P. O . B o x 1 1 2 5 4 , B i r m i n g h a m , A L 3 5 2 0 2 • R e s t o r i n g H o p e . . . R e s t o r i n g L i v e s • F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7

Recently, Scott Thornton got on one knee to ask the love of his life if she would be willing to marry him. Fortunately for Scott, she said, “Yes.” The journey to this happy moment was not an easy one for Scott. “My Mom abandoned us when I was two years old due to her drug habit and my Dad was an angry alcoholic who abused us when he drank. He died when I was twelve,” Scott says. “At the time of my Dad’s death I had never heard either parent tell me they loved me.” As a result of being abandoned, abused, and unloved Thornton turned to drugs himself. He first remembers being given a “fud pucker” (a kind of malt liquor) by his Dad to keep him and his brother occupied at the campground they were staying. After sampling every type of drug he could get his hands on by the age of nineteen he settled on meth as his drug of choice. “I liked taking meth to make me high and Xanax to bring me down,” a practice known as “speed balling.” His growing habit led to stealing cars and dealing drugs. In January of 2016 his freewheeling lifestyle caught up with him when he was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance. This charge led to a revocation of parole on other charges which resulted in a twenty-five-year sentence without bond. It was in jail that Thornton was introduced to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “I began to attend chapel and have Bible study with other inmates. During one of the chapels the invitation was given to invite Christ into your heart and I did.” Prison is a hard place to learn how to be a disciple, however, so growth in his new relationship was very difficult.

Thornton learned about Brother Bryan Mission indirectly through the success of a family member who had gone through the NLF Program himself. “I had a cousin who had come here and was doing really well. His mother told my grandmother (her sister) about Brother Bryan Mission so my grandmother asked the Chaplain who had made those arrangements to come and talk with me.” In April of this year the Chaplain came to talk with Thornton to see if he was interested in BBM’s New Life Program. Thornton said, “Yes.” It took until June for a bed to become available. Scott’s first impression of Birmingham, “It’s a big place and I was not sure I could make it here.” However, the atmosphere of love and acceptance at Brother Bryan Mission soon began to make a difference. “I began to relax and trust people,” says Thornton. Thornton graduated the in-house portion of the NLF Program and returned to Mississippi in December. One of the first things he did was to propose to his girlfriend whom he has known for most of his life. “I am so thankful for a place like Brother Bryan Mission where I have been given the tools I need to be successful in life.”

Engaged...and Ready to Start a New Life

SINCE 1940

Jim EtheredgeExecutive Director

1616 2nd Avenue North

P.O. Box 11254Birmingham, AL 35202

(205) 322-0092 Office(205) 322-7820 Fax

www.bbmission.com

NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIPRECOVERY PROGRAM

BACK TO WORK PROGRAM

DISCIPLESHIP

CHAPEL SERVICES& BIBLE STUDY

NOURISHING MEALS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Alvis Wright President

