Easter at the Mission:
It's all about second chances
Red Door Newsletter - March 2011
Special Easter Issue
EDITOR’S NOTE: People come to The Bowery Mission for all sorts of reasons: for food, for shelter, for addiction counseling. But there’s one thing that almost everyone who comes here is looking for: a second chance. Here is how your gifts are changing the lives of hurting people in New York …
“I can’ t do this without God” - Serigne's story
I learned about God when I was young. I would call on Him when I was in trouble, when I was in jail. But as soon as I had money in my pocket, I’d tell God, “You just wait there, over on the side for a minute.”
I was drinking, partying, smoking marijuana. I lost my friends, my job and my place. I needed help. That’s when I came to The Bowery Mission.
The Mission helped me to realize I can’t do this without God. So now I’ve surrendered my life to Him.
One day, I’d like to help teenagers who are starting to use drugs. They have no idea what they’re getting themselves into.
I want them to see how much God can change their lives. If they just allow God into their lives, they can do great things.
Unemployment means depending on God even more
John is at the Mission because he was laid off after 33 years as an ironworker.
In the good times, John was making upwards of $90 an hour, including benefits. Now he can’t pay for his car insurance, can’t pay for his apartment, can’t support his wife.
“It used to be that if you were out of work, you’d go to the union hall and sit right down,” he explains. “Now the lines are three blocks long. If you want to be at the front of the line, you have to show up at 3 in the morning.”
That’s why John appreciates the Mission so much. He’s able to receive the food, shelter and other vital services that he so desperately needs while he looks for work, like vocational training and placement assistance. Most of all, he’s grateful for the chance at redemption.
“As a Christian,” he says, “God teaches you to take one day at a time.”
Your generosity is giving people like John a second chance at life this Easter. Please give again, and offer hope to those who are struggling mightily right now.
He just wants to be a dad again
Daniel misses his young son.
But ever since a family-court judge granted custody to his wife, Daniel has had no choice but to move forward as best as he can — without little Luiz.
“I see my son every Friday,” Daniel says. “We’ll go to the library, or sometimes to Coffey Park and play on the slides. My wife is there whenever I’m visiting.”
"She thinks I’m going to kidnap him. Where would I take him? I have no money."
A lack of resources and nowhere to live is why Daniel is living at The Bowery Mission Transitional Center. He spends most of his days looking for work with the help of the Mission’s career center ... but when he is alone in his room, he finds himself tightly clutching his son’s toys.
“I’m just glad there are people I can talk to here,” he says.
Easter is all about second chances. And Daniel is grateful for the new start you have given him by supporting the Mission.