What happens after a man graduates from the mission and needs to face the “real world?”
Graduating a mission program generates opposite emotions of both, joy and fear. One guy told me last week that this is the first thing he has actually finished since middle-school graduation. However, there is also a fairly common theme of fear as well. Will I go back to my old life? Can I make it on my own? Can I trust myself? There is a fair amount of insecurity given past history.
Last week Deed & Truth sponsored a launch meeting to establish an alumni association for the Union Rescue Mission’s Christian Life Discipleship Program. We are partnering with the mission chaplains to create a ministry to help the graduates. This creates needed accountability and encouragement so critical for continued success.
We had an excellent turnout of about 60 men for our initial BBQ to cast the vision. The alumni association will provide services for the men’s continued success as well as involve the men in serving the men currently in the mission program. This fits well into Deed & Truth’s vision for partnering with missions to help extend their influence post-graduation.
Please pray for the graduates as they must learn how to create and sustain their own self-imposed programs toward successful and more independent living outside the mission walls.
Thanks to all of our financial donors who have helped create this new level of service for the graduates to sustain a healthy recovery and give back help others follow in their footsteps.
