G R A D U A T I O N

Twelve students graduated from various Gospel Center Rescue Mission programs on September 15. Barbara Aguilera, Jennifer Allen-Taylor, Salvador Azevedo, Roger Carranza, Chris Evon, Billy Freeman, Dominique Hidalgo, Vince Maimone, Kathleen Nesler, Carrie Smith, Maurice Wilson, and Kandi Zimmerman all received graduation certi�cates after being recognized by their counselors.

Quail Lakes Baptist Church Senior Pastor Marc Maffucci gave a keynote speech, encouraging graduates to keep their eyes on God’s plan for their futures. GCRM Food Service Director Robert Smith and County Supervisor District 3 Tom Patti presented many graduates with Food Service Certi�cates and County Certi�cate of Recognition.

Our graduates are now on to bigger and better things – doing it all with the help of Jesus.

The next graduation will be held on November 17 at 1:30 pm in the Chapel.

It’s amazing what a community can do when its citizens come together to work for a great cause. On September 23, the Gospel Center Rescue Mission was the worksite for Love Stockton – a day when churches, organizations, and individuals gather to serve and make a difference.

Love Stockton projects at GCRM included painting, landscaping, cleaning, �ooring, cement pouring, and much more.

Spearheading these projects were individuals from 28 local churches, community groups, and businesses. Many

other organizations donated funds, supplies, and food.

Several local media outlets also visited the campus or provided publicity, including KYCC Christian Radio, KXVS Voice of Stockton Radio, The Bull Country Radio, KCRA 3 Hearst Television, and the Stockton Record.

GCRM Board, staff, and students cannot thank enough all those who dedicated their time and efforts to these projects. Because of Love Stockton, the Gospel Center Rescue Mission can continue to restore lives through the love of Jesus.

Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors for donating your time, talents, and resources to the Love Stockton projects.

• Love Stockton • Quail Lakes Baptist Church• Beyond Remodeling• Van de Pol Enterprises• First Baptist Church of Stockton• Second Baptist of Stockton• Central Church of Christ • City of Stockton, California• Cornerstone Youth Alliance Stockton • Home Depot • Jen Wah Chinese Senior Center• KCRA 3 (NBC) Hearst Television• KXVS Voice of Stockton Radio• KYCC Your Christian Companion Radio• Lincoln Center• Lincoln Presbyterian• P&L Concrete• PG&E• Church of the Presentation• RB Environmental• Ripon Serve• Saint Bernadette's Catholic Church• SASS! Public Relations• Stockton Host Lions Club• Stockton Record• The Bull Country Radio• 2017 GCRM Board & Campaign• 2017 GCRM Employees & Campaign

COMMUNITY SPONSORS

445 S. San Joaquin StreetStockton, CA 95203

(209) 320-2310www.gcrms.org

CoAT

SoCKdRIvE

Give the gift of warmthAt Lincoln CenterNovember 12 - December 24Visit LincolnCenterShops.com for drop-off locations

THE VISIONN O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7445 S. San Joaquin Street • Stockton, CA 95203 • (209) 320-2310 • www.gcrms.org

JACKJACKWESBYWESBY

DONATIONS NEEDEDTURKEYS & PIES

Many of our students, along with the homeless and underserved in our community, are unable to spend the holidays with their families surrounding the dinner table. In order to provide nearly 300 hot, home-cooked Thanksgiving meals, we need your help! Turkey and pie donations are greatly appreciated! Please bring donations to the administrative building.

A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C E O

F O L L O W I N G H I S C A L L

God’s timing, not ours

God’s timing is amazing! Sometimes we wonder why our prayers are not answered right away, and then when we see the reason we say, “Wow! God, I am glad for Your timing and not mine!” Such is the case with the Love Stockton community service day that brought over 300 volunteers to our campus on September 23.

The Gospel Center Rescue Mission was originally slated to be one of the spring 2017 Love Stockton sites. However, the spring weekend involved a key wedding of one of our staff directors and one of our graduates. Therefore, we asked if our campus renovation day could be moved to September 23. What we didn’t know is that on June 18, we would suffer a �re by a suspected arsonist that would affect our free Clothing Ministry,

SSI Representative Payee Services, and Ministry administration functions. God’s timing opened the door for a later Love Stockton community service day – the perfect time to help us complete the �re damage renovations and restore other campus structures.

We thank the Lord for His timing and for moving the hearts of hundreds of volunteers to make a huge difference on the appearance of our campus!

Blessings always,

Wayne G. Richardson

He went from holding one of the most honorable professions in America to living on the streets. Jack Wesby �rst came to the Gospel Center Rescue Mission in 2012, where he graduated from the New Life Program. After falling back into his drug addiction, unable to �nd a job, he returned to the Mission last year. This is his hope – his second chance. This time around, he says, “I’ll nail it.”

