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Volume 17Issue 8

SEPTEMBER2016

MISSION BellTHE

Proud “Certified Excellent” member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and recognized as a “Four Star Charity” by Charity Navigator.

774 Hazel Street Macon, Georgia 31201

T: 478.743.5445

www.RescueMissionGA.com

EXECUTIVE BOARDCharlie Cantrell CHAIRMANStewart Vernon VICE-CHAIRBeverly Olson SECRETARY Susan Collins TREASURERMartin Willingham MEMBER-AT-LARGE

BOARD OF DIRECTORSDr. Bill ArgoBobby Cramer Martie BanksKathy Hawkins Frank MalloyLaura McConnell Allen PeakeRobby RedmondChris R. Sheridan Blake SullivanLouis Frank Tompkins Jeff ThompsonWimberly Treadwell

ADVISORY BOARDOliver Bateman III Martha BlueSenator Saxby ChamblissAshley CopelanCarolyn CraytonSheriff David Davis Ed DeforeJimmy FainMichael KetterbaughTommy MixonMayor Robert Reichert Robert Snow

PRESIDENT/CEOErin M. Reimers, CPA

Giving BackTillman was born in Valdosta, GA where his family lived for a few years before moving to Tampa, FL. He is the youngest of three children with two older sisters. His parents divorced at eight years old because his father was an alcoholic. Tillman, his sisters and mom moved back to Valdosta and into his grandparent’s house where they lived for the next two years. His mom remarried when Tillman was ten and they moved into their own place in Macon.

Tillman would travel to Tampa every summer for visits with his biological father. He started smoking cigarettes at twelve years old at home with his dad. “He never cared if I smoked, so it was easy to pick up the habit.” Tillman was active in school and he started playing the trumpet in the 6th grade jazz band and quickly moved into the concert band. He was popular in school and didn’t struggle with many things except for his willingness to smoke weed and party with friends. His drug use started with smoking pot and within a year he moved onto drugs like ecstasy and cocaine. His desire to party quickly became his focus instead of playing the trumpet and graduating high school. His senior year of high school Tillman took a spring break trip to Panama City, FL that was supposed to only be for the weekend and turned into a two week bender of alcohol and drugs. When he came back, he was told that he had missed too many days of school to be able to graduate and that he would have to attend summer school if he wanted to get his diploma. Instead of continuing with summer school, two weeks before graduation Tillman quit high school.

The following year Tillman got his first of many DUI’s while driving home from the restaurant where he was a server. For the next four years he worked in retail at Journey’s as a store manager and that is where he met Jessica. Tillman dove head first into his relationship with Jessica, they dated for two years and in 2008 they got married. It wasn’t until after the birth of their first child that Tillman and his wife began abusing prescription pain medicine. The next three years were

spent in a whirlwind of heavy drug use for Tillman and his wife.

continued on page 3

From the Director’s DeskSTAFFErin M. Reimers, CPAPRESIDENT/CEO

Tina HicksOFFICE MANAGER

Artecia KnightLOGISTICS COORDINATOR

PROGRAMSPat ChastainVICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS & CHAPLAIN

Jason BeckMEN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dawn BurnsWOMEN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Becky HatawayWOMEN’S ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Laura Price, LAPCWOMEN’S DIVISION COUNSELOR

Vernice ChappellWOMEN’S EVENING SUPERVISOR

Darrell AllenSERVANT LEADER

DEVELOPMENTRob SchneckDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Niki CollisDEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Jaime Kaplan SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

