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