KNOX A Publication of Knox Area Rescue Ministries

Opportunity KNOX A Publication of Knox Area Rescue Ministries Restoring Lives in Jesus Name Thanking God for your generosity INSIDE: Laura is grateful to be with her family instead of on the streets this Thanksgiving. OCTOBER 2015

We thank God for you Burt Rosen President & CEO This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:12 Dear Friend, It s hard to imagine that someone accustomed to sleeping in abandoned buildings and rummaging through trashcans for food would have reason to give thanks. Yet, this Thanksgiving, men and women coming to us off the streets, hungry, dirty and despairing, will do exactly that at Knox Area Rescue Ministries. They ll sit down for a delicious meal, have a safe place to rest at night, and start to regain hope that street life is part of the past. And it s all possible as God works through your faithful support! As you ll see in Laura s story, guests often turn to KARM after hitting rock bottom. For years, Laura suffered through homelessness and abuse. At times, she didn t want to live. But today, Laura has many reasons to be grateful, and she praises God for compassionate people like you. Stephanie also shares a story of gratitude emerging from hardship in this issue of Opportunity Knox. Simple gifts like nourishing food and safe shelter bring joy to Stephanie s heart, but the breadth of care she s received at KARM deepens her profound thankfulness. As we approach the Thanksgiving season, all of us at KARM thank God for your partnership. God uses your kindness to transform lives and infuse hearts with a grateful spirit. Though the words are simple, the sentiment is great. Thank you. We appreciate all you do to help the hurting among us! Sincerely,

I m thankful for what God has done in my life. Thanks to you, Laura went from wanting to die to loving life not want to live, Laura recalls after 15 years on the streets. I was Idid empty and looking for a better life. Anything was better than the abuse, homelessness and addiction Laura endured on Magnolia Avenue. But Laura had a hard time envisioning an existence beyond the rut in which she lived. When Laura called KARM s Serenity Ministries seeking rest and peace, she had no idea what to expect. She was amazed at what she found. First, it was a warm welcome. Next, it was physical care through nutritious food and a warm, comfortable place to sleep. Then, Laura received practical support, personal mentoring and biblical counseling that helped her begin the healing process from the damage caused by years of homelessness. and empty eyes. Today, she s filled with joy, loves her life and is thankful for this program. There are so many other people out there who need help, Laura adds. But I can testify to the power of God s love and the restoration that happens at KARM. As Laura moves forward with hope this holiday season, please keep her family in your prayers and ask God to lead more women like Laura to our doors to receive the nourishment, rest and renewal they need this Thanksgiving! I can testify to the power of God s love and the restoration that happens at KARM. Today, I know who I am in Christ, Laura shares. I ve learned that I m beautifully and wonderfully made and that I m fine china, not a plastic cup. Laura has also reconnected with her family and is excited to spend the holidays surrounded by loved ones a stark contrast to years of loneliness, hunger and regret. I m pretty sure I would be dead if it wasn t for KARM, Laura shares. I was suicidal and losing my life. If you looked at Laura s KARM ID from her first day here, you could see her hollow

UPCOMING OPPORUNITIES TO SERVE Get involved this Thanksgiving! For more information about upcoming opportunities to serve and how you can get involved, please visit / get-involved/ today! Giving your time and gifts to serve others is an incredible way to express thankfulness for the blessings in your own life. November 11 Veterans Day Celebration November 22 Baskets of Hope BASKETS OF HOPE November 26 Thanksgiving Celebration December 5 Coats for the Cold THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION COATS FOR THE COLD & Post Pray Prayer is an integral part of the work happening at Knox Area Rescue Ministries. As much as we need your support, we need your prayers! Please cut out the following prayer requests and post them somewhere visible as a guide when you pray. Pray for KARM s programs department as we seek to be more missional in our ministry approaches. Pray for job opportunities for our guests who are ready, especially that the employers would be like-minded missionally. Pray for many of our guests to manage health issues and find housing. KARM VOLUNTEER ENCOUNTER If you have a heart to serve and want to help those in need, we would love to see you at our next KARM Volunteer Encounter! Encounters are run every 2 nd Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. and every 4 th Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Each encounter provides an overview of what we do at Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), explains the ministry opportunities we have available for volunteers, and is accompanied by a tour of our facilities. To register for an upcoming KARM Volunteer Encounter, visit our website: /volunteer.

