Mission grad wins local singing competition
LaSondra Leffler, a graduate of Holland Rescue Mission (Holland, Mich.), is the very first winner of Lakeshore Idol, a singing competition in West Michigan. As LaSondra is invited to sing in the community, she shares her personal story of addiction and homelessness, and how the mission helped her start a new life. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/56eu8y.

Bring your questions to Dallas
Here’s yet another reason not to miss this year’s convention in Dallas: In the exhibit hall, we’ll have a bank of experts for you to talk to about important issues and procedures. We’ll have an attorney, CPA, IT specialist, web designer, and HR professional to answer your burning questions. And the best thing is that the consultations are free for AGRM members. If you’re not registered, look for a brochure and registration form in your March/April issue of Rescue, or use the form online at www.agrm.org/pdf/2008%20Convetnion%20Brochure.pdf. And speaking of questions, here is this week’s. The fifth person to email AGRM’s Faye Wisdom at fwisdom@agrm.org with the correct answer to the following question will win a $25 Borders gift card. (To be eligible, you must be registered for the convention, or must register in the next five days.) Who was the first Texas Ranger hitter to smack 50 homeruns in a season? Answer to previous trivia question: Thanksgiving Square is a triangle.

Looking for a place to land
If you haven’t done so already, you had better start making your travel plans for the annual convention in Dallas. If you’re flying, consider Love Field (DAL), a hub for discount carrier Southwest Airlines. It’s just a few miles from the Hilton Anatole. On May 24 and 25, Union Gospel Mission of Dallas will run complimentary shuttles from Love Field to the hotel every 30 minutes, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 6:30 p.m. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) is a bit farther from the hotel, but has more daily flights. It is a hub for American Airlines, which is offering AGRM convention attendees a 5 percent discount off the lowest applicable published airfare (use promotion code A5558BL). If you are flying through DFW, multiple shuttle services to the hotel are available. More information will be sent to registrants a few weeks prior to the convention.

Looking for a place to sleep
Our special convention rate at the Hilton Anatole is only guaranteed through May 5 (and the hotel is serious about that!). If you haven’t booked your room yet, do it today (even if you haven’t yet registered with us for the convention). There are two ways to reserve your room: 1) Call (800) 446-6677 and book over the phone; or go to http://tinyurl.com/ys59kp (you can also find this link on the AGRM website, www.agrm.org). Convention attendees not staying at the Hilton Anatole may be assesses a $75 convention facility usage fee, payable upon check-in at the AGRM Registration Desk.

California mission’s fund raising raises eyebrows
The media has cast negative light on a former TV personality who was doing fund raising for a central California rescue mission on a commission basis. The ex-news anchor reportedly received payment of between 10 and 20 percent on donations, including a $1.5 million gift. While there were no laws broken by the practice, paying fund raisers on a commission basis is controversial, considered by many to be unethical because the donation does not go in its entirety toward the purposes for which it is solicited. The Association of Fundraising Professionals lists it as prohibited behavior in its code of ethics, and states that percentage-based pay tends to put the interests of the fund raiser above the donor. The rescue mission director, however, saw this as a way to pay a fund raiser whose salary wasn’t included in the budget. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), of which AGRM is a member, prohibits commission-based fund raising under its Standard 7: “Compensation of outside fund-raising consultants or a member's own employees based directly or indirectly on a percentage of charitable contributions raised is not allowed.” AGRM encourages all of its members to consider ECFA membership and to adhere to its policies and guidelines. For more information, go to www.ecfa.org and click on “Standards & Best Practices.”

Looking down the street . . .
Crossroads Nogales Mission (Nogales, Ariz.) is going through the process of relocation, currently discussing three potential new locations with the city. One issue is whether the proposed relocation site is within a floodplain. Gospel Rescue Mission (Tucson, Ariz.) just opened a transitional home for its women’s program graduates. The 6,000-square-foot building will house up to eight women, along with their children, at a time. Stuart Harper has been named executive director of Buffalo City Mission (Buffalo, N.Y.). Stuart is a former board member of the mission. Welcome!

