Wheelchairs in First

When Chris was homeless, no one cared that he was disabled. But a little kindness at Atlanta Mission changed his life…

With tears in his eyes, Chris remembered the first time he came to Atlanta Mission: “I was waiting in line outside in the heat with all the other guys when a man came out from Atlanta Mission and said ‘wheelchairs in first.’ Since I’d been homeless, no one had ever shown any concern for my disability. No one cared. No one would even hold a door.”

He continued: “It gave me goosebumps that this man really saw me. It convinced me to stay and get help.” Not a moment too soon.

The son of an addict, Chris had unfortunately followed in his father’s footsteps — and paid dearly for it. Drug abuse cost him his wife, his home, and once he was incarcerated, his freedom. In prison, he suffered extreme violence that left him with a significant case of PTSD. That’s also where he lost his leg — a foot ulcer was repeatedly infected until doctors had no choice but amputation.

So much trauma left Chris in emotional turmoil. Once he was released from prison, he soon found himself suffering on Atlanta’s hot streets.

“Every day was a challenge. A struggle. The heat is brutal. There were times when I thought I would pass out. Trying to get food, water, and power to charge my wheelchair took all my strength. I’d sleep for a few hours at the airport or MARTA, but I was always exhausted,’’ said Chris.

Even still, he added, “the lack of caring is worse.”

All of that stands in stark contrast to his experiences at Atlanta Mission. “I received meals and a bed,” he said. “I always have someone to talk to, and the people here are helping me rebuild my life.”

Today, Chris is doing great! He has his own apartment, and he volunteers at Atlanta Mission nearly every day. “I like to serve the guys here, to make their days a little better. It makes me glad to pass along the same help and hope that I received.”

It's Going to be a Long, Hot Summer

This time of year, the heat can be deadly. Your generous support for Atlanta Mission
ensures no homeless neighbors must stay outside and suffer…

One man would search for littered bottles, then fill them up in MARTA bathrooms to ensure he had water… A woman with two young children was in anguish standing in the hot sun waiting for a bus… Others have suffered dehydration, heatstroke, and worse.

These stories from our guests show just how brutal the summer heat can be on the streets. “When a person comes to Atlanta Mission, they can receive water, showers, clean clothes, food, and a cool, safe place to sleep,” says Michael Sheppard, Shelter Director of The Shepherd’s Inn, our men’s shelter.

Your faithful prayers and support make those resources possible — and give comfort to many hurting people.

Last summer, the temperature was above 90 degrees nearly every day. For people trapped in the heat, dehydration and heat stroke were very real dangers. Sheppard explained, “When someone walks through our doors, we have a brief window of opportunity to show them love, and to encourage them to take the next step, choose help, and come off the streets once and for all.”

Sheppard adds, “Not everyone is ready for longterm help. So we remind them: It’s going to be a long, hot summer! Today is the day to choose help.”

Many will accept our offer. Others will leave, only to return a short time later. And by God’s grace, countless people will be transformed — now, and for eternity.

Summer is Brutal in Atlanta

The average summertime temperature in Atlanta is 89 degrees, and many days are much hotter. In these conditions, the blacktop can reach 175 degrees. And the consequences for our homeless neighbors are severe:

• Dehydration
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Heat Stroke
• Fainting

When a person comes to Atlanta Mission, they can receive:

• Water
• Food
• Showers
• Clean clothes
• A safe place to sleep
• and a chance to change their lives for good

Your Generosity Can Restore Lives

With your help, thousands of suffering Atlanta neighbors will receive urgently needed water, food, and shelter that helps them feel loved and cared for during the heat of summer.

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat” (Isaiah 25:4a).

Hardship on the streets in summer is relentless. Thirst and dehydration are only the beginning. Hunger is a continual challenge. Torrential thunderstorms temporarily reduce temperatures, only to leave our homeless neighbors soaked and miserable.

Taken together, these difficulties can break even the hardiest soul.

But there’s hope…

Your Gifts Bring Healing

By partnering with Atlanta Mission, you are serving as God’s loving hands. He is using you to provide refuge for people in distress — just as it says in Isaiah. With your help, thousands of suffering neighbors will receive urgently needed water, food, and shelter that helps them feel loved and cared for during the heat of summer.

But every day, more homeless men, women, and children walk through the doors of Atlanta Mission. They’re desperate — and your support is critical, especially as we face increased water and electricity bills. Please make a generous summertime gift today. Thank you, and God bless you for your compassion!

Jesus Shows the Way

Dear Friend of Atlanta Mission,

Life on the streets is lonely, scary, and painful. Yet we serve a King who understands this suffering intimately. After all, Jesus experienced the trials of homelessness firsthand. When a teacher of the law promised to follow Him, Jesus warned:

“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” — Matthew 8:20, NIV

Jesus also understood that extreme poverty was a physical barrier that contributed to a spiritual barrier. In many Gospel stories, a person with a disability would come to Him hoping for physical healing — and indeed, He answered their cries for help. But His desire extended to their spiritual healing, too.

His model guides Atlanta Mission today! As the heat beats down on men, women, and children on the streets, they come here for a cold drink of water, showers, shelter, and a break from suffering.

Your love, prayers, and generosity ensure the physical needs of our homeless neighbors are met with sincere compassion. As with Jesus, meeting physical needs is only the beginning. By God’s grace, you’re also helping people here experience emotional and spiritual healing, too!

Thank you, and God bless you, for sacrificing so generously for the sake of people in desperate circumstances. God is using you in a powerful way.

Blessings,

Jim Reese
President & CEO