The client has changed and rescue mission programs have changed to meet the client base. Today, up to 40 percent of those seeking help are women, and women with children. This is a segment that is not being met in the local missions. Seventy-nine percent are under 45 years of age and 71 percent are local people.

In many cities, the skid row areas are gone, and homeless and other needy people are in "pockets of poverty," often miles from center city. In 1995, only 37 percent of those coming to rescue missions were white. In 1989, 51 percent were white. The fastest-growing homeless population is children, and this is a drastic change for those working with the poor.

City Mission outreach began in 1826 in Glasgow, Scotland, to reach out to the poor and broken whom the church was not reaching. In 1872, Jerry McAuley opened what today is the McAuley Water Street Mission in New York City.

In the early days, missions dealt with a great variety of needs: immigrants, pregnant girls, orphans, widows, as well as those who became involved with drugs and alcohol. Emma Whittemore, who with her husband founded the International Union of Gospel Missions in 1913, founded over 100 Doors of Hope ministries for pregnant young women. As times and neighborhoods changed, the rescue mission's ministry changed. More emphasis was placed on work with alcoholic men and ministry through building-based programs, even though many other outreaches were continued.

Today, with the changes affecting the client base, cities and welfare policies, rescue missions are again changing programs and methods to preach the unchanging gospel. Rescue missions are moving beyond their buildings to offer programs to people in need throughout their cities.

Missions are committed to "doing what works" to reach those unreached by the church.

Traditionally, rescue missions have served men who were labeled derelicts, hobos or bums. They were middle-aged Caucasian males who were alcoholics or just "down on their luck." Today, less than five percent of the rescue mission population fit this stereotype--middle-aged, Caucasian and alcoholic. Instead, the fastest-growing populations served by rescue missions are women and children, who comprise one- third of all homeless people in shelters today.

Programs for women and children are designed to break the cycle of homelessness. Classes are offered in parenting, budgeting and anger management in addition to Bible studies and off-site support groups to aid in living independent of the mission and dependent on the person of Jesus Christ. Our programs are designed to meet academic, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each resident. Our mission's "learning center" equips illiterate people to read at an eighth-grade level within a few months. The academic package allows people to advance their pursuits using vocational and software training tools.

The essence of rescue ministry is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel story does not stand alone in words. It is integrated into human lives, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of all who enter our doors. Today's rescue missions are as integral to cities throughout the United States as were "good Samaritans" on the road to Jericho some 2,000 years ago. The pioneers of this great ministry would believe they were on another planet if they were able to see the direction of rescue today. As long as there are people who do not have a home to go to, no food to eat, nor a family to call upon, rescue missions will always be ready for everyone who enters their doors.

The Agape House, a division of His Manifest Glory Christian Ministries, Inc. a California-based nonprofit religious organization, serves homeless, abused and disadvantaged women and children. We also serve pregnant young ladies that are homeless. Our unique, comprehensive program offers the highest quality services, which includes a transition to permanent housing: employment, education, training and placement; alcohol and substance abuse service; child care; family support and aftercare services. Our goal is to help homeless women and their families to realize self-determination.
 
 
 

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