Thanksgiving by the numbers Every year around the holidays, your generosity touches thousands of lives by providing meals at Knox Area Rescue Ministries. On Thanksgiving Day we do turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings and offer a chance for real change! The numbers, of course, don t even begin to tell the story of all we accomplish for our hungry, hurting, and homeless neighbors. But this Thanksgiving season, we plan to: Serve nearly 47,000 nutritious, hot meals Provide nearly 20,000 nights of safe shelter for men, women and children residents and guests Welcome over 135 volunteers who donate nearly 350 hours of their time to make Thanksgiving special for the homeless Prepare and serve at least 100 turkeys during the week of Thanksgiving alone Bake nearly 50 pumpkin, pecan, apple and a variety of other pies for our Thanksgiving Day Celebration Pour at least 1,000 cups of coffee, tea and lemonade at our Thanksgiving Celebration dinner. (2014 actual numbers) What can you do with 187 pennies? To many of us, 187 pennies may seem like a very small amount. Every day, we probably step over many pennies in our path. But $1.87 will provide a warm meal to a homeless or hungry man, woman or child here in East Tennessee. You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry, hurting, and homeless this year by participating in a Pennies From Heaven project! Nearly 1,000 meals are served every day at Knox Area Rescue Ministries. We challenge you to provide 100, 200, or even 1,000 meals to those in need. We will be happy to provide Pennies From Heaven flyers, jar labels, or speakers for your church or organization. To participate, please visit /pennies or call (865) 633-7627. STAY CONNECTED Like us on Facebook facebook.com/ knoxarearescueministries Follow us on Twitter @knoxmission Watch us on YouTube youtube.com/karm4rescue Check out our Blog karm.org/blog Watch for KARM Stores deals Register at karm.org/karmstores

I thank God for putting me right where He wanted me. This mom and her son escape addiction to painkillers When Stephanie developed health challenges over 15 years ago, she started to take prescription drugs to treat the pain. Sadly, it didn t take long before she started to take the medication because she was dependent on it. But Stephanie s greatest concern wasn t her own addiction. Her stepson was addicted to pain medication, too. For years, Stephanie sought treatment to battle her own dependency, but the stress of caring for her children was getting to be too overwhelming. So, she called KARM for help. As so many guests quickly realize, Stephanie learned firsthand that KARM is not just a shelter. KARM led me to so many resources and will do anything for anyone that they possibly can, Stephanie says. We have bible studies, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, life skills classes that I desperately needed. They help with job searches, bus passes, clothing. And the food here is really great. They have taken me and led me in the right direction. As Stephanie was receiving help in her own life, God was also helping her son make progress in his recovery. I think me taking the initiative to get out of the rut we were all in has helped everybody, Stephanie shares. Before I felt in a hopeless situation. I didn t know what to do or where to go. But now I have hope. I thank God, because He put me right where He wanted me. Please continue to pray for Stephanie and her family as they rebuild their lives and mend their relationships. It s exciting to see their family celebrate Thanksgiving with joy this year! BOARD OF DIRECTORS DAN HURST Chairman Strata-G SALLY FISHER Vice Chairman Morgan, Stanley, LLC DALE KEASLING Secretary Home Federal Bank DR. WILLIAM BURKHART Summit Medical Group NEAL CALDWELL Dalen Products RICK COX Rick Cox Construction CATHY GONZALEZ O Connor Senior Center DR. JOE JOHNSON University of Tennessee DR. LEE MARTIN Clarity Resources, LLC DENNIS McCLANE Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC WAYMAN McLAUGHLIN Jr. G2 Engineering & Management, Inc. TIM McLEMORE Gentry, Tipton & McLemore, P.C. W. FRANK SMITH, III Washing Equipment of Tennessee BOBBY STOGNER The Peoples Bank DOUG YOAKLEY CPA, Financial Consultant BURT ROSEN President & CEO Knox Area Rescue Ministries P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540

P.O. Box 3310 Opportunity YOUR NEW KNOX NEWSLETTER IS ENCLOSED! Read Laura s story inside KAR1510N