Dean Nix Vice President

Brian George Treasurer

Paul Compton Secretary

Ed Allen

John Bell

Warren Giardina

Sandi Gornati

Denny Ragland

Dr. Harold Simon

Rocky Stewart

Craig Westbrook

Jim Etheredge Executive Director

Keep up with

Brother Bryan Mission

or make donations

on our expanding webpage

www.bbmission.com

Dear Friend, February 2017

The pasts of the men in the New Life Fellowship Program at Brother Bryan Mission are usually cluttered with bad decisions and ungodly influences. Most started using drugs and alcohol at an early age and through their continued abuse has resulted in a life of heartache and despair. Faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things not seen. Once a man enters the New Life Fellowship Program he is introduced to Christ and a life of faith. For many this means entrusting the direction of their lives to the counsel of godly staff. It is not easy but usually the man is willing to do what is necessary based on the experience of their past and the faith that is leading them to a brighter future. A current resident comments, “My life was becoming more unmanageable and life was quickly approaching a fork in the road. I came to BBM to choose the correct path for my life and since have come to realize the need for Jesus as the Lord of my life.” The NLF Program is uniquely designed to facilitate this transformational process. The nine-month residential recovery program gives the time needed to consider proper priorities in life along with the encouragement and counsel that speaks into the life of the one being worked with. Classes on Discipleship, Addiction, Anger Management, Restoring Relationships and others help lead to a new way of living. Three months after turning my entire life over to Jesus I feel peace, joy, and a sense of purpose that I have never had. The work continues as the client reaches the point of beginning to transition back into society as a new creation. BBM’s Career Center helps each client prepare a resume and begin the process of applying for a job. A successful mentor program is being cultivated. Each NLF Program graduate is assigned a mature member of our local community to walk alongside the client in their return to being a productive member of our community. Is the program successful? Yes, approximately 75% of the NLF graduates are maintaining the threefold goal of 1) being free of addiction, 2) having stable housing and employment, and 3) having healthy relationships with God and others. The thanks given by parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones reinforce what the numbers say. “Keep up the good work,” a family member writes, “and may God bless you abundantly!” The lives being changed are a direct result of your involvement as a donor, prayer partner, volunteer or mentor. Thank you for your involvement and support.

With Sincere Thanks,

Jim Etheredge, Executive Director

BROTHER BRYAN MISSION TAKES NO GOVERNMENT MONEY

Gifts to Brother Bryan Mission

in Honor or in Memory of Another…

That Help Change LivesIn Honor of Given byMax Adams Ken and Laura MasseyJohn E. Bryan, Jr. Karren and Bill CochranJerry and Mae Cummings June FletcherRev. Bill and Sally DeBose Sharon SellsRick Dozer Beth Foster LongJason Dozer Beth Foster LongDon and Jennifer Evans Carolyn EvansDr. and Mrs. Griff Harsh James and Ann PattonJoshua Henderson Heather HaginsBryan Howze Beth Foster LongJustice Champ Lyons, Jr. Lee CooperJim and Cynthia Maddox Virginia BuggMargery McBride Jean McMillanJean McMillan Margery McBrideCharles Miller George, Kim, George and Cannon JarrellDawn Peneker Beth Foster LongDr. Harold Simon Martha May HarbisonJack Swanner Frances KingBill Terry Susanne RatliffBonnie Weaver Clarence and Fran DuncanTom Zobel Rocky Stewart

In Memory of Given byJean Bryan Anonymous Elizabeth Judd W. Ray Harris Randy and Krystal HallDoug Hewell Alice BrooksMickey Martin Vivian Howard Rebecca KirkpatrickRobert Eugene McBride AnonymousBob L. Sells Sharon Sells

A very special way you can both Honor a Loved One, Great Friend, Teacher, or Other Special Person - and help Brother Bryan Mission, is with a gift in their honor to Brother Bryan Mission. We will mail a card of recognition to the Honoree(s), letting them know we received a gift from you in their honor.

You are Invited…To an Open House to see the newKitchen and Dining Area

And attend a graduation service afterward.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

5:30 - 6:30PM Food, Mission Tours, and Refreshments

6:30 - 8:00PM Phase Progression and Graduation Service

Come see and hear what God is doing in and through this remarkable ministry. BBM – the oldest mission in

Birmingham.

P.O. Box 11254Birmingham, AL 35202

MISSION NEEDS

Name: ________________________________________

Phone # _______________________________________

Mailing Address: _________________________________

City: ______________________ State: ____ Zip: _______

Email Address (optional): ____________________________

Automatic Monthly Donations to Brother Bryan MissionTo make automatic monthly donations, complete the following and mail to: Brother Bryan Mission, P.O. Box 11254, Birmingham, AL 35202

Amount of Monthly Donation $_______________________

Card Type ❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ AmEx

Name on Card: __________________________________

Card No.: ______________________________________

Expiration Date: ____ / ____ Security Code: ____________

Signature: ______________________________________

Clothing & Bedding NeedsMen’s Shirts, Pants & Jeans,

Underwear, Shoes, Twin extra-long sheets,

Towels

Food Service NeedsCanned Fruit & Vegetables,

Coffee, Sugar, Pancake Mix,

Styrofoam cups - 8oz.

Other NeedsCopy Paper, Toilet Paper,

Paper Towels, Pens & Pencils

Major Needs

Monthly Financial Support… Older, but still usable, pickup truck for larger donations and distributions.

You may also donate on-line at bbmission.com

Graduating to a new life.