news

Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission

u e A Ministry of Rescue & Recovery

s c a publication of the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission • Anchorage, Alaska

e
r HOLIDAYS—Are Almost Here!
Please Include The Mission
In Your Holiday Celebration Plans
Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I was writing this same message
to you, asking you to get ready to help us again for the “soon to be here” Holiday Preparations
at the Mission.

By the time you receive this newsletter summer will almost be over, vacations long gone, if
you have kids they will be back in school and you will be settling in for the long cold nights
of winter. But, things begin to pick up and life gets faster as you make plans for the fall and
winter seasons.

Things get faster and more hectic here at the Mission too. It is our busiest time of the year. As
Larry Aldrich the weather gets cooler more people come in, that have been camping out, to occupy the beds
Program Director that we have available. More meals will be served and our clothing room is busy giving out
winter clothing for those that have misplaced their winter warm clothing since last year. Also,
David Williams clothing for kids going back to school—yes we give out many pieces of clothing for those
Learning Center Administrator
returning to school especially coats, sweaters and jackets.
Roger Klein In addition to the regular routine of Mission activities, we prepare special Holiday meals at
Kitchen Manager Thanksgiving and Christmas. These meals are open to all and we invite anyone to come by
and enjoy a traditional holiday meals with us. However, this takes a lot of extra food, time
Randy Hess and preparation – but it is a glorious time! We believe that if you meet the physical needs of
Maintenance Supervisor people first, then it gives you the opportunity to meet spiritual needs. We do this by personal
witnessing and special Chapel services before we serve the meals. Many people have come to
Larry O’Connor know the Lord by the efforts of the Mission staff at this time.
Greg Mann
Scott DuFour We Need You! I am asking you to consider the Mission in your schedule of holiday activities.
Neil Givens We could sure use your help. With so many things going on I am sure there is some way that
Client Supervisors you can get involved. So make helping out at the Mission this year one of your priorities. Our
Volunteer Coordinator’s name and phone number will be listed in the November newsletter so
David McKnight call her and set up a time to volunteer.
Van Driver I am making this early appeal to you so you will make plans to volunteer!
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be

Shane Day
em

Maintenance

6
pt

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up
r move foreword in the face of
t e
n
ce
g
n in d
W character is revealed when he is
r i
ea Dav
l
The Learning Center’s
Hidden Value
The Learning Center
for the men in our “NewLife”
program is a valuable tool
in more ways than one. The
importance of educations
can only be surpassed by the
importance of Jesus in our lives.
Like watching a person grow
spiritually watching them grow
intellectually is a rewarding
experience. You can see a
change in a man’s eyes when
he begins to realize he has the
mental capacity to understand
difficult concepts and new
ideas. This realization can be
life changing because it opens
a world full of possibilities that
was previously closed.
The Learning Center
also acts as a valuable tool
2
for the staff at the Anchorage
Gospel Rescue Mission. There
t e
are very few resources available
da that measures a man’s ability to
s adversity. The Learning Center
iam
ill is one of those tools. A man’s true
called upon to explore difficult
subjects especially those where
the practical applications are
obscure. Once this wall of
difficulty has been approached
one of two reactions typically
takes place. The men either
resist or they persever by facing
the problem and struggling
through it.
“Resistance if futile”,
perhaps you’ve heard this saying
from the popular television
series Star Trek. This especially
holds true for the Mission
Learning Center. To resist is not
an option. Resistance clearly
points to a flaw in a man’s
thought pattern. Once this
thinking error has been revealed
the first step in the process is
to point out the behavior to
the individual. If you can get
through to the person the job of
correcting the thinking error is
not that difficult. However, if
the person involved refuses to
recognize problems even exist
the obstacle can be enormous.
www.anchoragerescue.org
We invite you to visit on the web and we
encourage you to drop us an E-mail with
your comments and suggestions
I will be so bold as to
theorize this tendency to resist
when faced with difficulty can
be directly attributed to most
addiction behaviors. I know
from personal experience
whenever I found myself faced
with a difficult situation, where
I had no viable life skills to deal
with the problems; I inevitably
turned to drugs and alcohol.
The Learning Center
helps us identify this character
flaw. Once pin pointed every
effort is made to alter this
negative behavior. If the program
is successful in redirecting
these thinking errors the person
is more likely to be successful
in their recovery efforts. It is
imperative that a willingness to
work through hard situations be
learned because life is hard.
Learning Center Wish List
• Software
• Computers
• GED Textbooks
• Computer Textbooks
• Compost ion Notebooks
Gift cards to Barnes & Noble or
CompUSA are a great way to donate
textbooks and software.
 have a clue what one looks a way to do work for God’s
like. I often feel this is the kingdom, but wasn’t sure how
dilemma the men in our to go about it, to step forward
te
program are facing. and make a difference in a
da
up h believer’s life. One of the
am r ic The concept of a healthy most rewarding experiences
gr l d relationship is a hard one to you can have is to lead
ro y A
p r grasp if you don’t know what someone into a life changing
a r you’re looking for. This is true relationship with Jesus. This
L
for the seen relationships and involves more than just the
especially so for those unseen alter call this involves hearing
seasons relationships established on a
spiritual level with our Lord
God’s call and responding to
it.
and Savior. This is often
There’s a time and a season for
where a spiritual mentor steps If you feel like God might be
everything. This is not only
in and saves the day. calling you for this position,
true in nature but it also holds
the position of being a spiritual
true in our spiritual walk. I’m
The need for Mentors is mentor, please give me a call
currently in my fifth year as
a constant one. Having and I will be glad to go over
a staff member here at the
someone in the men’s life this in more detail with you.
Anchorage Gospel Rescue
willing to spend time and The men in our program
Mission and this truth has
share their relationship with also need your prayers. It’s
never shown itself so bright.
Christ is invaluable for those common knowledge that the
in the“NewLife” Recovery enemy prowls around, like a
We go thru cycles where men
Program. having an example roaring lion, seeking whom he
enter and leave our program
teaching them how to deal may devour. This is especially
and I’ve noticed each cycle is
with the trials and tribulations true for those who step up to
its own season. The sense I’m
that come their way is an the plate and become active
getting from our current group
important component lacking followers of Jesus Christ.
of men is one of relationship.
in the lives of these men.
There seems to be an earnest
Having someone in their life The effective, fervent prayer
desire to cultivate a deep
that cares enough to let them of a righteous one avails
personal relationship with
know when their thinking gets much.
Jesus Christ. What a wonderful
off track is important. Having James 5:16b (NKJV)
season to be in!
someone around to encourage
and kick things around with is May God bless you richly this
I know from my personal
equally important. day and in the days to come.
experience, having come
from a life of drug and alcohol
I believe we all need If you’re interested in
addiction coupled with the
accountability for we all can becoming a spiritual mentor
burden of being raised in a
get blinded by the enemy. This contact:
dysfunctional family, how
is a golden opportunity for a Larry Aldrich at
difficult it is to achieve this

