Graduation – January 12, 2024

Rock Springs Church

6601 Zebulon Road, Macon

6:30 pm

On April 14th the Rescue Mission, joined by family and friends, will celebrate the April 2023 graduates of our Life-Recovery Program.  Each graduate has completed over 2,500 hours of recovery care activities on their journey to a transformed life by way of Jesus Christ. The  event will feature praise and worship along with inspiring stories of life transformation from our graduates!

MEET OUR GRADUATES

 

Anthony Glispy

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to stay on campus to transition to Phase 3 and get a job.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
This place makes me think of healing from all the pain and helping resolve all the unresolved issues/sin in your life.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
This place was life-changing for me. I needed to be rescued and I was on a Mission.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
Everything I learned and remembered I will apply to my life. I will also be an example to others in my walk with the Lord, and also help apply to other of God’s children.

Belinda Shaw

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan on spending time with my son and family in Amarillo, Texas, which is something I have not done before. I will continue to stay focused on Jesus and seek His will and purpose for my life.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
The Rescue Mission is a miracle in my life. Being here I have always felt that I was under the Shadow of God’s wing to protect me from evil and to help me know Him and myself better.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
The Rescue Mission is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. At the Mission, you will learn about the love of God and you will learn how to love and respect yourself. (it’s about your recovery…to overcome.)

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
Being in recovery at the Rescue Mission has taught me that my journey to overcome trials in this life is to surrender to God’s will for me. God is excellent in all His ways; He makes no mistakes. He would never lead me wrong if I continue to let Him fight for me. Exodus 14:14. Amen. I also want to always stay connected to the Rescue Mission, the Staff, Mrs. Jessica Coleman, and others who have encouraged me to grow. Proverbs 13:20. Amen.

Catherine Davis

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I want to find ways to stay connected to the family I have made here. I also plan to get a job and get my driver’s license restored.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
Change! God will change your life here if you allow Him to.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
I would tell future residents that you will get out of this program what you put into it. It is well worth your time. If you want to be better, this is the place to be. If you want to know what love is this is where you will find it.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
I will use what I have learned here in my day-to-day life and share my experiences about God and how wonderful He is.

Cheryl Koenig

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to pursue employment and independent living and to seek God’s will for my life.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
Love and grace come to mind when I think of the Rescue Mission.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
It’s the chance of a lifetime to get to know Jesus and His infinite possibilities through my beautiful broke sisters in Christ.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
Hopefully, I will use the experiences I learned here in everything I do and every word I speak until I go home.

David Booth

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to continue attending Celebrate Recovery. I want to find a place to live and get a job and work on getting my son back in my life.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
Life Change!  True life change is possible for anyone that believes in Jesus Christ.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
Don’t come here to check the boxes. Allow God to come into your heart and change your life and He will!

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
Being here has sharpened my leadership skills and helped me relate to all different kinds of people. This will help me enter back into society with an open mind, ready and willing to do whatever God has for me.

Fred Chapman

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to stay in Phase 3 transitional housing and get a job while staying connected to my Mission family!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
This is a great place to come for recovery and to change your life.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
It is a wonderful place to come to change your life.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
I continue to look forward to my new life in Christ.

James Williams

What are your plans after graduating the program?
First, to continue to stay here in Phase 3 and get more of what this program has to offer while saving money before I move onto a brand-new environment, people, place, and things.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
It has been a great help to my recovery and has helped me to become a firm believer in the power of God because of my submission to Him.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
Please be still while you are here and allow God to do amazing things in your life.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
If I should ever come across a situation that’s unhealthy, to use my guardrails and continue to go to those places that have kept me safe from the start.

Jennifer Merriott

What are your plans after graduating the program?
Listening to God’s will for me in finding a job and moving off campus.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
The Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia will always have a place in my heart because it’s where God brought down my walls and opened my eyes and heart to His grace and love!

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
The people here genuinely love you and want the best for you. Stay here and be open to what the Lord has for you.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
The skills I have gained in my many work therapy jobs have broadened my resume. The patience and people skills I have gained living with women and children in close quarters will definitely help anywhere, but most of all if I put the Lord first in my life always the blessing will follow.

Michael Lanier

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan on getting an apartment and going to Seattle, Washington to visit with my family.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
I think of Jesus Christ. It is a place for an individual to work on their issues and become productive citizens of Macon, Georgia.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
If you really want to get your life right, just hang in there and finish.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
I exercise the tools that the Rescue Mission has taught me in my everyday life.

Newell Peters

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to continue in Phase 3 housing and attending outside ministries.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
This place is wonderful.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
Come and participate wholeheartedly, and get ready to grow.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
I plan to use guardrails and boundaries to pursue my new adventures in Christ.

Rudy Acevedo

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan on staying for Phase 3 to begin my transition out into the world and start working. I will continue my life in recovery by going to church and Celebrate Recovery.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
It is a safe and loving place where you can learn to heal from anything.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
I encourage everyone to come here and face any issues they have in life by building a walk with Jesus Christ.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
The confidence I now have in myself through Jesus Christ will make me a better person as I strive to find my God-given purpose.

Sarah Miller

What are your plans after graduating the program?
To be honest I find this whole situation kind of overwhelming. I’m learning what fully surrendering to God looks like and doing my very best to have complete faith in Him and belief in His promises. I simply must choose to trust God for everything. If I can trust God for my salvation through Jesus Christ, I can trust Him for my daily needs and desires.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
For me, the Rescue Mission has been my safe place to heal from my many years of traumatic child abuse. I have spent countless hours in therapy and getting to know Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. For me, recovery has been a life-or-death situation, and I’m beyond grateful to the residents and staff for walking through one of the toughest years of my life.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
The Mission is a safe place for you to change the trajectory of your life and live a life of purpose. For a long time, I felt disconnected from my life. I spent most of it on autopilot, either regretting the past or dreaming about the future. It’s a place for you to explore what makes you tick and start building self-awareness.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
At the Mission, you begin to realize life is not predictable. That there are ups and down along the way. You begin to realize who God is and that he has a purpose for your life. I’m so thankful that God has allowed me to have a second chance and begin building my life on a firm foundation. Trusting God is not about ignoring your feelings or reality. It is not pretending that everything is okay when it isn’t. Trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when it is difficult.

Taylor Knight

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to get a job and go back to school to be an addictions counselor to help people like me know there is a way out of the storm.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
Hope! You will find hope here at the Mission, hope for a better life!

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
To stick it out! Allow yourself to be selfish and put God and yourself first for once. Don’t leave until the miracle happens like God restoring everything you have lost.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?

This experience will assist me in the future because it saved my life, and I will use it to inspire and encourage people in my future with and without addiction to find hope.

Tim Robinson

What are your plans after graduating from the program?
I plan to take it easy. I have several projects to do around the house, and I just want some time at home with my family!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
I’m thankful, and I think of love, peace, and serenity.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
Be patient with yourself, and give it time to sink in. Let the miracle happen.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
To never for the lessons I’ve learned. To be patient, forgiving, more understanding, and humble. To keep the first things first, Jesus Christ.

Victoria Chavis

What are your plans after graduating the program?
I plan to stay connected with my community and attend Celebrate Recovery regularly. I want to work and save money so that I can be financially stable.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this place?
The first thing that comes to mind is freedom. I was freed from addiction and my family has been restored.

What would you tell future residents about the Mission?
You are able to open up and make yourself vulnerable so that you may grow and prosper in your recovery. Forgiveness is possible. If you really want change you will get it here.

How will you use the experiences here to assist you in your future?
My trust in God has allowed me to have trust in others so that I may build healthy relationships.