The theme of this month’s newsletter is “giving back what has been so freely given” based on Matthew 10: 5-8 and how appropriate it is that we are able to share Tillman’s story, which is overflowing with the spirit of giving back. What a joy it has been getting to know Tillman and his precious family and what an inspiration he has been to all of us.He came through the Mission doors desperate for a change in his life, for himself, his wife and their 3 small children. Even after surrendering his life to Christ and while excelling in the program he struggled with being away from his family when they needed him the most. Despite this he persevered knowing that what they really needed the most was for him to become the man and the father God had called him to be. What an amazing example of complete redemption, restoration and reciprocation. We are so proud of Tillman, not only for his life change and what he accomplished while here at the Mission, but in how he continues to give back what was so freely given as Jesus commanded. In the short time since he has graduated he has stepped up in a mighty way to give his time to be a mentor to one of our current residents, he serves on the Board of Directors of Recovery Community Organization of Houston County, he is a co-leader at One-Way Recovery Program at Second Baptist Church, he has made it his personal mission to help as many of our graduates as possible find employment with his employer, Cutting Edge Landscaping, all while continuing to be a shining example of what a husband and father should be and continuing his personal walk with Jesus in an exemplary way. You can definitely see the gleam in his eyes and the joy in his heart every time you are around him. He is full of the Holy Spirit and joyful about giving back and we couldn’t be more proud of him!

Erin M. ReimersPresident/CEO

Mission Needs

The Rescue Mission is currently in need

of the following items for our Dinning Hall:

Commercial Grade Cups

Forks

Spoons

Donating HopeWhen you donate a vehicle to the Rescue Mission you are giving so much more than just a mode of transportation. You are giving hope and encouragement to one of our graduates and showing them that things that seem insurmountable are in fact within reach. One of the largest hurdles our graduates face upon graduation is finding employment. When a vehicle is donated to the Mission it is given to a graduate who in turn uses that vehicle to get back and forth to work. A generous donor drove all the way from Hershey, Pennsylvania to donate his vehicle and Tillman was the recipient. This donor certainly gave back in a mighty way and we appreciate him thinking to donate a car to a worthy mission and to help one of our graduates overcome the hurdle of finding transportation.

Giving Back continued from cover

In 2011 Tillman had to take a leave of absence from work, he got another DUI and he knew something needed to change. He went back to Valdosta for what he called a “time out.” He became active with his father in Alcoholics Anonymous but was still smoking pot while he was there. Unfortunately, the sobriety Tillman found in Valdosta did not last very long after he returned to Atlanta where he and his wife were living. He went right back to abusing pain medications and making trips twice a week between Atlanta and Macon to purchase drugs. A heroine dealer moved into the apartment above Tillman’s and he began abusing heroine which quickly consumed his life. In 2012 Jessica gave birth to their twin boys and Tillman’s heroin use was at its heaviest. Rock bottom was in his sights when Tillman used his uncle’s company credit card to pay for a month long binge of heroin and alcohol. By the end of the month he had taken out over $10,000 in cash and spent it on drugs. When his uncle got the credit card statement he took action and Tillman’s mother got involved to try and help Tillman get sober. He moved his family back to Macon and in with his mother for about three weeks while he tried to “get clean.” His sobriety this time lasted a few months. Tillman and his family moved to Warner Robins to live with Jessica’s parents and he fell back into using pills, heroin and alcohol. He was able to keep a job but needed the drugs to function and to be able to think. For three more years Tillman spent every minute of every day focusing on where he would get his next fix from and how.

Tillman’s real rock bottom came when he got his third DUI, he was high on Xanax, had his daughter in the car and he got into a minor fender bender. He was arrested and that is when he found himself at the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia in March of 2015. He was in a fog for the first few days and felt like a crazy person for the first couple of weeks coming off all of the drugs and alcohol. Once his head started to clear he knew that God was holding him and that this was where he needed to be. He knew that he needed to change and that it was going to happen at the Mission and was going to happen now because he had tried so many other things and nothing worked. Tillman had no idea what his purpose in life was when he came to the Mission. Through completing the program he

was shown a new way of life, his eyes were opened to Jesus Christ who showed him how to love. He was shown how to love his children, his wife and most importantly, how to love

himself. He describes his time at the Mission like being at a retreat where all of his time could be spent with God and devoting himself to being who he wanted to be from then on.