DIY paternity test on the market
An in-home paternity test was recently placed on the market by Sorenson Genomics of Salt Lake City, according to a report on MSNBC.com. To complete the test, users must collect cells from inside the cheek of the mother, the child, and the suspected father and send the sample to the Sorenson laboratory for analysis. Results are reported online, by phone, or in the mail in three to five days. Mission clients and guests—especially those at family centers—may purchase the test and have the results sent to the mission. Counselors should be aware that this type of test is available. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/27d92u.

President signs Second Chance Act
President Bush singed the Second Chance Act of 2007 into law last week, improving the lives of former prisoners by awarding grants to organizations that provide services that benefit recently released inmates. According to a report by the Center for American Progress, the law specifically applies to drug and mental health treatment, education, job training, employment housing, and family services. Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/3wnrsf.

Acton Institute’s Samaritan Awards open today
The Acton Institute is looking for successful charities that take little government money, work directly with people in need, and connect people and families to the community. A grand prize winner will receive $10,000 and be highlighted in World Magazine; other smaller prizes will also be awarded. Last year, Springfield Victory Mission (Springfield, Mo.) was one of the winners. Applications are available beginning today at www.samaritanguide.com.

Bible beats Harry Potter for favorite book
When Americans sit down to read, their favorite book is the Bible, ahead of Gone with the Wind, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter, according to a Harris Interactive poll published last week. View the results at http://tinyurl.com/4dwcfk.

Associations important to getting things done
More than half (57 percent) of U.S. citizens belong to one or more of the nation’s 1.5 million voluntary associations, according to a survey of more than 1,300 association executives conducted by Leo J. Shapiro & Associates. The top three reasons for participating in an association are: working with government policy formation, influencing public opinion, and working to achieve consensus among experts in their field of study. Read the full report at http://tinyurl.com/68yw7a.

Cell phone usage continues to grow
Nearly nine out of ten American adults (89 percent) have a cell phone, a significant increase from the 77 percent reported in December 2006, according to a Harris interactive Poll. One in seven adults use only cell phones to make calls. This is interesting data to consider when deciding whether to allow mission clients to have cell phones while taking part in mission programs. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/5zguqy.

Mission guests find freedom through journaling
Gerry Vander-Lyn, a volunteer of Open Door Mission (Houston, Tex.), is leading a class on journaling to help the men at the mission write about their lives in a pressure-free environment. Journaling lets the men tell their personal stories, express frustrations, and release disappointments. Guests of the mission are finding great healing value in writing. To find out how to begin a journaling class at your mission, contact Gerry at (713) 923-7478.

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Positions available…

Albuquerque, NM: Multiple Openings - Director of Development, Security Specialist Supervisor, Security Specialist(2). Contact Stephanie Sessions, Albuquerque Rescue Mission, 525 2nd Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Phone: (505) 346-4673, ext. 226 Fax: (505) 843-8823 To contact via email: steph@albqrescuemission.com Web site: http://www.albqrescuemission.com Date Added: 03/25/2008

Atlanta, GA: President/ CEO - Atlanta Union Mission, a nonprofit ministry that brings Christ’s healing power to people in crisis through programs of rescue and recovery, seeks a President/CEO. Full description on website. Contact BoardWalk Consulting, 127 Peachtree Street, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: 404-420-5852 To contact via email: joan@boardwalkconsulting.com Web site: http://boardwalkconsulting.com/Positions.aspx Date Added: 03/24/2008

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 Date Added: 03/03/2008

Holbrook, AZ: Executive Director/Case Manager - Position requires team building, leadership, development skills to operate/further develop rural ministry with emergency shelter/life change program; provide case management services. Requires homeless ministry experience; BA preferred. Contact Board President Shannon Newman, Bread of Life Mission, PO Box 246, Holbrook, AZ 86025. Phone: 928-524-3874 To contact via email: wsnewman@frontiernet.net Date Added: 03/13/2008

