Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission

u e A Ministry of
september
2009

s c Rescue & Discipleship

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a publication of the

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Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission • Anchorage, Alaska

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65
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19 Why Should You Care For—
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es

The Least, The Last, The Lost—

B E C A U S E,
The Bible tells us, “The poor shall never
cease out of the land”, Deuteronomy 15:11
Larry Aldrich
Operations Manager The last, the least and the lost is very descriptive of the homeless. When I read Deuteronomy
David Williams 15:11 and Mark 14:7, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye
Program Director may do them good….”. I believe God is telling us to help provide for the less fortunate. I
know that we will always have the poor, needy and homeless people with us. There have been
Randy Hess plans by many cities, including Anchorage, to end homelessness and have even set a time
Maintenance Supervisor
frame. However, I have been dealing with this problem for many years and I do not see any
Larry O’Connor mass movement to end homelessness and there never will be. It seems like there is no end to
Roger Klein homelessness. Usually by this time of the year we can see a noticeable reduction in the number
Client Supervisor of people coming to us for help. But again this year we are seeing more people continuing to
come to us for help. We can only accommodate a few of these people with shelter (because
David McKnight one of our dorms has been closed by the city) but the numbers of people coming for meals
Van Driver
and clothing has been on the increase. I do not believe Anchorage has felt the effect of the
Solomona Talivaa recession yet but when it hits more and more people are going to be looking for help!
Maintenance

There are many reasons why a person may become homeless. In the minds of most people
Denny Leffler though, drugs and alcohol are the main reason. I will agree that they play a big part
Bill McCormick and may be the end results of why a person becomes homeless. But there are many other
Anthony Boone reasons—mental illness, divorce and the break-up of a home are other reasons. However,
Cado Spates one of the big reasons for a person being homeless in our city is unemployment. Most of the
Thomas Nolcini people that come to the Mission would work if they could find a job. When a person loses
Phase 5 Disciples
their job, their source of income, then gradually everything they own—they may turn to drugs
and alcohol. They think they can find some relief from their problems by taking this outlet
only to find out they have created a greater problem. Finally, when all is lost, they may come
to us for help. But, we are limited as to what we can do because of lack of space!

Those that do come to us (and can get in) and have a sincere desire for help—can find it here.
You see, we believe a person’s real help comes from GOD. With Jesus in their life and the
Holy Spirit to give them the help, guidance and comfort they need a person can look beyond
their present circumstances and see the Lord can help them reach their goals and achievements
in their life. They do not need the drugs and alcohol for a crutch. But now they have Jesus to
lean on and He will help them to get where they want to be – recovered and serving. Please
pray for the Mission and Staff that God will open the way for us to aid more of the people that
come to us for help.

or
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s he speaks his native language, for he is
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D I had a spiritual awaking while watching the Food
The Right Thing!
When was the last time you came home and complained
about not getting a traffic ticket? Try to recall the time
when you received your paycheck and then tried to get
out of taking it by saying, “It’s not my fault I had to
work in order to support my family.” How many of
us have become victims because we didn’t stop at the
liquor store and spend our last few dollars on alcohol?
Why am I so willing to accept the consequences
of my positive action yet at the same time resist the
consequences of my negative actions? It seems to
me this character flaw makes me a hypocrite. My
willingness to accept consequences equally defines who
I am as a person. As a Christian I have a fundamental
responsibility to the body of Christ to not only be a
good steward of choice but to also be willing to accept
the consequences regardless of the classification good
or bad.
I have a dear friend who has had a really difficult year.
He made some really bad choices and as we all know
there are consequences. Like me his instinct is to make
excuses rather than practice acceptance. It’s easy for
me to blame others for my circumstance because it
allows me to believe my pain is not self inflicted. If I
can somehow make it their fault I can then focus my
anger and hate in their direction rather than my own.
They become my safety net. After all isn’t that what
Satan loves for us to do? Beat ourselves up! It’s painful
therefore we attempt to avoid it at all cost. The irony
is; the more I struggle to break free of Satan’s will, the
more I take on his nature by lying to myself
and blaming others for my circumstances.
2 me trusting Christ and that is the Right Thing.
44
You belong to your father, the devil,
and you want to carry out your father’s
desire. He was a murderer from the
beginning, not holding to the truth, for
there is no truth in him. When he lies,
a liar and the father of lies
John 8:44
Network. A mother of four girls was competing for her
own T.V. show and one of the challenges included her
telling why she felt this would be right for her. She told
about how she had climbed the corporate ladder and
how it had filled her mind yet had left her soul empty.
Then she turned to her passion, food. She told about
how she was no longer afraid to try new things because
if she failed at least she was failing at the right thing.
My passion is Christ but I’ve always been afraid to fail.
This fear of failure has been a barrier in my relationship
with Him. Thanks to the voice of a mother of four who
I will never meet I can now deconstruct the barriers
before me and get a better understanding of who Christ
is. Even when I fail it no longer matters. For I now
know I’m failing at the right thing. This knowledge
gives me the freedom to stand back up and try again
without wasting time playing the blame game.
This begins by acceptance. I told my friend it was his
decision to travel the road of destruction therefore he
could not blame others for his circumstances. Like I’m
wont to do, he began playing word games by asking
me if it was the road to destruction or just a bump in
the road. I didn’t respond because he was missing the
point while looking for a way out. The truth is he was
on the road to destruction. Just because that road did
not, “PRAISE BE TO GOD”, end in total annihilation
doesn’t mean he wasn’t on the road. After all I don’t
have to go all the way to Seward to have been on the
Seward highway. This attitude illustrates our propensity
to avoid the real issues and that is, the consequences of
our choices are ours and ours alone!
We are choice driven. Once I’ve made a bad decision
I have a new set of choices to make. They are: beat
myself up for my mistakes, blame others for my actions,
or accept the consequences of my decisions. Beating
myself up or blaming others is me failing at the wrong
thing. Accepting the consequences of my decisions is

