Rescue Mission Report: Bridging Innovation & Tradition

This episode starts a series exploring the five historical eras of city and rescue missions. It highlights how these movements, born from the Great Awakenings, innovated to address urban problems like poverty and spiritual emptiness. Key figures like Thomas Chalmers and Johann Hinrich Wichern laid the philosophical groundwork, emphasizing “locality” and a comprehensive social safety net. This episode explains the crucial distinctio...

This podcast provides a comprehensive look at work therapy programs within Gospel Rescue Missions (GRMs). It explores the historical evolution of these programs, highlighting their foundational role in holistic rehabilitation for individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction. It also addresses the legal complexities and risks associated with operating such programs, particularly concerning labor laws like the FLSA and client ...

This podcast provides an overview of rescue missions operating culinary and food service training programs, frequently leveraging social enterprises like cafes, catering services, or food trucks (e.g., Springs Rescue Mission's Mission Catering, Charlotte Rescue Mission's Community Matters Café, KARM's Abundant Life Catering) to provide essential hands-on, real-world experience. These programs increasingly emphasize acquiring indust...

This podcast provides an extensive overview of Adult Basic Education (ABE) and High School Equivalency (HSE) programs within Gospel Rescue Missions, highlighting their critical role in transforming the lives of vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness, addiction, and poverty. It details how these educational services are often integrated holistically into broader recovery and vocational training frameworks, and it identifies com...

This podcast provides an overview of the curriculum tools and resources used by rescue missions to support clients in various stages of recovery and personal development. It highlights a range of third-party programs and academic partnerships focusing on areas such as addiction recovery, vocational training, financial literacy, and spiritual growth. The podcast examines in detail specific external curricula like Jobs for Life, Cele...

This podcast covers various vocational training initiatives across numerous rescue missions, categorizing them by the depth of information and reported outcomes. These missions provide a broad range of training, from trade skills like welding and culinary arts to digital literacy and soft skills, often through on-the-job experience within mission-run social enterprises. Many programs emphasize industry-recognized certifications and...

This podcast focuses on the multifaceted housing affordability crisis in the United States, and potential solutions. First, it highlights how restrictive zoning laws and NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) perpetuate segregation and limit housing supply, driving up housing costs and exacerbating homelessness. It traces the historical evolution of these barriers, from explicit racial zoning to seemingly neutral policies that still disprop...

This podcast gives an overview of the book Called to Serve in Rescue Ministry by Lorraine Minor. You can purchase the book at https://a.co/d/7c1pdfaThe podcast provides Christ-centered principles for those engaged in Rescue Mission ministry to the poor and homeless. It focuses on servant leadership modeled after Jesus. It builds a foundation by describing the history and purpose of Rescue Missions, how to develop a Biblical worldvi...

This podcast gives an overview of the book More than a Homeless Shelter: A Perspective on Residential Rescue Ministry Programming, by Chris Hedlund. You can purchase the book at https://a.co/d/bXVjsQ3 The podcast outlines principles and practices for creating effective programs at rescue missions that go beyond basic shelter to facilitate lasting life change. It emphasizes addressing root issues, not just symptoms like homelessnes...

This podcast provides an overview of Christian rescue missions in the United States, focusing on their history, operations, and philosophy, based on the book Enacted Christianity by Arthur Bonner (https://a.co/d/heAoKEZ). It highlights the origins in the work of pioneers like Jerry McAuley and the influence of Wesleyan holiness, emphasizing practical assistance alongside spiritual guidance. The podcast describes the diverse program...

This podcast episode draws on Women Who Changed the Heart of the City: The Untold Story of the City Rescue Mission Movement by Delores T. Burger to explore the historical impact of Christian women in urban rescue missions. It highlights the lives and work of women like Maria McAuley, Emma Whittemore, Clemme Ellis White, Fanny Crosby, Sarah Clarke, Marie Sandvik, and Estelle Phillips, who dedicated themselves to serving the impoveri...

This podcast gives an overview of core values that define gospel rescue missions, tracing their origins and significance. It establishes that these values are fundamentally Christian, stemming from the Bible, the life of Jesus Christ, and a long tradition of church charity. This podcast outlines key values such as Gospel-centeredness, serving the poor, acting with love and compassion, fostering transformation, relying on Scripture ...

Be inspired by the long and rich history of Christian charity and compassion, which forms the foundation for both the parachurch movement and the vital work of Gospel Rescue Missions. From the very beginnings, early believers demonstrated radical generosity and structured care for the needy, widows, sick, and imprisoned, fulfilling Jesus' commands and establishing a common fund to aid those in need. Over a millennium, monasticism e...

This podcast gives an overview of the book The Romance of Rescue by Dr. W. E. Paul, the author of Rescue Mission Manual and Miracles of Rescue. It explores the history and nature of Gospel and Rescue Missions from ancient times to the mid-20th century. It focuses on the founders of these missions, detailing their purposes in rescue ministry, the methods they used and how they organized their missions.Key topics include the Scriptur...

This podcast traces the interconnected histories of the City Mission and Gospel Rescue Mission movements.David Nasmith is the founder of the global City Mission Movement. The City Mission movement inspired its American manifestation in the Gospel Rescue Mission movement, which was founded by Jerry McAuley. It explores the foundational principles and operational approaches of both movements, highlighting their shared emphasis on int...

This very brief episode provides an introduction to the Rescue Mission Podcast by Dr. Andrew Sears, the President of City Vision University. This podcast is paired with a website and newsletter we are calling the Rescue Mission Report at rescuemissions.cityvision.edu. Season 1 of our podcast and our first article focuses on the History and Values of the Rescue Mission movement. The target audience is all rescue mission staff and su...