Coach Mike, who teaches at the Hope for Men program took the men to see the movie, “Jesus Revolution.”
On Thursday, March 14th, the Mission celebrated accomplishments by the men and women in our Hope for Men and Women program. Many certificates of achievement were awarded and two of the women graduated from the Hope for Women program. Congrats to all!! You have chosen to let God transform your life.
In March 2022, Phase I of the Village of Hope campus opened for operation. During the first week, men and women recovering from hospitalization were moved from Respite Care houses into the beautiful new 32-bed Respite Care facility. Also, within the first week, all ten of the new apartments for veterans were filled with men and women who have served our country. By the end of the first two weeks, the ten apartments for homeless families with young children were filled. In preparation for this Village of Hope campus opening, additional staff had been hired to provide administration, service coordination, care for participants, kitchen coordination, meal planning, and cooking, as well as maintenance and grounds personnel.
The Village of Hope is forever grateful to the many individuals and organizations who so generously contributed to providing furnishings. Your selfless giving turned empty buildings into warm and friendly living environments for everyone staying at the Village of Hope.
Once pictures were hung, the furniture was in place, and staff had settled into a smooth routine, our Village of Hope Grand Opening was celebrated on April 22. The Board of Directors of the Merced County Rescue Mission welcomed Carolyn Ahlem (Bill and Carolyn Ahlem provided seed money for the purchase of land) and Cori Lucero (who represented the Central Valley Opportunity Fund). The Ahlems and the CVOF provided the funding which made it possible to purchase the five-acre property for our campus. The board also welcomed Stephanie Sonnenshine (C.E.O. Central California Alliance for Health), and Richard Moreland (Interim President of Dignity Health). Both organizations funded the building of the Respite Care facility. Matt Serrato (Mayor of Merced), together with Lloyd Pareiria (Merced County Supervisor) represented the City and County of Merced at this event. Many other dignitaries and friends of the Mission came to celebrate this wonderful achievement that will continue to be an asset to our whole community for many years to come.
During the first year of operation, several donations were made to the Village of Hope Campus as it got up and running. A donation was received from Jason West in memory of his father, William Scott West, Jr., Chief Gunners Mate USCG, to help purchase and install a playground for the benefit of the children living in our Hope for Families building. First Five (an organization that provides services that promote child health and wellness) also made a generous contribution towards the playground. Home Depot donated gazebos which will soon be installed. They will provide shade for the participants in all the campus programs so they can enjoy the outdoors with protection from the sun. Donations of food for the campus arrive weekly which helps to supplement the meals at Respite Care. Food donations are shared regularly with our families and veterans. Veterans can frequently be found joining residents in our Respite Care facility for meals in the dining room.
On September first, the Sobering Center opened its doors in the Respite Care facility. This new program offers a place for men and women who are brought by Law Enforcement to sober up following public intoxication. This new program is funded by Cal AIM through Central California Alliance for Health and provides all branches of law enforcement with a more cost-effective alternative to taking a person to the emergency room at the hospital or booking a person in jail.
This first year is only the beginning of a vision that is much larger. As funds are raised, Phase II will become a reality where new facilities will house our Hope for Men and Women’s program of life transformation. God’s work through the Mission is marching on, and, as you pray and make donations, you are an important part of this vision. Thank you for being a part of the Village of Hope.
Following their years of service in Alaska as missionaries, Tom and Letitia Miller moved to Merced. They brought with them their heartfelt desire to help people. They saw the need around them and took the little they had to reach out and make a difference. Their act of faith reminds me of the young boy who offered up his lunch of five small loaves and two fish and gave them to Jesus. Jesus took that young boy’s lunch, prayed over it, and distributed it out to the men, women, and children on the hillside, and over 5,000 people were fed. When everyone had finished eating, Jesus’ disciples picked up 12 baskets of food that were left over. From these humble beginnings, rooted in faith, the Mission has grown into a flourishing tree with branches that represent the Mission’s eight programs designed to meet people where they are.
The tree provides a visual image of the growth of the Mission. Each branch depicts one of our programs and its development. It is important that the Mission works in coordination as one tree, with each branch (or program) playing a distinct role in helping people and providing hope.
In keeping with Tom and Letitia Miller’s heartfelt desire to help people, the Mission continues to reach out to provide hope to people in need.
