news r e s c u e Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission

A Ministry of Rescue & Recovery

A publication of the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission • Anchorage, Alaska

HOLIDAYS—AHEAD
They Will Be Here Before You Know It!
Wow! where does the time go? It is
already that time of the year we at the
Mission have to begin to think about
and make plans for the soon to be here
holiday season.
If you have children they are already
in school or anxiously looking forward
to it (I know you are). Vacations are
over and things begin to happen a lot
faster now for you getting back into
your routine.
This is also the busiest time of the year
at the Mission. Besides the normal
number of people we serve there will
be many more families that will come
David M. Williams
for their holiday meals. We try to
Program Director
serve up-graded meals all during the
months of November and December.
Larry Aldrich
Operations Manager Then for our “Special Thanksgiving
and Christmas Dinner” we have
Randy Hess outside help from experienced cooks
Maintenance Supervisor that prepare these meals for those that
come to enjoy these meals. By the way,
Larry O’Connor
Greg Mann
everyone is invited to come and have
dinner with us on these occasions.
Neil Givens
Roger Klein Yes, this is a busy time but a glorious
Client Supervisors time of sharing with the poor, needy
and homeless people in out city. By
David McKnight meeting the physical needs of those
Van Driver
that come to us for help gives us the
opportunity to meet the spiritual needs
Solomona Talivaa
Maintenance they may have. Many people come to
know the Lord at the Mission during
Donn Baker this time of the year through the
I am asking you, please, consider including the
Mission in your schedule of holiday activities
this year. We will need volunteers to help us
with many chores that have to be done to make
the holiday season successful in the quantity
and quality of service we provide to those that
come to us for help.
Those in our “NewLife” Discipline Program
and some of the clients help us everyday
through the holidays but some tasks can not be
turned over to them, they have to be done by
responsible people that have the Mission’s best
interest at heart.
THIS MEANS YOU! May I depend on you
again this year to give us a hand? There are
many things to be done and one of them is just
right for you. “S0-0-0-0 Come On Down”. We
need you. In the November and December
Newsletter the name of our Volunteer
Coordinator, her phone number and volunteer
positions will be listed. So call her early and
get your name on the volunteer list.
Remember This:
“For ye have the poor with you always,
and whensoever ye will ye may do them
good…”. Mark 14:7
When you volunteer to help at the Mission
you are doing good for the poor, needy and
homeless.
May the Lord bless you for your help!
r

John Lofquist
be

kindness and benevolence they receive

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from the staff that may help them and
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give a personal witness to them about

