There’s a Christmas song that begins, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” For many of us, it is. But it can be a depressing time for men, women and children struggling with hunger and homelessness. When a neighbor in need comes to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission at Christmas time, big holiday meals and presents under the tree are often just a wish or distant memory.

Thanks to you, they can make new memories that are joyful in their own way.

I’ll never forget one family staying in Joy House, our shelter for women and children. Right before Christmas, the kids came down with chickenpox. Of course, we had to quarantine mom and the kids in their room. On Christmas Day, we were still able to provide the family a delicious Christmas dinner and gifts, and in spite of the quarantine, the mom smiled and told staff, “This is the best Christmas I can remember.”

What a great reminder that is for all of us this Christmas season. We might think being in a homeless shelter, quarantined with sick kids, is a disaster. But for this mom, MRM was probably the safest, most peaceful place she’d been in a long time. That peace was God’s good and perfect gift to her right then.

Peace isn’t the only gift our neighbors find at MRM. There’s hope. Many can’t see beyond the next five minutes when they come here, but soon they’re looking five years into a bright future.

And most of all, they hear about the best and most perfect gift God ever gave us, His Son Jesus Christ. You provide a place for hurting neighbors to be transformed by His love and mercy. That’s a gift for all of us, to see and be a part of those stories.

I wish you a very merry Christmas!

Dr. Patrick H. Vanderburgh, President