A Family In Restoration
- The Martin Family

For years Richard Martin abused drugs and alcohol and his wife, Kristian, put up with it. He would disappear for days at a time and use the family bill money to feed his addiction. Finally she had enough. Richard was losing his marriage and the respect of their 5 children. Kristian cried out to God and Richard checked himself into the Academy at the Fresno Rescue Mission. That was last September. Kristian recently remarked “My husband has been in the program only 5 months and already I see the change in him as a husband and a father”. They have been attending the Couple’s Ministry since the beginning and the Lord continues to heal their marriage.

There were 3 crossroads where Richard considered leaving the program. The first 2 related to his family’s inability to pay rent and PG&E. While the temptation was present to leave and help his family, instead he decided to trust God and ask the Academy Director, Bud Searcy, for help. Through the Family Assistance Fund we were able to help his family. The third crossroad came during the holidays. “I was really going through it because I am not working and couldn’t buy anything for my wife and kids.” Then he was informed that his family was being blessed by Clovis Christian Schools through our Bless-A-Family Program. “I couldn’t believe how many boxes of new clothes and toys they blessed my family with!”

Since the day Richard decided to get right with God, he says “daily my life is getting better, my self-respect has returned, my marriage is being restored and I’ve regained the love of my children.”

When Life Gives You Lemons!
- Jermero Bureller

They say “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Sometimes, however, that can be very hard, especially when there’s no sugar to be found. In case you didn’t know, my life was full of lemons. My mother was a drug addict, my dad an alcoholic. Surrounded by homosexuality and exposed to some homosexual activity. Alone, confused and unsure of who I was. I turned to alcohol and gave in to homosexuality. I never told anyone about my problems because I felt that I could fix them myself. Of course it never got fixed, only because I didn’t know how.

My 9^th grade year of high school I decided to go to Clovis East high school. I thought that being there I could finally find myself. Let’s just say the person I found wasn’t the person I was looking for. To add on to my despair, I lost contact with my mom. I thought the best thing for me to do is to turn myself in to C.P.S. they then took me to the Craycroft Center. At first, it was awkward and uncomfortable. But then I started to get to know the staff and the other kids and things got better. I had the best time of my life at the Craycroft Center. They took me to my first Falcons game, to Foster Freeze for ice cream. It was so great having such great people in my life for such a time. Here at the Craycroft Center I found myself… I found God. And He accepted me with open arms. It wasn’t until I started going to church, however, that I fully caught hold of God. But if it wasn’t for the Craycroft Center, I may not have found Him. At least in the time I did.

Building on Faith, Hope and Experience
- Nancy C. Dixon

I formed Samaritan Women 9 ½ years ago after seeing so many women return again and again to the Fresno County Jail where I was the Chaplain to the Women. Though there were drug and alcohol programs available, which some women successfully completed, there were no services focused expressly on helping ex-inmates successfully transition to living in the community. God placed that need upon my heart and provided the resources to touch the lives of many women.

In these years, more than a 1,000 women found love and encouragement through our program, along with job skill classes, Bible study groups, caring mentors and positive friends who would come alongside them in their quest to become independent, godly women. They often found a place to live while gaining the life skills as a resident at our TLC Home. We have seen a number of women really grab a hold of Jesus. Along with their newly acquired life skills they have become full of joy, positive role models to their families and contributing members in their communities.

Out of the depths of God's abundant resources and wisdom we now come under the umbrella of the long-standing, godly ministry of the Fresno Rescue Mission. We are full of hope as we believe it is beneficial to unite resources and work for a greater good of our community. The Fresno Rescue Mission has a history of successfully providing hope and help to many in our community. It will be important for each of us to commit our prayers and support to this combined ministry effort as we continue to provide vital life links to women seeking help and hope.

May God provide stronger families and build a safer community through the expanded ministry of The Fresno Rescue Mission.

Once Was Lost But Now I'm Found
- Javier Garza

For many years I had been lost in the world, living a life of sin, drugs and alcohol but praise the Lord, Jesus delivered me. I had been so caught up in the wrong crowd for so long, partying every chance I got. I was always seeking something to fill a void I had felt for so long but all the parties and people never were able to answer my heart's cry.

In 2001, I finally found something that truly completed me, above and beyond what I had ever hoped for. The Lord came into my life and turned everything around. Although the road has not been easy, the Lord has guided me each step of the way. I praise God for all that he has done and every blessing I have received.

Now I am working as an Academy Coordinator here at the Mission and work every day to try and empower and encourage men who are also looking for something more just like I once was. The guidance from the staff here has truly been an inspiration and encouragement to my spiritual life and I praise God for them. My goal in life is to be the man of God He has called me to be and to study and teach His Word.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength"
- Deut. 6:5

Some of my favorite verses are:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise , God chose the weak things of the world ... so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"
- I Cor. 1: 27-31