Tag: homeless

Leslie’s Story

“I’m a firm believer that God won’t give you more than you can handle,” said Leslie Torix, who resides at the Gospel Rescue Mission.

Torix should know. He tried living with his alcoholic father but that didn’t work out. Then he broke his leg June 18 and the doctor said he probably wouldn’t walk again.

But God had other plans.

“The Lord has already blessed me because I can walk,” Torix said, who believes that it is a work of God. Two months ago he ditched one of his crutches.

While he’s not completely healed he only uses his one crutch about fifty percent of the time.

Torix said he likes it at the mission. “I like it here at the mission because the mission teachers you how to be a better Christian and trains you on how to get a job.” Torix accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 24 and is now 38.

Let God use you to help others this year. Consider a 3 year pledge to GRM or a one time donation. Either way God will use your generosity to change lives.

Bobby’s Story

Bobby McGowen originally came back to Muskogee to be with his daughter and realized that the family situation was not good for him.

“I was at the point of time where I was ready to get back on drugs and really mess myself up,” he said. He said he heard about the Gospel Rescue Mission and decided to check it out. He did so by going to lunch and dinner for about two weeks.

“I decided to give it all over and check in and get the help I needed,” McGowen said. The people at the mission welcomed him with open arms and showed him that they actually wanted to help him be his best, he said.

“They got me to open my mind up and that being on drugs is not an option and coming back to God is where I needed to be spiritually,” he said. The mission helped McGowen make plans, keep his mind open to what’s wrong and what’s bad and what he needed to stay away from.

McGowen said that he has two options — the first is to stay at the mission and become a staff member. The second is to stay there long enough to make a difference then get a job and leave.

“The people at the mission have given me opportunities to realize I’m not a bad person — that I have good in myself and am not always a bad person,” he said.

McGowen said he recommended the Gospel Rescue Mission because they have “an awesome staff” and are there to help people and not look down on them. “They want what’s best for you to better yourself, if you’re willing.”

He said that for those don’t want to reside at the mission, “they can always get breakfast, lunch and dinner for free.” While there, McGowen recommends to talk to the mission staff and find out what they can do for you.

“It’s all about choices.”

Help others like Bobby learn to make better choices that will enable them to make life giving choices. Consider a 3 year pledge to GRM. Click on the button to choose life!

Camille’s Story

Camille Sciscoe arrived at the Gospel Rescue Mission after a series of incidents that led her to near homelessness.

In 2013 she was divorced and moved back to Illinois to live with her Mother who died in 2014. In July she had a nervous breakdown due to family issues, which caused her to arrive in Muskogee to live with her best friend who kicked her out in November.

Her case manager at Green Country Behavioral Health referred her to the Gospel Rescue Mission.

“In November I walked into the Gospel Rescue Mission feeling as low as a person could feel, scared and bawling my eyes out,” Sciscoe said.

Other women residing at the mission welcomed her with open arms. “They consoled me and told me that they’ve all been where I was and that I was really in a good place.”

The night she arrived at the mission was mandatory chapel night. “I hadn’t been in church since 2014. Watching my mother die really shook my faith in God and I kind of got mad at Him,” Sciscoe said.

During chapel services she felt really guilty and that God was really dealing with her. “A conviction came over me and I knew I had to find a church.” She ended up attending Celebrate Recovery.

By attending meetings at the mission and Celebrate Recovery she has learned to deal with her ex-husband’s emotional abuse.

“For the first time in a long time I have a family — a Gospel Rescue Mission family,” Sciscoe said. “I don’t have a mom, dad and my aunt’s are all gone.”

After losing her family of origin, the thought of losing her new family is something she doesn’t want to think about.

When you support the Gospel Rescue Mission you are giving men and women a hand up!

Sheena’s Story

Sheena wanted to feel loved and fantasized about living as a fairy tale princess; but it seemed like she was always looking for love in all the wrong places. On a regular basis her romance movie would turn into a horror film. Her prince charming would suddenly become the beast. Abusive relationships left her feeling abandoned and worthless.

With seven children, no home, no family support left, and feeling like a failure Sheena arrived at the Gospel Rescue Mission planning on staying just long enough to come up with a plan. However, she discovered a Savior who felt that she was highly valued, who saw her as a princess. It was not long before this hardened angry woman transformed into a compassionate and loving mother and part of the GRM family.

Today Sheena is determined to never be in a position like this again. She is rekindling dreams of being a nurse. She loves the idea or encouraging people and share in their stories. Sheena is grateful for the opportunities to learn and grow. She is fully engaged in our GRITU courses where she is learning valuable life skills, self esteem and confidence. Sheena routinely attends a local church where she has made new friends.

“This stay at GRM is helping me keep my family together. If we did not come here my kids would have been taken from me and I would have felt even more like a failure.”

Sheena is living life as a new creation because of supporters like you.

Life can be an especially difficult time for our neighbors (approximately 22% of whom are living below the poverty line.) Whether they’re sleeping in the streets, or living in places not really meant to be home, many people in our community feel helpless and alone.

Erin’s Story

Erin has been her worst critic. As she replays her life in her head she wishes that she could wind things back and make a whole new series of choices. Her worst regret was the day that she was snooping around and found a credit card that belonged to her parents. She used that card to buy a whole litany of useless stuff.

When the bill arrived and the theft was discovered, Erin, received her first wake up call. Her parents showed her tough love and showed her the door. It broke their heart. Erin was scared, lonely and lost. Worst of all she no longer knew who she was. Erin never saw herself as a thief, but the facts were too stubborn to deny otherwise.

Erin’s life became dark. For a short season she contemplated suicide. However, she heard about Gospel Rescue Mission and moved toward that light. There she was challenged to better herself and encouraged to discover a deeper walk with Jesus.

One of the pillars of life change at GRM is that our identity is found in Christ. This was the first and most life changing lesson that Erin took to heart. It was in this lesson that she learned that she is a child of the King. Regardless of her past behaviors and choices, she was nobility. Erin decided to live life in this new identity.

In addition to community meetings where basic life lessons are taught, Erin routinely attends chapel services at the mission and church in the community. She has worked through three levels of life skills through GRM’s GRITU and is applying the life lessons she is learning daily. Erin is learning the joy of service and giving back to the community.

Today, Erin is working to regain the trust of her parents. She knows that this will take time but she is steadfast enough not to give up that quest. Everyday Erin is working to rebuild life from the ruins. She is learning how to be a good mother and is excited about her future.