Following a - Albuquerque Rescue Mission

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Ast. Executive Director:
Rene' Palacois
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One Little Girl
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Easter Footwashing
Event
A L B U Q U E R Q U E R E S C U E M I S S I O N abqrescue.org
Battlelines
God kept her alive & motivated her to start a new life.
Following a
New Path
"I kept on
trying to end
my life, but
God kept me
alive....
Meagan’s self-destructive life was killing her.
She was a drug addict, in an abusive
relationship, who couldn’t see her way out of
the darkness. Meagan attempted to end her life
through drugs, but God had another plan for
her, “I know I’m alive for some reason.
I kept on trying to end my life,
but God kept me alive... for something.”
meagan was born and raised in Albuquerque and she was raised by
her Grandparents after she was taken away from her Mother. She
continuously acted out against her Grandparents and began choosing
a life of drug abuse and unhealthy relationships. In high school, she was taken in
by a Christian family that taught her about God and she was even baptized during
this time period. However, Meagan's life was still full of turmoil and this left her
questioning God and his plan, “How could God let such bad things happen to me, if
He’s there for me? Why would God forsake me?”
As drug abuse became a prominent focus in Meagan's life, she realized that she
would do anything to keep the high. She became an exotic dancer and this opened
more doors for her to surround herself with the wrong type of people, drugs, and
CONTINUED INSIDE...
A L B UQUERQUE R ESC UE M ISSION TRA NSF ORM ING LIVES THROUGH THE P O W ER OF GOD’S LOVE

Changed
L I V E S A N D F U T U R E S
Following a New Path
CONTINUED...
physical abuse. Meagan turning
point in her life came after she was
beaten, by her then “boyfriend.”
It was a miracle Meagan
survived the beating and she
knew she only survived because
of God’s grace. Meagan now had
the motivation to start the process
of recovery, because she realized
God had a bigger plan for her.
She was scared to join a recovery
program alone, so she tried to
convince her boyfriend and
friends to go with her, but they
refused. Meagan knew, that if
her boyfriend and friends didn’t
want to get clean, she needed to
separate herself from them, in order to stay alive.
Meagan moved in with her Grandparents again and began
researching recovery programs. Meagan put together a list of
recovery programs and
the Albuquerque Rescue Mission was at the top
of the list.
Shortly after she contacted
the Mission she came in and
was introduced to the Women’s
Center of Hope.
When Meagan arrived at
the Women’s Center of Hope
she was overwhelmed, but
she could immediately feel an
immense concern for her well
being. She was introduced to
some of the women in the program
and the center’s supervisor,
Ocie. Meagan assumed there
would be no room for her to join
the program immediately, but after
speaking with Ocie her spirits
were lifted. “So, where’s your stuff?
Let me show you to your room?” Megan was not sure what to say to
Ocie, because she was shocked they wanted her right away. She was
amazed God had opened the door so quickly. The next day Meagan
moved into the Women’s Center of Hope.
Meagan was unsure about being in a faith based recovery
program, because she was afraid of not being comfortable or
accepted. The
Lord quickly
"Your word is a lamp to my
feet and a light for my path."
relieved her
fears and she
began realizing
how close she
was to recovery.
She could finally see her
future! She could live a clean and sober
lifestyle, continue her education, and find a good job.
Meagan is now enrolled in a ministry school program at her
church. She is learning God’s word everyday and studying lessons
that will help her in life. “I just want to be ready for whatever God
has planned for me. It’s amazing that the more I study the word,
the more I can use it to guide me in my life.”
Meagan wants to share her story with others, because she
wants women like her to know that there is a way out of the drugs
and physical abuse. Megan understands, “Jesus is the only way,
with Him you can do anything.”
Psalm 119:105
2 ALBUQUERQUE R ESCUE MISSION BATTLELINES

People
M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E
ABOUT OUR STAFF: R ENE’ PA L ACOIS
Guided along the right path.
For Assistant Director Renee Palacious, the road to the Mission included many
turns and false starts, but eventually God directed him where he was meant to be.
Ernest Rene’ ’Palacios was raised in a lower middle class, Hispanic,
semi-religious family in Albuquerque, NM. Semi-religious
because his father was an atheist, (although he came to trust in
Christ later in his life), and his mother was a devout Roman Catholic.
This caused some conflicts at times, but generally his father was amenable
to his mother taking him to church somewhat regularly. He loved
to read, study, he did very well in
school, he was never arrested, or
had any major interactions with the
police.
