Volume 4, No. 1
Winter 2015
A Message from Our Resident Manager, John Bornhoeft…
In This Issue...
✴ YMCA Opportunity
✴ Feed
the Falls Success!
for Volunteers
✴ Disciple Spotlight
✴ Prayer Requests
✴ Bible Bites
✴ Call
I would just like to say thank you to all that came through the doors of Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission to help us this past year! We have
been blessed by your giving, love, kindness, and of course your prayers for the mission – the staff, disciples, overnight guest and the
community.
In particular, I would like to thank Niagara Community Church, Niagara Falls First Assembly, Whitehaven Road Baptist
Church, and The Chapel at Crosspoint for opening up their facilities to help with our Thanksgiving and Christmas “Feed
the Falls” events. Over 2,000 hot meals were delivered by friends from over 30 WNY churches on those two special days!
YMCA Building: New Opportunities and Challenges for the Mission!
It is always a blessing when the body of Christ comes together and thinks about others that are in need. We thank you
all from the bottom of our hearts. God Bless you!
By God’s Grace,
John Bornhoeft
By Shaun Smith – There’s been a difficult challenge facing our ministry
since last June after Niagara Falls YMCA Executive Director Greg Larson
walked me through his 57,000 square foot building on Portage Road. He
was presenting the idea that our ministry consider acquiring their soon be
vacant building to help meet a demanding need for expanded services to
the homeless and poor in Niagara Falls.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
Bible Bites by Pastor Rich Neumann
John writes in 1 John 2:6, “He who says he abides in Him ought to
walk just as He walked.”
Jesus didn’t need to scream to get people’s attention. He simply lived a
selfless, caring life; His abnormal teachings caused His peers to sit up and
listen – that only He is the way to God; that sin is our real problem; that hell
awaits those who reject Him. Plus, His awesome miracles were enough to
wake up anyone from their mundane lifestyle. You see, it’s not the light,
occasional rain that ruffles our feathers; it’s the continual downpour, with 90
mph. winds that gets our attention. It gets us moving and doing something –
‘I better close those windows’; ‘I better check for leaks in the basement’.
I guess what I’m getting at, is that, as Christians and churches, we’ve lost
that ultimate impact, that abnormality and freakishness to us. Generally
speaking, we’ve lost people’s attention. Why? Because our personal, daily
walks have become like well-worn paths in the woods; we’ve become too
common and normal and ordinary. Nothing new or risky or different
characterizes us. Remember, that Jesus came from above as an alien and
He beamed us up to His world, and made us citizens of Heaven. He didn’t
become morally like the lower world and blend in. He stood out, caught their
attention, and captured souls. His inner life amazed people!
And yet, as God’s children, we’ve been sucked into the mold of this world,
and we really don’t look much different than they. Normal living doesn’t get
noticed; it’s the bizarre (in the world’s opinion), the non-typical, the nonconforming lifestyle that awakens the sleeper and turns the heads. You
don’t believe me? Just go up to a crowd of people and start eating 100
worms; just suck em all down. I guarantee, you’ll get their attention. Or lay
in a tank with 100 poisonous snakes crawling all over you; let thousands of
bees cover your body, or climb up the Empire State Building like
Spiderman. The crowd will gather around you. They crave those ultimate,
weird things! This is our present culture.
My brethren, if everybody is doing it, it becomes normal and common and
stale. God wants us to get out of the boat and walk on water – to be stand
out people; to give out an abnormal punch to our world to wake it up. We
want our Mission to stand out in Niagara Falls as a place where we capture
people's attention so they'll listen to God's message of good news in Jesus
Christ. When people off the street enter our facility, we want them to feel
one main thing immediately: GOD'S LOVE. They already know they've
done wrong; in fact, our congregation at NGRM is filled with people who are
daily making sinful choices in their lives. Believe me, we've seen it all.
Initially, they don't need our condemnation but our friendship. When we
build a solid relationship with them, then we truly have the right to tell them
the whole truth about the way they're living. Our love for them may be the
only love they'll experience in their world. I just talked to a woman the other
night who said she comes to the Mission because it's her real family; she
feels loved! Does your church make people feel loved no matter how they're
living? Do you make people feel loved like that?
Who is the least person that you would ever show love to? Start soon to
love that person and you'll better understand the love that Jesus showed
you on the Cross.
For His Glory,
Pastor Rich
Please cut along the dotted line and return the portion below with your gift and/or prayer needs! Thank You!
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“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Address ________________________________________________________
Please prayerfully consider your continued giving for the support of
our ministry’s work in Niagara Falls. We receive NO funding from
government sources. Simply fill out the information below and mail it
to our PO Box at the address listed so that we may also keep you
informed. Thank you for your caring heart!
