THE PATH NEWSJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

Announcing Spring MembershipsFor Path Farm Co-op may still be availableGet your box of freshly-picked seasonal produce as a co-op member every Friday, Mar-Sept. 2011 or purchase our produce individually.

Support THE PATH FARM— providing work & job opportunities plus healthy, organically grown food for our community!

What’s happening

Called To ServeAt THE PATH, the love of Christ compels us to answer His call to facilitate transformed lives for the men and women who pass through our doors. Through this process, our lives are changed. Read on to discover how…

BOARD OF DIRECTORSMark Stone - Interim President

(352) 746-2626

Connie Lobel - Treasurer(352) 726-3200

Maria Converse - Secretary(352) 586-5087

Stuart Green - Board Member & Past President(352) 637-3585

Dick Windle - Board Member(352) 489-4167

Floyd Ford - Board Member(352) 270-3090

DuWayne Sipper - Executive Director(352) 527-6500, opt 5

Administrative Offices27 S. Melbourne

Beverly Hills, FL 34465Phone: (352) 527-6500

Fax: (352) 746-6746

Path of Citrus County PO Box 3024

Inverness, FL 34451-3024

Lecanto Bargain Store1729 W. Gulf to Lake Highway

Lecanto, FL 34461

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PMSaturday 9 AM- 4 PM

For pick-up, call:(352) 746-9084

Path of Marion CountyPO Box 77-1739Ocala, FL 34477

Dunnellon Bargain Store20565 W. Pennsylvania Ave.

Dunnellon, FL 34431

Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PMSaturday 9 AM- 3 PM

(352) 465-0606

www.pathofcitrus.orgwww.pathofmarion.org

ASSOCIATION OF GOSPEL RESCUE MISSIONS

www.agrm.org

Newsletter design by New Eden Graphics 352.860.2146

Inside this Issue...]The Path Spotlight]Director’s Corner

]What’s Happening ]Path Needs

A Publication of The Path Rescue Mission—Serving the Homeless and Hungry in Citrus and Marion Counties www.pathofcitrus.org Issue1-Volume5

Call 352-527-6500, ext. 5 to sign up.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for Me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV

Bob, Case Manager- Men Throughservingtheclientsatthisrescuemission,Ihaveexperiencedalevelofhumilityofheart.GodhasentrustedmetobeHisHandsand

Feetintheirlivesforaseason,tohelpthemaccomplishthenecessarythingstoempowerthemtomakethetransitionintoahealthierlifeoutsideofTHE PATH.Manyofourclientscouldbeyourneighbornextdoororthepersonyouwork

alongsideeveryday,andduetomanyreasonstheycometoaplaceofneedinghelp.Homelessnessdoesn’tdiscriminate.Itcanaffectanyone!BecauseofwhatI’veheardandobserved,I’mmorethankfulfortheabundantgraceextendedtome. AdistraughtyoungmannamedNicholasstandsoutinmyrecollections.Iworkedwithhimonlybriefly,andlearnedhewasavictimofneglectandabuse—someoneoverlooked,justanotherfaceinthecrowd.AsweshowedhimthatGodnotonlylovedhimbutwantedtogivehimalifewithhope,NickreceivedJesusasSaviorandbegan

anewjourney.Wewitnessedsmall,miraculouschangestakeplaceandthenhewasgone,muchsoonerthanexpected.IgetwordonceinawhilethatsomeonehasseenNickwalkingorstandingatabusstop.Thatbringsbacktomindthatwehaveonlyashorttimetosharesomuch.Whatagreatopportunityandresponsibility...(continued on pg. 2)

Path NeedHelp us get the word out

about our bargain stores!

We can send you this coupon flyer

to pass out to friends, neighbors,

co-workers & club members…

or place in your business reception area!

Path Bargain

stores support the shelter & our clients…

Call 352-527-6500,

ext. 5 to volunteer

a history of Changing Lives

“These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest

of these is love.” I Cor. 13:13

Thankstoourcommunity“Angels”whogavefromtheirheartstobless

PathClientsANDtheirchildrenduringtheholidays—throughvolunteeringforFamilyDaysattheshelter,serving

meals,helpinguscollectneededgroceries&otheritems...formakingsureeveryoneattheshelterfeltloved!