Jackson, WY: Assistant Director - Operate programs/services to promote spiritual, physical, emotional and vocational welfare of guests. Bachelor Degree/equivalent experience in small rescue mission operation. Housing available for single male. Contact Good Samaritan Mission, PO Box 1218, Jackson, WY 83001. Phone: 307-733-3165 To contact via email: GSM-WY@MAIL.COM Date Added: 04/03/2008

Joliet, IL: Kitchen Supervisor - Supervise kitchen, plan menus, meal preparation, supervise volunteers/program people, maintain inventory. Previous experience preferred, able to lift, addiction free, valid IL driver's license. Contact MorningStar Mission, 350 E. Washington Street, Joliet, IL 60433. Phone: 815-722-5780 Fax: 815-726-9450 To contact via email: morningstarbm@yahoo.com Date Added: 04/03/2008

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 Date Added: 02/25/2008

Modesto, CA: Development Professional - Seeking individual with experience and proven success in Development. Successful candidate will have excellent written/oral communication skills, be creative and innovative. Email employment history, including salary history and requirements. Modesto Gospel Mission, Modesto, CA. To contact via email: hr@homelessmission.org Date Added: 03/18/2008

Newark, NJ: Director of Programs - Using Servant Leadership model, operate programs/services to promote spiritual, physical, emotional, personal, vocational welfare of guest population. Requires Bachelor’s in Social Services or equivalent. Ability to obtain CDAC certification. Contact Jim Benton, Goodwill Rescue Mission, 79 University Ave., Newark, NJ 07102. Phone: 973-621-9560, ext. 38 To contact via email: jbenton@grmnewark.org Web site: http://www.grmnewark.org Date Added: 03/25/2008

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 Date Added: 02/22/2008

Pittsburgh, PA: Multiple Openings - Men's Residential Program Manager, and Men's Program Case Manager. Contact Kellie D. Wild, Director of Programs, Light of Life Rescue Mission, PO Box 6823, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Phone: 412-258-6100 Fax: 412-803-4142 To contact via email: kwild@lightoflife.org Web site: http://www.lightoflife.org Date Added: 03/31/2008

Seattle, WA: Multiple Openings - Gift Processing Data Entry Operator, Children's Activity Center Coordinator, Director of Recovery Ministries, Dental Assistant, High School Outreach Staff, Children's Ministry Outreach Staff, Community Center Assistant/Athletic Coordinator, Gym Assistant, Computer Lab Assistant, Summer Outreach Staff, Children's Ministry Curriculum Specialist. 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 Date Added: 04/04/2008

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 Date Added: 02/15/2008

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 Date Added: 02/15/2008

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).

“Indeed, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matt. 20:26).

Deborah was a woman remembered for her service to God and her people (Judges 4:4–5:51). When she served, Israel was characterized by disobedience, adultery, and defeat. She was an ordinary woman identified as a prophetess, wife, and judge.

Israel was faced with a battle for survival. Deborah called on Barak to lead the army in this fight. His response to her was filled with insolence and fear: “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” As judge, Deborah could have ordered him to go. However, in humility she accompanied Barak into the battle. Ironically, neither Barak nor Deborah defeated King Sisera; God used a woman named Jael. When victory came, Deborah and Barak sang a song of glory to God for what He had accomplished.

Service in God’s kingdom does not consist of what you do, or what you give; it depends on who you are. Every day, you encounter situations that require significant wisdom and strength. God’s power will keep you from giving up, giving in, dropping out, or quitting short of His goal for you. Humbly seek to be used by God, and give Him the glory for the outcome.

Contributed by Dr. Lora Warkentin, Cornerstone Manor at Buffalo City Mission (Buffalo, N.Y.)

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.