Since Graduation Tillman has built a strong relationship with his kids. He has become the husband that he knows God has called him to be. Through the generosity of Kaitlyn’s Promise he was able to get a $1,000 grant to pay the deposit and move his family into their very own house. He went back to work for Cutting Edge Landscaping where he was welcomed with opened arms. He is active in Celebrate Recovery, works

out 4 times a week at Kinetixs, Mondays and Wednesdays are kid’s night and Saturday is family fun day. Now every minute of every day is focused on the Lord and figuring out what he needs to do to please Him. He wants to give hope to people in recovery and show them that there is a better life without drugs. All of Tillman’s life he didn’t feel complete, he was always looking for something more and finally he was able to find it in Christ. Christ is who fills him up.

Scenes from Around the Mission

One of our residents Wade grilled hot dogs for the customers that came to shop at our Bargain Center on Saturday.

The men in our life recovery program go on outings weekly. These outings don’t just get them out of the Mission; they foster the men’s growing relationship with God and each other. They have gone to places like the Aviation Museum, the Indian Mounds, and for walks by the river. The love, fellowship and camaraderie between the men is truly inspiring and they love it when Gracie gets to join in the fun.

Verizon Wireless in Macon has made the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia its philanthropy. They collected can food items and helped serve dinner trays to our Daily Bread line.

The Men from the mission were blessed to get to attend the Awakening Men’s conference at the Perry Agricenter. The conference was built to inspire and unify Christian men of all denominations and races, setting aside territorialism and boundaries. They heard motivational speakers such as Tim Worley, Governor Sonny Perdue and Governor Mike Huckabee speak.

August Resident of the Month, Robert Danser

This newsletter and everything contained within are made possible through your generosity and continued support. Thank you!

Ladies’ Outings

Women’s Division Happenings Women’s NeedsCold Medicines

for adults and children

Toilet Paper

Laundry Detergent (HE)

Paper Towels

Baby Wipes

Body Lotion

Advil

Clorox Wipes

Windex

Cleaning Supplies

Lysol Spray

I would like to take this opportunity to share an update about a female graduate of the Women’s Program at the Rescue Mission. It brings me such joy to share her story and where she is now. This is what the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia is all about – providing a path of hope, redemption and empowerment through Jesus Christ!

Before coming to the Mission: This mom of 2 young children came here seeking refuge from a violent home that she shared with the father of her children. She was completely dependent upon him for her daily needs as well as the needs of her children. It was by the grace of God she gained the courage to leave and seek safety. This is where her new beginning started. This was in 2014.

Once in the program: She thrived in the Women’s program. Once she began counseling and taking classes she started gaining self-esteem, and started seeing herself as worthy and a child of God. She began dreaming of what she wanted her life to be, and her children started school and began to thrive as well while God used this time to strengthen her walk and give her the confidence she needed to be able to survive on her own, with God right by her side. She started classes to obtain her GED.

After graduating: Once she graduated our program she obtained housing and secured income. She continued taking classes and got her GED but that wasn’t enough for her. She enrolled at Virginia College and graduated last month with honors. She came by recently to see me and show me her diploma. She was beaming with pride at all she has accomplished.

She is a true testimony of what God can do once we surrender to him. Thank you for supporting the Rescue Mission. Your support provides a path of success for so many families.

The Mission’s Women’s Division is a residential life recovery program for female survivors of domestic violence and their children. We provide a safe place where women can find healing and regain their independence. Part of their healing is found through outings as sisters in Christ. The ladies went to High Falls and enjoyed some hiking and frolicking in the river with Gracie.

The women featured in these photographs are no longer in danger of their abuser. The privacy and security of the women in our program is of our utmost concern.

