For women who are ready to
choose a new path in life, a life lived for Christ, a
5-phase program is ready to help them. The recovery
program is for women who have made unwise decision, leading
life down rough paths. When they are ready, Panama
City Rescue Mission provides a supportive environment
where students grow in integrity, responsibility, and
commitment.
Bethel Village house includes
dorms for 16 ladies. There are also 5 beds in the "Crossroads"
dorms for women
in transition (last phase of the recovery program) and a
dorm for live-in 1 house supervisor. The
program is task-oriented, rather than time-oriented.
So each lady will complete the program at different paces,
often though, it will take nearly a year.
Plans are being made to build
onto the campus. We have just been awarded a
$275,000 grant to build a two-story home onto the campus,
total funds raised has been $400,000. The new building will house our recovery
program students. We will also build a new
administrative office building for Bethel Village and a family transitional
housing unit.
This expansion will increase our capacity
and allow us to move the women and family emergency shelter
from the main Mission campus downtown to Bethel Village.
We will hold a ground breaking ceremony TBA. For more information, contact
Rev. Billy
Fox at 769-0783.
Our
development order for the expansion had been rejected in
2010 by the City of Springfield. After months of appeals,
in a 5-page letter, Judge Overstreet issued a ruling that
the denial was unlawful because the City had failed to
preset any substantial evidence. Now, the City of
Springfield has been ordered to grant another hearing of the
case or the issuance of the development order.
Cindy is one of the Panama City Rescue Mission's prized employees... and former students.
Cindy had no place to turn. After 38 years of drug addiction, she finally hit rock bottom and found herself in jail and detox.
By God's grace, Cindy became a student at Bethel Village. Her life has been changed ever since. After accepting Christ and completing the program, Cindy is now working full time as Volunteer Coordinator here at the Panama City Rescue Mission, where she continues to be a light for others.
There are many women in Bay County like Cindy. Shelter, food, and an encouraging word could turn their life around. You can invest in your
community by reaching out to these men and women with
meals, shelter and other vital care.Become a monthly donor, or invest in a student in recovery. Without the support of friends like you, these "least, last, and lost" would have no hope.
Jodi
begins a new life as a daughter of God and a mother to her son
"I always knew there had to be something more to life.Now I know it is God.He lifted me out of a trash heap and gave a new meaning of life to me. I know He loves me and I am not junk. I only pray that I will be a light to others."
About
two months before I came to Panama City, I began to cry out to
God for help. My life was a mess. I really let my children
down. I felt like I failed at everything. My son Mason would
come into my room and pray with me. God was working through my
little boy. We did this every day until I got the courage to
call my parents and ask them to help me by keeping my son so I
could get some help.
Since
I’ve come to Bethel Village I’ve rededicated my life to
Christ. God has begun a healing process in me that he knew I
needed so desperately. I needed to know who Jesus was to me
personally and he came right on time. I was willing to lay my
past down at his feet and surrender. I asked God to change me,
my heart and my way of thinking not my circumstances.
Through
his blood I found forgiveness and was able to let go of all the
guilt and shame I held on to for so long. God began to cleanse me
and renew my mind through his word and with the power of the Holy
Spirit. Thus began a regeneration process in me that that only he
can do. He has been my personal restorer, my healer, my friend, my
anchor. I feel so grounded in his love for me. I needed this to
truly be able to call him my Savior. He has shown me his heart by
placing loving women in my life. Ms. Cathy her strength and
dedication to us as if we were her own girls. Ms. Betty, with her
infectious personality and song in her heart, spoke life into me.
Ms. Gail, with her faithfulness and humor, encouraged me.Ms. Gerri’s compassion made me feel loved and accepted.. My
mentor and friend, Emily, inspired me to be better. Ms Robin’s
love and commitment to us, makes us want to be better women. And my
mother, who always has shown me unconditional love and good values,
is my role model. I believe the PCRM is offering life to those who
are willing to step out in faith and try Jesus. He’s so good and
faithful. He shows me everyday by giving me a “word” for my life
as I seek to know him deeper. I grow more to love him everyday. My
prayer is this that there will be less of me and more of him as I
seek after his heart. I want to share it with you!