Living Memorials
….touch lives as they honor the memory
of loved ones and friends.
In Memory of
Enoch Adams
by Phillis J. Matheny
In Memory of
Frank, Esperanza and Ernest Casas
by Martha Cashen
In Memory of
Mickey Robert Dinsmore II
by John and Donna Poff
In Memory of
Lucille Gilmore
by Bill and Pat Peissig
In Memory of
Arnie Howard
by Cynthia Howard
In Memory of
Mike Howerton
by Carol Howerton
In Honor of
Paul John Halligan
by Ellen Halligan
(Sister of Paul Halligan)
Because There Is—God
We will always have another dawn
When morning ends the night.
We will always know this world is ours
Will somehow turn out right.
A peace will strangely fill our hearts
When weary work is done,
And though the storm is long and rough,
A bright new day will come.
Because there is GOD, I am sure
We will always have a smile.
And somehow we will find a way
To make each day worthwhile.
A friend will bring us endless joy
And love will live through all,
We will have a Winter wonderland
Where snowflakes softly fall.
I do not know why days are sad,
Why life must bring a care.
I only know that God above
Is ever watching there.
And sometimes though my heart can not smile,
Though dark the road I trod,
I always find my way at last
Because God is there.
Enoch Adams
At Home with the Lord
Enoch went home to be the Lord on July 22, 2009. He was
a beloved husband, father and friend. It seemed to me that
his ultimate goal in life, after God and family, was to serve
those that were in need or to help them in some way with the
skills that God had given him. But most of all he was a fine
Christian man.
He was a mild mannered man, kind-a quiet, but always
ready to help or have some input into a problem we may
have had here at the Mission. He had served on the Board
of Trustees for 35-1/2 years so he was well acquainted with
the problems that can arise at the Mission. I remember after
the last Board meeting he was able to attend that he said, “if
there is anything I can do just let me know.”
Enoch was selected to serve on the Board during some very
difficult times at the Mission. The Mission was just getting
started good and faced situations with finances, staffing and
trying to maintain a very old building. He was very active in
helping the Mission make the transition from the downtown
location to the location we now occupy on Tudor road.
Yes, he is gone from our presence now. He will be missed,
but not forgotten.
A Blessed Promise
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we
which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4:15-18.
3
 te
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Resu
I did not adjust very well. I did not like my new home. I
did not like the kids in my new neighborhood. I became
Trust
st ha
has always been a big issue oof mine. That and
has very angry and upset. I went from a popular kid, full of
doubt. I guess it started at a very young age for me. fun, to a lost kid fully depressed. All I could think about
I was born in Pender, Nebraska, and raised in Dakota was how to get it all back. My friend’s and my family,
City, Nebraska (pop 1200). The small town was home the life I loved. The way it was. It was never going to
to the biggest Beef Packer in the United States, IBP. happen.
This is where my mother and father earned a living, as
did most of the small town. Union made, and close nit,
the small town was rough and full of trouble.

