By Dr. Chad Audi

We are all connected. Anything that affects one of us affects each of us. Given that, we know that times are tough for a lot of us today. Have you found yourself trading sympathetic glances or talking about the state of the nation or world with strangers at the next gas pump? Have you asked for help from friends and relatives to pay routine bills or been asked to help your relatives or friends with bills? Have you changed your driving habits or been more frugal about spending money? Are you genuinely worried about the future?

Housing, transportation and financial services industries are scrambling to reorganize to survive. Individuals are finding that the $25 they used to have left over after filling their gas tank is no longer there to buy milk and bread for the family. People are dipping into their savings to pay bills. The government is facing a squeeze, so money it once gave for direct services to people is now being redirected. Grant allocations are stagnant or being cut.

As the president of the non-profit Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), which serves those in need with the help and support of government and donors, we are having to tighten our belts too and think about how many more notches to take it in during the months to come. The costs of food and fuel to serve people in our facilities are climbing through the roof. The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently published a report called, “Giving’s Tough Climate: Economic Woes put Damper on Some Donations in 2007.” It cites organizations that are downsizing their staffs and halting projects and programs because the giving well is drying up.

Historically, people of faith have given the largest amount of money to charitable causes. In the U.S., they donate at least 33 percent of all of the money given to faith-based non-profits. That is not surprising when you consider the teachings that people of faith live by: “Give to those in need,” “Whoever gives will be given a great reward,” and “Take care of widows and orphans.” The ability to give to others in the face of one’s own needs is what marks people of faith. It is believed that as the economy worsens, faith-based donors have been channeling additional charitable dollars to non-religious based causes that provide vital human needs, such as water, food and other forms of emergency relief or social services. However, the demands on such organizations are increasing. Aside from the rising demand for services, there is shrinking government, foundation and corporate support looming for direct aid to clients.

So what should you do to meet your own family’s needs and the needs of those you know? What should agencies like the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries do? I believe we should follow the same course of action. Know that we need wisdom if we are to take care of our own responsibilities while we continue to share with others in need. Ask for guidance from God and from those who have been given wisdom in such matters. Do not see struggles or adversity as a reason to neglect our responsibilities, but strive instead to even improve on what we are doing and how we do it. View current challenges as the opportunity we have been given to re-evaluate our priorities and make sure they are in the right place. Reach out to accomplish in partnership with others what our own resources cannot accomplish. Look for new avenues to meet needs and seek education to do more with what we have. Finally, continue to have faith that if we do the best we can and really love Him and our neighbors, God will see us through despite any mistakes we may make or our lack of knowledge. If we do these things, we will do well for ourselves and those around us.

By Dr. Chad Audi

Muhammad Ali, the former heavyweight champion of the world, described the importance of volunteering as, “Service to others is the payment you make for your space here on Earth.” A person who unselfishly donates his or her time and resources in helping their fellow man is fulfilling a commitment to God.

Given that Michigan — and the entire country — is facing one of the toughest economic situations we have seen in decades, more people are seeking help from non-profit human services organizations like the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM). It’s difficult for us to do the best job that we can and offer quality services using paid staff members only. They are dedicated and have the heart, but we can’t do it alone. It’s a massive job considering the growing number of people who need shelter, food, clothing and updated vocational skills. That’s where volunteers can play a big role.

You may feel that you don’t have the time to volunteer because of all of the demands on your time already. But just giving four hours per month can be a rewarding experience. Not only for the person you help, but for yourself as well. Our volunteers at DRMM are friends and partners in our mission.

Volunteers are an important part of any organization’s team. Non-profits need volunteers to lend their expertise in a variety of areas — administrative, counseling, painting, cooking, construction, gardening, teaching, ministering, and more. Whatever you do for a living or as a hobby will more than likely translate into a volunteer opportunity. For example, if you enjoy painting, then volunteer your services to spruce up rooms. If you like to garden, then help the disadvantaged plant a garden that will produce food for their meals. If you enjoy teaching, then tutoring is a wonderful way to give back to the community. Or you could offer to pray with someone who’s in need of spiritual strength. When you volunteer, it not only makes a difference in someone else’s life, but it brings joy and new friends to your life.

By Dr. Chad Audi

This is the time of year when families everywhere are celebrating graduations. It marks an important time in a person’s life. He or she is ready for the next big step in their academic or professional careers. But there are many other types of milestones that a graduation can commemorate.