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Newsletter
City/Town _______________________________________________________
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Mailing Address: PO Box 2657 Niagara Falls, NY 14302-2657
Mission: 1023 Ferry Ave. Niagara Falls, NY 14301 phone 716.282.0432
Email: [email protected]
A week later, our mutual friend Perry Jones, Executive Director of Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany, drove up to
see what all the fuss was about. Perry had planted and expanded several new Gospel missions in the northeast and
was now bringing his experience to help us see if this was a even a feasible undertaking for our ministry here in
Niagara Falls. After a presentation of the “landscape of homelessness” in Niagara Falls, we toured the building to
discuss the potential and consider not only how “fit” the building’s condition was, but also how well did the
building “fit” the current and future needs for the poor and homeless in Niagara Falls.
The next day, as Perry and I spoke on the phone as he drove back to Albany, I was still skeptical. But he made
something very apparent as I levied my fears against this being the next move for our Mission. Perry asked me, “Is
the current, smaller, 24-bed mission what God originally wanted for this ministry?” That question rang a loud truth to
my mind that I had overlooked, but was always in my heart… the answer was “no”. The original vision was (always)
to offer much-needed services not just to men, but also to
homeless women and children in need. Certainly we had met
some needs in our 50-seat dining room each day, but with our
current building, we were not able to serve homeless women
and children. This YMCA building could easily meet this ever
growing and severe need.
The next step of God’s “direction” in my heart was the
realization that the YMCA’s 56-room SRO (single room
occupancy) program had already functioned as the City’s
largest homeless shelter for years! Roughly 65%-70% of
the men living at “The Y” had been sent from Niagara County
Department of Social Services (DSS). Monthly rents had been
paid regularly by DSS as long as the men qualified. This had become the preferred placement and
best low cost solution for a County agency overburdened with as many as 114 homeless individuals applying for help
each month in Niagara Falls in 2014, averaging 87 per month throughout the year! (Continued Inside…)
“Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land
which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it” Deuteronomy 15:4
How can we pray for YOU? _________________________________________
Amount $_________________
*You can donate by credit or debit card on our secure website at
www.niagaramissions.org
I left wondering if this was God showing us His next course of growth, or
just something we should turn and walk away from. But after much
prayer (to this day) and a call to my friend and mentor, Tom McLaughlin,
past director of Buffalo City Mission, God opened a door to start seeing
what He was showing us. Greg later said that I had “kept a good poker face”
in that initial walk-thru, leading him to think there was NO interest at all. But there was!
Thank You! You can be assured that your information is kept confidential.
NLW15
Our Latest Mission Stats: from September to November...
Meals Served: 6,311
Meal/Chapel Services: 276
New Life in Christ Classes: 158
Total Overnight Beds Used: 1,183
Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission
is a 501(c)3 non-profit and a proud member
New Opportunities and Challenges (cont.)
(“New Opportunities” cont.)
Five years ago, I used to pick up a man and
woman who lived at a local, notorious,
boarding house for weekly Bible study. I
remember the deplorable conditions and lack
of oversight for these “tenants.” I also
remember that these were the kind of places
where the so-called “undesirables” of our
community lived, some, though highfunctioning, were really being taken
advantage of by others who stole and
cheated them regularly. It was sad to see. I
thought to myself, “What happened to the
days when the Church (homes) took care of
such people as God has given them to us for
stewardship?”
It was upon remembering this that I realized
this 56-room SRO at “The Y” was also about
God giving to us the very stewardship of
the “undesirables” I had seen back in that
rooming house. Their income was low and
fixed, they needed a clean and safe place to
stay, and best part… they could gain the
added value that a Christ-centered, Gospel
rescue ministry can bring to their very
place of residence!
Dear friends… we’re challenged in making
this vision happen. We’ve been good
stewards of what you and God have
entrusted to us so far. We trust God and want
to take the steps necessary to achieve this by
moving forward with this amazing opportunity
to take this building. Our 28-page proposal
containing a 5-year
plan to operate in the building was presented
to the YMCA in December. Their board of
directors, trustees and membership
unanimously accepted the offer of $1 for the
building, seeing that NGRM was the most
appropriate organization to capably handle
not only their SRO program to help men (and
women in the future), but also utilize a soon
to be vacant building for the purposes of
helping many others who are impoverished in
Niagara Falls. Even Mayor Dyster was struck
by what he called the best presentation he
had seen in all of his years as Mayor. Praise
God!
But we need your prayers more than ever
now As God calls and gives us greater
opportunities to minister to the poor in
Niagara Falls. There is much work yet to
do! Join us as we seek God’s perfect will,
blessing and guidance in the acquisition of
this new building. Initially, we will need to
raise about $150,000 for a new kitchen and a
men’s emergency dormitory, both necessary
for our immediate daily work and the
transition from Ferry Avenue. We may also
need to install a costly sprinkler system. Pray
also for a few who oppose us… May they
see the homeless as God does, with
compassion and a helping hand of hope!
The City of Niagara Falls has a deep need for
a strong Gospel rescue mission that is
dedicated to caring for each and every person
coming through it’s doors! Yes, God can
redeem even the most hardened and broken
hearts… making beauty from ashes, creating
productive, contributing citizens from those
who are often considered society’s “castaways.” Let’s see what He does in all of this!
