Eric held a steady job most of his life. His life wasn’t perfect, but he was getting by. He certainly never expected to be homeless. Addiction crept over Eric slowly, a seemingly harmless habit that snaked its tendrils deep into his heart. By the time he noticed, the grip was too tight to escape on…
Read MoreA note from Eric Bauer (Executive Director of Portland Rescue Mission) … God can do the impossible. But it is hard for us to believe that without seeing it first. Even Jesus’ most faithful followers abandoned hope when he was brutally killed. It didn’t matter that he had explained it all before, that he would…
Read MorePortland Rescue Mission’s staff regularly share what we call “Glimmers of Hope,” stories of transformation and hope about the men, women and children we serve at the Mission. We want you to hear these stories too! Because of friends like you, we are able to give hope and restore life. Because of you, there are…
Read MoreIt was a serendipitous visit. Stephanie Whittle came to Shepherd’s Door to donate a guitar. Little did she know that day would be the beginning of many visits. “I ended up here. I dropped off the guitar and I just stayed,” she said with a smile. “I fell in love with it.” Stephanie’s forte is…
Read MoreIt’s evening and shelters are at capacity. It’s raining, it’s cold and it’s time to seek out a place to sleep. Where do you go if you have nowhere to go? How do you stay warm? Will you find somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep? For anyone dealing with the troubling reality of life on…
Read MoreXavier never dreamed that he’d end up homeless. But at age 13, life on the streets seemed easier than enduring more abuse at home. “It was scary, because you never know where your next meal’s going to come from. It was hunger pains. Not having clean clothes. It felt like hopelessness.” Along with the pain…
Read MoreI still love you A little over a year ago, Lisa was at her lowest. “I figured that nobody needed me anymore, nobody cared. So I decided to end my life. I was in a coma for three days.” Then, the God of second chances intervened. “While in my coma I literally heard God say,…
Read MoreLife on the ‘other side of the yellow door’ at the Burnside Shelter can be life-changing for those who come through Portland Rescue Mission and take steps toward a new life. It’s where guests off the street can start to receive the hope and restoration they’ve needed for many years. We wanted to give you…
Read MoreDoing meaningful work is something we all strive for. It’s also the type of work that is a whole lot of fun to do day in and day out—which is exactly what’s available at Portland Rescue Mission. So, join the fun! Do you have a knack for fixing cars? Is it something you do on…
Read MoreTony’s work shoes “split wide open.” That was the final straw. After working out of his car for about three years at a McDonald’s in Bakersfield, California, it wasn’t losing his car, or even losing an apartment to bedbugs that did him in. It was the shoes. “I hit a couple of hiccups,” he said. “[After…
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