In his early 20s, Rene’ began to
question whether there was a God.
Would he go the route of his father
and become an atheist or would he
follow his mother's footsteps with
a belief in God? He knew only one
prayer, which was the Lord’s Prayer.
He decided that he had to know
himself if this God was real. He
began to pray the Lord's Prayer every
morning when he awoke and every
night before he went bed.
He would finish his prayer
by asking this God to reveal
himself if he was alive and
present in this world.
He prayed diligently for
one year with no observable
results and then one night he
answered the telephone and a young woman asked
him if he knew Jesus. Through several other circumstances
in his life, Rene’ came to know his sin and the
redeeming power of the living God through the work
of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Rene’ was now at peace. Peace with God and
peace within himself. He began to preach the gospel
to others at every opportunity. Sometimes he and his
best friend would just drive in to a neighborhood and
go door to door telling people about Jesus Christ and
praying for them. Soon after his conversion Rene’ felt
a calling in to the ministry. He married his beautiful
wife Bridgett and they moved to Arizona to study
the ministry, at a small ministerial college. The college was sponsored
by the Central Latin American District of the Spanish Assemblies of
God, where he was ordained.
After serving in several churches as an Assistant Pastor, Rene’
was given the opportunity, in 1994, to serve at the Albuquerque
Rescue Mission as a Teacher and Chaplain in the Men’s New Life
Program. At first, Rene’ wondered
what he had gotten himself in to
at the Mission. The first program
participant on his case load was
dismissed from the program,
by then Program Director Nick
Gabriel. The man became so angry
and violent that officers from the
Albuquerque Police Department had
to come and forcibly escort him off
the property.
Rene’ has seen many terrible
things happen at the Rescue Mission
and surrounding areas, but he has
also seen the work of God transforming
sinful damaged men
"In all your ways acknowledge
Him and He will make straight
your paths." ProvErbs 3:6
and women into His image.
There came a point in Rene’s
life when he realized this was
not the place he would have
chosen, but he knew that the
Lord God had chosen this place
for him. In spite of the weariness
that sometimes comes from working in this type of
ministry, Rene’ is at peace in the depths of his heart. He
knows he is where God wants him at this time and he
truly loves and cares for the homeless men and women
he shepherds.
Rene’ marvels at the way the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ works changes lives. Rene’ has served in
many different positions at the Albuquerque Rescue
Mission and is now the Assistant Executive Director.
He has been an official ordained minister for 28 years.
Including almost 19 years at the Albuquerque Rescue
Mission. He is an Anglican Minister and also serves as
Assistant Minister at Trinity @ The Marketplace.
3 ALBUQUERQUE R ESCUE MISSION BATTLELINES

News
F R O M T H E M I S S I O N
V OLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Crimson: A Five-Year-Old Girl with a Big Heart
Crimson is a five year old little
girl who has made a difference
in our city. Crimson’s parents
volunteer at the Albuquerque Rescue
Mission and every night before she goes
to bed, her parents pray with her for the
relief of homelessness. This has a very
big impact on Crimson.
One day, Crimson and her parents
were walking when they came across
a homeless man. Crimson asked her
parents if they could give him some
money and they did. When they were
driving home Crimson asked if they
could take the man home with them
so he had somewhere to sleep. Her
mother told her there would be no way to find
T HE MISSION UPDATE : H OLIDAY 2012
the homeless man again. Crimson became very
emotional and shared her concerns about the
man with her parents. Her parent’s posted her
concerns on Facebook and the response was
overwhelming. They started a donation drive of
food, clothing and blankets and they received
donations from all over the city.
The Albuquerque Rescue Mission had the
pleasure of meeting Crimson recently and we
are so proud of her and her parents for showing
God has put us here to help the less fortunate.
If you want to get your children involved in
something life changing, talk to your children,
pray with them, and help them understand the
reality of being homeless in our community.
Remember we all can make a difference. Help us
transform lives in our community.
Your help made Thanksgiving
a reality for hundreds.
at the Albuquerque Rescue Mission, we know how lonely the holidays can be for
those who are homeless, for those without family, or for those who cannot prepare
a Thanksgiving Dinner. For 59 years, ARM has provided essential services
such as food, shelter and clothing to the homeless and needy of Albuquerque. We are seeing
a steady increase in families and children coming to us for services. This year we saw
many more babies, toddlers and school age children with their parents, come through our
doors for our annual Great Thanksgiving Banquet.