DireCTor’S CorNer

2 – The Path News 3 – The Path News

Dear Friend, This year marks the tenth year The Path’s doors have been open. I think of Roger who willingly came back to The Path, educated as a C.N.A. to serve as a role model and help supervise our clients. He also fills in as a driver and tells the other clients

of his path through The Path… As I look ahead to 2011, I anticipate a challenge to meet the demand from the public for more organically grown produce. We plan to increase our farm cooperative to 50 members. With the lease of the new 13 acre property that accommodates 4 graduates from the program with housing as well as a greenhouse and woodshop for building new skills, we are well on our way. Our clients are getting a better understanding that this is a long term process to heal wounds from different abuses, and our staff is getting better at explaining it. Our four main thrusts for client development will be retail, farming, woodworking and appliance repair. I believe these are real jobs for their future. John Ashman, Executive Director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, has accepted a challenge to start 18 new Rescue Missions in America in the next 6 years. My number was much higher, but I like his number too. I am quite willing— and so is John— to be a leader in teaching the new Rescue Missions where ever possible. No one Rescues like Rescue Missions! More than ever, I think I am working on the greatest mission in the world. You can be a part of that too…Thank you for answering the call to rescue! In His Service, DuWayneSipper, Executive Director

DuWayne Sipper

Path clients lend a hand & work to build their future…volunteer & women’s counselor Linda Williams (below, second from right) bakes Christmas cookies with all of our women, sharing fellowship & holiday love in the kitchen…

Called To Serve…continued from cover

Building Better Tomorrows

Thanks to funding from Capital City Bank Group Foundation, Women of Sugarmill Woods and a student group’s class project from Tampa’s Springfield College for Human Services— a new cedar wood playground for the children at the shelter to bring smiles

during their stay... With help from staff, Path clients and volunteers Michele Case, Raenee Franklin, Cindy Clark, Laura Tuccelli and her husband from local Capital City

Bank branches, we assembled the entire structure, all on one cold December Saturday!

Our Angels… the Burnett family, Hoover family & friends, Rev. Richard & Myrna Evans, Path friends of Therapy Management Corp, Homosassa, Pastor Timm & congregation at Community Congregational Christian Church, Citrus Springs… to Al & Linda Ross and family, along with the ladies of 1st Baptist Church- Beverly Hills … gifts for everyone, a delicious brunch and dinner, fellowship throughout the day…so much love. One client expressed it best: “I wasn’t looking forward to Christmas…but this was really something. I didn’t even miss home.” Special thanks to Pat & David Fletcher, Spring Hill, for sponsoring a Path family again this Christmas with gifts for the children…and to Candace & friends at Halligan’s, Dunnellon, for partnering with tHe PatH and other local businesses to provide Christmas dinner for anyone in need of fellowship and a Christmas meal.

Beginning New Lives

Remember THE PATH in your estate planningConsider a Charitable Bequest: A written statement in your will bequeathing a parcel of real estate, sum of money, a specific amount of stock, or even a home to a charity.Call The Path at 352-527-6500, ext.4 to find out more on leaving a lasting legacy for God’s people.

We appreciate your support as our mission growsto meet the ever-increasing needs...

Total number of bed nights provided at THE PATH during 2010: 5,623Total number of meals served at THE PATH during 2010: 16,869

Kristy, Office Manager — SincecomingtoTHE PATH,IhavegrowninmywalkwithGod.Theclientskeepmeonmytoesandholdmeaccountableformyactions...Ican’ttellthemtodothingswiththeirlivesorencouragethemtomakepositivechangesifI’mdrowninginthesameissues.TheclientwhotouchedmethemostwasPete.HewalkedherefromthestateofTexas,desperatetomakeachangeinhislife.Petesufferedfromalcoholabuse,hadpushedawayorlostcontactwithfamilyandfriends.ThroughtheprocessofbecomingaCertifiedNurseAssistant(CNA),welearnedPetehadchargesagainsthiminTexas.Hewentback,waslaterreleasedandexoneratedofallcharges.PetereturnedtoTHE PATH.Soonthough,hebecameverysickandingreatpain.Itwasdiscoveredhehadcanceranddidnothavemuchtimeleft.THE PATHreachedouttoHernando-PascoHospice(HPH),whotookgreatcareofhiminhisfinalstagesofthecancer.Pete’scounselorfoundhisestrangeddaughter.Theywerereunitedandtheirrelationshiprepaired. PetewenthappilytobewithJesus,andmembersofourstaffwerewithhiminhisfinalmoments.PetestillpraisedGodandlovedHimtotheend.Whilewestillmisshim,weknowPeteisatestimonyofGod’stransformingpowerandlove.Andthatiswhywearehere.Peteinspiresmeeveryday.Throughhimandhisstory,IcanglimpseGodatwork.Thank you for keeping our doors open as we all work together to change lives… one by one!

