serving others, and I am living the life God intended me to live.Thank you for making this place of renewal possible. God bless you for helpingpeople like me.

M

From 13 Years in Prison to

B A Y A R E A M I S S I O N ◆ 2 1 1 4 M A C D O N A L D A V E . ◆ R I C H M O N D , C A 9 4 8 0 1 ◆ ( 5 1 0 ) 2 1 5 - 4 5 5 5 ◆ w w w . B a y A r e a R e s c u e . o

Encouraging Wordsfrom John

Pg. 2

Easterew Hope, New Beginnings

Pg. 2-3

No More Rotten Ham!Pg. 3



y name is Patricia, and the Bay Area Rescue Mission saved my life. At 10years of age I started to smoke pot. I then graduated to speed, and fromthere my life went downhill. Drugs were my life. When I got pregnant with

Michael, I stopped using. But when he was three years old, I picked it right back upagain. I knew I was a lousy parent, and I knew I was hurting my son.

That’s why I’m amazed when I look into Michael’s eyes today. I see a boy whostayed with his mother. He kept loving me and caring for me. I still cry when hetells people, “My life was like rotten ham. But I needed to stay with my mom,because without me I thought she might hurt herself or do something real bad.”

Easter every day!

What a treasure I have in Michael. And what a treasure we both have in the BayArea Rescue Mission. They loved us when there wasn’t much to love. They taughtus about Jesus and introduced us to new life and new hope.

No more “rotten ham” for me or forMichael! Life is now worth living. I havea job as a waitress (if you come in,I’ll pray with you as you prepare toeat your food!), and Michael isdoing just great. He’s happyand is doing well in school.

Thank you for yourpart in helping usto make every

day Easterin our lives.

No More Rotten Ham!

M

Now it will soon be Easter, and with yourelp we’ll continue the celebration byharing the excitement of new life andhe renewal of body, heart and spirit.

In fact, it’s our prayer that each of uswill leave behind us all darkness and sin

nd become the people God created uso be: people whose light shines in thelory of His Resurrection — the essencef authentic Christian living.

To express your gratitude for whatGod has done in your own life, we urge

you to partner with us at Easter by givinga generous ministry gift to help thosewho come through our doors.

To help, you can call us at1-888-343-FOOD, or you may wish todonate online by simply visitingwww.BayAreaRescue.org.

Thank you for being a faithful partnerin caring for people like Raymond,Patricia, Michael and so many othersthroughout the year — and especiallyduring Easter.

F ood, especial

canned meatscanned v egetab

and sugar

Blankets

Diaper s

W ar m Jackets

P er sonal H y giene Item

C leaning Supplies

C op y P aper

Da ily N e e

“I needed to stay

with my mom,

because without me,

I thought she might

hurt herself.”



EASTER N e w

Ho pe,New Be g i n n i n g s

c a n r e l a t e t o e v e

r y p e r s o n w h o c o m e s t h r

o ug h o u r d o o r s

b e c a u s e I w a s o

n c e

o n e o f t h e m. I ’ d b e e

n a s u c c e s s f u l b u s i n e s s m a n

m a k i ng $1 0 0, 0 0

0 a y e a r, a n d

t h e n o n e d a y I f o

u n d m y s e l f l i v i n

g o n t h e s t r e e t s o f S a n D i eg o.

I h a d a

c o c a i n e h a b i t, w

a s l o s t a n d d y i n

g, a n d h a d n o i d

e a w h e r e t o t u r n

. W h a t w o u l d I

h a v e d o n e i f G o

d h a d n o t r e s c u e

d m e a n d s e t m e

f r e e ? I ’ d p r o b a b

l y b e d e a d.

I h a t e d m y l i f e —

a s m a n y g u e s t s

w h o c o m e t o t h e

M i s s i o n h a t e t h

e i r l i v e s.

