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Tag: homeless
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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!
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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!
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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.
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