Sharing Love for the Holidays

THE

PATH

SPOTLigHT

Volunteers Denise Lay & daughter Hannah, plus an assortment of youth from 1st Presbyterian Church-Inverness (above, center photo) help collect

groceries & other items at a local Winn Dixie store…Special thanks to volunteers Alan Solenberger (above, left photo), Marisa and Alana from

Lecanto High Key Club, Don Phillips, Brian Czajkowski (above, right photo), John & Debra Burnett with daughter Abby, along with staff & clients for their

help in a big effort to collect groceries, household & personal items, and other supplies at Walmart Supercenter-Inverness. These collections help us stay well-supplied year-round with food, personal hygiene & other shelter needs.

Pete, 2009

THE PATH NEWSJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

Announcing Spring MembershipsFor Path Farm Co-op may still be availableGet your box of freshly-picked seasonal produce as a co-op member every Friday, Mar-Sept. 2011 or purchase our produce individually.

Support THE PATH FARM— providing work & job opportunities plus healthy, organically grown food for our community!

What’s happening

Called To ServeAt THE PATH, the love of Christ compels us to answer His call to facilitate transformed lives for the men and women who pass through our doors. Through this process, our lives are changed. Read on to discover how…

BOARD OF DIRECTORSMark Stone - Interim President

(352) 746-2626

Connie Lobel - Treasurer(352) 726-3200

Maria Converse - Secretary(352) 586-5087

Stuart Green - Board Member & Past President(352) 637-3585

Dick Windle - Board Member(352) 489-4167

Floyd Ford - Board Member(352) 270-3090

DuWayne Sipper - Executive Director(352) 527-6500, opt 5

Administrative Offices27 S. Melbourne

Beverly Hills, FL 34465Phone: (352) 527-6500

Fax: (352) 746-6746

Path of Citrus County PO Box 3024

Inverness, FL 34451-3024

Lecanto Bargain Store1729 W. Gulf to Lake Highway

Lecanto, FL 34461

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PMSaturday 9 AM- 4 PM

For pick-up, call:(352) 746-9084

Path of Marion CountyPO Box 77-1739Ocala, FL 34477

Dunnellon Bargain Store20565 W. Pennsylvania Ave.

Dunnellon, FL 34431

Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PMSaturday 9 AM- 3 PM

(352) 465-0606

www.pathofcitrus.orgwww.pathofmarion.org

ASSOCIATION OF GOSPEL RESCUE MISSIONS

www.agrm.org

Newsletter design by New Eden Graphics 352.860.2146

Inside this Issue...]The Path Spotlight]Director’s Corner

]What’s Happening ]Path Needs

A Publication of The Path Rescue Mission—Serving the Homeless and Hungry in Citrus and Marion Counties www.pathofcitrus.org Issue1-Volume5

Call 352-527-6500, ext. 5 to sign up.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for Me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV

Bob, Case Manager- Men Throughservingtheclientsatthisrescuemission,Ihaveexperiencedalevelofhumilityofheart.GodhasentrustedmetobeHisHandsand

Feetintheirlivesforaseason,tohelpthemaccomplishthenecessarythingstoempowerthemtomakethetransitionintoahealthierlifeoutsideofTHE PATH.Manyofourclientscouldbeyourneighbornextdoororthepersonyouwork

alongsideeveryday,andduetomanyreasonstheycometoaplaceofneedinghelp.Homelessnessdoesn’tdiscriminate.Itcanaffectanyone!BecauseofwhatI’veheardandobserved,I’mmorethankfulfortheabundantgraceextendedtome. AdistraughtyoungmannamedNicholasstandsoutinmyrecollections.Iworkedwithhimonlybriefly,andlearnedhewasavictimofneglectandabuse—someoneoverlooked,justanotherfaceinthecrowd.AsweshowedhimthatGodnotonlylovedhimbutwantedtogivehimalifewithhope,NickreceivedJesusasSaviorandbegan

anewjourney.Wewitnessedsmall,miraculouschangestakeplaceandthenhewasgone,muchsoonerthanexpected.IgetwordonceinawhilethatsomeonehasseenNickwalkingorstandingatabusstop.Thatbringsbacktomindthatwehaveonlyashorttimetosharesomuch.Whatagreatopportunityandresponsibility...(continued on pg. 2)

Path NeedHelp us get the word out

about our bargain stores!

We can send you this coupon flyer

to pass out to friends, neighbors,

co-workers & club members…

or place in your business reception area!

Path Bargain

stores support the shelter & our clients…

Call 352-527-6500,

ext. 5 to volunteer

a history of Changing Lives