M y o n l y h o p e w a

s d e a t h — m a n y w

h o c o m e t o u s f o

r h e l p h a d t h a t

s a m e h o p e. I ’ d

w i s h e d s o m e o n e

w o u l d j u s t h i t m

e o n t h e h e a d, k

i l l m e a n d p u t m e

o u t o f m y

m i s e r y. M a n y o f

o u r g u e s t s h a v e

h o p e d t o e x i t l i

f e i n t h e s a m e m

a n n e r.

N e w h o p e…

n e w o p p o r t

u n i t i e s

B u t s o m e t h

i ng w o n d e r f u l h

a p p e n s w h e n G o

d e n t e r s a p e r s o

n ’ s l i f e. T h e r e ’ s

a

r e n e w a l o f t h e b o d y, s o u l a n d

s p i r i t. O l d t h i ng

s p a s s a w a y, a n d

a l l t h i ng s b e c o m

e

n e w. T h o s e w h o o

n c e l i v e d o n t h e s t r e e t s n o

w l i v e f o r t h e i r S

a v i o r. R e s u r r e c t i

o n

p o w e r b e c o m e s

t h e o r d e r o f t h e

d a y. T h a t ’ s w h a t t h e s t o r i

e s o f R a y m o n d,

P a t r i c i a a n d M i c

h a e l a r e a l l a b o u

t. N e w l i f e. N e w h o p e. N e w o p p o

r t u n i t i e s.

B u t w e r e i t n o t

f o r a f r i e n d l i k e

y o u, o u r s i l e n t

p a r t n e r, t h e r e w

o u l d b e n o

B a y A r e a R e s c u

e M i s s i o n — a n d t h a

t m e a n s t h e r e w

o u l d b e o n e l e s s

h a v e n o f

h o p e f o r t h o s e w

h o ’ v e l o s t t h e i r

w a y. B u t t h e r e i s

a M i s s i o n, t h e r

e i s h e l p… n o t

o n l y a t E a s t e r b

u t 3 6 5 d a y s a y e

a r. T h a n k y o u f r

o m t h e b o t t o m o f o u r h

e a r t s f o r

y o u r p r a y e r s, v o

l u n t e e r e f f o r t s a

n d y o u r g e n e r o u

s f i n a n c i a l s u p p

o r t.

G o d b l e s s y o u a s

y o u e x p e r i e n c e

G o d ’ s r e n e w a l i n

y o u r o w n l i f e a t

E a s t e r… a n d t h r o

ug h o u t t h e y e a r.

O n b e h a l f o f t h e

n e e d y,

R e v. J o h n M. A n d e r s o n, E x e c u t i v e D

i r e c t o r

“So me t h i n g wo nde r f u

l ha p pe ns w he n

God e n te rs a pe rso

n’s l i f e.”

A Me s sag e f ro m

Jo h n M. A nde r

so n

E xec u t i ve D i rec t

o r

ave you noticed how Easterseems to come around soquickly each year? It seems like

we’ve just finished celebratingChristmas here at the Bay Area Rescue

Mission, a time when you were so

generous in your outpouring of lovethe poor and needy.

You helped us share our Christm joy by giving gifts of love to those whad little, if any, of this world’s good

H

UPCOMING EVENTSoin us for upcoming

events at the Mission!

Week of HopeEaster Meals

8:30 p.m.

April 5 through 11

200 Macdonald Ave.

Richmond

Easter Sunrise Serviceand Breakfast

6:15 a.m.