Recently, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) celebrated the “life” graduation of 437 clients at its newly-renovated Banquet Hall/Conference Center in Detroit. Some had completed at least 90 days of substance abuse treatment. Others had completed job training and educational classes. Some were moving on from DRMM’s transitional housing programs. And others were happy to have earned their GED. The energy and enthusiasm in the room was unbelievable.

Just like a high school or college graduation, the DRMM graduates had proud family members in attendance to cheer them on. They all received certificates. But unlike a typical graduation where you get a diploma and you already have your next plans made —or perhaps you’re not sure if you’re going into your chosen field of work — this was a graduation where the graduates are regaining their lives and celebrating a rebirth. They are starting out on a new venture in life. And believe me, it hasn’t been easy.

At some point in their lives, many of the people participating in DRMM’s graduation had lost all hope. Some of them had attempted suicide and slept in vacant buildings, under bridges, in cars and on the streets. They were prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals and the impoverished. But after they came to the Detroit Rescue Mission, they received another chance and another outlook on life. Their past didn’t matter; just their future.

The DRMM graduation celebrated “change.” These graduates are getting a fresh start in life. Approximately 80 percent of them now have a full-time job or are going to school. The other 20 percent are on the road to recovery and a new life by remaining clean and sober. Congratulations to all of the DRMM graduates for your accomplishments! We share in your joy.

By Dr. Chad Audi

It sounds callous, but every day dozens of teenage girls are kicked out of their parents’ homes because they are pregnant. Suddenly these young girls not only must confront the medical concerns associated with bringing a new life into the world, but they also must find shelter, food and overall care — alone.

This is a situation we witness often at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM). Our Genesis House I program welcomes homeless pregnant and parenting teens who have been abandoned or escaped unstable home environments. Many girls have lost their self-esteem when they seek out DRMM. They’re frightened and emotional. Some arrive with just the clothes on their backs. They don’t know how they’re going to finish school, find a job and provide for their babies.

We provide the teens with transitional housing, life skill classes, parenting courses, day care, counseling, food, clothing, job search assistance and much more. The girls attend school and are shown how to become productive and independent members of society. Most leave our 24-month program and move into their own homes or enroll in college. We give them guidance and supervision. We give them help and hope for the future. You can witness for yourself some of their compelling stories at http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1296698/teen_moms_find_hope/.

Most importantly, DRMM demonstrates the love of God to the teenage mothers and their babies. When they feel that things are hopeless and there’s nowhere to turn, they need to know how much they are loved and that they are God’s children. It doesn’t matter what type of situation they find themselves in, they all deserve another chance to get on the right path in life.

By Dr. Chad Audi

These are challenging times for those who love and claim Detroit as their home. Businesses find themselves having to defend the reputation and prospects of the City and its leadership. People who live and work in the area find themselves the focus of concerned inquiries or derisive jests from friends and relatives in other parts of the state or country. Despite this negativity, many of us are proud to be residents of this great metropolitan community. These are the same people who are committed to making our businesses succeed and grateful for the many wonderful assets in this region.

What are our assets? We have the brains, as evidenced by our tremendous medical, educational, technological and research resources. We have the muscle, as evidenced by the determination of our people to tackle everything from recession to Michigan winters to manufacturing and industrial challenges. We have the beauty, as evidenced by our natural resources, scenery and abundant world-class arts and cultural institutions. We have the infrastructure to serve America’s businesses, as evidenced by our pivotal waterway, air, land and rail connections linking us to all parts of the United States and Canada. We have the spirit, as evidenced by the many dynamic people of faith who demonstrate their love for God and their neighbors. With all of the negative national attention focused on Detroit right now, we would do well to focus our own attention on the thousands of positive partnerships that are quietly taking place between industries, companies and organizations, as well as on the hundreds of thousands of people who are making a positive difference in the lives of others every day. We need to celebrate what a wonderful place this region is for work and as a home.

That being said, we do have serious issues in this region too. Some are a result of our own failure to come together as one to confront big issues such as the need to dramatically improve the quality of education for all young people; build a new infrastructure for regional transportation, employment and governance; and break down artificially maintained walls of division between our central city and surrounding communities. We need a society where each person is able to move freely to jobs, housing and resources that meet family needs and allow dreams to be achieved.

However, the most serious problem we face occurs when we make decisions as though any one jurisdiction or community can tackle these issues alone or remain unaffected by the well-being and actions of its neighbors. It simply isn’t true. Our residents live, work, commute, visit, have relatives in, hail from, pay taxes to, and shop in each other’s communities. Anything that negatively — or positively — affects one community affects the rest.

