This morning a former client named Michael visited with me at the Mission.  He was a client here in 1994.   Michael said this program saved his life.  He had a $3,000 a week drug habit and he didn’t even realize that he was an addict.  His counselor broke it down by how often he was using and how much it cost.  Suddenly it dawned on Michael how much he was spending on drugs.

At that time, there was priest that came to the mission and spoke with the clients.  That year at Christmas, Michael didn’t have money to buy his children any Christmas gifts.  The priest’s son bought Michael’s children their Christmas presents that year.  Michael was overwhelmed with gratitude and asked the man how he could ever re-pay him.   The  man told Michael that when had the means to do so, he should just do the same thing for another family.

Now, Michael has been clean and sober for sixteen years.  Yesterday, Michael came in fulfill that promise he made more than a decade ago.  It so happened that I knew of two families that needed help this Christmas and Michael gave $200 for each family.  What an inspiration!

Over the years, thousands of lives have been dramatically transformed by the Charlotte Rescue  Mission.   It’s wonderful to have a chance to see the impact first hand.

Below is a list of some local coverage of the mission’s annual Thanksgiving dinner:

News 14 – (With Video)

WCNC – (With Video – Embedded below)

WBTV News

Charlotte Observer

The following is a thank you letter from a Rebound client:

I would like to take a few moments to give a warm heart felt thanks to the men and women at the Charlotte Rescue Mission. When I first came to the Charlotte Rescue Mission I was scared, lost, and had no sense of direction. I was in what I like to call a hopeless state. There were many times that I just would have liked to have given up, but each day at class or group there was something said that renewed my strength. In God I found comfort and open-mindedness, which allowed me to hear the messages that the counselor was sharing. I feel privileged and honored to be called an alumnus of the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

When I came through the doors here, I asked God for help to stop drinking and drugging. He answered my prayers and then some. He gave me strength, patience, guidance, and wisdom. He also gave me the best thing an alcoholic and addict could ask for; he gave me the Charlotte Rescue Mission. God bless you all!