Personally, Christmas is my favorite time of the year – with lights, gifts, eggnog, decorations, and family. Sadly, it can also be the toughest time of the year for so many that have no family, house, or friends to enjoy all the above mentioned. As we close out the year of 2022, let us not lose sight of the reason for the Christmas season. Although the Christmas season can bring varied emotions, in the end it is not about us – it’s all about Jesus. In Matthew 1:21, God reveals to Joseph His plan to bring the promised Savior into the world when declaring, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” The true purpose of Christmas is to share this Good News of Jesus entering this world for you and me to offer the free gift of eternal life as ones who are reconciled with their holy God. Regardless of our status and station in life, we all need to accept and unwrap this gift of forgiveness of our sins against God and our fellow man. It is this Christmas “present” that the Mission shares with all who come through our doors. Jesus Christ is the true reason for celebration during this holiday. For this, we say, Merry Christmas!

Jason Conway

Chief Executive Officer

Modesto Gospel Mission

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

What a year we have had, and it sure has gone by quickly! It has been filled with joy as we have witnessed countless men and women enter the Mission’s residential 18-month New Life Program and see it through to graduation. We have seen miraculous life-change take place repeatedly– transformation that could only be attributed to the love and grace of Jesus Christ who makes all things new. We have formed lasting bonds and strong friendships with our guests as new brothers and sisters in the Lord. 

Yet while we have seen such amazing things, we have also witnessed circumstances and events that break our hearts – refusal to accept help, failure in overcoming addiction, backsliding in heart, returns to street living, families torn apart, and just the daily negative behaviors attached to brokenness and desperation. The number one heartbreaking event that we see all too often, however, is the increasing number of women and children seeking shelter, rescue, and refuge on a daily basis in our community – and having to tell a battered woman or a desperate single mom with kids that there is no room in the shelter for them. 

Since 1948, the Modesto Gospel Mission has existed to help the “least of these” members of our community. Throughout these last 74 years, we have never seen such a problem with so many women and children so desperate for assistanc. The Mission has resorted the past few years to moving out furniture in the living room at night in the women’s building and putting down sleeping mats and cots. But we are almost always full with an ongoing waiting list. Since July 1st of this year, we have still had to turn away 435 adult women and moms with children from our shelter due to lack of space. This is a sobering number. This is something we desperately need to solve, and we cannot do so alone. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP. Consider this a battle cry. Each year we depend on your support to help the Mission meet the tangible and spiritual needs of the men, women, and children that walk through our doors each day. We have seen all of our beds fill up this year, for the first time since the pandemic, and we glorify God for bringing hurting people to the Mission; but now we are turning away more people than ever. Ironically, in this season where we celebrate the God-ordained story where a young, pregnant mother is forced to lodge in a stable to bring the Savior into the world, we are facing a similar problem today 2,000 years later.

We are humbly asking for your support this Christmas. In this gift-giving holiday season, will you give a gift to the Mission today? Every dollar raised this year-end will help aid women and children that desperately need it. Your gifts are critical right now. Your prayers, your donations of clothing and food, and your financial contributions are much needed this time of year. May God bless you!