Mission 911

THE VISION

Today I had a vision,

Of what others must have seen,

When I first came home broken,

Hopeless, weak, so unlike me.

From Hale and hardy, full of fun,

To desparate, tired and weary;

From one on whom the rest relied,

To one they now must carry.

So pale, so ill, my spirit broken,

Eyes dim, oh so thin;

A helpless, homeless, shameful man,

That they must now take in.

The things of which a life is made,

Had simply passed beyond me.

I was too young to be so old,

The Dark Man waited for me.

Hope and Faith had long deserted,

Love had passed me by.

The things most precious to my heart,

Had left me cold and dry.

My physical appearance was

So terribly diminished;

That those who knew me best believed

My life on earth was finished.

The only chance, a man once said,

Was to get up, keep on trying;

Those who quit will not survive,

But lie there weak and dying.

Pray to God, call on his name,

IN your weakness is His might;

Make peace with God, call on his name,

Only He can make things right.

And once again, the Lord proved true,

The promise he has given,

That all who call upon His name,

Are willingly forgiven.

What medicine cannot achieve,

Love freely given can;

God’s loving grace and spirit

Filled this worthless, empty man.

For faith and hope are ours to have,

Or not have as we choose;

But God’s love shared by others

CANNOT be refused.

For the cry of a soul in torment,

Is the prayer God loves best;

For the heakling only He can give,

Can bring that soul to rest.

July 2004 by David Parks

Deceased Resident

This is dedicated to the men and the families who were homeless yet found a home at Mission 911 in Corpus Christi, Texas.  The Mission is one of a kind, and founded on Christian principals. 

Tony Reyes and his family – his wife, two sons, aunts, uncles, parent, cousins - and friends work with city, county and state agencies to provide a literal home to homeless men and homeless families.  Not only a home, but work training, life skills, resume assistance, medical aid, utilities, and even food is all provided at no charge, other than the charge Jesus gave us to “go out and win the lost.”

Tony gave up a very good career in business management; his niece Rebecca gave up a job as Assistant to the President of the University of Texas, to open this shelter, provide for these people and to do it in almost total anonymity.  For giving up that job and benefits and working harder for less, Mission 911 provides the Reyes’s the satisfaction of working hard, witnessing hard, relying on support of the community for the expenses of running the Mission. 

Tony’s reward was to move into a job where 95% of the people he tries to help fail and go back to the streets, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not, but always with the understanding that God still loves them. I have seen Tony accept people he knew were not ready to complete the course, yet needed a place to stay while they figured that out.  I’ve seen him accept individuals back after multiple failures, one of the best examples of Christian forgiveness and charity, like it is taught in the Bible, that you will ever find.

A spiritual foundation has been built there.  Rarely is there a night during the week when there is not a Bible study or discipleship training happening. 

And another example of God using people to help people is the holidays.  Corporate and church sponsors cook and serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the Mission each year, and Tony insists that they bring enough to also feed the surrounding neighbors and their children not associated with the Mission.

He provides washing machines and dryers in the building’s basement at a cost that just barely covers the expenses, and it too is available to the neighborhood.

A lot of people who were living at the shelter owe their very lives to the Mission.  And God has blessed it by having the drug dealers in the neighborhood find somewhere else to go, having owners of adjacent buildings begin to renovate their own properties, and displacing the prostitutes that used to work there.  You see children playing in the streets again.

For his sacrifice and willingness to do God’s bidding, Tony and Mission 911 have reached a tremendous number of people.  Certainly no church volunteer group ever left after a week without being changed.

So this work, which attempts to reach into the mind of the homeless, to see from their perspective and walk a mile in their shoes, is dedicated to Tony Reyes, his family and everyone who helps keep the Mission going.  You all are surely laying up treasure in heaven.

God Bless you all.

John 10:3-4

Project King Family

Project Cost = $45,000.00 per year

This program is designed to help families and women. For eligibility to enter this program:

-  the family or female must meet the criteria for homelessness;

-  be willing to look at all avenues to change their life to include their spiritual way of living as well as programs offered to them; and

-  be able to either gain employment or to complete volunteer work at the local volunteer center within three weeks of admission (this depends on childcare and other variables for the participant).

This program was developed to help families engage in re-setting a family style of living.  There is a 9:00 pm curfew for the residents in this program and they must be actively seeking employment from 8:00am until 4:00pm Monday through Friday.

¨  Project Lucia

Project Cost = $28,500.00 per year

This is a source of nourishment for the body, mind and spirit in people.  The project is in a building where there is a dentist office set up to complete preventative medicine for indigent people.  A group room set up for Narcotics Anonymous meetings, Alcohol & Drug Education, Life Skills geared toward vocational success and Anger Management Groups.  There is a food pantry in this building to help feed the indigent people in Corpus Christi, Texas.  The building also maintains a kitchen for the residents of Mission 911 and for special events.

¨  Project Hogan

Project Cost = $35,500.00 per year

This program is for males who are just entering the program.  For an individual to be eligible to enter this program they shall:

- meet the criteria for homelessness;

- be willing to look at all avenues to change their life to include their spiritual way of living and programs offered to them; and be able to either gain employment or to complete volunteer work at the local volunteer center within three weeks of admission.

¨  Project Truth

Project Cost = $28,500.00 per year

This project has to do with residents and others in the community spiritual journeys.  This includes, but not limited to:

Walk to Siloam;

Bible Studies;

Alpha Program;

Spiritual Services;

Mission Trips/Spiritual Retreats;

and

Outreach Projects

 ¨ ¨  Project HOPE

Project Cost = $212,000.00 per year

(Homeless Opportunities Providing Employment) This is a program that has two computers hooked up to WorkSource and other job banks in the Corpus Christi, Texas area.  This program was developed to help all individuals who have a desire to gain employment and help themselves.

¨  Project M-911

 Project Cost = $25,500.00 per year

Once a client has maintained employment and completing programming for a time to be determined by the Mission 911 Team, they will have a chance to move into the apartment living.   This program was set up for the individual to begin to strive toward independence.  They cook for themselves, clean and maintain their own apartment.  Each individual in this program will continue to receive group sessions, individual sessions and spiritual guidance.  These individuals will continue to follow their Service Plans and work toward their ultimate goal of self-sufficiency.

The total program is mapped out to be completed in three to nine months.  The program will start to implement an alumni aspect for people who have completed the program to find fellowship and help others who may needs guidance.  The plan is for the past participants to engage in a monthly meeting to explore continued self-sufficiency.

¨  Project RAD

Project Cost = $55,000.00 per year

(Relationship and Direction) This is project designed to go into the community and search for youth between the ages of 16 – 21 who are either homeless or are street youth.  This project is to get them into a safe environment and keep them away from inappropriate behaviors they use as survival skills.  These projects is designed to help these youth become self-sufficient and learn coping skills.