My childhood was a happy one. I had my cousin Bruce

to play with, and my sister Penny to pick on, and we
were all close. I had a very nice baby sitter who made
the best half dollar sized pancakes in the world (I once
ate around 35 of them, outdoing my cousin. A memory
I am for some strange reason, very proud of).There was
baseball, football, fishing, boy scouts, and church. I
was a pretty confident outgoing kid. But it began to fall
apart, at about the age of seven.

One day at school, my cousin Bruce took me aside on

the playground. He had bad news to give me. He was
moving. His mom and dad had decided to split from
each other. He would be moving back to Central South
Dakota, 220 miles away to where our family has its
roots. My best friend was leaving me.
It was not long after this, that the same tragedy hit
my own immediate family. I remember being parked
on the floor in front of the television set watching a
show about UFO’s one evening (strange I remember
that show being on), and my mother asking me to come
to my sister’s room. Getting up I walked to her room.
My sister was crying, and my mother tells me that she,
and my father, are splitting. We will be moving to the
neighboring town. Looking back, I believe my identity,
and all that was me, was lost in that moment. My
mom, my sister, and I moved to South Sioux
City.
I began to destroy things, toys, friendships, family, and
myself. I use to participate in school. I loved gym class,
school plays, and other activities. Now, my attitude
was, why bother? From the age of thirteen to seventeen
I lived with my father. I pretty much did what I wanted.
Dad set some rules, but rules were meant to be broken.
I just did what I wanted. I thought, “Nobody cares
anyway!”I moved back in with my mom when I was
seventeen. She had her hands full to say the least. I was
drinking heavy along with everything else.
I graduated high school. Don’t ask me how. The
negative, hateful attitude followed me through my
military career, and beyond. It was the snowball affect.
Every year my attitude grew darker. I never really got
over anything, or ever learned to let things go. It all just
festered, and I always wanted revenge, or a way out! I
married twice looking for happiness. I divorced twice

4 finding sadness. No surprise. I had no God. I had no

rrected!
love. I felt I had nothing to offer. My failed marriages Today, I am doing just that. My life and my attitude is
left me completely lost. “What is it going to take to being completely transformed. I am not perfect. I make
make me happy?” my mistakes. But, I have conviction now. I confess, and
we move on. We move forward and improve. With the
The only answer I could come up with on my own was help of Jesus Christ and the staff here at the Anchorage
alcohol, drugs, and sex. But these medicines had bad Gospel Rescue Mission, I now have a life I am happy
side effects. They were temporary, and left me feeling to be living.
depressed and empty. I was dead. Alive physically, but,
inside I was dead. I just kept digging a deeper grave to If you are reading this and you have not opened your
lay in. heart to Jesus, please do. Do not wait. He will give
you life. He will restore all that you have lost. He will
My choices led me from a small Midwest town to the heal your pain. He will guide and direct you, and never
streets of Anchorage, Alaska. Cold, Hungry, tired, forsake you.
hopeless, and homeless. I had just finished a 15 month
prison stretch, and the one thing I was sure of was, I do I was hopeless, and I now have hope. I was worthless,
not want to go back to prison, and I do not want to go and I now have a life of value, and with purpose.
back to the streets. What do I do? “Give me an answer!”
I have been resurrected!
Someone was listening. My mother, and my older sister
Penny, asked if I would consider joining the “NewLife” So, I end this testimony with a passage out of Psalm 30.
program here at the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission.
I would be safe there they told me. So I called the “I will extol you, O Lord, for you have lifted
Mission and made an appointment for the next day. me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over
In the morning I entered the office of David Williams, me. O Lord my god I cried out to you and you
Program Director for the “NewLife” Discipleship healed me. O Lord, You brought me out the
Training Program. He welcomed me with a smile. He grave; you have kept me alive, that I should
spoke of Jesus, and that before me right now, was an not go down to the pit.”
opportunity. An offer that if I choose to accept, will for
certain change my life. I joined. God Bless you all.
Kelly
I settled in upstairs and opened a bible to 2 Corinthians
chapter 6, verse 2. I was stunned at what I read. “In
an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day
of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the
accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” How could
this be? The timing was incredible! This is exactly what
I needed to hear! I was convinced, there is a God! He
knows me! I decided right then and there, I am ready
to accept Jesus Christ into my life. I choose to believe.
I will fallow him and do the best I can to keep his
commandments.
5
 k Back to the Good Ole’ Days of
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Heart-felt Gospel Music
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I have not had much response from you the last few months concerning the old Hymns of Faith. Perhaps you have
been busy or away for the summer. I am going to give you 2 this month. If I do not receive much response from
these I will drop this portion of the newsletter for a while. All I want you to say is that it was a favorite of yours or
that you remember it. I love the old hymns.

