Volunteer Stories

The following quotes are from volunteers at the Portland Rescue Mission:

• “Hearing about how their lives are being transformed — brings tears to your eyes. God is alive and well at the rescue mission. You want to be where God is working.”
• “That I came here to be part of the process of transformation and been discovering that it's been transforming my own life.”
• “The thoroughness of the program really impresses me. That's why it works, because you have people who love you and care for you. Want to see folk succeed in Christ. A complete work.”
• “Whatever you give is something of your time — what ever talents, it always returns to you 100 fold. Not to say you do it selfishly. I get a lot out of volunteering here — probably more than the women get from me. How you teach them to interact with their children and surmount their problems, formulate goals for their life — I want to come here. So it's exciting the way the women are positive and encourage each other. Every day I'm thinking of things they said and how they've encouraged each other in Christ.”
• “The world that I see every day is so hyper competitive and money driven and it seems so silly sometimes. The mission is much more cooperative environment and lines up with my values.”
• “I like seeing the progress — every week something different has happened. Environment where people are open and willing to change their lives. Most people out there don't want to change or think they need any help. I enjoy being in an environment where a whole group of people wants to change and knows they need help. I find it interesting that people who have hit rock bottom are more willing to admit that they need help and are more willing to change. Work with wealthy business people who have more problems than these people do. I enjoy being around and seeing the process and progress.”