John Is Celebrating HOPE! Your Support Brings Hope to the Hurting This Easter
BELIEVER Restoring lives in your community since 1952… do you believe
A NEWSLETTER OF THE MISSION AT KERN COUNTY • Easter 2021
Celebrate “I was lost, but Holidays Don’t miss… 2 NEW LIFE 3 now I’m found.” 4 in a Tent…
John is celebrating HOPE! Your support brings hope to the hurting this Easter.
P.O. Box 2222 Bakersfield, CA 93303-2222 (661) 325-0863 themissionkc.org “I was lost, but NOW I’M FOUND.”
ohn was a lonely little boy. He’d never met his J father, his mother was too sick to spend time with him and his half brothers and sisters ostracized him because he had a different dad. “There was always something in me longing to be loved,” he says. When he was 12, John began numbing his pain with drugs, but it didn’t heal his heart. Instead, his depression only grew. For nearly 37 years, he struggled with addiction, costing him jobs, destroying his marriage and leading him to attempt suicide. “I was on such a destructive path. I was losing everything and I didn’t want to live anymore,” he says. Finally, he found himself homeless, with nowhere to turn. “I didn’t want to be in the streets, but I didn’t know what to do,” he says. “I was lost and afraid.” Then John remembered hearing about the Mission and came to stay in our Emergency Shelter, where he found a warm bed, food and the support of our compassionate staff. It was then that he learned about our Christian Life Training Discipleship Program and decided it was for him. “I knew I needed something more in my life. I needed to change my direction. I needed Jesus.” Through Bible studies, chapel services and Christian counseling, John found the love he’d always been looking for. “I have a father now. God is the father to the fatherless. I love Him for that,” he says. “I’d do anything for Him.” John graduated from the program, lives in our transitional housing and is on our staff, running our maintenance department as a Missionary in Training. “Now I get to see the Mission do miracles for others,” he says. The Mission gave me a Thanks to the blessing of your support, “ new lease on life. John is celebrating Easter as a new creation in Christ. “I was lost, but now I’m found. Jesus is my ” Savior. The Mission gave me a new way to live.”
3 “I came that you may have life and have it A T r ansitional abundantly.” - John 10:10, NASB H ome for mothers and A Message from CARLOS BALDOVINOS children THE MIRACLE OF EASTER In 2018, we proudly opened the Lee and Krystyna Jamieson lives on in you Recovery Home for Women and Children. It has been our desire to Can you imagine what it must broken… every heart that turns to also open a transitional home for have been like to gaze into that Him… every life that’s restored is a these precious families. A place empty tomb that Easter morning? cause for rejoicing. where a mother can continue to To rise from the depths of despair And it’s all thanks to caring live, after graduating our 18-month to heart-pounding, indescribable friends like you! Christian Discipleship Program, joy… realizing Jesus conquered the This Easter, I pray that you will in a safe and loving environment grave? see God move mightily in your with her child while saving money, That’s the power of the own life, just as you have given continuing her education and resurrection. And that same power generously so He can work miracles planning her next steps into is still transforming hearts and lives in the lives of your neighbors like permanent living. today. John (whose incredible story is on We began the process of Jesus came that we may have page 3). building this home in late 2019. life abundantly, and we embrace May our hearts be as one as we There have been many curveballs that as our calling. We exist to cry out together, “Hallelujah, He is thrown our way, but we kept faith help our neighbors experience risen!” this Easter. in the promise that God finishes life to the fullest, as God what He begins. We are proud to intended. announce that, God willing, this As we celebrate the miracle home will be open late this spring. of Easter, we also celebrate the Carlos Baldovinos GET SOCIAL WITH YOUR LOCAL MISSION – miracles God is working in Kern Executive Director VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/MISSIONATKC County today. Every chain that’s
Celebrate NEW LIFE this Easter It’s hard to have hope when you’re hungry and homeless. This Easter, we’ll warmly welcome our neighbors in need with immediate help like: • A hot meal for $2.05 • An overnight stay in our shelter • Clothing, hygiene items & Christ-centered care YOU can give even more men, women & children the gift of meals and care this Easter. A nourishing meal, served with love, is often the first step to a new life in Christ! Give now using the enclosed reply card and envelope. Give online anytime at themissionkc.org. Thank you for your support of our Mission guests. Have a blessed Easter!
2 Holidays in a Tent... The Mission had high hopes that COVID-19 restrictions Don’t Miss This Year’s 5K would be lifted by the holidays… God had other It’s time to put this year’s “Mission Possible” 5K on your calendar for plans for us. During our Saturday, April 3. Last year, as events were being forced to shut down, we Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly pivoted from our usual live race to a virtual option. Over 200 people meals, we were able to virtually walked or ran to help fight homelessness and addictions one mile provide hot meals for at a time. All participants received a swag bag with a participant medal and hundreds of men, women t-shirt. Central Valley Timing helped us set up a “Solo” Run through the and children under a 160-foot RaceJoy app. Runners received cheers sent by remote spectators, progress tent! It was a sight to see! alerts at every mile and an automated virtual results submission. Many local businesses and individuals rallied together to Don’t miss out on both virtual and live festivities at the California Living provide food and resources to Museum (CALM) this upcoming April. For more information, go to ensure the community of Old themissionkc.org or call (661) 325-0863. Town Kern had a wonderful Holiday Season! Thanks for believing in our ministry; we look forward to partnering with you throughout 2021!
m CHECK ENCLOSED m BILL MY CREDIT CARD Yes, Carlos! Here’s my Easter gift to feed & m m m m care for homeless neighbors:
m $26.65 to feed & care for 13 people CREDIT CARD # m $53.30 to feed & care for 26 people EXP. DATE CIV/SEC # m $75.85 to feed & care for 37 people m $88.15 to feed & care for 43 people PHONE # m $______to help as much as possible EMAIL m PLUS my gift of $______for the Lee & Krystyna Donate now! (661) 325-0863 themissionkc.org Jamieson Recovery Home for Women & Children.
The Mission at Kern County P.O. Box 2222 ______NAME Bakersfield, CA 93303-2222 ______AFTTFDTFATDADFADADAATAFTFFDDFFFAAFAFADDDTTFFFAFDDDADAADTDTTTFFTDF ADDRESS ______CITY / STATE / ZIP EAS21