My life was in total shambles

Page 3 The Christmas Room Page 5 Meet Dick Wiggins Page 6A win, win, win! Winter 2012 Mel Trotter Ministries My life was in total shambles Jack never drank to get drunk. But he drank every night. And slowly but surely, alcohol took away everything. His family. His business. Everything. After trying a dozen programs, what did Jack finally find at Mel Trotter Ministries that set him free? Inside, he shares his story with friends like you who helped change his life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

Help transform an ordinary room into... Intimacy with God... The Christmas Room This is the only way I m going to beat this thing! Have you heard about the Christmas Room? It s an ordinary room that becomes an extraordinary place during the holiday season. A place where men and women in our programs can have the pleasure of making dreams come true for their children. You see, we transform this room into a mini-boutique filled with toys, games, CD players, sports equipment and other wonderful gift items. From December 3 to 7, the Christmas Room is open to both our residents and those staying in our shelter to shop for the best bargains in town (every item is FREE!). We even help wrap and ship their presents. This special service not only empowers those who have come here for help, it also strengthens family relationships during the emotion-charged holiday season. The first thing that goes when you re an alcoholic is your relationship with Christ. All throughout my entire life I had been committed...and that kind of went by the wayside. My name is Jack. I was born and raised here in Grand Rapids. I had a loving family...a great upbringing. I began playing with alcohol a bit in high school. But it wasn t until my twenties...and especially my thirties...that it became a habitual thing. I didn t drink to get drunk, but I did drink every night. When I realized I had a problem with alcohol, I tried every program I could find to quit. In the last 10 years, I have been in 11 or 12 rehabs some short-term, some long-term. I would always go back to drinking. Alcohol destroyed everything... my family, my business...eventually I was left with Returning to Christ is the key that set Jack free from alcoholism. nothing. My life was in total shambles. I d been near death many times suicidal, depressed. I had known about Mel Trotter, being from Grand Rapids. When I finally went there, I knew it was my last chance. We re busily stocking our Christmas Room, and really need your help! Donations of gift items are still needed especially for older kids and teens. (Things like fishing gear, sports equipment, jewelry, hand-held games, etc.) We also need volunteers to help set up the Christmas Room, wrap gifts and assist resident shoppers. For more information about drop-off or ways to help, contact Jodi at (616) 588-8791. May God bless you for caring! IN God and WITH God Mel Trotter has helped me get outside of myself. I ve regained intimacy with God, and I know that the only way I m going to beat this thing is to remain in God and with God. My goal, like it says in Deuteronomy 6:5, is to love God with all my heart, soul and strength. I always couple this verse with John 3:16, which reminds me that God loved the world so much He sent His only Son to save us. He loves me that much! The only way I can remain sober is to live by these words from the Bible. This is the key. Jack s change is a miracle. At Mel Trotter, people like Jack experience God s healing touch every day, but they couldn t without friends like you. Thank you for giving lives like Jack s the second chance they need to change. You make all the diffrence. Won t you continue to bless them? Any gift you can send today would be greatly appreciated. HOPE TOTE CAMPAIGN In February we ll need help from all our caring friends in Grand Rapids with our Annual Hope Tote Campaign. In case you re wondering, a Hope Tote is a small plastic bag that can be filled with unused, travel-size items like soap, tissues, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. These are given to homeless people to help them clean up, feel better...and hopefully be encouraged to take a step towards changing their life. Please plan now to help with our 2013 Hope Tote Campaign. This is a great way for you, your family or your church or business group to make a difference. We supply the Hope Totes. You simply fill and return them by Easter Sunday (which falls early this year, on March 31). For more information or to request your kits, please call Ronda at (616) 588-8723. Or visit us online at READ MORE STORIES OF HOPE ONLINE /success-stories 2 3

