I love before and after snapshots; the stark contrasts that amaze the eye when 2 pictures are set side-by-side to illustrate the changes that have taken place in a person’s appearance.  They’re fascinating.  Steve is likely our...

By Donna Scully “I remember asking God, ‘Are you Serious?!’”  Pablo Davalos shares as he remembers the challenges that were mounting before him while transitioning from program to community reengagement.  “I was...

Hi, I’m Kayndi! If you’d asked me if I’d ever have children, I would have said, “Never!” My own biological mother was not a fit mother, so I believed that if I had kids, I’d auto-matically be like her.  My...

THE THIRD ANNUAL WORLDWIDE HELP-PORTRAIT™ EVENT was a blessed event for 60+ Mission program participants and families.  Each year the Fresno Rescue Mission invites local and guest photographers to participate in this nationwide event by taking...

In June, when Samaritan Women volunteers went to VSPW (Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla) to lead the monthly Bible study, the ladies witnessed a flurry of activity as work on the Prayer and Meditation Garden was underway! The place...

Growing up fatherless is the most common background shared by men enrolled in our Mission’s rehabilitation and recovery programs.  It stands to reason, given that most children who are raised in homes where the father is absent (physically not...

In 2011 the Academy felt an urge to grow, but rather than grow bigger, we knew we needed to grow stronger.  The Challenge: Strengthening the relationships our men have with Christ.  It isn’t that this wasn’t the focus and challenge...

I am 47 years old. Last year when I arrived I was on a pass from jail in Madera. I was running from my anger and my problems with alcohol. I was arrested and offered an opportunity for a program. I thought, "Of course, I will take a...

All people are born into a lineage.  For some, their heritage is steeped in cultural practices and an adherence to customs which define their legacy and belief.  For others, they may have a very fine thread of understanding, perhaps limited to...

Jeffrey arrived at midnight; his first time at the Mission, first time south of Ventura Avenue for that matter. “I wasn’t certain where the Mission was. The hospital personnel had given me a hand-drawn map to follow, but it was very dark...