Reaching out, moving forwar
How a local homeless shelter is reaching
out and spreading hope to the community
caitlin.o'donnell
The feces of 25 men stare down from the bulletin board
at the desk, which is scattered with Bibles, sermon notes
and cards proclaiming “God Bless You.”
The phone rings — a woman with a felony requesting a
place to stay.
"Wp don’t have anything for ladies here at Alamance
Rescue Mission," Pastor and director Chip Sellew says into
the phone. "Our mission here is only for men."
Before he hangs up, he gives her the number of the
Durham Rescue Mission, which was converted from an old
hotel into a place for women and children to live.
"I hate, oh 1 hate saying no to folks like that," Sellew
says. 'Td love to see a ladies ministry get started, and we're
working toward, that but right now, we just haven’t had the
open doors."
But, in the majority of cases, Sellew and his staff don’t
have to say no to those who come to them with need.
Where It All Began
The mission, founded in 1988 by Robert and Pat Jones
and relocated to the old Glenhope Elementary School in
2003, strives to offer a "hand up, not a hand out" for men in
the Alamance County community in need of food, clothing,
shelter and guidance.
Typically, this includes those struggling with drug and
alcohol addictions.
"When the men come here, a lot of them have drug and
alcohol problems, and in that process, they’ve lost their
femlly, their job and their home,” Sellew says. "Many of
them, when they come here, they don’t have anything."
Such was the case for resident Clifford Rutledge, who
came to the mission sbc months ago after struggling for
years v«th addictions to drugs and gambling.
"I w/as just about at wits end, thinking of robbing a bank
or suicide," he says. "When my sister first asked if I’d be
willing to come to this place, 1 thought it was a cop-out But 1
agreed, and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me."
Since he arrived, he has begun to work in the kitchen
at the mission and obtained an outside job, and he says he
plans to stay at the mission a little while longer.
For the first 30 days of residency, the men are
considered under "restriction," according to Sellew. During
this time, they are not permitted to make phone calls or
have visitors and are expected to work around the building
or at the Good Samaritan Super Thrift Store, which is run by
the mission. They are also required to attend Bible studies
and church services throughout the week.
“Because this is a Bible-based ministry, what we try
to do is to get them to see that there’s a better way. They
don't have to go back to where they were when they get
off restriction and begin to touch base with the real world,"
Sellew says. "We want to let them know they aren’t just an
accident. They can be a constructive part of the community."
Working Their Way into the “Real World”
Once off restriction, the men can remain at the mission,
paying a $55 per week contribution and going into the
community to look for a job.
“We try to get them in the process of being able to deal
with paying and saving," Sellew says. “The fee doesn't pay
for everything they have, but it does help offeet costs."
After his initial 30-day stay at the mission, resident
Ricky Rimmer chose to continue living there as he works to
overcome his past struggles with alcohol.
Though he says his femily has been supportive and
understanding of his situation since he came to the mission,
he knows his actions in the past let them down.
"I'm trying to get everyone back to where they will
trust me," he says. “Right now. I’m in a situation where I
can understand them not trusting me because of what I've
done."
Rimmer's situation is a typical one for many men after
the restriction period, Sellew says, especially when femilies
see a difference but don't necessarily trust them yet
"The (men) have been trying to get bridges rebuilt and
relationships reestablished wnth the intent that femily will
Invite them back home," Sellew says. "Hopefully by the time
that happens, they'll be able to step back into their femily
as a different man with different goals and a stability they
didn't have when they came here."
For those that choose to leave the mission after the
restriction period, Sellew says he rarely hears fi-om the men
and wonders how much difference is actually made in their
lives.
“I worry about them because they're thinking ift^
last the 30 days, they can go back to their old lifestylei
doesn't benefit them," he says.
While few are mandated to be there and have the|i
to leave at any point, Sellew sajfs the men are "bombi
with principles" intended to strengthen them and
encourage them to move in the right direction.
The "tight ropes" the mission upholds for the resi^
have led to positive changes in Rimmer's life, he says
including strengthening his feith in God and lesseninj
reliance on alcohol.
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