MTM. you gave lisa the strength to find a home LISA WENT FROM THE CITY STREETS TO A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN. NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2018

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1 MTM NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2018 you gave lisa the strength to find a home LISA WENT FROM THE CITY STREETS TO A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN.

2 From The President/CEO What do you want me to do for you? When you last encountered someone begging on the street, what did you say to them? More important, who did you choose to see: a bum, or a person created and loved by God? When Jesus and His disciples met blind Bartimaeus, Jesus didn t judge him or assume what he needed. He stopped and asked, What do you want me to do for you? That question was a game-changer two thousand years ago in Jericho, and it still is today at Mel Trotter Ministries! When guests come to Mel Trotter, we meet them where they are, engage with them and begin building trust. We ask them how they wish to be helped and sometimes the answer is simply, I need a meal. In time, they let us know what it is that they really need: a second chance, stability or time to heal. Bartimaeus told Jesus he wanted to see and his faith was rewarded. At Mel Trotter, faith and perseverance are rewarded as our guests overcome addictions, restore relationships and redeem their lives in Jesus Christ. Most recently, our Lord s question led to the opening of the Melanie House, a transitional home for women graduates of our Restoration Programs. As you go through the pages of this issue of the MTM Newsletter, you ll also learn where the name and the vision came from. Thank you for seeing the men, women and children at Mel Trotter as your brothers and sisters in Christ by giving your time, prayers and gifts. Grace and peace, Dennis Van Kampen President/CEO, Mel Trotter Ministries DID YOU KNOW? Grand Rapids has one of the five lowest rental vacancy rates in the country. Lack of relationships is often the reason people become homeless. Since the 2008 crisis, wages have remained stagnant in Grand Rapids, while rent has more than doubled in the downtown area.

3 MY PEOPLE WILL LIVE IN PEACEFUL DWELLING PLACES, IN SECURE HOMES, IN UNDISTURBED PLACES OF REST. ISAIAH 32:18 Could Lisa be the next Melanie Trotter? THIS CAN T BE HAPPENING, LISA THOUGHT as she walked from the bus station to Mel Trotter Ministries last December. She had never pictured herself walking down the road with her suitcase in a strange city. Over the following months, Lisa put 30 years of drug and alcohol addiction behind her. However, when she graduated from MTM s Step-Up Recovery and Restoration Program, she found that finding a place to live wasn t going to be easy. Program Director Erika Mariglia explained that Lisa s dilemma wasn t an isolated case among Mel Trotter s women graduates. Many have evictions on their records. Some have a criminal record as well, which makes it nearly impossible to get housing in this economy. TO MEET THESE WOMEN S NEEDS, Mel Trotter partnered with a local private landlord to establish the Melanie House, a transitional home that allows women to build credit and rental histories while continuing to receive case management and develop job skills. This The Melanie House is a place I could call my own. LISA is a continuum of care where we can follow them into housing and make sure that they re still meeting their goals, Erika said. Lisa is one of three women living in the Melanie House. As the resident assistant, she provides emotional support and peer leadership for the other women and acts as a liaison between the house and MTM staff. MORE THAN A TRANSITIONAL RESIDENCE, though, the Melanie House is a home. The day I moved in was unbelievable. The beds, the furniture, the beautiful scripture on the walls, it s very homey. It s a place I could call my own, Lisa told us. If you were wondering where the name Melanie House came from, it s inspired by our founder Mel Trotter, of course! CEO Dennis Van Kampen speculates that you never know where the next Mel (or Melanie) Trotter is going to come from. Erika continued, We hope that somebody who comes through here isn t just going to be impacted, but go on to impact others as well.