Jack was born in Tennessee and endured poverty and abuse growing up. He was determined to come out of this way of life, so he joined the Army at the age of 18. After nearly 20 years in the service, things went downhill and he resorted to drugs. “My career was bad in the military – it messed up my mind a little bit,” said Jack.

During his time in the military, Jack moved around a lot – from New York to Panama, and many places in between. Because he had nowhere to go after he retired, he continued to move around the country as a homeless person. Jack lived on the streets of Stockton for six years before coming to the Rescue Mission.

Jack completed a six-month program and stayed at the Mission for a year, but was unable to get back on his feet. After relapsing, Jack came to the Mission for a second time last December.

Upon returning to the Mission, he was surprised to see a familiar face one day in the cafeteria – CEO Wayne Richardson. “I went up to him and I said, ‘I’ve seen you

somewhere,’” said Jack. They realized they were in the same unit in the military – Jack as a Staff Sergeant and Wayne as a Major. “When you leave the service you don’t really see each other anymore. I’m still shocked,” said Jack.

Jack graduated from the New Life Program in July and currently lives in transitional housing. “I have a game plan this time to improve my life. I’ve got a lot of people supporting me now, so I think I’ll do really well,” he said.

Though Jack struggled physically, emotionally, and spiritually during his road to recovery, he gained a greater faith. “I was angry at God. My faith weakened at times and I was about ready to give up on God, but this place strengthened my faith. God didn’t leave me – I had left Him. I believe the Lord led me here because he works in mysterious ways,” he said.

Jack is getting his life back in order as he pursues work opportunities outside of the Mission, but he feels he has a purpose right where he is. “I have a mission here at the Mission,” he said. He doesn’t know what it is yet, but he is patiently waiting to see what God has for him.

Now that he has been helped by so many people at the Mission, he tries to help as much as he can, whether advising his peers or doing service work on campus. “This place saved my life,” he says, so he wants to give back.

Jack went from the most structured life in the military to one of no direction, until he came to Gospel Center Rescue Mission. His story is all about the Lord’s continual work, even if it took Jack two chances. “I’m glad that I listened to the Lord this time. Sometimes we think we can do things on our own, but we have to depend on the Lord. I’m grateful that the Lord has given me a shot to do it right this time.”

Introducing Reverend Wayne Richardson

Wayne Richardson has held many titles throughout his life, from Army Major to CEO, and now Reverend. On September 24, Wayne was formally ordained by Pastor Jim Reneau, of the Fellowship of Ministers International, at the Gospel Center Rescue Mission Chapel. Alongside him were his wife, father, mother, son, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, aunt, and God parents.

JACKJACKWESBYWESBY

DONATIONS NEEDEDTURKEYS & PIES

Many of our students, along with the homeless and underserved in our community, are unable to spend the holidays with their families surrounding the dinner table. In order to provide nearly 300 hot, home-cooked Thanksgiving meals, we need your help! Turkey and pie donations are greatly appreciated! Please bring donations to the administrative building.

A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C E O

F O L L O W I N G H I S C A L L

God’s timing, not ours

God’s timing is amazing! Sometimes we wonder why our prayers are not answered right away, and then when we see the reason we say, “Wow! God, I am glad for Your timing and not mine!” Such is the case with the Love Stockton community service day that brought over 300 volunteers to our campus on September 23.

The Gospel Center Rescue Mission was originally slated to be one of the spring 2017 Love Stockton sites. However, the spring weekend involved a key wedding of one of our staff directors and one of our graduates. Therefore, we asked if our campus renovation day could be moved to September 23. What we didn’t know is that on June 18, we would suffer a �re by a suspected arsonist that would affect our free Clothing Ministry,

SSI Representative Payee Services, and Ministry administration functions. God’s timing opened the door for a later Love Stockton community service day – the perfect time to help us complete the �re damage renovations and restore other campus structures.

We thank the Lord for His timing and for moving the hearts of hundreds of volunteers to make a huge difference on the appearance of our campus!

Blessings always,

Wayne G. Richardson

He went from holding one of the most honorable professions in America to living on the streets. Jack Wesby �rst came to the Gospel Center Rescue Mission in 2012, where he graduated from the New Life Program. After falling back into his drug addiction, unable to �nd a job, he returned to the Mission last year. This is his hope – his second chance. This time around, he says, “I’ll nail it.”

Jack was born in Tennessee and endured poverty and abuse growing up. He was determined to come out of this way of life, so he joined the Army at the age of 18. After nearly 20 years in the service, things went downhill and he resorted to drugs. “My career was bad in the military – it messed up my mind a little bit,” said Jack.

During his time in the military, Jack moved around a lot – from New York to Panama, and many places in between. Because he had nowhere to go after he retired, he continued to move around the country as a homeless person. Jack lived on the streets of Stockton for six years before coming to the Rescue Mission.

Jack completed a six-month program and stayed at the Mission for a year, but was unable to get back on his feet. After relapsing, Jack came to the Mission for a second time last December.

