Introducing the AGRM Media Innovation Competition
The annual AGRM Publications Competition is always a big hit among rescue mission staff. This year, we’ve added more categories and a new name, the AGRM Media Innovation Competition, to reflect the electronic age. For the first time, we’ll be judging blogs, podcasts, and YouTube posts. We’ve also grown from two budget categories to three for traditional printed publications. Send in your best stuff today! Get your entry form at http://tinyurl.com/yog4km.

March/April Rescue holds complete convention details
Look in the center of your latest edition of Rescue (in your mailbox now) for a 16-page Dallas convention brochure. It includes seminar descriptions and a complete schedule. (You can also find it online at http://www.agrm.org/pdf/2008%20Convetnion%20Brochure.pdf.) Registrations for the convention have now topped 200, putting us 171 percent ahead of last year at this time. In addition, interest is growing in our host city contest included in every issue of Street Smart until the convention. The fourth person to email AGRM’s Faye Wisdom at fwisdom@agrm.org with the correct answer to the following question will win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. (To be eligible, the person must be registered for the convention, or must register in the next five days.) The trivia question in the last issue was too “male.” Guys inherently know that argon gas glows green when energized by electricity (so how did Mary Harriger come out the winner?). Now it’s your turn, ladies. Name the luxury department store founded in Dallas in 1907 famous for its Christmas catalog featuring “fantasy gifts,” which last year included a $1.44 million submarine.

Additional volunteer sessions at convention
If you’re thinking about attending the Affinity Group Gatherings on Saturday May 24 at convention (and we hope you are), we’ve added two more great sessions to the Volunteer group meeting that didn’t make it in the recent brochure: 1.) Training staff to supervise volunteers, and 2.) Knowing your volunteers’ agenda. These two topics will be covered on Saturday morning.

Online auction underway for Massachusetts mission
During March, the Springfield Rescue Mission (Springfield, Mass.) is conducting an online auction to raise funds for ministry. Auction items include musical equipment, sports memorabilia, and event tickets. To see how the auction is set up, or to bid on an item, go to http://spfldrescuemission.org/.

Looking down the street . . .
Today is moving day for City Union Mission (Kansas City, Mo.) as staff members open their new 100-bed Christian Life Program building. A grand-opening celebration is planned for April 1. Hope Gospel Mission (Eau Claire, Wisc.) hosted a Ministry Expo last week at the mission bargain center. The event featured seminars, music, and nonprofit church groups from across western Wisconsin. With a generous donation from the Burlington Coat Factory, the Scranton Rescue Mission (Scranton, Penn.) was able to meet the clothing needs of people coming to the mission, and donate more than 1,000 coats to a ministry to poor people in Turkey. That’s a huge donation for an expansion mission! Herb Opalek from Merced County Rescue Mission (Merced, Calif.) reports mission directors from the Pacific district of AGRM are meeting by conference call once a month to pray for specific needs of missions in the district.  

Google announces free phone numbers for homeless
Last month, Internet giant Google announced that the company will offer free phone numbers and voicemail accounts to help homeless people in San Francisco get back on their feet. The technology is currently only available in the Bay Area, but Google hopes to eventually take the service across the country. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/ys5mwv.

House approves bill on mental health parity
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill requiring group health plans to cover mental illnesses on par with other illnesses. The U.S. Senate earlier had passed similar legislation. Currently, insurers are able to mandate higher co-payments or stricter limits on mental health benefits. When the new legislation is enacted, health plans will not be able to place annual limits on the treatment of mental disorders, unless they have limits on treatment of conditions like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. The bill may reduce the rate of mentally ill patients on the streets. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/25zhrz.

Government says homeless veterans are on the decline
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced this week that homeless veterans now number 154,000, down from their 196,000 estimate in 2006. The VA says specific programs targeting homeless vets and a decline in the number of living World War II, Korean, and Vietnam war veterans play a part in the reduced numbers. The full report is available at http://tinyurl.com/2bmvqr. Check out more data on the decline of homeless veterans and other trends among people coming to rescue missions for assistance in the March/April issue of Rescue.

Urban League report focuses on black women
African-American women are five times more likely than white men to have received a subprime loan—a leading cause of the current housing crisis—in 2006, according to The State of Black America 2008 report published by the National Urban League. This year’s report focuses on triumphs and tragedies of black women. Read the about the study at http://tinyurl.com/26gnhn. To view the executive summary of the report, click http://tinyurl.com/26ox8f.

