The Mission Man - "NO HOPE for Him!"
by Paul Alexander, Administrator

The name change of Seaford Mission to Mission of HOPE is starting to resonate with the community. The new name has been a blessing. The word HOPE says so much to us all. I often now find myself saying, "I HOPE so," when counseling. So I HOPE you don't mind my sharing observations of a significant change the past three months at the Mission:

Many men have come to the Life Changing Program at the Mission. I have learned never to question how God sends them. Most of them are sincere in wanting to turn their lives around. Most of them have a significant behavior problem or history of poor moral choices that have led them to homelessness and despair. All of them have a glimmer of HOPE that this time, it will be different.

Some do not have a clue how to change. Some are physically sick. All are spiritually low. Yet I have witnessed God's grace and mercy in turning many around so that they MAKE IT. They find God in their lives and get back on track. Yes, these are the ones you hear little about for they have regained the peace of God in their lives as well as humility. Praise God for only He can change those in despair.

I would often pray for God to send us the toughest ones. That is one prayer He faithfully answers!
Realistically, not all the men MAKE IT. Some fall by the wayside; some rebuke the word of God, some go to jail to pay for old sins that cast long shadows. If you kept a score sheet and took every failure personally, you would soon be discouraged and probably inclined to say, "There is NO HOPE for Him!" Not so! God continues to teach us that we are on His schedule, at His will, not ours.

In the past few months, seven former residents who had either left or relapsed, have contacted us. These were men who discouraged our best efforts to effect positive change in their lives. They have sinned against God; men who break their mother's hearts. But HOPE does spring eternal.

Our good Lord was sown like a seed within them while they were here. Now these men call, not with jail-house religion nor looking for a meal and a bed, but wanting to attend the program, even as non-residents. All of them say the same thing - "My way is not working. I am miserable. I have lost God or NOW THAT I KNOW the word of God, I can't live like this any more!”

I only sense that this time there has been a change in their hearts. God continues to reveal to this Administrator that He never never never gave up on me and that he died so ALL should have the salvation of his love. We pray for the men in the program and HOPE that the Lord will break the despair of the ones who become the 1 of the 99 and restore HOPE.

I am an avid gardener; I love to grow things. I sow seeds in the greenhouse in February - HOPING they will fill the spring and summer with beauty. Although there are thousands of tips on growing, there is one rule that is absolute for anything to grow - WATER. If you do not water the plant, it will die. It is the same at the Mission of HOPE. You never know when the seeds of the Word of God are going to sprout. Some take longer than others, but the water (Living Water of God) is given to all who enter here. And so is HOPE.

We pray that every man will receive His grace and begin anew; to sprout a new creation that we live to see. I HOPE so.