Spring 2019 • Volume 55 • Issue 2

R O C K F O R D R E S C U E M I S S I O N

P.O. Box 1958 • 715 West State St. • Rockford, IL 61110 • (815) 965-5332 • rockfordrescuemission.org • info@rockfordrescuemission.org Rockford Rescue Mission shares hope and help in Jesus’ name to move people from homelessness and despair toward personal and spiritual wholeness.

Finding Purpose in God’s L ove

YOU are the reason

Eldra and others like him

are overcoming painful

pasts and building godly

lives. Read his moving

story on Page 5.

Writing a Love Letter to Your Family

Dear Friend,

On May 1, 1964, Rockford Rescue Mission opened its doors, with about 20 homeless and hopeless men as our first guests. Founder Ray Stewart scrounged a meal together. Dean Hoobler, from Kilburn Avenue Church of the United Brethren in Christ, preached the first chapel service. Ila Belle Kenner played an old upright piano. Then the homeless guests spent the night, sleeping on the floor of the store’s limestone cellar on donated old mattresses.

Little by little over those early months, the arrangements got better and safer: cots on the main floor instead of mattresses in the cellar, and a better-outfitted kitchen. The Mission served a critical need in Rockford for sure. Problem was, on our shoestring budget, no one knew from week to week how long it could remain open.

I doubt that anyone in their right mind would have guessed 55 years.

From that first location at 116 Kishwaukee St., in 1971 we would relocate to the former Germania Club building at 121 S. Madison St., and finally to our beautiful Hope Place facility at 715 West State St. in 1999.

Through 55 years, as our community’s needs evolved, so did the Mission. In 1964, the typical Mission guest was an alcoholic war veteran. In 2019, women and children make up the majority of our crisis guests. Those struggling with alcohol have been joined by victims of domestic abuse and drug addiction, including today’s scourge, opioids.

Then as now, rescue work is hard. For every success story there’s another story of lifelong struggle, and even some that end sadly. But the common thread through our first 55 years has been the love of Jesus

Christ, extended without reservation to anyone who walks through our doors. New life in Christ offers hope, even in the midst of deep pain.

Then as now, the Mission exists and thrives on support from our community. Individuals, churches and businesses join hands as prayer supporters, financial donors and an army of volunteers – with many serving as all three!

As you enjoy this issue of The Rescuer, please remember the Mission in your prayers and giving. You are impacting not only our community, but also eternity.

Thank you for 55 years of serving together.

Partners in Hope, Sherry Pitney Executive Director

ReflectionsFROM THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Sherry Pitney is grateful for donors and partners who have supported the Mission’s outreach for 55 years.

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Food

72,213meals served

Advocacy

3,509total sessions

Shelter

21,791nights of lodging

Medical Care

2,132clinic appointments

Financial support from individuals, churches, businesses and organizations makes our programs and services possible. Your continued generosity truly blesses our ministry and those we serve. (Stats listed below are from October 2017 - February 2018)

Spiritual Guidance

728spiritual decisions

Clothing & Personal Hygiene

148,406items distributed

Education & Career Assistance

322Works! Center participants

How Your Gifts Are Changing Hearts & Lives

For 55 years, a timeless

mission

You can read the full story of Rockford Rescue Mission’s first 40 years in the book, “Rescuing the Raggedy Man,” available at the Mission, Thrift Store, Restoration Cafe and Remade.

Celebrating 55 Years of Changing Lives Through God’s Love

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Highlights in Our History1964 Ray Stewart rents a building at 116 Kishwaukee St. for $100 a month and opens the doors of the Rockford Rescue Mission in May. The sign on the front door reads, “All are welcome here. The alcoholic, the

addict, the stranger, the sojourner, the pilgrim, the poor. There is hope for all who enter here.”

1965 At Ray’s recommendation, the board appoints Ray’s pastor, Rev. G.O. Pitney – with his wife, Nadine – as new director. The first newsletter is released, later called The Rescuer.