It was for this reason that non-profit organizations such as the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) appealed when Detroit City Council voted to restrict city funding to non-profits that did not have a majority of Board members living in the City of Detroit. That decision and the ensuing publicity surrounding which non-profits would lose much-needed funding galvanized a prolonged and heated discussion among people inside and outside the boundaries of the City of Detroit. Some of the conversations demonstrated just how deep the layers of hurt, misinformation and division went that still need to be addressed.

We can be grateful that the Detroit City Council voted to take another year to deliberate on the issue. We can be even more grateful that many of the City Council members made efforts to acknowledge that they appreciate the compassion possessed by metropolitan Detroiters who donate their time and money to city-based non-profits that serve the poor. However, the discussion needs to continue on this issue and others such as regional transportation, jobs creation, relief for businesses, promotion of entrepreneurship and the importance of advanced training and education. Not only should the conversation continue, but we need to also adopt a commitment to unifying this region.

For every person who wants to be an isolationist and keep our communities apart, there are scores of others who recognize that we are one body, however imperfectly joined. We are joined by necessity and can be gloriously and productively joined by choice. Together, we possess every asset, resource and skill this region needs to provide for our citizens. The change will start when we begin to stretch our hands, minds, voices and hearts out across the jurisdictional and cultural lines that now separate us. We are in this together. Let’s be determined to use these stormy times as our greatest opportunity and catalyst for change.

By Dr. Chad Audi

During these tough economic times, we tend to worry about our own misfortunes. We worry about whether we will have enough money to cover daily expenses or whether we can continue to enjoy our favorite pastimes. Unfortunately, we often forget about others whose misfortunes are much greater than our own, such as the homeless man you see on the street everyday on your way to work pleading for money and food. Or the neighbor who lost his job and is about to lose his home.

We see over and over again throughout the Bible — from the books of Genesis to Revelations — that those who extend themselves for the foreigner and those who forgive are blessed by God. The need to wholeheartedly follow this way of life is based on the fact that each person in this world was made by God Himself. Each person has such immense value to Him that He gave his life in the ultimate sense for each and every one of us. That is the value He tells us to place on every person in the world. It may be difficult to comprehend, but the longer we live the more we are able to see that we live in a world where we are all affected by and responsible for each other’s welfare.

At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we witness miracles everyday. We see all walks of life coming together — clients, staff, volunteers, donors, civic leaders and community members. Their lives are greatly enhanced through the people they come to know at the Mission. They may meet a young man from the hills of Kentucky who was lost in the big city or an Asian man who was addicted to drugs in his native country. They may venture out to areas they never traveled before in order to volunteer for those less fortunate. Or they may experience racial diversity for the first time. They may lack a common culture or basis of connection, but all of them unite in a common purpose: a commitment to a compassionate God who loves them personally. And the rewards are abundant — countless blessings, cherished friendships and memorable experiences.

By Dr. Chad Audi 

Alcoholism is a disease just like diabetes or hypertension or heart disease. Medically, it’s known as “alcohol dependence syndrome.” It begins with binge drinking and alcohol abuse and often becomes life-threatening. Many of the people we service at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) have struggled for years with alcoholism. In most cases, their addiction to alcohol resulted in the loss of jobs, homes and family relationships. Our substance abuse treatment program includes detoxification from chemical alcohol and drug dependence and a wide range of other services such as counseling, therapy, relapse treatment, support groups, recreational activities, job training, and more. Remaining clean and sober involves physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual components.

“Ralph” literally fell onto DRMM’s doorstep while in a drunken stupor. He’d been drinking since he was a teenager. Ralph’s father, who introduced him to drinking, died at the age of 58 from alcohol-related causes. For years, Ralph was swept up in a life of homelessness and alcoholism. He credits the Detroit Rescue Mission with saving his life. “By now, I’d be six-feet under, pushing up daisies, because of the way I drank,” he says. “My doctor told me, ‘Ralph, you’ve got to quit drinking.’ And I said why? He says, ‘You’re starting to get a touch of cirrhosis of the liver.’ And that’s what my dad passed away from. And that’s one reason why I went to the Mission ─ to just get help to quit.” However, years of alcohol abuse caused irreparable damage to Ralph. Both of his legs were amputated due to numerous blood clots. But Ralph hasn’t lost his spirit and purpose in life. Get a glimpse of Ralph’s story at: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1288004/alcoholism/.

