Richard is Walking in Faith…

Poor decisions, a bad attitude, alcohol, and drugs had Richard within a few days of eviction from his apartment. Never having been homeless before, he was afraid of living on the streets.

Richard stated, “I was sitting at the Tohono O’Odham Bus Center. Out of the blue, a man dressed in a chef’s jacket, who was headed to his job, came right up to me. The man said, I don’t know you, my name is Patrick. God told me to stop and tell you that if you want to get your life together you need to go to Gospel Rescue Mission. Patrick told me all about how God turned his life around while he was at the Mission. I thought that was really strange and didn’t understand it.”

Two days later, on May 27th, 2004, Richard arrived at the Mission. Richard didn’t know much about God and said, “Because of how I was approached by Patrick, I now know that it was totally God who brought me here.”

During his first few months here, Richard didn’t understand a lot of what God was doing in his life. He only knew that his thinking, values, and attitudes were being radically changed. God was at work in his life.

Richard said, “I cried almost every day for the first nine months I was at the Mission. I didn’t understand what God was doing in my life. I just didn’t get it. It was scary to me.”

I was learning a lot about both God and myself through the classes. I also benefited from the Learning Center and the Jobs for Life Career Development program that the Mission offers.”

“Because of my background, I had a hard time trusting people. But being around the Mission staff, I felt really loved and respected. I didn’t feel judged and condemned. I spent many days talking, praying, and crying with staff.”

The same kind of bold faith that Patrick had developed while in the Mission Restoration Program has become a vital part of Richard’s life.

Although Richard graduated from our program in October, 2006, and lives at the Mission transitional house, he continues to come here once a week… not to receive help… but to give help to others.

He taught a weekly Bible class on The Armor of God (Ephesians) and is starting a new one on The Vine and the Vinedresser (John).

Richard recently started a prayer ministry including a prayer line – 882-6819 (call him if you need prayer) and a web site at www.ricksprayerline.org. He is also active in his church, Rising Star Baptist, serving as an usher and on their prison ministry outreach.

Now Richard shares his faith and testimony of a life turned around by God at the Mission… with others… just like Patrick did with him!