by Rev. Richard Trickel, CEO of The City Mission

One of my first acts as The City Mission’s CEO was to travel to the Western Reserve Historical Society and sift through nearly 95 years of TCM archives. That experience profoundly affected me. Two things were apparent: first, TCM’s resolute dedication to its founder’s original intentions to maintain a spiritual center in Cleveland and secondly, the Mission’s strategic role for nearly a century in fulfilling its original purpose as “the downtown arm of the church”. I left that day deeply humbled and grateful to be a part of this organization.

I can’t begin to recount the number of people who have approached me to tell me how the Mission has impacted their families. Grateful parents have told of their children, struggling with life, finding new hope and stability at the Mission. An elderly gentleman told me of his family coming to the Mission during The Great Depression and receiving the food they so desperately needed. And my favorite, the young mother who ran in front of the Mission bus as it drove through her neighborhood. She flagged it down and put her children on it because she wanted them involved in TCM’s youth program. Her son, after spending his formative years at the Mission, went on to college and graduated – partially financed by TCM.

One Sunday my pastor, talking about Cleveland and the need for Christians to engage in service to the poor, commented, “You can’t be involved in Cleveland for very long without at some point interfacing with The City Mission”. I think that statement sums up the effectiveness of the Mission. With its broad array of programming reaching countless numbers of men, women, and children; considering its numerous collaborations with churches, nonprofits and agencies; and taking into account the hundreds of faithful volunteers who serve, you just can’t work in central city Cleveland without interfacing with The City Mission!

Psalms 82:3-4 says, “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; and deliver them”. For 100 years The City Mission has been doing exactly that. I invite all of you to join us in a time of worship and celebration on October 2, 2010 at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland. As we gather together to celebrate God’s faithfulness to an incredible organization!

I recently read an article about a computer being stolen at a campus location and as a result thousands of students facing the potential of identity theft. The mere thought of someone securing my personal information and then using it to enrich themselves (at my expense) is deeply unsettling. As a result, I’ve gone to great lengths to ensure this never happens. Even though I have very little to lose.

What a contrast to my real identity – my identity in Christ. Reflecting on Paul’s description in Ephesians Chapter 1 – I have been chosen in Him before the creation of the world, God has predetermined to place me as a full grown adult child into His family, I’m redeemed by His blood, all my sins are forgiven, His grace has been lavished upon me, the mystery of His will has been revealed to me, and His unwavering plan is to so work in and through me that He is glorified! And that’s just the beginning. Paul goes on to state in I Corinthians Chapter 1 that I am enriched in Christ in every way, I possess spiritual gifts – imparted to me by the Spirit and I am kept strong to the end. Did you catch that? Kept strong (by God) to the end!

You see, Christians also have identity problems. The issue though is not one of protecting as much as neglecting. I think many Christians don’t understand who they are in Christ, the security they have in Christ, and therefore; the spiritual potential they possess as members of the body of Christ. In fact, I believe this problem is of epidemic proportions today. The truth is, if we don’t understand who we are in Christ we will never live a consistent life in Christ.

Our identity is a big deal. The fact that in Christ I am secure and safe is a liberating and energizing truth. I am free, without fear, to serve unreservedly the one I love. I am not worried about protecting something I did not earn as much as fully understanding something I do not deserve.

Every Christian should be grounded in these truths. Knowing and resting in who you are in Christ is life transforming. For the Christian, the concern is not identity theft – its identity neglect!

By Rev. Rich Trickel, CEO of The City Mission

I’ve been anticipating 2010 for a long time. In fact, it has been the primary focus for many of my thoughts for the last several years. At The City Mission, we’ve been praying, planning, preparing and eagerly anticipating this year – after all, it’s the 100^th anniversary year of the Mission!

The City Mission began in 1910 as a result of a growing immigrant population in Cleveland that was desperately in need of help. Through a collaboration of churches, businesses and the city, the Mission was started and has been serving the poor and those in need ever since. At first, the focus was to provide basic necessities for those without. And of course, the ministry of the Gospel was preeminent in everything the Mission did. In time, other ministries were added as the need demanded. Looking back in Mission archives I was amused to see that the annual budget for the year 1915 was the staggering amount of $5,590.61! Comparing that to the present budget of $5,234,609 gives a good indication of how God has blessed and the Mission has grown over the years.