The first step to overcoming alcoholism is realizing that you need help. The second step is getting help. And the third step is surrendering your heart and soul to Christ so that He may heal your mind and spirit.

By Dr. Chad Audi

Imagine being a child, doing all of the things that children enjoy ─ going to school, making friends, playing in the schoolyard ─ but with one big difference: you have no place to call home. Sounds like an incredibly sad situation, doesn’t it? Well, that is the reality for thousands of children and youths across the country. In Detroit alone, there are an estimated 3,540 homeless students. Across the state of Michigan about 20,000 students are homeless, according to the state Department of Education. I have to believe there are even more children out there whose parents are ashamed to report to the school system that they are homeless.

Homeless children’s lives are constantly uprooted, moving from school to school and from shelter to shelter. It affects them emotionally, socially and academically. There are a variety of factors that can propel a family into homelessness. Poverty resulting from job loss, home foreclosures, medical issues or low wages are some of the main reasons. At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we provide help and hope for parents and children who have found themselves homeless. We give them shelter, food, clothing, job training, transitional and permanent housing, school supplies and much more. All of the things they need to get back on their feet.

But what happens to the children? They are innocent victims of circumstance. They didn’t contribute to the situation nor can they change the situation. Their youth must not be wasted away on negative images, thoughts and conditions. That’s why DRMM provides recreational activities, educational support, substance abuse prevention programs and summer camp opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth.

Make it your mission to help reduce homelessness in this country. Volunteer. Donate. Pray. Because no child should be without a home.

By Dr. Chad Audi

With Memorial Day approaching, we turn our thoughts to warmer weather, vacations and remembering the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. It’s important that our military veterans who did make it home from war know that we care about them and their future. Sadly, veterans make up an estimated 25% of the nation’s adult homeless population. Yet veterans only constitute 11% of the total population.

Many veterans fall on hard economic times when they come home. It’s heartbreaking to see someone who has literally given his or her blood for our well-being end up living on the streets. At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) , we go above and beyond to help our war heroes. We have a program called the Veterans Independence Project, which provides transitional housing and services to homeless men and women who have served our country in the military. In collaboration with the Detroit field office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, we help the veterans with housing, employment, social and medical services, and educational programs to reintegrate them into society.

“David” came to DRMM for help when his life began to fall apart after serving in the Army during Operation Desert Storm. David suffered through depression and a divorce. He was fired from his job while on medical leave for an injury sustained at work. The arguments with his family increased, and David struck out on his own. “I ended up staying in my truck for a while and I thought about me being a vet there might be some places I could call and get some help,” he says.

We helped David with shelter, food and clothing. He found a job helping other veterans turn their lives around, and he is enrolled in community college. His future looks bright. You can watch David’s story at: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1283758/help_for_veterans/.

As we get closer to this patriotic holiday, let’s think about what we can do to honor and assist our homeless and disadvantaged veterans. And coming up in June, we are setting aside a Marathon Day of Prayer to honor our U.S. troops. Keep checking this blog and the DRMM Web site for details.

By Dr. Chad Audi

Drug and alcohol addiction, hard economic times, mental illness and prison releases are just some of the many reasons that cause a growing number of people to find themselves with no place to live. Some seek help at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) and other shelters, but others find refuge in abandoned homes, underneath freeway bridges and in parks. No one knows for sure, but approximately 14,000 individuals and families are homeless in Detroit on any given night. And although their stories are different, they share a common goal: survival. As an agency that treats the whole person, our goal is not only to help them survive, but also to thrive in their everyday lives.

We work closely with the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion on a community-based initiative that seeks out the homeless on the streets and provides them with immediate assistance. It’s called “Project Helping Hands,” and it has already changed the lives of hundreds of people. We provide them with substance abuse treatment, shelter, food, housing, counseling, job skills and more ─ whatever they need to get back on the right track.

“LaVon” got a second chance when Project Helping Hands found him. “I was on drugs, selling drugs, getting arrested, going to court, and ended up getting probation,” he says. “I just didn’t want to go back to my old way of living. I just totally surrendered. Whatever was suggested to me to do, I was going to do it because I wanted to change.” Today LaVon lives in DRMM transitional housing and is enrolled at a community college.

Like LaVon, many people in homeless situations want to change their lifestyles. But they may not know how to get started. The Detroit Health Department and DRMM can give them a helping hand.