THE STORY OF THE GOOD NEWS RESCUE MISSION, REDDING, CA

“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor” Proverbs 14:31.[1]

“We don’t choose to live under the adverse circumstances in which we find ourselves.  But we do choose, by our responses to adversity, how we are going to fare in those circumstances” Royal D. Blue.[2]

     The above statement by Reverend Royal D. Blue is the essence of the work of the Good News Rescue Mission (GNRM).  The core activity of this faith-based shelter is to assist homeless, hurting men, women, and children in overcoming dire situations by sharing the gospel message of grace and hope through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior..  The Holy Spirit is moving within this organization and it is His leading that was at the origin of this powerful faith-based charity. 

BLUE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

     Rev. Blue was born in Indiana in 1929, to a poor, farming family.  He said, “People don’t know what poor is today.  Often, we would get up from the table, after we’d eaten all that was there, and would still be terribly hungry.  Mother would get up early, and I didn’t know at the time, to leave her food for the children.  So, I have always had a love and sorrow for the poor.[3]  As a fifteen-year-old, he was badly injured in a farming incident that inspired him to give his life to the Lord.  Having been badly burned, he was not expected to live, and he credits his mother’s faith for his survival.  In 1944, Blue joined the United States Navy where he served in the World War II Battle of Guadalcanal, the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater.  A gunboat armament operator, who lost friends in battle, Blue stated, “And then, God saved my life again in Okinawa”[4].  Becoming a carpenter by trade, Blue married Ruth Johnston in 1946, whom he described as a “faithful and encouraging wife.”[5]  He would lose Ruth to cancer in 1971.

     He attended Biola University in Los Angeles and became a youth pastor, or as he stated, “an activities director, as we didn’t have youth pastors in those days.”[6] He began to fan out into rural areas to begin youth ministries because he felt that rural areas needed the gospel message.  This endeavor brought Blue to Redding in 1962, where he spoke at a Youth for Christ Rally.  Afterwards, he was introduced to a local bible study group, who invited him to start a church, thus North Valley Baptist Church was born.  Now Crosspointe Christian Center, Blue faithfully served as minister until his retirement some seventeen years ago.  He is also responsible for the beginning of KVIP Christian radio stations, along with friend, Ron Marland.  Marland would continue and establish Christian radio stations’ implementation internationally.[7] Rev. Blue also began what is now known as the Whiskeytown Environmental School, a local sixth graders field trip extraordinaire, and the Shasta Bible College.  But, as Longoria relates, “Blue remains an unassuming man who'll downplay his own role in favor of that of a team.”[8]

BACKGROUND OF GNRM

     Rev. Blue got involved in the mission’s inception because he had preached at the Los Angeles Mission and saw many professionals, specifically a doctor, an organist, and a song leader for an evangelist get saved and, “I found out that in talking to some of these people, that, hey, some of these people are not what some people think they are,” and “people need the help.”[9]

     Blue told me that where the underground parking garage is today on the corner of Placer and California Streets, adjacent from the Golden Eagle Motel, pictured below, there was storefront ran by a woman and her husband, who allowed men to come and be preached to by local ministers in the evenings.  Men who eventually assisted Blue in establishing the GNRM were Sam Post, and Peter and Sam Gault, local ministers who had preached at the storefront, among others.[10]  “This storefront ministry was opened while they were building the dam,” Blue said.[11] When the storefront closed, Blue and these other ministers felt a burden to do something to help people on the street receive the gospel message and wanted to offer them shelter and food.

     “I was burdened by the people coming to our church for help.  Many we helped as a church.  I felt sorry for them.”[12]  Then Blue received a visit from Dale Step of Klamath Falls, Oregon, who offered to give Blue some direction in establishing a mission.  Step had been informed by the mission in Klamath Falls that Redding needed a mission and was given Blue’s name.  The job fell to then 38-year-old Blue, who told me, “It was all God who put this together.  I don’t want Royal Blue to take credit.  We got on our hands and knees in my office and we all prayed about it. It was all God."[13] 

      Blue and Step started driving around at the North End of Redding looking for a facility on North Market Street – “we went clear through Redding and reached South Market – then we saw a two story white house – Dale left me that day– I never saw him again after that day – I tried to reach him, but I couldn’t.  I heard he went to LA, but I don’t know.  All I know is it was God.  I always felt sorry for poor people, coming from a poverty-stricken home.”[14]

     That two-story white house was purchased for $2000.00 and the GNRM was born. Blue got financial input from the then 200 strong congregation at North Valley Baptist Church, the Valley Feed Store owner, Ron Christenson, and a gas station manager.  In 1971, Don and Nola Palmer came down from Klamath Falls to be directors, and the mission began expanding.  Funds were raised by an investment made by the purchase of the Rite Spot Restaurant which was turned into a “smorgy”[15] or buffet, according to Blue, and the money was invested into the mission.  Blue related that no one had taken a salary for their mission work for the first 2-4 years of the mission’s opening, agreed to by all who participated.[16]  But that changed.

     His wife, Ruth had passed away in 1970 and Blue put his $10,000 back salary owed, back into the mission building fund.  “Ruth and I told God we would not take a salary – it is His money, not ours.”[17] The house was too small for the need.