Today, The City Mission continues to serve the most desperate in Cleveland by providing food, shelter, clothing, and residential programming to men, women and children in crisis. For 100 years, The City Mission has remained true and faithful to the intentions of its founders by providing help and hope to those in need and at the same time proclaiming the gospel of grace to all who come through its doors. I remain deeply humbled that for the entire 100 year history of The City Mission all its funding comes through private donations. The Mission never has taken one dollar in Federal or State money. God continues to provide through His people.

This is going to be a great year! We are planning numerous centennial activities culminating in a “Celebration of Hope” on October 2, 2010 at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland. Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we celebrate God’s faithfulness for 100 years!

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Added by moderator:

For more information about the 100th annivesary, visit us at www.thecitymission.org and click on the 100 Years tab.

Several evenings ago I made a late night pickup at the Greyhound station. As I was waiting for my friend to arrive on the bus, a woman approached my car. It was 1 am so I wasn’t real happy about opening my window to a stranger. The woman came to my car, put her face up to my partially rolled down window and asked me for some money.

I hesitated and she continued talking. She and several of her friends were sleeping in a parking garage.  She was banned from the community women’s shelter for another week because she was fighting with a resident. She had a variety of needs, all of which she seemed confident I was capable of meeting and continued to wait and talk. She wanted me to give her something.

I talked with her, through the crack in my window and listened. She knew about Laura’s Home, The City Mission’s facility for women and children but didn’t seem too interested in pursuing that option. In fact, she didn’t seem too concerned that she was sleeping in a parking garage at all. She just wanted me to give her something. 

She seemed to know her way around the Greyhound station. She even greeted the cab driver who pulled in shortly after I did – they knew each other. I had the feeling that she knew the schedule and probably showed up with each incoming bus. 

I was troubled by how comfortable she seemed in the situation. It was 1 am, she was alone on the streets, sleeping in a garage and all she wanted was for me to give her something. Finally, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a handful of change and gave it to her. She got what she wanted and left.

It is estimated that there are approximately 2,500 people on the streets of Cleveland each and every night. Some sleep in parking garages, some under bridges, some in shelters, and others in abandoned houses. To help provide what these dear people really need, contact The City Mission at http://www.thecitymission.org/.

Every day I get an accounting of the men and women who are in our facilities. Today we have 90 men – 35 are at the Mission for short-term emergency shelter and 55 are members of the long-term (6 month) program. In Laura’s Home, the facility for women and children, we have 105 –  52 are long-term clients and 53 in short-term emergency shelter. All together there are 195 men, women and children staying at the Mission.

The age spread of our adult clients is sobering, the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 71.  Both ends of the spectrum disturb me. It deeply troubles me that someone as young as 18, barely out of High School, or as old as 70 would be in a Rescue Mission. How did things break down so completely that there is no one and nowhere to go in such a vulnerable stage of life? Just thinking about it makes me feel sad. I keep seeing my own child, so alienated from the family that they have nowhere to turn and nowhere to go.

I sat with a mom and dad today whose son is in the long-term program. I could see the fear and pain in both their faces. I attempted to comfort them with the promise that restoration and life transformation is available and possible in Christ. I saw a glimmer of hope spark in their eyes as we talked. As they left, the mom shared with me that for most of his life her son had fallen through the cracks. She was worried that it would happen again.

I wonder if that isn’t a good description for every man, woman and child in our facilities – they have fallen through the cracks, the cracks of society. Only for most of them, no one is worried and no one is watching. They just keep falling.

If you’re interested in making a difference, contact The City Mission  at http://www.thecitymission.org/.

