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URBAN MISSIONS UPDATE

February 2012

stories - family - missionaries - events - opportunities

My Leadership Assessment Team.My job is to assemble and manage 15program resources to help placepeople brought in from the streets fora meal and help and assistance.Thisteam is represented by ChristianRehab programs such as TeenChallenge, hospital detox, shelters,etc.

I was able to help Jan (above), get into safe sheltering situation called RadicalLiving in Brooklyn. She is 69 years oldhomeless and just cant find a place to livthat she can afford. We hope to continuewalking with her in a process that leads more permanent housing. Picture yourmom or grandma in this situation. Shewas also pretty hardened but I keptreminding her that God was looking outfor her in her situation. Pray for hersituation and her salvation. Everyencounter with a human being is anotheseed planted!

The DWB Campaign this year has beenmore successful than ever. In February2012, an army of 1,400+ volunteers walkedevery block and subway platform inManhattan to offer every single homelessman and woman they encounter a hot mealand shelter from the cold...But moreimportantly, the Don't Walk By campaigngives the homeless an invitation to get offthe street and get a fresh start. This isaccomplished through our partnership withresidential rehabilitation organizations suchas The Bowery Mission and Brooklyn TeenChallenge. Such organizations offerplacement in a residential recovery programfeaturing a Christian discipleshipcurriculum composed of one-on-onecounseling, career, and educational training.

1400 VOLUNTEERS

750 (est.)PEOPLE ENGAGED ON STREET

425 (est.)HOSTED AT BASE CHURCHES

177ASSESSED BY RESOURCE TEAM

100 TRANSPORTED TO BED/PROGRAM

3 BROUGHT TO HOSPITALS

9 PLACED IN DETOX

88 TREATED BY MEDICAL TEAM

Luke 14:23 GWT Go to the roadsand paths! Urge thepeople to come tomy house. I want it to be full!

A record number 24 medicalvolunteers, (nurses and doctors),assessed and treated 88 people thisyear. We were blessed to have anoptometrist for two of the events and aprogram that honored all theprescriptions for free glasses.

Above (right): Intercessor Pastor MarkPerria and a volunteer prays for a maninjured in a mugging. He was assessedby our medical team and we sent him tothe ER. Above (right).

Assessment team members talk withpeople brought to our table after havingmeal and being encouraged by hospitalitvolunteers to partake of the availableresources. 177 people were assessed forvarious placement options over the fourevenings.

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GAINS... AND LOSSES

Joe Benanti, (center), washonored at our banquet last year ashe helped finish the Relief Basebuilding project. He tiled almost the

entire building himself. Moreimportantly he was going on the bus,fellowshipping with all of us on theteam, and had renewed his faith. Hewas diagnosed shortly afterChristmas with terminal cancer. Hepassed two weeks ago and washonored this past Sunday at amemorial service given by his sister.

We Need Your Support !If you believe in this vital Mission, pleaseconsider being a regular monthly supporter.We are sustained by people like you whobelieve in the work that God has us doing.$25, 50, 75, 100, 500 per month... it all adds upto help keep us here! Heres how to do it!

We have recently streamlined our giving optionso that all you need to do is go to

RELIEFBUS.ORG, go to the GIVE tab, and fillout the form. At the top, please be sure todesignate monthly or one time gift in :DonationType, and then in the space provided, entermy name HOFFMAN as staff designatedsupport. Complete the form and submit it...thats it.Thank you so much for your support and beinga part of our team!

Contact informationThe Relief Bus295 Walnut St.Elizabeth, NJ 07201800-736-2773Cell 201-832-3843www.reliefbus.orgfacebook.com/urbanmissionarybill@reliefbus.org

Bill with Rina AlmonteI met Rina last year at Dont Walk By2011. The Lord spoke to me on the spotthat Rina had a missionary calling on herlife and that she should pursue an avenueto carry out that calling. She recentlywrote her story for me- here are a fewquotes.

I met Bill at the DWB 2011 Outreach,and I had never heard of the Relief Bus.We instantly bonded and he encouragedme to check out the Relief Bus. I got somuch more that I bargained for!

After working in the bus one night inNewark, and going to the diner with theteam afterwards, I knew I could not juststay the same. The work of Jesus andour purpose in life should never be justwhen we are able to fit it in. Iimmediately began planning a regularoutreach schedule on the Relief bus inaddition to my already busy life.

I am eternally thankful to Jesus forputting DWB, Bill, and the Relief Bus inmy life. My involvement has changedmy life DRAMATICALLY and touchedevery area of my life. The people I havemet and bonded with help me to matureand grow more productive in theKingdom work God has given me.

Family Update:Steph continues to recover from surgery, adespite a scare is doing very well. Rebekahtaking voice lessons in NY and classes atCommunity College, and Lauryn is plannin

her wedding probably for September.

Please pray for our finances and our suppoOur mechanic bills are exceeding $5000 yeunpaid. Our mechanic has blessed us byallowing us to pay when we can, but 3 oldecars have needed lot of repairs over the pasyears.

My car has been in the shop the past 5 weefor major repair. And we would like toreplace Rebekahs inherited car from auntHelen with something smaller.

mailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.orgmailto:bill@reliefbus.org