A Heartfelt Thanks!!!		2011’s Accomplishments
Thanks to all of the help we received from you, our faithful donors, 2011 was a year of accomplishment.  We wanted to take an opportunity to say, “Thank you!”       To the right, you will find a rundown of how many shelter beds and hot meals we provided in the past year.  The numbers are phenomenal!  We provide three hot, nutritious meals each day.       We are a home for those who have no home, providing a residential substance abuse program, and an overnight emergency shelter.	For the first six months of the year, we helped the City of Baltimore by providing convalescent care for medically fragile homeless men who are sick, injured, or recovering from surgery.  It was an honor to offer the service while the city finished their permanent facility.      We have a Sunday morning service and a weekly prayer service at a nursing home, bringing love to many who feel forgotten by society.  We also hold a weekly youth outreach, taking church to the streets of Baltimore.  And, we have an exciting, active urban youth ministry!       Please take the time to flip through January’s  super-sized newsletter, and see the fruit that  your partnership has  produced.	Jesus said: · “I was hungry and thirsty and you gave me food and drink.” · “I was a stranger, and you took me in.” · “I was sick, and you visited me.” For inasmuch as you’ve done it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto Him!  (paraphrased from Matthew 25: 34-40)   In 2011: · We provided a total of    balanced, nutritious meals (an average of   per day). ·      beds (that’s a comfortable bed in a safe environment for about 65 people per night). · Special care for Homeless medically fragile individuals, just released from hospital or surgical care—    beds (about  people each day and night). American Rescue Workers touches the lives of people no one else will touch.  Thanks to your support and partnership, we will continue to meet the needs of those who are the least in the Inner City.

 

2011:  A Look Back	Thanks to You!
As we look back on the challenges and victories that 2011 held for us here at American Rescue Workers, we want to take a moment to thank all of our ministry partners.  Because of you, we have met the needs of so very many men, women, and children in Baltimore.	Holidays are always special at American Rescue Worker.  We always have annual picnics at the park on Memorial and Labor Days (although we got rained out this labor Day and had an inside picnic instead), a huge barbecue on July 4th, and a huge dinner on Thanksgiving.  On Easter,  every child gets a basket.  On Christmas, every child gets a gift.  Holidays are always the perfect time to remember to show God’s love for everyone.
Pastors Tony and Tonya Bell are doing a fabulous job of discipling our youth through the Rescue Kidz ministry.  This year our young      ladies enjoyed a fun trip to Chuck E. Cheese.          Brother Walt and Sister Joan bring God’s love and His Word to the residents of the nursing home every week.  Elmo came along to help them celebrate at the  Christmas Party!          We were delighted to have the   opportunity to host American Rescue Worker’s 2011 Field Council here in Baltimore.  From worship, to fellowship, to        planning for the future, a great time was had by all of our          denomination.

Farewell to a Faithful Friend: Thomas Everett  September 22, 1952—March 30, 2011

The saddest thing we had to do all year in 2011 was to say goodbye to our dear friend and fellow laborer, Tommy Everett.  But, when God calls a loved one home, we don’t grieve like those who have no hope.  We know we will see him again inside those pearly gates.      Tommy came to American Rescue Workers after suffering  through a lifetime of addiction to alcohol and drugs.  He came close to death many times through drug overdoses and 3 cases of         pneumonia.   But, all along God was calling his name, and wouldn’t let him slip from this life until he yielded himself to Christ.      Tommy listened to God’s voice, calling him toward something   better.  He came to ARW, accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord, and accepted His grace and deliverance.  Tommy came to be an important part of our ministry—someone we could depend on to wear many hats and do whatever we needed him to do.  His loss is still felt very  strongly, but we are grateful that after suffering from a prolonged  illness, Tommy is at rest with the Lord. illness