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the Lord.
20
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m and spiritual classes are helping
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Seeking Rest
I am an Alaskan Native from the
Western part of the state. My
occupations were; Subsistence
Hunter, Bristol Bay Commercial
fisherman, High School Custodian,
Enlisted Soldier in the U. S. Armed
Forces, and Silver Hand Artist.
My life in Alaska has been rugged,
beautiful and dangerous. I have a
Brother, whom I have followed
from the beginning of my youth.
He and I did everything together,
alcohol, and drugs, etc, even if it
2
costs us our freedom or put our and patience for allowing me
lives in danger we did it. time to change, and to renewing
my outlook on life. God has
orchestrated my life by putting me
with the men of faith to assist me in
the right direction. The counseling
me understand who I am in Christ.
My old habits still haunts me and
I have taken into consideration
what my Counselor has suggested.
“Alcohol and Drugs are no longer
The lifestyle was out of control, my an option in my life.”
Uncle, the Police Chief threaten
to put us in jail. That didn’t stop
us from pursuing our intentions.
I have faced imminent danger of
death on five occasions. On one of
these incidents, I have witnessed
Divine intervention. Today, I am
still alive, by the grace of God.
I would like to thank the Mission
for allowing me to continue with
Matthew Chapter 11: 28, states;
‘come unto Me all you that labor
and heavy laden and I will give
you rest.’ The scripture has a new
meaning in my life.
Otto M. John
hobby craft, It is my desire to
become a small business owner in
the field of Arts & Crafts. I would
like to extend my appreciation to
the organization and its staff; for
their integrity, loyalty, compassion,
www.anchoragerescue.org
We invite you to visit us on the web or
drop us an E-mail with your comments
and suggestions
 Living Memorials My Anchor Holds
….touch lives as they honor the memory of
loved ones and friends. I have journed
Through the long dark night
in memory of Out on the open sea,
Robert Buckalew By faith alone and sight unknown,
by Mary Doppelfeld And yet His eyes were watching me.
Esperanza M. Casas
by Martha Cashen I’ve have had visions
Marjarie Garwood And I’ve had dreams,
by Charles and Evelyn Handy I’ve even held them in my hands,
Edward E. Hall But I never knew,
by Marjorie P. Hall They would slip right through,
Wade Henry Like they were only grains of sand.
by Etta M. Schandelmeier
Colleen Cannon I have been young
Mike Howerton But I am old now,
by Ron and Gwen Burson Then there has been beauty,
Ken and Deta Robb These eyes have seen.
Jerri Ivy But it was in the night,
by Mary Doppelfeld Through the storms of my life,
Gary Kohfield O, that is where God
by Carman V. Roth Proved His love to me.
D & L Hill The Anchor holds
Fred and Betty Steenmeyer Though the ship is battered,
James and Carol Seedorf The Anchor holds though,
Naomi Ruth Stewart The sails are torn.
James and Heather Berkley I have fallen on my knees,
Don and Pat Cox As I face the raging sea,
Marjorie M. Johnston But the Anchor holds,
Dolores Hyer In spite of the storm.
Thomas and Krista Shelby
Larry and Suzanne Cool NOW Faith Is—Heb. 11:1
Gene and Shirley Moe Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
Ivan and Shirley Auten God—Romans 10:17. Our faith is increased by trials
Mr. and Mrs Joseph Lech and tribulations and just plain Trust in God. As we
by Judith and Michael Habla grow and mature in our Christian walk we learn to
Dwight Robinson have faith in Him by the past experiences and victories
by Jacqueline M. Robinson He has given us. Surely, we can say with the poet,
Bernice I. Saupe That our Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.
Ben and Myrtle Sherbahn
by The Sherbahn Children “Have faith and trust in God and leave all of the
Glen Starn consequences to Him”.
Charles Stanley
by Etta M. Schandelmeier