1971The Mission buys the 21,000-square-foot Germania Club at 121 South Madison St. for $30,000. The building, built in 1892 with a ballroom, bar and Rockford’s first automated bowling alley, is converted into a place of refuge, redemption and recovery. The new Mission motto: “Help all the people we can, in all the ways we can, as long as ever we can.”

1985 After six years of renovations, the Christian Care Center, 730 West State St., opens to serve women and children.

On the night of Sept. 2, 1980, John Stuckmann wandered near State and Madison streets in Rockford, drunk and homeless. Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“You need to go to the Rescue Mission,” the man said, pointing down Madison Street. “I said, ‘No, I’m not going. I don’t want to do that,’” John recalls. But he did find his way to the Mission that

night; he had nowhere else to go. “And then the Lord got ahold of me and changed my whole life,” he says. At the Mission, John met Rev. G.O. Pitney, the Mission’s director, and others who led him

to faith in Christ. Then Rev. Pitney hired him informally as a “house man.” John lived at the Mission and filled a variety of roles, including helping to run the Mission’s original resale store (on Seventh Street, called Ye Olde Rescue Shoppe). Most recently, he served as third-shift coordinator in the Men’s Crisis Center, overseeing operations while the men are sleeping, making security rounds and updating daily paperwork and statistics.

On Jan. 1, 2019, John officially marked 38 years serving on the Mission’s staff. “I really believe the Lord called me into this,” he says. “When things have come up where I might have gone and done something else, He’s closed the doors. God wanted me here.”

In May 2019, he will officially retire. But that doesn’t mean retirement! Currently, he serves as youth pastor for two churches, and he hopes to expand that role.

“The Lord is opening some new doors, and I feel that He’s calling me to that.”

“God Wanted Me Here.”Front door - Kishwaukee St.

Madison location

Celebrating 55 Years of Changing Lives Through God’s Love

3SPR19

Rockford Rescue MissionP.O. Box 1958Rockford, IL 61110-0458

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY / STATE/ ZIP

rockfordrescuemission.org (815) 965-5332

CREDIT CARD #

EXP. DATE CIV/SEC#

PHONE #

EMAIL

DONATE NOW!

m $28 to provide one night of shelter, hot meals and life essentialsm $55 to provide one day of healing through your Life Recovery Programm $75 to provide education and life-skills trainingm $______ to help as much as possible

m CHECK ENCLOSED m BILL MY CREDIT CARD m m m m My Gift to Rescue, Recover and Restore

1999 The Mission relocates to Hope Place on West State Street. This new facility is made possible by a $4.5M capital campaign. The Women’s Crisis Center, Hope Clinic and a second thrift store are opened. The staff increases to 102 employees.

2009 The building at 625 West State Street is renovated to house Restoration Cafe, a vocational training center and cafe open to the public.

2012 The Mission purchases the 56,000-square-foot former Bob’s Hardware to expand and consolidate the Thrift Store operation. The Mission receives a $750,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank in Chicago to fund renovations at Hope Place.

2016 A $7 million building expansion called Pitney Place is completed. The women and children move in May 10.

2017 The Mission opens expanded education and career program called Works! Center. The Remade shop opens at 611 West State St.

2018 The William Howard and Lucille D. Dittmar Performing Arts Center opens.

2019 The Mission celebrates its 55th anniversary.

The Mission needs volunteers to assist in teaching the Remade class for our Men’s Life Recovery Program residents. The Remade class teaches the men to use power tools and equipment safely, to create home décor items and furniture, as well as repair and repurpose old furniture. Experience in construction or woodworking is helpful, but general handyman experience is great too! A heart for serving and teaching may be the most important qualification. Classes are 9-11 a.m., Wednesdays. If you are interested, please contact the Mission at(815) 965-5332.

Volunteers Needed for

Men’s Remade

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Hope Place ribbon cutting

Pitney Place ground breaking

Generous friends like you have made our transformation possible for 55 years. Thank you for your gift today and your continued support.

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E ldra grew up in the “projects” of Chicago, surrounded by gang violence that

influenced his life. “You drink, you gamble, you sell drugs… That was my routine,” he explains. Although his grandmother taught him about Jesus, “I chose the streets instead of a spiritual or religious path.”