Thank you to all who generously donated turkeys, canned and dried food, and so
much more. Organizing, cooking, and serving hundreds of people in a few hours happened
only through the help of over one hundred volunteers. God Bless all of you who
helped to make this a reality.
300 children recieved
heartwarming gifts.
our annual Gifts from the Heart Christmas
Celebration was held in December. A
Christmas message was provided to all
children and parents and then gifts were distributed
to over 300 children in attendance, along with hot
chocolate and cookies.
Thank you to all who donated gifts this year,
all who wrapped gifts, and all who volunteered
the day of the event. Thank you to Pastor David
Breidenbach, from Faith Lutheran Church, who
shared the message and to the girl scouts who helped
to make this event a festive celebration. Thanks to
you, many children experienced the love and wonder
of the Christmas Season and the birth of our Lord.
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Update
F R O M T H E M I S S I O N
Honoring Our Graduates
In December, six men and one woman reached an important
milestone in our New Life Program. Martin S., Charles W., Leo A.,
Dale H., Joseph G. and Meghan M. have completed 12 or more
months of intense addiction recovery, counseling, spiritual renewal,
and education. These men and women came to us hurt and broken.
Most of them never thought their lives would amount to much
ever again. Today, they are off the streets and free of addiction,
ready to start a new life. Thank you for helping us break the cycle of
homelessness and addiction. Congratulations Graduates!
The 2013 Easter Footwashing Event
Our annual Easter Footwashing Event was held on March 30 at the Albuquerque
Rescue Mission. Many who are homeless and on the streets seldom have normal loving
human contact. The ritual of washing the feet recalls Jesus’ action just before the Last Supper.
In Jesus’ time, foot washing was known as the lowest form of servant work and today it is a
reminder of humility and service to others. Treatment during this event began with a warm
soaking of their feet, followed by lotion application and a new pair of socks and shoes. We also
provided examinations and basic health care for the homeless.
Questions? Contact Mirabel Villa at 505-346-4673 or by email at mvilla@albqrescue.org.
We thank you for all that you do to support the Albuquerque Rescue Mission.
Gifts That Honor Loved Ones
One of the many ways our ministry partners reflect the care their loved ones displayed during their lives, is by making
a Memorial Gift to the ministries, of the Albuquerque Rescue Mission. We appreciate these gifts and wish to publicly
acknowledge them and the loved ones on whose behalf they were given.
Memorial Gifts
Kay Rasheed
Dr. J.A. Engelbrecht
Kenneth Cox
Brandon Sperry
Albert Pruett
Robert Davidson
Seth Grant
Frank Amparan
W.H. Nickerson, Jr.
Ryan Steward
Shirley Leslie
Jan Sinclair
Ann S. Laub
Lloyd Samples
Mon Adela Romero
Edgar Sandlin
Mrs. Lee Wilson
Pearl Martinez
Arthur C. Weirich
Albert Baca
Margaret Walter
Esther and Earl
Boutte
Lorraine Christianson
Tracy Fernandez
Sammie L. Oaks
Viola Noken
Sue Rudd
Larry Stevens
Brett Miller
Abe Attrep
Richard Wade
Cleve, Anna, Georg
Fin Kasik
Ruth Deloy
Nan Perkins
Michael Barreras
Josi R. Ashe
Ray
Norbert Koltuska
Mr. and Mrs.
Grossgoth
John Clewlow
Joe Burdette
John Fehr
D’Niese Decker Mills
Martin Sanders
Leslie Newcomb
Ed Green
All Gun Deaths
Amelia N. Hardy
Lloyd Samples
Dennis Emery
Paul Bennewitz
Salomon Esquibel
Bessie Martinek
Helen Fuge
DelFinia Chavez
Fidelina Tafoya
Jim and Mary Ann
Rogers
Frances Sears
Joe Gregory
Francis Cannavale
Esther Jerve
Jeffrey Trainor
Patsy Dimas
Mrs. Earlene Bray
Sherry Cox
Loretta Binfield
R J Shasta
Lois Vincent
Mary Ledbetter
Charles Hazen
Joe Chavez
Bill Lackey
James Thompson
Robert Kater
Margaret Baca
Dorothy Salazar
Jonathan Schmidt
Doris Woodall
Honorium
Bobbie and Tom
Isaacson
Bobby N. Holstead
Eva Hazen
The Mission's Board of Directors:
The Albuquerque Rescue Mission Board of Directors is a group of dedicated Christian leaders who tirelessly and prayerfully bring the vision
of how best to meet the growing needs and changing face of the homeless in our city. Their volunteer service and hearts for the poor, have
facilitated the current growth of the ministry of the Mission, as well as, positioned it for the future.