3
man that has been looking for 563-5603
relationship when you don’t
 ne
w
li
fe
in
t e r vie
w
s

In My O
What circumstance brought you to the Mission?

Substance abuse, deceit, shame, insincerity, wrong decisions, dishonesty, the list goes on and on. After starting over
time and time again after losing everything due to the behaviors just mentioned I needed a change. I was in the
“NewLife” program before but I left before I should have. This was early 2005 I fell flat on my face and began to
drink again. My body rejected the alcohol and I got scared and called the program director at the Anchorage Gospel
Rescue Mission and told him, “I’m broken physically but most of all spiritually”. He said, “come on down”. This
second time around I left the world behind to seek and do God’s will. For the first six months of the program I chose
not to venture outside the Mission with the exceptions of church and meeting with my spiritual mentor. Eight and a
half months of classes in the program has led me to understand the practicality of every thing Jesus said in the Bible.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned while in the “NewLife” recovery program?

Applying every lesson from ability to zeal. Learning not to live the opposite of love.
1. Love God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.
(Matt 22:37,39)
The lord has kept me in my neglectful walk of many years so the most important lesson learned is the long
suffering of God, and
2. Whoever calls on his name will be saved. (Rom 10:13)
3. I have experienced newness, old things are gone! Thank You Jesus! (2 Cor. :17)

What are you long term goals?

Life is a day’s work, do it well, the act is ours the consequences God. Everyday is a short term goal (from glory to glory)
and these days added together show me that God will forgive the most felonious heathens and make him understand fear
of the lord is the start of wisdom and to shun evil is understanding. (Job 28:28.) Pure religion as accepted by God is to look after
orphans, the forgotten, widows in their distresses and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27) Therefore
my long term goals will be opened to me at the end of the program and it will be as a member of the body of Christ Jesus.

4
Own Words!
What circumstance brought you to the Mission?

My life had literally fallen apart at the seems. After a period of drinking ands using drugs I ended up in jail. Upon my release in March of
this year I realized the depth of my despair. My children had been taken away, my wife had left, and I had lost my job. Loneliness and shame
left my very existence in a clouded haze of guilt. I didn’t know what to do I was alone, scared, and homeless. I realized that I had no one to
turn too. No friends or family. Every relationship that I once had was gone. I had burned every bridge I ever crossed. I made a commitment
to myself to stay clean and sober, to do everything I needed to get my family back and to get a job. The harder I tried the more I failed
and the deeper in shame and guilt I felt. I truly believed that had I not reached out to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission my life would
have come to an end. April 28th, 2006 I walked through the doors of the Mission. I was tired, lonely, scared, and broken. My pride had been
replaced with humility. For an instant I was allowed to glimpse the grace of Jesus himself because I was not judged but accepted with open
arms by the “NewLife” program here at the Mission.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned while in the “NewLife” recovery program?

Since walking through the doors of the Mission I have learned so many lessons it is difficult to choose just one. It seems God through the
Holy Spirit reveals something new to me every day. First and foremost the love, grace, and mercy of God through Christ Jesus extend to
even me. I have always know that Christ died for the sins of the world, that all who accepted him and believed in him and his resurrection
would be cleansed from sin and sanctified through his blood, death , and resurrection. That is, everyone but me. I wasn’t included in this
deal I wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t worthy. I couldn’t accept the fact his love could reach even me. But today I know that he meant me also.
Therefore as I walk this winding road of life filled with hills, valleys and sharp turns I no longer do it alone. God loves me so much he allows
his only son to take me by the hand to lead, guide, and direct me in every step I take.