Donor, volunteer, partner... Season of Caring Meet Dick Wiggins At Mel Trotter, we are deeply grateful that Grand Rapids is a community that cares. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all our friends whose generosity helped make Thanksgiving a time of faith, feasting and fellowship for our homeless neighbors. Now we need your continued support to extend the season of caring through the winter months. Michigan s harsh weather is more than an uncomfortable inconvenience for homeless Grand Rapidians. Tragically, people freeze to death every year. Thanks to you Thanks to your generosity last year, our new Day Center and Food Pantry is up and running. What a At Mel Trotter Ministries, we re blessed to have many good friends who support us. One of these faithful friends is Dick Wiggins. blessing this place of warmth and protection will be a refuge from the icy sidewalks and snow banks for people living outside this winter. As always, we expect a full house on most nights and will use every possible space in our Chapel, foyer and lobby with mats, blankets and pillows to ensure that no one who needs shelter will be turned away. As you can see from the list, your gifts and prayers are crucial. This is the time to be generous in this regard to consider those who would be facing the elements... urges Reverend Chico Daniels, our president and CEO. May God bless you for partnering with us to make this a Season of Caring for the homeless, hungry and hurting. Your support this winter can help save lives and transform hearts forever! Fill a Need This Winter! Warm hats, gloves and scarves New underwear Personal care items Alarm clocks Christian books/reading materials Pens and pencils Pocket notebooks Can you help? Call (616) 588-8766 or please visit the Fill a Need page at /fill-a-need 4 Dick not only gives generously, he prays steadfastly and has been a frequent volunteer since former Mel Trotter President Tom Layman asked him to help find a handful of generous donors to fund a camp for children. Over the years, Dick has gotten more and more involved, and is now one of our most vital partners. He served on the Capital Campaign Committee that raised money for our new fourth-floor transitional housing and children s play area. And for nearly a decade, he s been a key player on the Golf Marathon of Hope Committee, inspiring businesses and individuals in the community to become donors. Equally valuable as Dick s hard work is his spiritual leadership. On a daily basis, Dick prays that Mel Trotter Ministries will be steadfast in our work to bring more people into God s Kingdom. He also takes time to write down key spiritual principles and In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching, show integrity... ~Titus 2:7 share them with people when he volunteers at the Mission. A blessing of friendship Why does Dick do all of this work for Mel Trotter? He has seen how it draws so many lost and hurting people to the Lord. Deeply grateful for the blessing of his wonderful family, Dick wants to show his gratitude to God by serving His Son and supporting His work. He and his wife have even included Mel Trotter Ministries in their will, because they want to give everything back to those in need. For all these reasons...and many more... we are grateful for Dick Wiggins and the blessing of his friendship. For more information on how you can volunteer, visit our website, /volunteer. You ll see how your support this season will help provide the miracle of changed lives and give grateful families renewed hope. Thank you for making a difference! We can always count on volunteer Dick Wiggins to help make our annual Golf Marathon of Hope a fundraising success. 5