Click here to visit our programs page and learn more.
Total Enrollment: 217 (14 are families)
Nights of Shelter: 10,189
Meals Served: 29,275
Commitments to Christ: 5
Independently Housed: 19
Click here to visit our programs page.
Thank you for supporting the Mission. Together we are changing lives in the name of Jesus Christ.
Click here to donate today. Choose your gift designation at the time of your donation.
I was excited and extremely grateful when I received information regarding a donation to the Rescue Mission from a couple that had included the Mission in their estate plan. Legacy gifts help make possible the continuation of the Rescue Mission’s vision of HOPE into the future. Our current goal is to expand the Hope for Men and Women program by making the Village of Hope - Phase II a reality. Legacy gifts are an important part of achieving this goal as we strive to lovingly provide hope and encouragement in life transformation through Christ.
As my wife and I have worked on our own estate plan, we have considered our own children and grandchildren and how we can bless them. We have also considered our church and the ministries that are dear to our hearts, including the Rescue Mission. A legacy gift gives us a way to help ministries we have supported further realize the possibilities that God has given them to help others in need.
Many of you reading this have been strong supporters of the Merced Rescue Mission and the work God has given us to do as we reach the least, the lost, and the last in our society. The Mission has had the privilege of loving people who have found themselves powerless and without hope. We’ve witnessed many people whose lives have been transformed and who have become productive members of our community. But not only that — they are joyful change agents who are engaged in helping others who are in the process of coming to know Jesus and turning their lives around.
And who is the Mission? YOU are the Mission! Through your prayers and your giving, you are the ones helping to transform lives through the power of Jesus Christ!
The Mission looks forward to many of you considering a legacy gift by including the Mission in your estate plan. Thank you so much to everyone for your ongoing generosity and love for God’s work!
Dr. Bruce Metcalf, Executive Director
During the recent flooding in Merced County, the Mission worked with the County to provide housing. We filled the classroom at the Navigation Center with cots, put people on sofas at our Bridging Houses, and filled all our available beds. We are presently operating beyond our capacity to meet this crisis. Our hearts ache for all those whose homes were flooded throughout the area. We want to be part of the process of healing and provide what is needed to help those who are suffering.
The Merced Rescue Mission with help from men in our Hope for Men program took clothing, hygiene items, and sanitizer to Planada to help flood victims.
328,500/year 2022
196,450/year 2021
160,000/year 2020
109,500/year 2022
79,200/year 2021
68,027/year 2020
300 men and women currently in our programs. Please pray for more changed lives!
A message from CEO, Dr. Bruce Metcalf
God has done amazing work among us, and we are excited to share some numbers with you that proclaim the great things that He has done!
In 2016, just 7 years ago, the Mission was in a 100-year-old three-story building on Canal Street. When the building was condemned, the Mission found itself homeless. Can you imagine a homeless Rescue Mission? Where would we go? What would we do? Thankfully, Christian Life Center took us in, and Pastor Caesar, who was Youth Pastor at the time, gave up his youth room so 20 men could sleep on mattresses on the floor.
The Mission, not knowing what else to do, started renting houses for our programs. The ministry expanded and more houses were rented. In 2021 a 75-bed Navigation Center for people coming from the street was opened. Phase I of the new Village of Hope campus was built and opened in 2022 to take in families with young children, veterans, and people coming from the hospital to recuperate. During the last 7 years, our facilities have tremendously expanded and our programs have grown from 30 people to over 300. Wow! Consider what God is doing among us. The numbers give you a glimpse of what is happening! Thanks for your caring, your prayers, and your giving!
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE — The Mission is receiving gifts and contributions to complete our Village of Hope Campus -- Phase II. The impact when completed will be to provide more space and more opportunities to transform lives. Currently, the Mission has an ongoing waiting list for entering our Hope for Men and Women program. Unfortunately, people who are ready and waiting to enter the program, but are put on a waiting list, often fall back into old habits and relapse while they wait. Expanding our facilities will help the Mission reduce this waiting list. In addition, it will be possible for women with children to participate in the Hope for Women program, A place for homeless pregnant women will also be created. Completing our Village of Hope Campus -- Phase II will meet all these needs.
Your help is needed. Every gift, no matter what the size, is important and will help save lives!