“So today I will just be still and know that he is God.” (Psalm 46:10)

What are you long term goals?

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all else shall be given into thee.” (Matthew 6:33)

As a result of seeking gods will for my life I truly believed he is calling me into the ministry of rescue. To reach out to those men and women
that have fell into the depths of despair just as I was. To show them the love, compassion, grace, and mercy God showed me. To live my life
in a way that reflects these things as a mirror to those that are reaching out to God. My goal is to be the father and husband that would be
pleasing to God. To find employment and be the provider God would have me be. There are already result to what God is doing in my life.
My children will be reunited with me in December, my wife in communicating with me once again, and doors are being opened towards a
new career. Although I am just a baby in Christ he is doing great things in my life. I am reaching my goals through him today I am no longer
the broken, lonely, scared man that walked through the doors of the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission. I am now a man with hope, dreams,
and goals. Thanks to the love grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 The Simplicity
of
sk
de
’s
r s
Salvation
o i
e ct
B ett
r
di on
D
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 Loves 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”.
Man was created to have fellowship with God, but man went his own way and chose sin and fellowship with God
was broken.

Man is Separated From God

“For the wages of sin is death”… Romans 3:23 (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, would 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 take just 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

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Living Memorials The Perfect Gift
...touch lives as they honor the memory of
We live and learn in this old world
loved ones and friends.
And as we older grow.
In Memory of Still more and more we realize,
Evelyn T. Michou It’s so little that we know.
by Linda and Will Butler There’s one thing that we wish we knew,
Judith M. Clingenpeel It’s where and when to speak
And how to say the things we feel
In Memory of To help the poor and weal.
Lawrence and Evelyn Michou
by Will and Linda Butler So many times we want to talk,
But don’t know what to say,
In Memory of To give someone the strength he needs
Eloise Olson To help him on his way.
by Gale and Erma Doggett If God would grant one perfect gift,
To one so small and weak,
In Memory of The thing I’d ask is just to know
Alvin Syren When and where and how to speak.
by A. O. and Evanne Syren
Laina Owen
In Memory of Used with permission
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gizzo
by Michael and Judith Habla

Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission P.OB 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
______ I Will Pray for this Ministry. Make checks payable to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission
You will receive a receipt.

Name:________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________

7
Please send this coupon with your donations.
Our Ministry of Chapel Services for September
u e Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
s c 1 2

re is to First
Presbyterian
Church
Calvery
Baptist
Church

the least 3
God’s
4
Abbot Loop
5
Anchorage
6
Anchorage
7
Reverend
8
Calvary
9
Wasilla
the last Place Community Pilgrim Gospel Ben Church Assembly
Church Nazarene Singers Sherbahn of God
the lost
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
“URGENT” God’s
Place
Church
of God of
First
Assembly of
Change
Point
Alliance
Bible
Sherbahn
Evangelistic
Lighthouse
Christian
Our supplies of these Prophecy God Church Team Fellowship

items is constantly in 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Grace Reverend Anchorage Christian Sherbahn In His Name Southside
need of replenishing Victory Ben Native Evangelical Evangelistic Sandy Church

† Prayer Fellowship Sherbahn Assembly Church Team McCollum of God

24 25 26 27 28 29 30
† Paper Towels New Light Hillside Attorney Chapel Evangelical Reverend Change
† 45 Gallon Trash Bags Community
Church
Baptist
Church
Greg Grebe By The
Sea
Covenant
Church
Ben
Sherbahn
Point

† Fresh Meat
† Coffee Services are held nightly from 7:30 to 8:30
† Bathroom Tissue
† Laundry Soap
† Disposable Shavers STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission is a Non-Profit, Non-Denominational
† Cleaning Supplies
organization. We received NO municipal, state or federal funds. We are not a United
† Liquid Dish Detergent Way Agency. Your financial support and In-Kind donations makes it possible for us to
† Dinner Napkins provide for the poor, needy and homeless people in our community. Also, your donations
† Shampoo allow us to provide a Drug and Alcohol Recovery program. All Donations are fully tax
“URGENT” deductible. We will give you a receipt for your donation.

Anchorage Gospel
Rescue Mission Anchorage Non-Profit Org.

ue
U.S. Postal

Board of Trustees Gospel c PAID

s Anchorage, AK
re
Mission
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Permit # 290

Mark Soquet, President

Bob Collins, Vice President A Ministry of
(and acting treasure) Rescue & Recovery info@anchoragerescue.org
Ed Shelton, Secretary www.anchoragerescue.org
ue
Enoch Adams
Brad Young

Emeritus:
r es
news
c

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

Cliff Hodgins
Rev. Willard leisy RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Advisory Board:
Paul Kelly

Rev. Don Bettis, Exec. Dir.

Charlotte Bettis, Asst. Dir.

MEMBER
Association of Gospel ue
sc Missions
re
An association of Rescue Ministries