Marcus lost both his parents at a young age. Because no other relatives were willing to take him in, he entered foster care. “I felt abandoned and left for dead,” he says, “like nobody wanted to give me a chance.”

Feeling like everyone had given up on him, Marcus gave up on himself. As a young adult, he joined a gang and saw friends dying all around him.

When Marcus became a father, he was determined to give a better life to his two children. He left the gang lifestyle, found a good job and his own apartment. “But just as I was starting to get on my feet, COVID hit,” he says. Marcus’s job as a cook disappeared seemingly overnight, and he struggled to afford rent.

“I was one step away from being on the streets,” he says, until he came to the Rescue Mission, where his life began to change.

“If you want to change your life, the Rescue Mission is a great place to be.”

Marcus credits the faith-based environment of the Rescue Mission for the transformation he’s experienced in his life. “Being here, I haven’t had to worry about anything but God, just serving Him and giving Him my time.”

Thanks to the classes and guidance he received through the Rescue Mission, Marcus has also been able to complete his GED! Today, he’s taking steps toward completing his HVAC certification and interviewing for jobs. “The Rescue Mission has given me the tools I need to get back out into society and be productive.”

Your generous support has filled Marcus’s life with love, encouragement, and most of all, hope this Easter season. “Before I came to the Rescue Mission, I struggled to believe that I could really change my life… but they’ve given me faith again.”

To read this issue of Mission in Motion, click to download.