A Word From the Executive Director

God Carries Us Through

11/28/2005

This has been an incredibly tough year for my family and me, as I'm sure it's been for some of you. I am coming to grips with the fact that even in the most devastating and difficult circumstances, life has a way of moving on. By His grace and strength, we deal with the valleys and mountaintops. Thank God that we can trust him to carry us through.

The Mission moves on, too. This has been a tough year financially. As of this writing, our revenue is more than $250,000 short of our budget. Food donations are down as well -- about $75,000 less than we had received by this time last year.

Of course, the need of the community hasn't diminished at all. To the contrary, people are still homeless, hungry and hurting right here in our own community. And while the need has increased, circumstances have created challenges and change for all of us: the war, high fuel costs and natural disasters.

Oftentimes, we forget about helping after the crisis is over. I call it "caring beyond the thought and prayer." While those things really do carry us through critical times, I am reminded that Christ often showed compassion by reaching out to meet needs in a tangible way.

Our guests at the Mission are real people with real needs. I ask for them because they can't ask for themselves. I know that you'll want to help us make it through these tough times. Thank you for helping us rescue, recover and restore broken lives!

        Sherry Pitney

click here to view past Director's Messages.