Vehicle Donation Program A win, win, win! Living in the Light of Eternity If you have a vehicle that s not being used, now would be an ideal time to look into Mel Trotter s Vehicle Donation Program. You ll find it s a win-winwin opportunity! Here s why: MEL TROTTER MINISTRIES wins! All proceeds from vehicle sales are used to help further our work of providing meals and life-changing programs for hungry, homeless people. YOU win! Donate now, and you ll have a nice deduction when tax season rolls around in a few months. (Vehicle sales price determines the tax deduction.) What else should you know about this winning program? That we accept all vehicles, running or not...and you can drop off your vehicle any time during business hours. Or if you prefer, you can call and arrange for us to pick it up. Here s one especially noteworthy detail: we must receive the title at the time of donation. GRAND RAPIDIANS win! Our Vehicle Donation Program gives people in the community a place to purchase a good car at an affordable price. You might say our Vehicle Donation Program is a ministry on the move! Can you relate to comedian Billy Crystal s speech to his son s class in the movie City Slickers? He makes the case that life passes by very quickly. When you re a teenager, he explains, you think you can do anything. In your forties, you grow a little pot belly and complain that the music is getting too loud. In your sixties, the music is still too loud, but it doesn t matter because you can t hear it anyway. In your seventies, you retire to Fort Lauderdale and wander around malls looking for the ultimate soft yogurt and eating dinner at 2:00 in the afternoon. Like we said, Mel Trotter s Vehicle Donation Program is a win-win-win situation. So get those wheels moving for a great cause! Christians understand that there is so much more to life now and later. In his book Living in the Light of Eternity, author K.P. Yohannan asks readers to examine their lives in the light of God s Word and reflect on what will matter one hundred years from now. How about you? What kind of legacy will you leave? An up-to-date Will is perhaps the easiest and most tangible way to have a lasting impact on the people you love. And a bequest to a ministry such as Mel Trotter Ministries can also be an effective way to not only lessen the burden of taxes on your family and on your estate, but also to make a lasting difference for the cause of Christ. For a FREE copy of our special bulletin 6 Keys to Protecting Your Family s Future, simply check the box on the enclosed reply card or contact Tim Swiney from Mel Trotter Ministries at (616) 588-8768 or timswiney@ Check out our newly renovated website at /store for more great ways to get involved! Still have questions or need information? Visit /donate-your-vehicle or call (616) 301-1415. Thank you for praying! Please pray for: Health and safety for clients this winter season. Strength, stamina and protection for caring staff. Program graduates as they transition to self-sufficiency. People who come to us to hear about and receive Jesus into the stable of their hearts this Christmas season. Please give praise that: Our new Day Center is up and running to provide warmth, comfort and safe refuge from the harsh weather. God has provided so many caring, capable volunteers. Recent graduates are continuing their education in college. 6 COMING UP Please mark your calendars and join us for: Christmas Food Box Distribution December 20 Christmas Dinner December 24 Hope Tote Campaign February 13 March 29 For dates (and updates) on coming events visit our website: /events Last Chance This Year! In the hustle and bustle of the holiday rush, don t forget to make a difference one more time with your year-end donation of cash, property or a vehicle. Friendly reminder: Your gift is tax-deductible by law as long as we receive it by December 31! (Check with your tax advisor for specifics.) Our very own Tim Swiney will be happy to provide more information or answer your questions. Contact him at (616) 588-8768 or timswiney@ 7

Dear Friend of Mel Trotter Ministries, Chico Daniels, President and CEO The true essence of Christmas is the hope that enters a person when Jesus is invited into the stable of their heart. A world without Christmas...what would that be like? To me, the true essence of Christmas is the hope that enters a person when Jesus is invited into the stable of their heart. A world without Christmas would be a world without hope. This is the world many people come from when they walk into Mel Trotter. Life is very hard on the streets, especially during winter. Even a place as nice as Mel Trotter is still not home. But like the bumper sticker says, Stuff happens. And when it does, people come to us needing special care. So we prepare and we pray that while they are here, they will open their heart to receive the hope Jesus came to bring. Not just hope for hope s sake, but hope that will be lasting and permanent. I am especially grateful for the volunteers who reach out to help at Christmastime. It s very powerful when people who are homeless and hungry see volunteers smiling warmly and serving them at their tables. For some of these servants, this is a step out of their comfort zone. It s a sacrifice of time, which we all have too little of. Yet so many come to help. When the holidays are over, a new year will not be far behind. We don t know which direction things will go in the coming months. What I do know is that, no matter what happens, the God of hope stands ready to fill us with joy and peace as we entrust our needs to Him. This is my wish for you this Christmas...and in the months to come. Our mission To demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ toward the hungry, homeless and hurting of the Grand Rapids area. HOPE BY THE NUMBERS January September 2012 Meals served: 138,378 Nights of shelter provided: 61,703 Food boxes distributed: 2,296 Dental visits: 550 Chapel attendance: 54,869 Connect with us online My gift YES, Chico, I ll help Mel Trotter Ministries feed and care for homeless and hungry Grand Rapidians this winter season. I ve enclosed: m $15 m $35 m $50 m $150 m $ 225 Commerce SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 454-8249 Name Please make your check payable to: Mel Trotter Ministries Address City State Zip @ Email Donate online by credit card at christmas. Please send me a FREE copy of 6 Keys to Protecting Your Family s Future Please complete this slip and return it to Mel Trotter Ministries with your generous gift. Your gift is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. We will send a receipt for your records. 21756-2