What makes
Rescue Missions different from all of the secular programs
that help the homeless?
It is the
power of the gospel of Jesus Christ as exhibited by lives
that are permanently changed by an encounter with the Living
God.
OUR
MISSION: To provide an environment where the
compassion and love of Jesus Christ can empower people to
overcome and prevent life's adversities.
OUR
GOAL: To provide a “continuum of care” for
homeless and needy individuals that begins with shelter,
food, and clothing, continues with a personal development
program of rehabilitation, vocational training, job
placement and education, and provides ongoing living in a
recovery-oriented environment through transitional housing.
Since 1972 the Panama City Rescue Mission has provided thousands of nights of shelter,
more than 1 million meals and the basic needs of everyday life. The Mission is best known for its immediate
needs program. However, recovery is where the most positive, permanent impact on the lives
of homeless people and the community is seen.
The Mission officially
opened its doors in April 1972 in the Bay Hotel Building, which was 100 years old and
located at 27 East Beach Drive (where the First Federal Bank parking lot is located now).
Food, housing and chapel services were provided.
In 1975 Rev. Joe O’Daniel from
Montgomery, Ala, arrived to serve as the Executive Director.
O’Daniel offered a 3-day emergency
shelter or 90-day recovery program. The need for additional space and housing for an
increasing homeless population during the 1980’s led to the building of the current
location at 609 Allen Avenue in 1985.
1984 Seymore’s Electric at 501 East 6th
Street was purchased from Holden Harders, who provided a loan for the building. Eventually
Harders forgave the loan so all contributions could be used for ministry.
In 2001, the Board hired Thurman Chambers,
who had served Missions in Atlanta, Ga, and Jacksonville, Fl, to serve as Executive Director after
Mr. O'Daniel passed away.
Chambers organized the first long-term
Christian recovery program, “Power to Choose,” and opened
longer-term transitional beds,
introducing a mix of specialized services to assist individual needs.
The Mission opened the Thrift Depot in the
515 East 6th Street location as an emergency clothing center and The Bargain Center as
its first retail thrift store at 401 East 6th Street to assist in
generating self-sustaining revenues for the programs.
In May 2004, Chambers
and the Board of Directors purchased a 6-acre property on Transmitter Road
that would become Bethel Village, a home for women and children.
Rev. Billy Fox was
chosen in 2005 to serve as Executive Director. After a few
months in office, the tragic Hurricane Katrina affected our
neighbors to the west in Louisiana and Mississippi. Fox led
the effort to provide material relief in the form of food and
household goods by opening the temporary "Katrina Free Store" and
catering to evacuees in Bay County.
That summer, the
Mission began an outreach program for homeless and needy children,
providing school uniforms and school supplies. In its first
two years, Klothes for Kids served more than 1,500 kids.
In September 2005, the
Mission officially opened the doors to the Homeless Day Resource
Center in the former Thrift Depot location at 515 E 6th St.
The center represents a community collaboration among Hunger and
Homeless Coalition agencies bringing a variety of human services to
one central location on the Mission's campus.
In the Spring of 2006,
renovations to Bethel Village were completed with the help of
Stalnaker Construction and other area businesses. The
improvements expanded capacity from 7 to 23 students/children.
