I recently learned a new term. When I checked with Gerald Snell, our shelter manager during the recent freeze, he informed me that Gateway Rescue Mission was a “warming center” and that we had a shelter full of folks seeking shelter from the cold. I said “that’s great” and proceeded to privately google “warming center”
It’s mid-morning and we just returned from ministry to the homeless camps. A young lady emerged from a camp in sock feet and I wondered how she made it through a night when the temps dropped into the twenties. A homeless man was found dead somewhere in Jackson early this morning. He apparently froze to
As Christmas approaches, our hearts at Gateway Rescue Mission are filled with deep gratitude. We’re grateful for the presence of Emmanuel — God with us — who meets each of us right where we are. In this season of light, we’re reminded that the story of Christmas is more than a manger long ago. It’s
As we head into Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking about how fast this year has gone and how easy it is to rush right past the little moments that make life good. So I just wanted to slow down for a minute and say a simple “thank you.” This season has a way of reminding us
In the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, homelessness and addiction continue to cast long shadows over our community. The Central Mississippi Continuum of Care’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified 273 individuals experiencing homelessness in the region — down from 315 the previous year. But local providers like Gateway Rescue Mission encounter far higher numbers on a daily
When we look around our city, we see more than streets and buildings — we see stories. We see people God loves deeply, each with their own journey of struggle, healing, and hope. At Gateway Rescue Mission, our calling is simple: to restore life in Jackson, Mississippi, through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Every
At Gateway Rescue Mission, this season is all about hearts coming together in love, belonging, and hope.
Being the Volunteer Coordinator at Gateway Rescue Mission has been an eye-opening experience for me. Homelessness is often misunderstood, and I’ve learned that many of the stereotypes’ people have about it are wrong. It’s easy to think that homelessness happens because of laziness or poor decisions, but the reality is much more complicated. During my time at Gateway, I’ve met
The New York Times screams “The Trump Administration has taken extraordinary steps to reduce federal grant funding to nonprofit groups.” According to the Times, “tens of thousands of U.S. nonprofits—aid groups, universities, hospitals,” and many other groups stand to lose an important part of their funding due to budget cuts. I don’t seek an ideological debate
Let’s face it—life can sometimes feel like a whirlwind of deadlines, group chats, and figuring out what’s for dinner. But what if you could hit pause, step out of the chaos, and make a difference in someone else’s story? That’s exactly what volunteering at Gateway Rescue Mission offers—a chance to trade your to-do list for something eternal.
A friend recently asked me about our “success rate” at Gateway Rescue Mission. I know what she meant. She was asking what percentage of our program residents remain clean and sober after they graduate. Still, I sometimes wonder about God’s definition of success. Each week, our outreach team at Gateway Rescue Mission visits the
In our fast-paced world, it’s all too easy to overlook those who seem invisible—especially individuals experiencing homelessness. They often bear the weight of societal judgment and stigma, reducing them to mere statistics or stereotypes. Yet, when we pause to reflect on their stories, we find that each person is like an abandoned house, waiting for