3
 or
c t
re
di
r am il lia
og d
W him and his family homeless.
pr vi
Da
What image does the word
homeless invoke in your minds
eye? Do you see a person whose
sprit has been broken by hardship
or do you see a vagrant in dirty
threadbare clothing standing on
the corner holding a cardboard sign
asking for help? Where does your
heart go? Do you feel empathy or
resentment? Are you compelled to
reach our or strike out? What if it
were you?
The reality is homeless men,
women, and children have an
image problem. Because of a few
naredowells most tend to believe
all homeless are content to stand
around waiting for a handout.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth. One of my favorite analogies
is comparing the homeless with
motorcycle riders. 98% of all
motorcycle riders are honest hard
working people who enjoy riding
a motorcycle. The other 2% are
naredowells who we think of
whenever the expression “biker”
comes up in a conversation.
The homeless are the same way.
We never think about the father
who has been laid off from work
and despite his best efforts finds
4
The Homeless &
Functioning U
s
m
We never think about the person
who is laboring under the burden
of a mental illness who has lost
essential life skills needed to
maintain a stable home. The lack
of affordable housing has caused
more homelessness than any other
factor. Yet most people never think
about these individuals. Most
people see the inebriate on the
corner that has no intentions of ever
changing their lifestyle because it
is a lifestyle of no responsibility.
The entire homeless population
find themselves condemned
because of the actions of a few.
This snapshot of homelessness is
skewed. Drive by Labor Ready and
you will see numerous homeless
men and women who are eager to
do an honest day’s labor hoping
their hard work will turn into a
full time position. You only have
to witness once a homeless man
or woman sharing what little they
have with others to understand
these are decent people who have
the capacity to love and the need
to be loved.
Homeless men and women did not
grow up aspiring to be homeless.
The circumstances of their lives
have resulted in their condition not
an indifferent or cruel heart. I’ve
met more practicing Christians
using the services of the Rescue
Mission than I have in any church
I’ve attended. This is not intended
to cast a disparaging shadow on
my, or anyone else’s, church. I love
my church and thanks to numerous
churches in the community the
Mission is able to hold nightly
services 365 days a year. Yet it’s
difficult to ignore the Christian
heart that gives when there is
very little to go around. There
are homeless men and women, in
this city, who tithe to the Rescue
Mission. Granted like the poor
widow in Mark 12:41-43 the
amount is small but that matters
little. Jesus himself said:
“I tell you the truth, this poor widow
has put more into the treasury than
all the others.”
I tell you this, not to encourage
you to give more, but to assure you
what you now give goes toward
helping good people in need not
greedy people in want.
Homelessness can strike at
anytime for a myriad of reasons.
“But by the grace of God go I!”
should be the first thought to cross
anyone’s mind when the homeless
are thought of. The second thought
should be, ‘what can I do to help
this individual over this temporary
bump in life’s road’?
The one thing those desiring to
help should never do is give money
to anyone standing on the street
corner holding a sign asking for
help. Most will spend the money on
drugs and alcohol. If you are lead
to give to these individuals give
gift certificates from a local fast
food establishment. This will give
 & The Rescue Mission
Under A Skewed Image
you assurance drugs & Alcohol
will not be purchased with your
gift. The best course of action is
to give to an organization like the
Rescue Mission or the only other
emergency shelter in Anchorage,
The Brother Francis Shelter.
Like the homeless the Anchorage
Gospel Rescue Mission also has
an image problem. Most people
believe we are enabling the chronic
homeless to continue their lifestyle.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth! The Rescue Mission has in
place policies and procedure that
insure our beds are not taken up
by those who have no intentions of
changing their life’s circumstance.
The Anchorage Gospel Rescue
Mission is dedicated to giving the
homeless a way out of this desperate
situation. The Mission does
more than feed people and send
them on their way. The Mission
reminds people about a savior who
loves them and cares when they
are hurting. The Mission stands
beside those who are frightened
by the journey of recovery. The
Mission strives to operate in the
will of God by loving others as
we love ourselves. Our “NewLife”
Recovery program best illustrates
the Mission’s philosophy of,
breaking the cycle. For the men who
enroll in our program we provide
a safe, healing environment free
from the pressures and temptations
of the outside world. We take care
of their physical needs such as
housing, food, clothing, hygiene.
We then set out to help the men
foster an intimate relationship with
our Lord and Savior.
The men are required to attend
daily bible studies and biblical life
management classes. There are
group and individual counseling
sessions to help equip the men
with practical, biblically sound,
life management skills. There are
daily classes in our Learning Center
where the men train in computer
literacy and money management
skill. For those without a High
School diploma, GED preparation
is encouraged.
The Rescue Mission has a small
furniture warehouse where we
store all donated home furnishings.
Any low income family, who is in
need, can come to us for furniture,
utensils, small appliances, or just
general household knick-knacks.
The Rescue Mission refurbishes
donated computers and provides
them to low income families
with school aged children. We
understand a personal computer
has become a necessity in the
educational process. We also
understand not all families can
afford one.
The Anchorage Gospel Rescue
Mission provides all of these
services free of charge to the
community. We can do this because
of your generous donations. When
you give to the Rescue Mission
you can rest assured your donation
will go where it is needed most.
You can also take comfort in the
fact all donations that are not used
directly by the mission will not be
sold but given away.
As mentioned earlier, the Rescue
Mission holds chapel services
between 7:30 and 8:30 365 days
a year inorder to provide for the
spiritual needs of our clients.
As you can see the Mission is more
than just a homeless shelter. We
are a faith based helping hand to
the Anchorage community.
Unfortunately there are those who
believe we are a hindrance to our
community. They feel we look
bad and bring bad elements to the
neighborhood. Nothing could be
farther from the truth!
Christ tells us in John 12:18 that we
will always have the poor among
us. He doesn’t stop there.
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth,
whatever you did not do for one of
the least of these, you did not do
for me.’
Matthew 25:45,
The Mission needs your prayers
now more than ever. It want be
long before winter is upon us and
the options of sleeping outside
goes away. We can’t do what we
do without you.
5
 S A LV AT I O N
k
is for
es
s
d
is
Everyone !
r’
to
Bett
r ec on
di D I like to present God’s “Plan of Salvation” about once a year for those that read
e v. this newsletter. Just in case someone that does not know the Lord Jesus will
R accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