Call us at (716) 282-0432 for volunteer information, or email us at [email protected]
Volunteer News
God’s Volunteer Helpers
We Need Your Help!
God has prepared and called a phenomenal
team of volunteers who work with the NGRM.
They consistently give of themselves and
their resources to make the work of this little
Gospel Mission successful. We are so
grateful for each and every one of you!
At this time, because the needs of the
Mission continue to grow, we’re finding that in
the same way that Moses learned to ask the
people to help him, we too are learning to ask
for reinforcements.
We are currently in need of committed
volunteers who are called and willing to step
forward to work alongside of us to serve the
Lord in this community. We are called to
serve, and we are inviting like-minded friends
to prayerfully consider joining us in the work
of the ministry.
Enclosed with this newsletter is a Volunteer
Survey than itemizes some of the ways that
volunteers can get involved in the work of the
Lord in Niagara Falls. The needs are varied,
and the enclosed Survey itemizes some of
the ways you may be able to help.
If after prayerful consideration you too would
like to become part of this vibrant team,
please complete the Survey and return to:
Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission
PO Box 2657
Niagara Falls, NY 14302
God Bless you,
You can also complete the form online at
www.niagaramissions.org/volunteer.
Your Hands, Your Feet... and Your Heart!
Mission Celebrates ‘Feed The Falls’ Volunteers Who Deliver!
In the warm afterglow of 2014, Niagara Gospel Rescue
Mission enthusiastically recognizes over 350 generous
volunteers from about 25 churches. Each donated
countless hours, valuable resources
and incredible energy to make the
Thanksgiving and Christmas “Feed the
Falls” events a huge success again this
year… Praise God!
Over 1,300 Thanksgiving dinners and 800
Christmas dinners were prepared and
delivered to those in need by loving hands and generous souls all over the
community. Jason Myers, Board Member, commented, “It always surprises me that
no matter what we need, somehow someone always shows up to meet it. This
Thanksgiving we ran short of dinner rolls and a local man rose to the occasion saying, ‘I’ll
take care of it!’ A few minutes later he showed up with bags full of fresh rolls and big
smile.” God is our Provider… indeed!
The Mission extends a sincere ‘Thank You’ to all who generously participated by praying,
purchasing supplies, coordinating volunteers, baking turkeys, packing pies, bagging
meals, and delivering these precious packages all over town to people who had a need.
Together we made a difference, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you so much!
Our 3M Ministry is an opportunity for people to be directly engaged in helping the
needy in Niagara Falls. Your church or group will receive such a blessing by coming
to the Mission to serve! Come, join us and give God some of your time and talent!
Just call 716-282-0432 to schedule your group!
D. Shaun Smith
Executive Director
Prayer Requests from Our Disciples…
The following prayer requests were submitted my some of the men in our ‘New Life in Christ’ Discipleship
Program. Please pray for them…
Craig — “That I will make it through the program and that my nephew will grow up to know the Lord.”
Charles — “That I will see my Dad agin and that he will see how Jesus has changed my life. Also, that I may serve God in a
pastoral position if it is His desire for me.”
Bill — “For spiritual healing for me and my family and for unity in my family.”
Tyler — “Pray that my family abides in Christ and that God would continue to lead me to full time ministry for others.”
Mark – “For spiritual healing in my family and for strength to persevere in the program.”
Dino — “For my cousins Boyd (car accident injuries) and Lover (back surgery). For myself, that God would allow extra
grace from my brothers and sisters in Christ for me when needed.”
Tim – That my wife, Tina will come to know Jesus and that God will provide support for her while I am away.
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
Disciple Spotlight - William “Bill”
“I originally heard about the Mission through some friends of mine and had come a few times for meals
over the last couple years. On November 6, 2014 I lost my apartment, basically due to my persistent
drug use. I ended up at the Psychiatric Center at Memorial Hospital for help. Upon release, they sent
me to stay at the mission where I stayed for five days then left.
My life was unmanageable, so after a few days I came back and asked about their discipleship
program. The leadership team decided to give me a probation period to test my determination as I
really wanted a new life and a way out of drugs. I started the ‘New Life in Christ’ Discipleship Program and
God opened my eyes and heart to a whole new way of life. I now have a relationship with Christ! My old habits and behaviors are
fading away and a new life has begun. I attend Bible classes at the mission 12 times a week. I faithfully attend church and faith-based
recovery programs. I think positive, have structure and stability, and am a faithful believer in Christ.
I praise God for this program and the people that run it! I truly believe that if it wasn’t for God and the Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission, I
would never have changed and may have even died by now.”
Bill is in the second phase of our men’s “New Life in Christ” life recovery program. Please pray for him and the other men to persevere
in their faith as God grows and rebuilds their lives… relying upon the strength of the Lord to keep them focused and on track.