For 10 years, Eldra lived a life devoid of purpose – drinking daily, working sporadically and depending on his sisters for a place to lay his head. Finally, down to his last penny, he reached the last straw with his siblings as well. They told him he had to go.

“And right then I thought, I can’t go on living like this. I started crying because I didn’t even care anymore.” Recalling his grandmother’s faith, he prayed, “Lord, please help me.” The next day, he came to the Mission’s door.

At once, Eldra felt at peace in our Christ-filled surroundings. When a staff member began praying with him, “It flipped a switch in my heart,” he says, “and things moved on from there.”

In our Life Recovery Program, he surrendered to the Lord. “I love getting up in the morning and asking Him to guide me through the day,” he shares. He earned his GED in our Works! Center, along with skills he used to find a stable job. Eldra graduated in September 2017 and continues to work and go to AA meetings. He attends church and fellowship groups as well where he’s often asked to share his story. “It’s good to give back because somebody did it for me,” he says.

Today, thankful for the restoration your gifts provided at the Mission, Eldra says, “This place gives you a purpose. It helps you think about goals and how to achieve them. I will be forever grateful.”

I’m in His arms now… It’s a beautiful thing.

“

”“When I got here, I could feel God in this building.”

Works! Center Vocational Trainer Lisa Pfiffner celebrates Eldra’s graduation.

Executive Director Sherry Pitney and Life Recovery graduates (September 2017)

Executive Director Tour and Lunch • 11:15AM Rockford Rescue Mission • 715 West State StreetTo reserve your place or for more details, call (815) 965-5332.

Perry Pitney Memorial Concert 7:00PM Artist: Mo PitneyPrice: $30

Women of Hope • 7:00PM Enjoy a girls’ night out at First Free Church with motivational speaker and author Thelma Wells. Watch website for more details.

SEPTEMBER 24Tuesday

JULY 19Friday

MAY 22JUNE 26JULY 24

Wednesday

MARK YOURCALENDAR!

Visit rockfordrescuemission.org for the latest information on these and other upcoming events.

Writing a Love Letter to Your Family

P eople love a good story. Imagine the impact you could make by writing

down your personal story to share with your loved ones. Have you ever heard of a Legacy Love Letter?

It’s not a legal document, but it can be added to your estate plan. It’s a letter you create simply to pass a blessing on to the next generation and can include:

1. Your beliefs and values. What experiences helped to shape your journey of faith? What do you believe regarding money, raising children or marriage? What Christian causes or ministries are you passionate about and why?

2. Life lessons. Can you list the defining moments that impacted the trajectory of your life? What were some of your biggest joys and regrets? How did these help develop Christ-like character in your life?

3. Words of encouragement. Nothing makes a person’s heart swell quite like “I love you.” Are there especially meaningful or encouraging words or Scriptures you want to leave with those you love most?

Your story matters, and your loved ones need to hear it.

For the full version of this article, request a FREE copy of “The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Say” by contacting Ted Tomita at (815) 965-5332 or tedtomita@rockfordrescuemission.org. Or bless your family today with a God-honoring will at christianwill.org/rrm.

Mission Hosts Domestic Violence Forum Leaders from more than 20 local congregations attended the Domestic Violence Forum hosted by Rockford Rescue Mission on March 7. Led by Stacey Womack, Founder and Executive Director of Abuse Recovery Ministry & Services (ARMS), the all-day summit focused on how churches, ministry and community leaders can radically change how they address and reach out to those experiencing and inflicting abuse. We’re grateful to these ministry partners for their dedication to meeting this community epidemic head-on.

What better way to celebrate your birthday than to support a cause you care about?! • Create a Facebook fundraiser and invite

your followers to make financial gifts to Rockford Rescue Mission.

• In lieu of birthday presents, ask your family and friends to give donations of food, clothing and other items to the Mission (and bring in the donations just like these kids did)!

We’d be honored to be included in your celebration!

RRM Chaplain, domestic violence survivor, Stacey Womak and community partner answer questions from participants. Facilitated by Event Coordinator.

Share Your Birthday With the Mission

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