OASIS FUNDRAISER 2022 A SUCCESS!

We would like to thank all our faithful donors who made the Oasis Fundraiser a success. $50,000 was raised this year, and all of these funds will go towards supporting the faith-based Hope for Men and Women program.

Tours were a big hit as guests enjoyed experiencing the beautiful new facilities that are now in operation and serving veterans, families, and people experiencing homelessness who have been discharged from the hospital. Reuben, one of our veterans, was gracious enough to allow guests to check out his new apartment in the Hope for Veterans building. Thank you, Reuben. The appetizers were much appreciated by guests as they perused a wonderful silent auction. Thank you, Kerry and Annette, for a great job on the silent auction.

Guests then were seated outside under a big tent where they enjoyed some great barbequed chicken while they listened to our staff talk about their areas of ministry. The highlight of the evening, for me, was the testimonies of individuals who have gone through the Hope for Men and Women program. I am always amazed at how God takes lives that are broken and brings new life, healing, and restoration. That is what the Mission is about, - CHANGED LIVES.

We are extremely grateful for the facilities that God has provided so that we can be about the ministry of bringing in men and women and giving them the hope that only Jesus Christ can give.

Our greatest need at the Mission is to receive your prayers. Pray for our staff as they teach, lead and serve our participants so that God will give them strength as they face challenges. Pray for our participants that God will open their hearts and minds to receive the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray that God will provide all the funding necessary to establish an even stronger program that will turn men, women, and families to Christ. Pray also that, as we take on the challenge of raising funds for Phase II of the Village of Hope Campus, God will provide the funding. The Mission is a blessing to so many people experiencing homelessness, and you are a blessing to this ministry as you pray and as you give! God bless you for your strong support!

Click here to donate to the Mission’s Hope for Men and Women program.

Annual Oasis Fundraising Event, Supports our Hope for Men and Women

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2:00 p.m. at our new Village of Hope Campus
129 W. Cone Avenue
(between martin Luther king jr., and g streets)

Tickets are $25
Contact CEO Dr. Bruce Metcalf (209) 480-3899
COO David Carr (209) 354-0559
Please RSVP by Friday, April 29th

We invite you to join us at our new Village of Hope campus for an afternoon chicken barbeque. Prior to the barbeque, we will welcome you to tour portions of the new facilities and participate in a silent auction as appetizers are served. 

This will be a wonderful opportunity for those who attend to see our new facilities, catch a vision of what is coming in phase two, and hear great news about changed lives in our Hope for Men and Women program.

Our fundraising goal for this annual event is $100,000, which will keep our Hope for Men and Women, faith-based, life transformation program going strong throughout the year. Your donations change lives!

This event will also present opportunities to invest in phase two, the Mission’s Building Hope campaign, which will build the faith-based side of our Village of Hope.

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Appetizers, tours, silent auction

3:00 p.m.
Chicken barbeque
Program
Opportunity to invest in Phase Two, the faith-based side of our Village of Hope campus.

MCRM: Working Together with the Community

Restore Merced
By Matt St. Pierre, Executive Director, Restore Merced

Restore Merced started almost six years ago with the mission of cultivating renewal by strengthening relationships - bearing fruit in restored relationships with God, meaningful work opportunities, vibrant families, and sturdy community networks. We recognize the role of work in underscoring a person’s God-given dignity. We also recognize that those on the margins of society are often disconnected from opportunities to experience meaningful work.

Restore Merced impacts this reality in our community by inviting the people of God, local businesses, and local officials to join intentional efforts that create pathways for the poor and marginalized in Merced into vocational and economic flourishing.

Our theme for 2022 is Firm Foundation. Being deeply rooted in God’s story of renewal, we are harnessing all of our resources towards creating economic stability and a strong community with neighbors experiencing material poverty, past incarceration, and generational trauma. These efforts include increasing our Christ-centered class offerings, creating new opportunities for meaningful work, and developing pathways for personal growth.

We love partnering together with the Rescue Mission as we seek God’s Kingdom in Merced as it is in heaven. Good things happen when the body of Christ joins together - utilizing our collective gifts and strengths to meet the holistic need of our community!

Daniel’s Story

I was addicted to meth and other drugs and had lots of fallouts. The last one almost led me to prison, but I caught a break and ended up in the Merced Rescue Mission. The Mission helped me stay clean and stay off the streets with a family to stand behind me every step of the way. They introduced me to Restore Merced, where I got a job restoring the city streets, as well as myself. They helped me find a way to financially budget with the programs they offer. With the job that kept me from being homeless, I was able to get on my feet and gain my life back with the help of the Merced Rescue Mission and Restore Merced. Now I have a full-time job, a car, and I’m restoring my sanity and peace. I appreciate the love and the family they both have offered me. I am grateful to be part of them both.

