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The Changing Role of Rescue Missions
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The Changing Role of Rescue Missions |
Does the mental picture of a group of staggering fifty year old alcoholics, a preacher with a Bible and a bowl of soup trigger the term "rescue mission?" Actually, the types of people who now look to inner city missions for help have changed dramatically in the last 15 years. While the stereotypical "skid row bum" has not disappeared, alarmingly, he has been joined by hundreds of thousands of people now called "the homeless. " Who do we find on today's "skid row?" - 18-35 year old men, women who are 16-30 years of age, and single parents with children now represent the bulk of the homeless population. Most are minorities and local people, not transients, who have been homeless for one year or less. On today's "skid row" we find people who are dependent on a variety of drugs, emotionally dysfunctional, mentally ill, and medically at-risk, especially for HIV/AIDS. A high percentage of them have been sexually and physically abused. As the faces of the homeless have changed, so have the
programs offered by the over 250 gospel-rescue missions in the US and Canada that are
affiliated with the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM).
Many are responding by developing some very progressive and effective programs. One
example is the Union Gospel Mission of Seattle, Washington.
Included among the many programs they offer are; shelter and drug treatment for men, a
women's and family shelter housing over 100 people, special ministries aimed at the
Hispanic community and the Spanish speaking homeless, a senior citizens outreach program ,
and a youth center with summer camping opportunities. Today, up to 40% of the homeless are women and children. The kids are the true victims. Though they have done nothing wrong, yet they live on the streets or sleep in parked cars. Responding to their unique needs, many facilities that began as emergency shelters have expanded into longer-term life change programs with child care, and opportunities for children to gain an education. Among them are; City Union Mission in Kansas City, MO, which has just added a wing to their family facilities to do extensive education for entire families that includes a computerized learning center. And, in Louisville, KY, the Wayside Christian Mission operates the daily child care program for all the shelters in the city. Some missions, like the Rescue Mission of Syracuse, NY, offer very effective programs for the mentally ill, who make up and been estimated 30-40% of the homeless. Other new programs are starting all over the country as part of rescue mission ministries; include jail and prison outreaches, daily activities for inner city children and summer camps, job and employment training, special housing, and long-term rehabilitation. Sixty percent of today's rescue mission clients are local people. For them, long-term education and training programs, community outreaches, and youth and family services are attempts to reach families before they become homeless. Neighborhood youth centers are set up to reach kids in the housing projects where crime and killing are a way of life.
The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions can assist you and your church or campus group to become involved with local rescue missions, serving as volunteers, and in full-time service, in a variety of exciting ministries. Opportunities available at the AGRM's web site include:
For more information contact: Association of Gospel Rescue Missions Photos courtesy of the Union Gospel Mission, Seattle, WA and the Open Door Mission, Omaha, NE. © Copyright 1995 - Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. All rights reserved. |