Upon returning to the Mission, he was surprised to see a familiar face one day in the cafeteria – CEO Wayne Richardson. “I went up to him and I said, ‘I’ve seen you

somewhere,’” said Jack. They realized they were in the same unit in the military – Jack as a Staff Sergeant and Wayne as a Major. “When you leave the service you don’t really see each other anymore. I’m still shocked,” said Jack.

Jack graduated from the New Life Program in July and currently lives in transitional housing. “I have a game plan this time to improve my life. I’ve got a lot of people supporting me now, so I think I’ll do really well,” he said.

Though Jack struggled physically, emotionally, and spiritually during his road to recovery, he gained a greater faith. “I was angry at God. My faith weakened at times and I was about ready to give up on God, but this place strengthened my faith. God didn’t leave me – I had left Him. I believe the Lord led me here because he works in mysterious ways,” he said.

Jack is getting his life back in order as he pursues work opportunities outside of the Mission, but he feels he has a purpose right where he is. “I have a mission here at the Mission,” he said. He doesn’t know what it is yet, but he is patiently waiting to see what God has for him.

Now that he has been helped by so many people at the Mission, he tries to help as much as he can, whether advising his peers or doing service work on campus. “This place saved my life,” he says, so he wants to give back.

Jack went from the most structured life in the military to one of no direction, until he came to Gospel Center Rescue Mission. His story is all about the Lord’s continual work, even if it took Jack two chances. “I’m glad that I listened to the Lord this time. Sometimes we think we can do things on our own, but we have to depend on the Lord. I’m grateful that the Lord has given me a shot to do it right this time.”

Introducing Reverend Wayne Richardson

Wayne Richardson has held many titles throughout his life, from Army Major to CEO, and now Reverend. On September 24, Wayne was formally ordained by Pastor Jim Reneau, of the Fellowship of Ministers International, at the Gospel Center Rescue Mission Chapel. Alongside him were his wife, father, mother, son, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, aunt, and God parents.

G R A D U A T I O N

Twelve students graduated from various Gospel Center Rescue Mission programs on September 15. Barbara Aguilera, Jennifer Allen-Taylor, Salvador Azevedo, Roger Carranza, Chris Evon, Billy Freeman, Dominique Hidalgo, Vince Maimone, Kathleen Nesler, Carrie Smith, Maurice Wilson, and Kandi Zimmerman all received graduation certi�cates after being recognized by their counselors.

Quail Lakes Baptist Church Senior Pastor Marc Maffucci gave a keynote speech, encouraging graduates to keep their eyes on God’s plan for their futures. GCRM Food Service Director Robert Smith and County Supervisor District 3 Tom Patti presented many graduates with Food Service Certi�cates and County Certi�cate of Recognition.

Our graduates are now on to bigger and better things – doing it all with the help of Jesus.

The next graduation will be held on November 17 at 1:30 pm in the Chapel.

It’s amazing what a community can do when its citizens come together to work for a great cause. On September 23, the Gospel Center Rescue Mission was the worksite for Love Stockton – a day when churches, organizations, and individuals gather to serve and make a difference.

Love Stockton projects at GCRM included painting, landscaping, cleaning, �ooring, cement pouring, and much more.

Spearheading these projects were individuals from 28 local churches, community groups, and businesses. Many

other organizations donated funds, supplies, and food.

Several local media outlets also visited the campus or provided publicity, including KYCC Christian Radio, KXVS Voice of Stockton Radio, The Bull Country Radio, KCRA 3 Hearst Television, and the Stockton Record.

GCRM Board, staff, and students cannot thank enough all those who dedicated their time and efforts to these projects. Because of Love Stockton, the Gospel Center Rescue Mission can continue to restore lives through the love of Jesus.

Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors for donating your time, talents, and resources to the Love Stockton projects.

• Love Stockton • Quail Lakes Baptist Church• Beyond Remodeling• Van de Pol Enterprises• First Baptist Church of Stockton• Second Baptist of Stockton• Central Church of Christ • City of Stockton, California• Cornerstone Youth Alliance Stockton • Home Depot • Jen Wah Chinese Senior Center• KCRA 3 (NBC) Hearst Television• KXVS Voice of Stockton Radio• KYCC Your Christian Companion Radio• Lincoln Center• Lincoln Presbyterian• P&L Concrete• PG&E• Church of the Presentation• RB Environmental• Ripon Serve• Saint Bernadette's Catholic Church• SASS! Public Relations• Stockton Host Lions Club• Stockton Record• The Bull Country Radio• 2017 GCRM Board & Campaign• 2017 GCRM Employees & Campaign

COMMUNITY SPONSORS

445 S. San Joaquin StreetStockton, CA 95203

(209) 320-2310www.gcrms.org

CoAT

SoCKdRIvE

Give the gift of warmthAt Lincoln CenterNovember 12 - December 24Visit LincolnCenterShops.com for drop-off locations

THE VISIONN O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7445 S. San Joaquin Street • Stockton, CA 95203 • (209) 320-2310 • www.gcrms.org