Wednesday is Veterans Day – a day set aside to honor the men and women who fought for our freedom. Many communities will host ceremonies and most ceremonies will involve flags and parades. I recently read an article by Paul Davis (“Veterans have earned better care than this”, Valley Voices – Fresnobee.com) and he reviewed the ideals represented behind each fold of the flag in the flag folding ceremony. I must confess, I didn’t know the significance and I was sobered when I read them:

The first fold stands for Liberty

The second fold stands for Unity

The third fold stands for Justice

The fourth fold stands for Perseverance

The fifth fold stands for Hardiness

The sixth for Valor

The seventh for Purity

The eight for Innocence

The ninth for Sacrifice

The tenth for Honor

The eleventh for Independence

The twelfth stands for Truth

It’s hard for me to reconcile that so many men and women who were willing to give their lives for these noble ideals are now homeless and struggling for survival on the streets of our cities. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that between 23 and 40 percent of all homeless adults are veterans. What may be surprising is that most homeless veterans are not homeless because of factors related to their military experience. They struggle with the same issues most homeless victims succumb to – poverty, lack of support systems, personal characteristics, and mental illness. And like all those struggling with homelessness, our veterans need a strong, compassionate, and responsible support system. It’s past time for the Christian army to rally around our fallen heroes and lift them back up. What better time to start then Veterans Day!

For information on how to volunteer and serve homeless veterans, contact The City Mission at http://www.thecitymission.org/.

I’ve been sitting in one of the counseling rooms located in the lobby of Laura’s Home for the last hour and just taking in the sights. I watched as approximately 100 women and their children came down from their rooms and made their way into the dining room for dinner. I heard some staff person call out “we have plenty left if anyone wants seconds”. I watched the kids, some poked their heads into my room and said hi, bust out of the dining room into the lobby, laughing and running back up to their rooms. Some of the moms bundled up their kids and headed outside into the darkness.  One woman just arrived and was getting the tour – mail boxes, bulletin board, elevators, I felt sad and a bit homesick as I listened. What I enjoyed most was watching the staff speaking kindly and respectfully to the women and children. I can’t even imagine what it must be like living in a crisis center with a young family. At first glance it reminded me of my college dorm – laughing, talking, people heading to meals, but I knew it was nothing like that. As wonderful as Laura’s Home is – and it is a wonderful place, my heart breaks to see so many people living here. Soon it will be chapel time and an opportunity for the community at Laura’s Home to gather together, worship and thank God for His immeasurable grace. Even in a homeless shelter God’s grace is apparent, His love is abounding and His strength is without measure. Now that I think about it, this room has a great view!

Yesterday I was standing at our booth at the COSE Small Business Conference and a gentleman approached and commented, “I didn’t expect to see The City Mission here.”

Well quite honestly, I didn’t either! This is The City Mission’s third year at the event and my first. I was reluctant when approached by our Development Department about buying booth space for another year. I didn’t see the value and wasn’t certain I could justify the expense. After spending several hours on Wednesday I had a completely different attitude.

I’m a relative newcomer to Cleveland but it didn’t take me long to realize that this city is very generous and philanthropically-minded. First of all, the number of non-profits and faith-based organizations here is impressive. Ward 5 alone, where The City Mission is located, has 148 different agencies working – all providing needed services to a very disadvantaged population. Many of these agencies are supported by a combination of individual donations, foundation grants, government funding and corporate gifts.

The City Mission is unique in that it takes no government money and is not a United Way agency. The majority of its funding, for its entire ninety-nine year history, comes from individuals. In fact, over 70% of our entire five plus million dollar budget comes from thousands of friends, who send two to three gifts a year to support the programs and services of the Mission.

I was grateful and humbled by the number of people who stopped by The City Mission’s booth at the conference and began their remarks by saying, “I am a contributor to the Mission.” People I met had sent money, contributed food, and volunteered. In fact, it was hard to keep up with all of people who came by. Their interest and concern was very encouraging.

The city of Cleveland has its problems with unemployment, poverty, violence, education, and corruption. But it doesn’t lack concerned, compassionate, generous people. And as long as you have that – there’s hope for the rest!

If you can help, please give online at http://www.thecitymission.org/and click the “Give Now” button.

Thanks!