April 11

200 Macdonald Ave.

Richmond

Spring RecoveryProgram Graduation

2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

March 14

NorthCreek Church

225 Ygnacio Valley Rd.

Walnut Creek

I



NAME

ADDRESS

CITY / STATE / ZIP

Bay Area Rescue Mission

P.O. Box 11122114 Macdonald Ave

Richmond, CA 94801-2996www.BayAreaRescue.org

YES, John, I’ll help provide food and shelter to menand women during the Easter seasonand throughout the year. Here is my gift of:$17.90 to provide 10 meals & other assistance

$26.85 to provide 15 meals & other assistance $53.70 to provide 30 meals & other assistance $_______ to provide as many meals & care as possible

Please bill my credit card:

VISA MC AMEX DISCOVER

ACCOUNT # EXP. DATE

NAME ON ACCOUNT

SIGNATURE

Please mail this completed form, and return it with your generous donation

to the Bay Area Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 1112, Richmond, CA 94802-0112.Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. You will receive a receipt.

Easter Means New Hope…New Life…New Opportunities

or

You may donate online at

www.BayAreaRescue.org .

Estate Planning Seminar he Mission will host a special FREE seminar on estateplanning on:

• Friday, April 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.• Friday, April 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.• Saturday, May 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This two-hour seminar applies biblical stewardship as aChristian’s roadmap to good estate planning. It identifies th

key components every person should have in place and leavparticipants with simple, clearly understood planning directiothat will help achieve Godly peace, security and both a brightoday and tomorrow. To register or for more information, ca(510) 215-4555 or e-mail [email protected].

24 Hour Fitness USA of HilltopAbout Skin & Body Care of OrindaAlliant Protection ServicesThe Baltic of Point RichmondBerkeley Repertory Theatre

Big O Tires of ConcordBlackhawk Country ClubBuckhorn Grill of Walnut CreekChanges Salon & Day SpaClub OneCourtyard Marriott of HilltopRosemary CozzoDenny’s RestaurantDiablo Country ClubDiablo Creek Golf CourseFirst Presbyterian Church of ConcordFull Circle TravelFun Faces 4 AllGlass & Jewelry, Nancy SamuelsH & R LandscapingHeavenly Catering to Your Rescue

Debra HenkelHercules Florist & GiftsHotel Mac Restaurants Inc.Hs Lordships RestaurantIndustrial Surplus FoundationJane, Inc.Kaiser Permanente of Richmond

Marie Callender’s Restaurant ConcoPershing, Cari, and Melissa LumDorothy MendelRana Miller-Owen of WeekendersThe Masquers Playhouse

McConnell & Son, The King’s JeweleMedia Arts Group Inc.Nation’s Pie ShopOscar Lugo Fine JewelryPalacekRadiant Living Massage TherapySan Francisco Zoological SocietyScott’s RestaurantSee’s CandySheraton ConcordSix Flags Marine WorldSouthwest AirlinesStarbucks Coffee of OrindaStarbucks Coffee of Point RichmondTahoe Joe’sThat Dam Company

Joan and Jim TomasiniWalnut Creek MarriottWhite Rose BoutiqueWillows Theatre Company

Yan Can Restaurants

We’re also grateful for all of the sponsors whohelped make our Annual Banquet such a success

We’re grateful for all of the sponsors of ourBay Area Celeb/Am Golf Tournament:

T

OLD SPONSORSd-Mail Printing and Direct

MailMechanics BankOutback Steakhouse

ILVER SPONSORSob and Bea Robertsonreisbach Enterprises Inc.lizabeth Johnston, M.D.arbor Plastics Mfg. Co.illtop MallDYA

Oakland A’sOveraa ConstructionWestgate Construction

OLE SPONSORSalvary Temple, Concord.J. Doherty-Vincentoseph Enterprises, Inc.

HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSORSFehr & PeersMorgan StanleyShaper LightingSims Metal

HOSPITALITY SPONSORSColor Spot NurseriesCompadresCosmair Inc.ErniecoFuzeDavid H. Hofheimer, D.C.Jelly BellyLaura Klegg, MassageTherapistKrispy Kreme DoughnutsPetsas & Hill, CPAPhiladelphia Insurance GroupSvenhard’s Swedish Bakery

Spring 2004 Bay Area Hope Newsletter, Bay Area Rescue Mission

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