Jennifer was
angry and selfish...learn how Christ helped her at the Mission
and Bethel Village
I
am Jennifer Campbell. I was living a hell life because of my
anger and selfishness. I had been addicted to drugs since I
was 13 and was so stubborn and addicted that I started manufacturing
meth just to get high.
I
was facing 9 years in prison and losing my kids, so I turned to
Bethel Village for help. Once I got in the program, God showed
me I needed to surrender my life to Him and he picked me up and set
me on the right path. He took me out of the mess I had created and
put me in a place of love and peace and mercy.
The
love and support of the Panama City Rescue Mission and Bethel
Village has overflowed into my life and now I have love and joy and
peace. I am capable of loving others now. I am looking forward
to an honest blessed life with my children. I now have the knowledge
and tools to do that!
Theresa first came
to the Rescue Mission and completed the addiction recovery
program at Bethel Village in 2008. She was battling an
addiction to cocaine and alcohol. Though she graduated and felt
her program was complete, she went back home to Tallahassee to
work and live in the same environment that she was in before.
It wasn't long
before she began abusing drugs and alcohol again.
But because she
had stayed in touch with the friends she made at Bethel Village
the first time, it was easier for her to make a decision to come
back and try the program again.
"You can talk
the talk, but can you walk the walk?" she asked while
giving her testimony. She emphasized how, in order to truly
change, sometimes a person needs to change their places, people,
and things...even though it may mean starting all over again in
a new place.
Theresa now sees a
career change for herself and is back in school to become a
nurse.
LaDonna
spoke such encouraging and uplifting words this morning as she
accepted her certificate of completion of the Power to Choose
program.First she
wanted to make sure to give all the glory to God!
She said “The Lord says we
are set free by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of our
testimony.So I
claim that in Jesus’ name I am now set free indeed.”
Ladonna shared how while she was homeless she would sleep behind
a laundry facility where she could get a little warmth at night.
Her family had enough of trying to help her, when she would keep
going back to the same old ways of using alcohol.
"I know they needed to
let me get to my bottom, so that God could lift me up."
She quoted many scriptures
from the Living Word of God. One of LaDonna’s favorite
scriptures, which she quoted is in the book of Philippians:
“Brothers I do not
consider myself to have taken hold of it.; but one thing I do:
forgetting what is
behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my
goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call I Christ
Jesus.” Philippians 3;13-14
Ladonna is starting an
internship where she will help other homeless men and women in
the Mission's DayCenter as the Client Advocate Assistant so she
can save up money to move to her own place. She is a treasure to
the clients at the Rescue Mission, as well as the staff, and we
look forward to watching her grow even more.
Diane was very
glad to come to Bethel Village and thankful to all those who
helped her along the way.
Giving all the
praise and glory to God the head of our lives she felt very
blessed. When Diane came to Bethel she was very lost and now she
has found her way back to Christ.
She quoted a
favorite scripture of hers from the book of Ecclesiastes
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for
there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave
where you are going.” Eccl 9:10.
Diane did very
well while she was here.She
was praised for her leadership abilities, steadfastness of
spirit, and tireless work ethic.She was a blessing to have around and we wish her the
best!
Diane will soon
be married to her long-time boyfriend!
Shaunda, current
student at Bethel Village, was blessed with a a
healthy baby boy, born Oct 27 at 1 pm!
Theresa, another student at Bethel Village, was secretly
painting and decorating the small room that would become home to
newborn Ayden Hunter and proud mama.
"Don't let
her in, she's so nosey!" Theresa said.
Just that week,
members of the Proverbs 31 Guild had thrown Shaunda a wonderful
baby shower, and it was a SHOWER of gifts for the pair!
Shaunda gave her
testimony, stating that she grew up knowing Christ and the right
way to live, but rebellion led her to a life of drugs and
eventually being incarcerated.
Shaunda is newly
married and she added that she is grateful for the opportunity
to learn how to be the wife and mother she needs to be.
"I can't
thank the people here at the Rescue Mission enough for the love
they have shown me, it's awesome!"
