70th Anniversary Edition

THE PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY. A LIFETIME. A LEGACY.

These past seven decades have been marked by steadfast love and unwavering compassion for the most vulnerable in our community. We are grateful that God has expanded our capacity exponentially, allowing us to serve more and more people every year. Our legacy, however, is not about expansion or buildings. Our legacy is the miraculous life transformations in the people we serve.

DARWIN

Darwin returned from the Gulf War a different man. Unable to cope with the violence he had seen and been a part of, he fell deep into addiction. He lost his entire family due to his addiction and eventually became homeless. Shame and guilt-ridden, suicidal, lost, and severely underweight, Darwin was wasting away.

One morning, Darwin decided it was time to end all of his pain and suffering. He cried out to God in desperation:

“If you are there… if there truly is a God… You need to save me.”

The morning turned into afternoon, and Darwin noticed a man pacing around the park in endless circles. Eventually, the stranger approached, saying that God had told him someone there needed help.

Darwin was stunned. How could this man have known his despair and that he had wanted to take his own life?

This stranger, who claimed to be a preacher, walked up to him and said, “God called me to let you know that you are going to be okay.” Then he invited Darwin to dinner.

For the first time in many years, Darwin had hope. He accepted this man’s hospitality and was encouraged to visit Gospel Rescue Mission the next day, where he found good food, safe shelter, and all the tools and support he needed to recover.

After a few months at GRM, Darwin put his faith in Jesus, and from that point forward, Darwin’s life was completely transformed!

His journey of transformation was not an overnight process. Darwin spent over a year in the Recovery Program and then had to go through the difficult process of working toward restoring the relationships he had destroyed through his addiction. But if you met Darwin today, you would never know he was once emaciated, suicidal, lost in addiction, and living in a park. He has been sober for over 20 years! He’s married to a godly woman (the love of his life), is a proud homeowner, and works for an organization that helps veterans like himself navigate the transition into civilian life.

CARLO

Carlo had a turbulent childhood marked by physical and sexual abuse. When he was just 11 years old, his father beat him to the point of hospitalization. Scared and alone, he ran from his Texas home to Pensacola, Florida, in search of his mother and siblings.

The hope of a joyous reunion he had longed for was dashed when he finally found his mom, and she revealed they were homeless.?

“I can’t even afford to feed your brothers and sisters, I don’t know how you can expect me to feed you too!”

Carlo had no choice but to work to make enough money to eat, and eventually, he got into trouble and was forced to return to Texas to be with his dad.

As a teenager, he began to work with his dad in organized crime, making his money dealing cocaine – which eventually landed him in prison.

In spite of all these challenges, Carlo changed his life after being released from prison. He got married and started his own company. Together he and his wife had four children, and life seemed wonderful! That all came crashing down when his father ordered a hit on his brother. The trauma of losing someone he loved so much – and the repeated betrayal of his father led him back into addiction.

For nearly 30 years, Carlo lived in his addiction. And it cost him everything.

In 2019, Carlo took a bus to Tucson and landed at Gospel Rescue Mission after a heart attack threatened his life.

“Without Gospel Rescue Mission, I would be dead.”

At the Mission, Carlo learned to take responsibility for his actions and stopped blaming others for his problems. Here he found hope, restoration, a love for his family, and a community eager to support him through his recovery.

Carlo believes so strongly in the effectiveness of Gospel Rescue Mission’s faith-based Recovery Program that he has dedicated his life to the ministry. As a current staff member in Guest Services, he now has the opportunity to help others who are struggling.

“It’s about helping others. The fact of the matter is, all these guests that I serve every day, I need them more than they need me. That’s the truth… and I’m truly grateful.”

KEN “PIRATE”

Ken’s heart stopped due to a heroin overdose in 2002.

By the grace of God, doctors at Tucson Heart Hospital were able to revive him. Despite this wake-up call, addiction gripped him just a few short months after this terrifying event.

After a 2-year stint in federal prison, Ken turned to Gospel Rescue Mission Recovery Program for help. It took years for him to get where he was, so it took time for Ken to finally break free from the chains of addiction.

With a sober mind and a healthy body, Ken started thinking about his future. Eventually, he found a job he loves and has held that job to this day!

“I never looked back. Not at all.”

Although Ken had been involved in Gospel Rescue Mission, he had not yet given his life to Christ. All that changed one day in April 2006 when he accepted Jesus. His eyes were opened, and his life was forever transformed.

Today, 19 years into his sobriety, Ken’s life is a testament to the power of faith and resilience. Despite battling stage four lung cancer, he celebrates each day with gratitude. He owns his home, has a steady job, and is an active church and community member. He can’t fathom his life without the influence of Gospel Rescue Mission and his faith in God.

“The influence Gospel Rescue Mission had on my life… There is no way I can even fathom where I would be. I know I wouldn’t be alive today.”

LISA’S LETTER

Darwin, Carlo, and Ken are only three of the countless lives touched and transformed over the past 70 years at Gospel Rescue Mission. Their stories serve as reminders of the incredible power of faith, compassion, and support in helping people overcome their darkest moments and emerge self-sufficient and whole.

Together, we have built a legacy of love, healing, and transformation.

Since our humble beginnings, we have stood as a beacon of hope and a sanctuary for those in our community experiencing homelessness. Rooted in our deep commitment to love, grace, dignity, and respect, we have evolved into more than a shelter. We have become a place of renewal and rebirth, supporting each person on their journey toward self-sufficiency and wholeness. We are a testament to the power of faith and resilience, proof that individuals can regain control over their lives with proper tools, support, and the grace of Christ. On May 4th, 2023, we celebrated our 70th anniversary. And while we are tremendously grateful for God’s work in expanding our footprint, the buildings we occupy are the smallest part of our story. Our legacy is the thousands of lives transformed by our work. I am blessed to carry on the excellent work my grandfather started 70 years ago, and we have been blessed to be a part of thousands of stories of transformation.

Chains have been broken, families have been restored, and Jesus has entered people’s hearts and healed their brokenness.

And, as we celebrate this 70-year journey, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation to you—our donors, volunteers, staff, and partners. Your unwavering belief in our mission and generous support enable us to carry out this vital work. Your support - through prayers, volunteering, and giving generously - is the lifeblood of our existence. THANK YOU!?

Thanking God for you,

Lisa Chastain