Dramatic rise in older addicts predicted
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates there will be 4.4 million substance abusers over 50 years old by 2020, compared to 1.7 million in 2001. Older adults are harder to get into treatment, officials say, because of a generational aversion to airing one’s laundry in public. But once there, they are often highly motivated and likely to complete a program. Interesting data as missions prepare to minister to addicts in years to come. Read about the report at http://tinyurl.com/2ccxk9.

Earliest Easter we’ll ever see
Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox (March 20). The earliest that Easter can occur is March 22. This year’s celebration on March 23 will be the earliest most of us will ever see. The last time Easter occurred this early in the year was March 23, 1913, so if you’re 95 or older, you’ve done this before. The next time Easter will come about on March 23 will be in the year 2160. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/29km6c.

Eagle Scout project benefits Hot Springs mission
To complete his Eagle Scout requirements, Brady Leonhard worked with the Samaritan Ministries of Hot Springs (Hot Springs, Ark.) to build storage bins in the mission’s kitchen. Brady had helped move kitchen equipment into the building previously, and creating adequate storage sounded like a good opportunity for an Eagle project. Do you have a list of tasks at your mission that need some volunteer time and attention? Contact your local Boy Scout troop or regional council to see if leaders know of an Eagle candidate looking for a project.

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Positions available…

Harrisburg, PA: Business Manager - Oversee financial activities of the mission according to generally accepted accounting principles. Requires accounting degree with five years of experience. Send resume/salary requirements to Bethesda Mission, Human Resources Dept., PO Box 3041, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Phone: 717-257-4442 Fax: 717-257-5486 To contact via email: bethesda@bethesda-mission.org

Lafayette, IN: Manager of Retail Operations - Provide leadership/oversight for thrift stores - coordinate sheltered workshop program portion of residential addictions ministry. Requires retail/business experience with ministry background. Contact Trinity Mission Ministries, 817 N. 12th Street, Lafayette, IN 47904. Phone: 765-742-1060 Fax: 765-742-1061 To contact via email: dtaylor@trinitymission.org

Lexington, KY: Associate Thrift Store Manager - Must be able to organize volunteers, have cash handling experience, be able to run/balance a cash register, have people skills. Thrift store experience, retail management helpful. Submit resume with salary requirements to Lexington Rescue Mission, 444 Glen Arvin Ave., Lexington, KY 40508. Phone: 859-381-9600 Fax: 859-381-9603 To contact via email: vince@lexingtonrescue.org

Long Beach, CA: Two Openings - Executive Assistant to CEO & Exec. Staff; Men's Program Director. Fax resume w/ salary req. Long Beach Rescue Mission, 1430 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA 90813. Phone: 562-591-1292 Fax: 562-216-7667 To contact via email: jlewis@lbrm.org

New Orleans, LA: Family Center Director - Seeking a Family Center Director for the New Orleans Mission. Requires at least 2 years of experience. Please contact Linda Gonzales, New Orleans Mission, PO Box 56565, New Orleans, LA 70156. Phone: 504 523 2116 To contact via email: linda_gonzales@bellsouth.net

Nogales, Arizona: Program Director - Able to work with recovery and probation clients. Teach Bible classes, handle daily operations of mission. Bilingual with two years of rescue mission experience. Contact Ben Wenke, Crossroads Nogales Mission, 456 N. Morley Avenue, Nogales, AZ 85621. Phone: 520-287-5828 Fax: 520-397-9623 To contact via email: crossroad@dakotacom.net

Norfolk, NE: Evening Pastor/Chaplain - Responsible for leading chapels and classes, counseling with men, supervising the evening shift. Requires college degree, working knowledge of the Bible. Computer skills a plus. Norfolk Rescue Mission, 111 N. 9th Street, Norfolk, NE 68701. Phone: 402-371-6484 Fax: 402-371-2339 To contact via email: jfisher@norfolkrescue.org

Portland, OR: Two Openings - Men’s New Life Recovery Manager, Life Skills Training Manager. See the website for further details or contact: Portland Rescue Mission, 700 NE Multnomah Ste. 400, Portland, OR 97232. Phone: 503-906-7602 To contact via email: miekog@pdxmission.org Web site: http://www.portlandrescuemission.org