KAR1510N A Gift to Make Thanksgiving Special Yes, I want to partner with Knox Area Rescue Ministries to give food, shelter and care to the hurting this Thanksgiving season. I ve enclosed a gift of: []$xxx []$xxx []$xxx []$ Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Sample 123 Any Street Knoxville, TN 12345 P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540 Instructions: Please make your check payable to KARM and return this form with your gift. See back to use your credit card. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowable by law. Thank you! Please communicate updates/news via my email address: [MOTIVE CODE] [DONOR CODE] KAR1510N A Gift to Make Thanksgiving Special Yes, I want to partner with Knox Area Rescue Ministries to give food, shelter and care to the hurting this Thanksgiving season. I ve enclosed a gift of: []$xxx []$xxx []$xxx []$ Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Sample 123 Any Street Knoxville, TN 12345 P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540 Instructions: Please make your check payable to KARM and return this form with your gift. See back to use your credit card. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowable by law. Thank you! Please communicate updates/news via my email address: [MOTIVE CODE] [DONOR CODE] KAR1510N A Gift to Make Thanksgiving Special Yes, I want to partner with Knox Area Rescue Ministries to give food, shelter and care to the hurting this Thanksgiving season. I ve enclosed a gift of: []$xxx []$xxx []$xxx []$ Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Sample 123 Any Street Knoxville, TN 12345 P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540 Instructions: Please make your check payable to KARM and return this form with your gift. See back to use your credit card. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowable by law. Thank you! Please communicate updates/news via my email address: [MOTIVE CODE] [DONOR CODE]

Please charge my gift to rush help to the hungry and homeless now! Please charge my: The amount of $ Card Number: Expiration Date: Name as it appears on card: Signature: Email: KNOX AREA RESCUE MINISTRIES P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540 Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Membership in the ECFA is your assurance that an organization adheres to the highest standards of stewardship and ethical fi nancial practices. KARM is one of only 38 Rescue Missions nationwide, out of nearly 300, that are certifi ed excellent members of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. KARM is supported by the gifts of friends and receives no federal funding to shelter the homeless. In all our communications, we strive to present the needs of homeless and poverty-stricken people with accuracy and integrity. Friends are invited to participate in KARM s work only as they feel led by God to do so. We believe God will meet the needs of the poor through the gifts of those who respond in this manner. All gifts-in-kind are appreciated and will be used where needed most prior to the expenditure of funds. KARM does not rent, sell or otherwise share our donor information. If gifts are received above a specifi c need, they will be used for programs where the need is greatest. No person is denied care based on race, creed, sex, disability or national origin. Please charge my gift to rush help to the hungry and homeless now! Please charge my: The amount of $ Card Number: Expiration Date: Name as it appears on card: Signature: Email: KNOX AREA RESCUE MINISTRIES P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540 Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Membership in the ECFA is your assurance that an organization adheres to the highest standards of stewardship and ethical fi nancial practices. KARM is one of only 38 Rescue Missions nationwide, out of nearly 300, that are certifi ed excellent members of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. KARM is supported by the gifts of friends and receives no federal funding to shelter the homeless. In all our communications, we strive to present the needs of homeless and poverty-stricken people with accuracy and integrity. Friends are invited to participate in KARM s work only as they feel led by God to do so. We believe God will meet the needs of the poor through the gifts of those who respond in this manner. All gifts-in-kind are appreciated and will be used where needed most prior to the expenditure of funds. KARM does not rent, sell or otherwise share our donor information. If gifts are received above a specifi c need, they will be used for programs where the need is greatest. No person is denied care based on race, creed, sex, disability or national origin. Please charge my gift to rush help to the hungry and homeless now! Please charge my: The amount of $ Card Number: Expiration Date: Name as it appears on card: Signature: Email: KNOX AREA RESCUE MINISTRIES P.O. Box 3310 (865) 673-6540 Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Membership in the ECFA is your assurance that an organization adheres to the highest standards of stewardship and ethical fi nancial practices. KARM is one of only 38 Rescue Missions nationwide, out of nearly 300, that are certifi ed excellent members of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. KARM is supported by the gifts of friends and receives no federal funding to shelter the homeless. In all our communications, we strive to present the needs of homeless and poverty-stricken people with accuracy and integrity. Friends are invited to participate in KARM s work only as they feel led by God to do so. We believe God will meet the needs of the poor through the gifts of those who respond in this manner. All gifts-in-kind are appreciated and will be used where needed most prior to the expenditure of funds. KARM does not rent, sell or otherwise share our donor information. If gifts are received above a specifi c need, they will be used for programs where the need is greatest. No person is denied care based on race, creed, sex, disability or national origin.