Several weeks ago South Pointe Commons celebrated its grand opening. Margaret Bernstein, a Plain Dealer reporter captured the essence of the event in an article she wrote in the October 8 edition of the paper. If you don’t know, South Point is the newest addition in the Housing First initiative – a supportive housing facility located near Metro Health Hospital. What’s interesting is that the article focused more on the process for opening and operating the facility than the actual purpose of the facility (“New South Pointe Commons housing project shows benefits of nonprofits collaboration” Plain Dealer, October 8, 2009).

South Point Commons is a cooperative venture between three key partners: Cleveland Housing Network, EDEN, Inc. and Mental Health Services. The project is being presented as a model of the non-profit buzz word – Collaboration. Collaboration simply defined is when two or more groups work together to accomplish a common goal or objective. In today’s non-profit world, collaboration is almost synonymous with survival. The article in the Plain Dealer ends with this statement: “John Begala of the Center for Community Solutions said nonprofits that collaborate have the best chance of weathering the economic storm. “To the extent we can collaborate, we help one another,” he said. And, he added those who go it alone risk failure.”

Since its inception, The City Mission has understood the values and benefits of cooperating and collaborating with ministry partners. In fact, we have record of over 300 ministry relationships that we are presently maintaining. Effective collaboration is an endeavor that requires significant commitment and effort from the cooperating agencies.

The Collaboration Learning Project, a Milwaukee based effort, reported on the benefits and obstacles of nonprofit partnerships (“Nonprofit Collaboration & Mergers: Finding the Right Fit”, Collaboration Learning Project, 2004). They discovered the following characteristics of successful partnerships:

1. Committed Leadership – leaders who are committed and actively involved in the process.
2. Unambiguous Goals – clear, realistic goals and objectives for the collaborative effort.
3. Clearly Defined Roles – specific plans for each of the collaborating nonprofits.
4. Commitment at Multiple Levels of the Organization – both management staff and direct service staff must be on board.
5. Dedicated Staff Time – day to day staff time and agency resources will be required.
6. Sustainability in the Midst of Change – many collaborative efforts fail when a key leader leaves – others in the agency must be oriented to the collaboration to ensure continuity.

Those who have faced the challenge and worked through the details of crafting a cooperative arrangement that will both survive and thrive agree that the benefits are worth the effort. If for no other reason than to reduce costs, improve programs and eliminate redundant services, the value of collaboration is more fact than fancy!

October marks the beginning of a very vital period of time for The City Mission. Like most non-profits, October – December is the most important fundraising period of the year. In fact, we typically raise about 45% of our total year’s budget during this time. Unlike most non-profits in town, The City Mission receives no government money. In fact, 70% of our budget is provided by individual donors who send in a gift 2 – 3 times a year. We thank God for the thousands of friends who stand with the Mission in supporting its ministries. This year though, may prove to be both unique and very difficult.

If you’ve been watching the Plain Dealer you’ve seen reports over the last several months of non-profits throughout the city either closing their doors or cutting back on their programs. The fiscal crisis facing our country has severely impacted non-profit organizations nationwide. Foundation funding is down, corporate gifts have been cut back, individuals have fewer dollars to share and yet the need and demand for services is growing with no signs of slowing down. Increasing numbers of people are looking for help in just obtaining the basic necessities of life – food, clothing and shelter.

It’s almost incomprehensible that in a country like the United States of America we are facing a crisis like this – tens of thousands of people, out on the streets of our cities with no place to go, nowhere to live and insufficient resources to provide for their own most basic needs.

Ninety-nine years ago the City of Cleveland was facing a similar situation. A growing immigrant population was desperately in need of help. The City Fathers together with local Church leaders and Business leaders knew the answer – a downtown arm of the Church! They knew then that the Church was best equipped to compassionately and responsibly care for people. And out of that need The City Mission was established and has been faithfully reaching out with compassion and hope ever since. The plan was simple – local churches funneling their time, talent, and treasure through the downtown arm of the church to meet the growing need of the city. It was brilliant and it worked!

What about today?  What appears to be an overwhelming, impossible situation can be met, faced and overcome by the power of the Gospel and the faithfulness of God’s people. Together we can turn what looks like an impossible crisis into mission possible! To donate your time or financial gifts to The City Mission please go to: www.thecitymission.org or call 216-431-3510.