Seattle, WA: Multiple Openings - Children's Activity Center Coordinator-Women and Children's Shelter, Director of Recovery Ministries, Dental Assistant-Dental Clinic, High School Outreach Staff, Children's Ministry Outreach Staff - White Center, Gym Assistant-Youth Services, Computer Lab Assistant-Youth Services, Administrative Assistant/Children's Ministry Outreach Staff - Burien, Summer Outreach Staff-Youth Services. Contact: Roslyn Alake, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, PO Box 202, Seattle, WA 98111. Phone: 206-723-0767 Fax: 206-723-1076 To contact via email: rosalake@ugm.org Web site: http://www.ugm.org

St. Paul, MN: Development Director - Create successful fundraising programs. Structure/implement fund raising efforts; increase gift/grant income, expand base support, strengthen the organization. BA and 5 years development/fundraising experience. Email/fax resume & cover letter. Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, 77 9th Street E., St. Paul, MN 55101. Phone: 651-228-1800 Fax: 651-222-7968 To contact via email: jobinfo@ugmtc.org

Turlock, CA: Executive Director - Expansion mission seeking individual with strong organizational skills, proven experience in fundraising, public relations, counseling, teaching, community team building. BA degree or combination of education/related experience desired. Contact: Turlock Gospel Mission, PO Box 1231, Turlock, CA 95381. Phone: 209-634-3294 Fax: 209-320-3526 To contact via email: chris_k@pacbell.net

Twin Falls, ID: Multiple Openings - (Non-member mission) Executive Director, Program Director, Evening Supervisor/live in House Mom for new start up Women's Ministry Recovery Program. Contact Cherise Merrick, Jubilee House, PO Box 5684, Twin Falls, ID, 83303. Phone: 402-841-2868 To contact via email: jubilee.house@hotmail.com

Victorville, CA: Rescue Mission Director - Provide leadership, direction & mgmt for programs/outreach. Speak at churches/community groups. Create donor letters. Hire, direct & develop employees. Bachelor’s Degree + ministry, mgmt, non-profit exp. desired. Strong writing, computer skills. Fax or email resume. Contact Rescue Mission Alliance, 315 N. "A" Street, Oxnard, CA. Phone: 805 487-1234 Fax: 805-385-4126 To contact via email: jobs@erescuemission.org

Coming Events…

May 24–28
95th Annual AGRM Convention, Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas

For more information on any of these conferences, log on to www.agrm.org/events, or call
(800) 624-5156.

To advertise in future Market Street Classifieds:
Individual or organizational members of the AGRM may place a 30-word classified ad listing one available position in one issue of Street Smart at no charge, and may renew that ad one additional time at no cost. Ads are due the 10th of the month before the ad is to be listed. Ads exceeding 30 words will be charged at 50 cents per word. Non-member ministries, businesses, and individuals may place an ad for $25.00 per issue for a 30-word ad. Additional words will be charged at 50 cents per word. Ads are also placed on the AGRM website. Member ministries may renew ads after the second placement at $15 per issue for a 30-word ad. E-mail desired ad placement to editor@agrm.org (subject line: Market Street Classifieds).

Faith for righteousness

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).

Scripture indisputably connects the crucifixion and the resurrection as integral parts of our salvation.

In Romans 4, Paul illustrates that salvation hinges on our faith in a person, Jesus Christ. He says Abraham's faith in God, in spite of the circumstances, caused God to impute to him righteousness.

We see the death of Christ as central to our salvation. Many times we do not make the connection that the resurrection is just as vital. Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. However, Jesus’ death would have meant very little without the resurrection. A good man was martyred. His death would have soon been forgotten.

In the resurrection, Jesus is certified as the Son of God. His death has meaning. Paul says we are saved when we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection becomes as important to our salvation as His death. He died for our sin, but He was raised that we might be justified. Now, when I believe in God and His resurrection power, my sins are forgiven and I stand before Him as though I had never sinned. As righteousness was imputed to Abraham because of his faith in God, so it is granted to us through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Contributed by Julius Martin, Rescue Mission of El Paso, El Paso, Texas

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Would you like to write an encouraging devotional thought for a future issue of Street Smart? If so, send your submission of 200 words or less (including a related Bible verse) to editor@agrm.org.