Straight from Scott’s Heart . . . page 2

Thank you for making yourself a blessing . . . page 2

A Ministry Publication of Inner City Mission of Springfield, Inc.

Inner City MissionScott Payne714 N. 7th St.P.O. Box 8148

Springfield, IL 62791-8148217-525-3940

www.innercitymission.net

My name is Michelle. First of all, I want to thank you for your kindness expressed through your donations of clothing,

food and so much more. I hope you realize just how important you are to all of us here. I also want to thank you for giving me a place to let God redirect my life. For too many years, my idols were alcohol and other drugs. I hated that lifestyle, but I kept on doing the same old thing. Today, all that is in the past. No more getting so drunk I didn’t know how I’d get home. No more depression and no more living for myself. All thanks to a loving God, a caring Mission and a friend like you.

God is giving me a purpose for living

I’m professionally trained in heating and air conditioning . . . and I’ve also done my share of landscaping. Landscaping is all about beauty. You just can’t sweat the bugs or the few bee stings along the way. I guess that’s why landscaping is a good metaphor for life. I want my life to be a thing of beauty, and little by little God is helping me make that happen. I love the Bible studies and our prayer times here at the Mission . . . and the book The Purpose Driven Life is giving me much-needed guidance.

To me, Inner City Mission is one big happy family. If you’ve never paid us a visit, I hope you’ll

Summer Issue 2013

Words of Wisdom . . . page 2

No more getting drunk, passing out, and waking up who knows where. No more depression and no more living for myself.

come by soon. I think you’ll be amazed to see how much you are a part of so much healing and hope. Thank you again for your friendship and support. I hope you and your family enjoy a happy summer.

Sincerely,

Thank you for your kindness . . . and for your loving support

I’m grateful the good Lord keeps looking after me.

Michelle

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A Reassuring List of God’s Blessings . . . unmistakable encouragement for challenging timesGod’s blessings are . . .An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6)

An inheritance that can never be lost. (I Peter 1:3-5)

A grace that can never be limited. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19)

A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23)

A joy that need never be diminished. (John 15:11)

A nearness to God that can never be reversed. (Ephesians 2:13)

A peace that can never be disturbed. (John 14:27)

A righteousness that can never be tarnished. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

A salvation that can never be canceled. (Hebrews 5:9)

This is something to think about — and to act on — at all times, especially when we’re faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. May God grant you His blessings today. Thank you for your loyal support of the ministry of Inner City Mission.

Dear Friend of Inner City Mission,

Icontinue to be overwhelmed at the

tremendous support of money, time and

friendship you continue to give to all of us at

Inner City Mission. Everything you do to help has

a ripple effect in our community and beyond. Take

a young lady named Mel. Here was a girl broken

and lost. She’d been used and abused. The best

word to describe her past would be destructive.

Then Mel came to the Mission, where God

began to move in her life. After being with us for

a while, she entered trade school and became a

welder. She then left the Mission. Things were

going well for her. However, once again, the

relationships with her family were not what

they should have been, and she returned to Inner City Mission. But this time, she

returned stronger and more resilient. The Good News is Mel is doing well today . . .

and it’s our earnest prayer she’ll continue to stay the course.

We see potential in everyone who comes through our doors

Here at the Mission, we see everyone who comes through our doors as having

great, unrealized potential. However, all those years of abuse, addictions and

abandonment have masked what God intended them to be. So, we create a loving

family atmosphere — and a peace many have never known. Yes, it’s often tough

love . . . but it’s fair and compassionate. And you play a key role in our Mission

family. You may never meet the people whose lives you’re touching . . . but they

know you care deeply about them and their eternal souls. Thank you for helping us

write a love story right into their lives.

See you next time, good Lord willing.

Your servant,

Scott Payne

A Minister to the Homeless

Straight from Scott’s Heart

“ Thank you for

helping us write

a love story right

into their lives.”

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We are grateful beyond words for your supportWe’re all on a journey . . . and when you share your heart and

abundance with travelers who are weary, you breathe new life into their spirits and help give them the courage to carry on. Everyone at the Mission is grateful to you for your many expressions of love. Those who come to us for help during troubled times may never meet you, but they will always remember your acts of kindness.

To continue to make a difference in lives of young and old, may we encourage you to give yet another generous donation at this time? Kindly use the remit slip enclosed in this newsletter. Thank you for reaching out to the neediest of all today, during these critical summer months and every day of the year.

Words of wisdom to accompany you on your spiritual walk today . . .

“ Those who come to us for help during troubled times may never meet you, but they will always remember your acts of kindness.”

Because of your compassion, someone at Inner City Mission

today is discovering there’s a better — and a new — way to live. Your kindness continues to pay great physical and spiritual dividends in the lives of those who come to

our doors. Your concern helps our Mission guests realize they do matter after all . . . and your ongoing support assures our friends you will always be there during their time of need. You bless a person who lives in a state of homelessness with your smile, a pat on the back, a financial donation of any amount or a word of encouragement. Every ounce of your compassion counts . . . because you never know when a single word of kindness helps pull someone back from the edge.

Thank you for making yourself a blessing to someone in need today

• Failure is simply delay, but not defeat. If anything, failure is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.

• Men and women may fall many times, but they will never be a failure until they say, “Someone pushed me.” Learning to take responsibility for our own actions is the first step toward true maturity.

• No sin is too big to be thrown into God’s ocean of forgiveness. For that godly ocean is sufficiently deep and wide enough to handle every transgression imaginable.

As a supporter of Inner City Mission, you help us share thoughts such as these with the men and women who come to our doors. God bless you for who you are and all you do to touch the lives of so many . . . in Jesus’ Name.