We bumped into Dan, one of our recently housed participants. He didn’t expect to be able to get his own apartment or a job because of some poor choices from his past. The Rescue Mission partnered with Restore Merced, who train and hire folks who struggle in this area, and his dream turned into a reality! After hurting his foot, he is waiting to return to work. Dan wanted everyone to know, “God is good!”

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting, Village of Hope Campus

A Message from Dr. Bruce Metcalf,
CEO, Merced County Rescue Mission

I am so excited to invite you to join us for the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of our new Village of Hope campus. This will be a celebration of years of vision casting, hard work, and planning which has culminated in realizing a place where people who have experienced homelessness are receiving hope and care in a loving environment. Come and share both our Grand Opening and our Oasis Fundraising Event with us! Click here for Oasis Event and Oasis Fund Drive details.

Gifts of Love

Thank you to the Rios family for such a thoughtful and generous gift of love on Valentine’s Day. The Rios the family brought gifts for the men and women in our Hope for Men and Women program which included body wash, razors, a devotional, chocolate, and socks.

We were blessed to receive these gifts of love.

Thank you!

Grant Provides Staff Training

By Don Borgwardt, Director, Hope Respite Care

Last year, the Mission was approved for a grant that provided training for eight staff members from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). Through this grant, our staff members went through Peer Support Specialist training.

House Monitors and Service Coordinators serving in the Hope Respite Program benefited from this training in learning to assist our participants in the most professional manner, being taught new skills, and keeping up-to-date on the latest trends in working with participants. All eight staff were awarded Certificates of Completion for their course work.

In Partnership with ACE Overcomers

For over a decade the ACE Overcomers curriculum continues to be a core part of our Hope for Men and Women program. Men and women are finding healing and wholeness as they come to understand their self-worth and develop skills to make their way in a life transformed through Christ.

Teaching ACE Overcomers Building Health Parenting Skills Class

By Gina Thomas, MCRM Director of Senior Meals
& ACE Overcomers facilitator

I went through the ACE Overcomers Building Healthy Life Skills class while in the Hope for Women program. Dave Lockridge jokes all the time about how I was so angry. Who would have thought I would eventually become a facilitator. Over the past 8 weeks, the ladies in our Hope for Women program have been learning how to become nurturing towards their children, and how to guide them with the Lord’s leading, and how to teach them healthy ways to socialize in school, at home, and as they become adults. Through the ACE Overcomers Building Healthy Parenting Skills class, the women learned how to listen to and care for their children in a healthy way. The ladies received certificates which are recognized by the family court. This is a great resource in their journey to family reunification. The smile of accomplishment on their faces when they received their certificates says it all.

Teaching ACE Overcomers

By David Carr, MCRM COO
& ACE Overcomers facilitator

I went through the ACE Overcomers course about 7 years ago. I remember sitting there listening to the man that was instructing the class explained that there was nothing wrong with me, that there had been things in my life that had happened to me. The statement was a huge stepping-stone in my recovery.

Once I completed the class and ended my program, I researched ways to get involved with Dave Lockridge, and ACE Overcomers to become a facilitator. I have now been facilitating groups for participants that were formerly incarcerated teaching the building healthy life skills curriculum. Coming from a lifestyle of being formerly homeless and incarcerated, I can relate and help participants through change.

ACE Overcomers and the Merced County Rescue Mission, A Partnership Made in Heaven

By Dave Lockridge, CEO, ACE Overcomers

Fifteen years ago, I walked into the Merced County Rescue Mission and asked to meet with the CEO, Herb Opalek. Entering into his office, I introduced myself, “Hello Herb, I’m Dave Lockridge, I’m studying the effects of childhood trauma called adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. I’ve developed a curriculum to help men and women overcome the effects of a difficult childhoood. Will you let me teach a class at the Mission?”

Herb looked at me suspiciously (can you say stink eye?) and said, “I don’t know...” I interrupted him, “Herb, you can trust that this program is Biblically sound and scientifically accurate.” “Well, OK. We’ll give you a try,” Herb replied. Over the next ten weeks, I taught the men in a cramped upstairs room under the watchful eye of staff who made sure I wasn’t a heretic.

One day Herb called me into his office and said, “I’ve heard the men talk of how your lessons have helped them. Your class is now required of every man and woman in the Mission.” Since that humble beginning, ACE Overcomers has expanded to serve rescue missions and churches across the U.S., Canada, Scotland, England, Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. The partnership of Merced County Rescue Mission and ACE Overcomes was a match made in heaven.