A Child of The King When We See Christ

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.
I once was an out-cast, stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my names written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Tho’ exiled from home, yet still I may sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
Chorus:
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King!
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King!
There have been several version of this old hymn, but
see if you remember this one.
Oft times the day seems long, our trials so hard To
bear: we’re tempted to complain, to murmur
And despair; But Christ shall soon appear to Catch His
bride away, all tears forever over
In God’s eternal day.
Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a
Ray of light; We’re tossed and driven on,
No human help in sight; but there is
One heav’n Who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem,
Just go to Him in pray’r.
Life’s day will soon be o’er,
All storms forever past; We’ll cross
The great divide to glory safe at last;
We’ll share the joys of heav’n,
A harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burden down.
Chorus:
It will be worth it all,
When we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small,
When we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race
Till we see Christ.

6
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Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission P.O. 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  M/C  Am/Ex  Discover 
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: ______________________________________________
Please send this coupon with your donations.

Goodbye Dear Friend

The Mission has lost its longest sitting Board Member.
Enoch went home to be with the Lord on July 22nd,
2009. He served on the Board at the Mission for 35 1/2
years. He loved the Lord and he showed it by caring for
those who were lost in this big world. Enoch made the
world a little smaller by embracing those around him
and surrounding them in the protective shelter of his
love.

7
 Our Ministry of Non-Profit Org.
Anchorage
age
u e u e U.S. Postal

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PAID
Anchorage, AK
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Mission
ission GOD BLESS AMERICA
Permit # 290

the least
the last
A Ministry
Ministry of
the lost Rescue & Recovery info@anchoragerescue.org
www.anchoragerescue.org
ue
“urgent”
Our supplies of these
items is constantly in
r es
news
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P.O. Box 230510•Anchorage, AK•99523-0510•(907) 563-5603

need of replenishing return service requested
† Prayer
† Paper Towels
† 45 Gallon Trash Bags
† Fresh Meat
† Coffee
† Bathroom Tissue
† Laundry Soap
† Disposable Shavers
† Cleaning Supplies
† Liquid Dish Detergent
† Dinner Napkins
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“urgent”

Anchorage Gospel STATEMENT OF FAITH

Rescue Mission The Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission is a Non-Profit, Non-Denominational
Board of Trustees organization. We receive NO municipal, state or federal funds. We are not a United
Way Agency. Your financial support and In-Kind donations makes it possible for us to
Ed Shelton provide for the poor, needy and homeless people in our community. Also, your donations
(President) allow us to provide a Drug and Alcohol Recovery program. All Donations are fully tax
Bob Collins deductible. We will give you a receipt for your donation.
( Vice President/treasure)
Enoch Adams
(Secretary)
Chapel Services for September
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Mark Soquet
Ralph Nobrega 1 2 3 4 5
Anchorage Anchorage Anchorage First Calvary
Rev. Bob Sloan Pilgrim Gospel Vineyard Presbyterian Baptist
Nazarene Singers Fellowship Church Church
Emeritus:
Cliff Hodgins 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Rev. Willard Leisy God’s Abbott Loop First Anchorage Christ Calvary Wasilla
Place Community Assembly of Church Community Church Assembly
Advisory Board: Church God of Christ Church of God
Paul Kelly 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
God’s Church Anchorage Christian Sherbahn Sherbahn Lighthouse
Rev. Don Bettis, Exec. Dir. Place of God of Native Evangelical Evangelistic Evangelistic Christian
Prophecy Assembly Church Team Team Fellowship
Charlotte Bettis, Asst. Dir.
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Grace Sherbahn Attorney Calvary Evangelical In His Name Glenn
i o n of
ia t Victory
Fellowship
Evangelistic
Team
Greg Grebe Baptist Covenant
Church
Sandy
McCollum
Hermann
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Go
A sso

27 28 29 30
s pel

New Light Calvary Grace Change

Member Community Baptist Brethren Point
Church Eagle River
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