I do not understand why some people make the act of getting saved so difficult! God made it so simple to come to
Him through His Son Jesus Christ that people are stumbling over it everyday and going into eternity without Him.
Salvation is the grace of God extended to mankind on his acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior plus NOTHING
else.

There are four spiritual laws or four things God wants you to know!
1. God’s Love You and Offers a Wonderful Plan For Your Life.
God’s Love
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life”. John 3:16. This is the ultimate expression of God’s love when He sent Jesus to
seek and save that which was lost.
God’s Plan
(Jesus Speaking) “I came that they might have life, and might have it more abundantly”.
John 10:10.
2. Man is Sinful and This Separates Him From God.
Man is Sinful
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. Romans 3:23.
Man was created to have fellowship with God, but man went his own way and chose sin, then
fellowship with God was broken.
Man is Separated From God
“For the wages of sin is death….” Romans 6:23. (Spiritual separation from God).
If man continues in his sin he will be eternally separated from God.
3. Jesus Christ is God’s Only Provision For Sin
“But God commended His Love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”.
Romans 5:8. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
4. Confession and Faith are all that is Required
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10.

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, will you just now bow your head and pray this simple prayer.
“Lord I am a sinner, and I want to be saved. I place my faith and trust in You to save me for Jesus sake”. If you
believe with all of your heart, you are now a Christian, a child of God and on your way to heaven. For
Romans 10:13 tells us that, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved”. Will you just
take a moment to thank Him for saving you! Now do the things that accompany salvation, find a church or
fellowship and begin attending regularly so that you may grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Get baptized and find a place of service.

6

e r
nt
ce
i ng i nn
n K
ar M
c Learning Center.
le k
ar
M The first step at the ‘LC’ is to take
Opportunity
Center
When you think about it, the
work that God is doing here at
the Anchorage Gospel Rescue
Mission, with your help, is actually
quite amazing. Anybody who
needs food, clothing or shelter,
within the constraints placed on us
by the city, can come and use the
services provided by the Mission.
The most important aspect of the
Mission is, of course, that they
have the opportunity to hear the
Good News of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. The good news is that
people actually avail themselves
of the opportunity to accept Jesus
Christ as their Savior, as I did at the
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
in Indio, California.
In addition to learning about and
studying the Good News, another
great opportunity for the men in
the New Life recovery program in
the Learning Center at the Mission.
on After a New Life Disciple has
been in the program for 90 days
he is automatically enrolled in the
a GED assessment test of about
100 questions on the subjects of
math, science, reading, writing
and social studies. Although not
everybody needs a GED, I know it
helped me to jump start my brain
into thinking again. It does help
to have a GED so if a disciple does
need to acquire a GED we will
help with that process. The next
step is the dreaded ‘Mavis Beacon
Teaches Typing’!! It is much
more efficient to be able to type
without ‘hunting and pecking’ and
that is our goal for everyone in the
program.
Learning the Windows XP Office
applications is the next available
opportunity. Starting with
Windows XP itself and moving
through Word, Excel, PowerPoint
and Access. After completing
each application lesson we are
given a project to do, such as copy
a magazine cover for Word. When
we turn in the assignment it is
great to hear the LC instructor say
‘Great job’. Dave Williams, who
is the Program Director, was my
instructor at the time and I guess
he just enjoyed seeing the look of
panic on our faces when he would
say; “Now do the same thing with
MS Publisher!” I am also sure
he enjoyed seeing the confidence
of his students’ increase when
they recreated their project using
an application they had never
had lessons in, or used before.
After completing the Office Suite
lessons students are encouraged
to learn other applications such
as PhotoShop, In-Design, and
FrontPage etc...
All in all, this is just one of the
fantastic opportunities for the
disciples here in the program
and I just couldn’t pass up the
‘opportunity’ to tell you about the
good things you are supporting at
the Mission and in the Learning
Center in particular.
Thank You and God Bless You

Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission P.O. Box 230510 Anchorage, Alaska 99523-0510
Here is my support gift: For Credit Card Donations:
Food and Shelter: $_____ I would like to charge my total donation of $__________________
Check One: Visa ˆ M/C ˆ Am/Ex ˆ Discover ˆ
Facilities Maintenance: $_____
$46.25 For 25 Meals ______
$74.00 For 40 Meals ______ Card Number __________________________________________
$132.20 For 72 Meals ______
Exp. Date: ______/______ Signature _______________________
$277.50 For 150 Meals ______
______Other: All credit card information is kept in strict confidence
Make checks payable to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission
______ I Will Pray for this Ministry.
You will receive a receipt.

Name:________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Please send this coupon with your donations.
7
 Our Ministry of
Chapel Services for September
u e Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
e s c 1
r Is to
Calvary
Baptist
Church
The least 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The last God’s
Place
Abbot Loop
Community
Anchorage
Pilgrim
First
Anchorage
Anchorage
Vineyard
First
Presbyterian
Wasilla
Assembly
The lost Church Nazarene Gospel Fellowship Church of God
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
God’s Church First Birchwood Christ Calvary Lighthouse
“URGENT” Place of God of Assembly of Community Community Church Christian

Our supplies of these Prophecy God Church Church Fellowship

16 17 18 19 20 21 22
items is constantly in Grace Sherbahn Anchorage Christian Sherbahn Sherbahn Glenn
need of replenishing Victory
Fellowship
Evangelistic
Team
Native
Assembly
Evangelical
Church
Evangelistic
Team
Evangelistic
Team
Herman

† Prayer 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
† Paper Towels New Light
Community
Calvary
Baptist
Attorney
Greg Grebe
Calvary
Baptist
Evangelical
Covenant
In His Name
Sandy
Change
Point
† 45 Gallon Trash Bags Church Church Church Church McCollum

† Fresh Meat 30
God’s
† Coffee Place

† Bathroom Tissue Nightly Services 7:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

† Laundry Soap
† Disposable Shavers
STATEMENT OF FAITH
† Cleaning Supplies The Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission is a Non-Profit, Non-Denominational
† Dinner Napkins organization. We receive NO municipal, state or federal funds. We are not a United Way
† Shampoo Agency. Your financial support and In-Kind donations make it possible for us to provide
“URGENT” for the poor, needy and homeless people in our community. Also, your donations allow us
to provide a Drug and Alcohol Recovery program. All Donations are fully tax deductible.
We will give you a receipt for your donation.

Anchorage Gospel D
Rescue Mission Anchorage Non-Profit Org.
P
ue
U.S. Postal

Board of Trustees Gospel c PAID

s Anchorage, AK
re Permit # 290
L
Ed Shelton Mission GOD BLESS AMERICA O

(President) A Ministry of info@anchoragerescue.org R

Bob Collins Rescue & Recovery www.anchoragerescue.org M
( Vice President/treasure) Visit us at:
Enoch Adams ue
(Secretary)
Mark Soquet
r es
news
c

P.O. Box 230510•Anchorage, AK•99523-0510•(907) 563-5603

2823 E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99507
L
G
N
R
Emeritus:
Cliff Hodgins RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED C

Rev. Willard leisy

Advisory Board: D
Paul Kelly V

Rev. Don Bettis, Exec. Dir. S

M
Charlotte Bettis, Asst. Dir.
D
J
MEMBER In
Association of Gospel ue
sc Missions
re
An association of Rescue Ministries