Ted Trujillo, Board President
Jeff Leslie, Vice President
Lori Bennett, Secretary
Angelo Winfield, Treasurer
Danny Cox, Member
David O’Dell, Member
Allen Nichelson, Member
Joseph Macaron, Member
Joseph Werntz, Member
Paul Collins, Member
Ray Rivera, Member
Warren Smalley, Member
Jolene Benoit, Member
Noel Behne, Member
Pastor John W. Hill, Member
5 ALBUQUERQUE R ESCUE MISSION BATTLELINES

Ways
Y O U C A N H E L P
Food, Supplies, Performers and Encouragers needed for
Celebration of Womanhood event May 10th
Every year the Women’s Day Room hosts our Celebration of Womanhood. This is not a Mother’s Day Celebration. On this day we remind
the ladies of God’s goodness. This is done by giving each lady a door prize when she comes to the festivities, through music, praise dances,
games, prayer, raffles and tons of good food. At this time we are asking you or your organization to participate in this annual event. We are
still in need of food and other needs below. We usually have between 6-100 people in attendance. The theme for this year’s event is,
“You Are More Than….” The celebration will be on Friday, May 10, 2013, between 12-4:30 p.m. If you have any questions please
contact the Mission, Monday thru Friday at 346-4673 ext. 255.
Food & Deserts
fried chicken
chips
salads
fruit trays
cut fruit
cake
Benefit the mission while you shop for groceries
Community Giving @ Albertsons. It just takes one person to help make a difference. You can help make a
difference for us simply by shopping at your favorite Albertsons store and using one of our Community Partners
Key tags with every purchase. The Mission will earn cash rewards based on our supporters’ purchases. We can earn
1% of the sale each time our dedicated Community Partners barcode is scanned with a grocery purchase.
If you haven’t requested an Albertsons Key Tag, please do so now by contacting Teresa Fleming,
Director of Development, at 346-4673. Thank you all for your support!
Hold a supply drive for hot weather items
As hot weather approaches, the need to protection from the sun comes with it. Please consider
holding a supply drive with your church, business or your family. Bring the items to our
donation facitility Monday-Saturday at 525 Second Street SW.
Bottles Water
Sports Drinks
cookies
enchiladas
sandwiches
cupcakes
soda, juice, punch
(non alcoholic)
Sun Screen
Caps
Socks
Sneakers
Place Settings
paper plates
napkins
cups
plastic utensils
door prizes
flowers
Lip balm
Toiletries
Volunteering with your group this spring
Battlelines
PUBLISHED BY ALBUQUERQUE RESCUE MISSION,
PO Box 331, Albuquerque, NM 87103, 505-346-HOPE (4673)
Editor: Teresa Fleming Design: OneCreative Photography: Scott Collins
Distributed bi-monthly to supporters committed to the goal of sustaining
and restoring homeless and near-homeless men, women and children of
Albuquerque and New Mexico.
Perfomers
musicians
singers
poets
dancers
Please consider volunteering at the Albuquerque Rescue Mission
this spring and summer. If you or your friends, co-workers, or
church groups are interested in serving at the Mission, go online
to www.abqrescue.org to fill out a volunteer application.
Call Vicki Whitby, Volunteer Coordinator, at 505-346-4673
ext. 222 to set up an appointment to discuss needed volunteer
duties, times, and dates.
Visit the Mission Online
Encouragers
pray with our guests
share testimonies
Prayer Needs
“ BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL
ANSWER; WHILE THEY ARE
STILL SPEAKING I WILL
HEAR.” ISAIAH 65:24 (NIV)
The Rescue Mission – We Pray
Heaven’s door is continually opened
and available so God’s Spirit will not
just visit the Mission, but be a place of
dwelling for his presence.
The Staff – We Pray God will
continually pour out His blessings,
wisdom, and love unto them so that
they may be fit to do his service.
The Women’s and Men’s Day Rooms
and New Life Program Participants –
We Pray God will equip each man
and woman with strength, hope, and
encouragement. Fill them with a
renewed spirit and peace that only God
can give.
6 ALBUQUERQUE R ESCUE MISSION BATTLELINES