By: Dawn Burns, Women’s Program Director

Donation Bin LocationsMACON• Mt. Zion Baptist Church7015 Rivoli Rd.• Forest Hill Village3960 Northside Drive (by Zaxby’s)• Shoppes at River Crossing 5080 Riverside Drive• GEICO 4400 Ocmulgee East Boulevard• Public Library Parking Lot5590 Thomaston Road (by BB&T) • Northway Church 5915 Zebulon Road • 4910 Forsyth Road Near Burger King• Walmart 1401 Gray HWY• Domino’s Shopping Center Corner of Tucker Rd. and Forsyth Rd.• Lawrence Drive Baptist Church5774 School Rd.• Bargain Center Thrift Store3375 Napier Avenue• Tabernacle Baptist Church6611 Zebulon Road• Suburban Center4226 Hartley Bridge Rd.• Porter Station 5797 Houston Rd.

WARNER ROBINS• Lowe’s2704 Watson Boulevard• Houston County Habitat ReStore955 Watson Blvd.• Five Star Collision Center 650 Russell Parkway• Southside Baptist Church1040 South Houston Lake Road• Olympia Skate Center622 Greenbriar Road • HopeChurch Russell Parkway• Buzzell Plumbing 4811 Russell Parkway• Southside Baptist - Kathleen101 Bear Branch Road• Parkway Village 1806 Russell Parkway BYRON • Old Giant Foods Parking Lot 202 N. Highway 49 FORT VALLEY 302 Vineville St.

FORSYTH 120 N. Lee St. (by Monroe Med. Ctr)

Did you know?Our largest source of recurring revenue comes from sales at our Bargain Center.

This money goes directly to supporting our life recovery programs.

Every dollar you spend and every item you donate helps us help those in our community who need it most.

The Bargain Center is located at:3375 Napier AvenueMacon, GA 31204

BARGAIN CENTER STAFFBill Barnes VICE PRESIDENT OF RETAIL DIVISION

Niger Brown STORE MANAGER

Tina Stovall ASSISTANT MANAGER

Shameka Davis PRODUCTION MANAGER

Barbara Tyler SALES ASSOCIATE

Fanta Washington SALES ASSOCIATE

Peronica Jackson SALES ASSOCIATE

Sheena Parker SALES ASSOCIATE

DRIVERSGreg BrooksArt EllisCurtis RoundtreeTony Travick

To Donate: Go to our website www.rescuemissionga.com, call us at 478-743-5445 ext. 311 or Email us - donate@rescuemissionga.com

Bring this newsletter with you the next time you shop at our Bargain Center and get $5 off your purchase of $5 or more. Thank you!

We’re so excited to announce a new thrift store coming to Warner Robins! As many of you know, approximately 40% of our program participants come from the Warner Robins area. We will soon be able to create a convenient opportunity for the people of Warner Robins to help us offer life change to those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and addiction. Our state-of-the-art thrift store will be located near the corner of Highway 96 and South Houston Lake Road and will open sometime in 2017. Like our thrift store in Macon, you will be able to drop off donations as well as shop at the store as two very practical ways to further the Mission’s cause.

New Retail Center Coming Soon

P.O. Box 749 | Macon, GA 31202

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit # 232Macon, GA

Non ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit # 232Macon, GA

Non ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit # 232Macon, GA

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GIVE YEAR-ROUNDConsider becoming a monthly giver and have a lasting impact throughout the year! Find out how at rescuemissionga.com

BARGAIN CENTERShop at 3375 Napier Avenue or donate items to a great cause. For large pickups call 743-5445.

On September 26th, the Mission will hold its annual Charity Auction with items ranging from sports memorabilia to special trips and personalized events to comfy chairs and mattresses. You don’t have to be there in person to participate in bidding to change lives; you can get in on the action online from the comfort of your home! Bidding is fast, safe, and easy. Follow the link to find a page with a listing of all the items up for grabs with the proceeds going directly to benefit the Mission.

www.fivestarcelebrityclassic.com For tickets to the auction call: 478-743-5445 ext. 302

Monday, September 26th6:00 - 10:00 p.m.