4 There s more to my When my life wasn t touched by it, homelessness and poverty were so easy to judge. That s what Meagan, a guest at Mel Trotter, said about the years before her story took a dark turn and changed her perspective. You don t have to lose your home to gain insight. Go to MTMstory.com to see, in our guests own words, how there s more to their stories. terry Terry found himself living in the woods when his apartment was sold and he couldn t afford another. Depressed, he turned to drinking. Waiting for a bus to the liquor store, Terry met a graduate of Mel Trotter s Step-Up Recovery Program. He took me home, let me take a shower and fed me. Then he brought me to Mel Trotter. I was grateful for this divine intervention as I had been pleading with God and contemplating suicide. However, Terry s story was far from over. READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AND OTHERS AT MTMstory.com meagan Meagan hit rock bottom when her 15-year struggle with alcohol led to five months in jail. She described it as dark, lonely and depressing, but it started her on the road to recovery. After leaving jail, Meagan spent several months in rehab and then came to Mel Trotter to write the next chapter of her story. They gave me the time and space I needed to heal, she said. Right now, I am at a place of redefining my relationship with God. Jack After living in his broken-down car for a month, Jack was so anxious to improve his situation that he walked nearly 24 hours before arriving at Mel Trotter. I didn t have much confidence in myself, Jack told us. Haunted by his failures, he waited a while before joining our Men s Restoration Program. Once he applied himself, however, there was no stopping his progress. The best part of his story was yet to come.

5 YOU MAY LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD AND PLEASE HIM IN EVERY WAY: BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK, GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD COLOSSIANS 1:10 Has God asked you to serve? VOLUNTEER PROFILE: BRUCE PRUITT WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? were Bruce Pruitt s first words when he decided to volunteer at Mel Trotter Ministries. If you need help with anything, just let me know, he said before setting out chairs, Bibles and Prayer Request Forms and just being present to care for the guests and other volunteers. He has done this almost every day for over five years, taking only a short time off recently to grieve the death of his son. We asked Bruce what drives him to serve. During a dark time in his life, Bruce received a letter from a friend who had written of God s goodness in her life, God restored me! As Bruce was about to respond, Bruce recommitted his life to Christ at that moment and vowed to serve others. he heard an audible voice asking, What about you? Bruce recommitted his life to Christ at that moment and vowed to serve others. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE CALLED TO SERVE IN MANY WAYS, FOR MANY REASONS: a desire to give back, their belief in Jesus Christ, or family tradition. They have outwardly responded to God who keeps asking, What about you? We thank God for Bruce Pruitt and all the volunteers at MTM! Sign up for volunteer opportunities at: MELTROTTER.ORG/VOLUNTEER

6 Want to host a drive? YOU CAN MAKE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT when you and your friends, coworkers, or small group join together to host a drive for some of the items on our urgent needs list. Let us know you re interested by signing up at meltrotter.org/drives. Please make sure they are items that are needed by reviewing the most current list at meltrotter.org/needs. artprize ten exhibit there s more to my SEPTEMBER 19 OCTOBER 7, 2018 Come experience the stories of your homeless neighbors through beautiful art on canvas. Mel Trotter Ministries will be hosting an ArtPrize exhibit again this year, providing an artistic outlet for our guests experiencing homelessness. The installation is titled There s More to My Story, which helps empower guests to know that their value doesn t come from their circumstances. The exhibit will be located at the MTM park on Commerce Avenue across from the Mission. Bring your family, friends, church or school group for this powerful experience. For more information, visit artprizeatmtm.com. thanksgiving community meal THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018 This Thanksgiving, God has blessed us with all the volunteers we need, but we invite you to come and share a meal and the love of Christ with our neighbors experiencing hunger and homelessness. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for families, churches and businesses. Contact Dayna Neff at or daynaneff@meltrotter.org. Shop and give back to MTM! 225 Commerce Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI meltrotter.org Our Mission Statement Mel Trotter Ministries exists to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ, through rescue and restoration for anyone experiencing hunger and homelessness. CONNECT WITH US Board of Trustees DIRECTORS Janis Petrini Chair Kurt Hein Vice Chair Donijo DeJonge Treasurer Bob Worthington Secretary Brenda Moore Assistant Secretary Jim Bultema Dave Byers Rich Craig Jim Kregel Jim Mitchell Jonathan Moody Tony Pearson Andre Pierre TRUSTEES Roger Bruins Bruce Bush Chuck Damon Mary Hollebeek Tony Johnson Jeshua Lauka Bill Lewkowski Adam Lipscomb Tom McGovern Dale McNinch Tonja Moyer Gordon Oosting Ron Van Houten HONORARY TRUSTEES Tom Meyers Rick Velting