     Don and Nola arranged the building of a new location and “we were taking off helping people get off the streets, and giving groceries to help them.”[18]  Nola was instrumental in opening the House of Hope for women and then churches began “to feel a burden to help these poor people,”[19] and the real growth of the mission began.  Job training for men being assisted began under Director Bill Roscoe from Boise, Idaho who had “lots of great ideas,” not only for job training, but for food gathering also.  Bob Pierce had a vision for the kitchen.  “Bob Jones had wisdom, knowledge, and finances and we started getting grants and we got a bank behind us and they gave us a million dollars, and this is how the dining hall came to be.”[20]  After my history lesson, Rev. Blue and I discussed our love of service to the poor and our love for God.  We looked through his book, Manning the Controls, together, and then our time ended.  Before our prayer, he read to me the following poem he had written:

Thank You God

I’m not as young now,

As once I used to be.

I’m in my later years,

And not much going for me.

As I review my past,

And the things that I now see,

God gives me great encouragement

How He took good care of me.

My blessings have been many,

And my trials not a few,

But God was always there for me

And His grace has seen me through.

I’ve a beautiful home in glory,

That God has prepared for me

It’s free of sin, sickness, and sorrow,

And no more crying there will be.

There I will be with and like Him,

Changed in the twinkling of an eye.

There to dwell for all eternity

 

With loved ones I once said good-bye.

- Royal D. Blue[21]

 

FAST FORWARD GNRM TO PRESENT DAY

     The current director, Jonathan Anderson had this to say,

“Oppression exists in the hearts of all and is not based on economic status.  In the midst of our most oppressive moments in life, what we crave more than anything is to be unconditionally loved and to be able to love unconditionally.  How often though do we place a condition upon love, especially upon those who are currently in the midst of a bitter oppression.  No one will be hated into healing and restoration.  As a society, true healing happens when we look past a person’s economic status, dismantle our judgments, see their hurt and love them into restoration.  Our aim is to create a community of love where oppression no longer exists.”

    Matthew 22:37-40 states, “37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

     Love for neighbor, then, is the key to GNRM success.  The GNRM was created on a firm,

Holy Spirit led and prayerful foundation.  By offering the love of Jesus Christ through the gospel message of faith, along with practical, life sustaining shelter and food, the GNRM exemplifies Isaiah 58:7 which states, “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”     

.  Two biblical mandates for the church, the great commission, and the great commandment, both emphasize love and service to those outside the boundaries our own group.  This kind of missional focus is central to the biblical purpose of the church, and it can only be done effectively and biblically as a community.”[22] Clearly, the Christian community of Redding and Shasta County has been instrumental in offering love and keeping this shelter program going for fifty-three years through generous gifts and donations, along with volunteers like Elijah and Becka Woodhouse, who help with serving the traditional Thanksgiving meal every year.  “It is an honor to serve God by serving our neighbors,” Elijah related to me.

THE CHAPEL

     The mission statement of the Good News Rescue Mission reads: “The purpose of the Good

 News Rescue Mission is to bring Good News to the poor, homeless, or needy of Shasta County

by:

a.         Sharing the love of God exemplified by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

b.         Providing emergency subsistence services (food, shelter, and clothing).

c.         Providing long term recovery services.

d.         Educating and equipping the people of Shasta County to effectively minister to needy people.”[23]

     David Messier, who preaches at the chapel every fourth Friday of the month explained to me that there are different ministers who revolve through the chapel on a nightly basis and Bible study is offered daily.  He says many people are brought to Christ and this is the most exciting thing.  Once someone has come to Christ, our programs will help people work with the Holy Spirit to create transformation in the person.  He related that the work search resource is a definite way for someone to receive extended housing after 30 days and that many people take advantage of this benefit to job searching.  He is alarmed, however, as is Rev. Blue, about the criminalization of homelessness in the Redding area.  He feels that there is a lot of hatred being stirred up against the homeless population, mostly due to a lack of knowledge about the realities of homelessness among the ordinary Shasta County citizenry.[24]

SOCIAL SERVICES OFFERED

     Now we will examine the types of ministries within the organization and the services offered that begin transformation in those who suffer from homelessness, whether due to addictions to drugs or alcohol, mental health or other disabilities, a lack of job skills, or other areas of need in the average client. A quick trip to the services page of the GNRM website offers us this quote,

 “All residents staying at the Good News Rescue Mission are offered formal recovery programs that can include over 6 months of residency-based programming teaching addiction recovery, basic life skills, money management, GED completion, work skills, and healthy families. Also, continued housing, aftercare, and other supportive services are available as necessary.  These programs are offered free of charge to our neighbors in desperate need.  The objective of all services offered by the Good News Rescue Mission is to provide the tangible love of Jesus Christ in helping our neighbors break the cycle of poverty and achieve their highest level of productivity and self-sustenance.”[25]

    Emergency shelter, longer term and transitional housing is offered.  A work search program, finding income for people whether through CalWORKs, unemployment, veterans’ benefits or social security programs, a money savings program for those with income, and transitional housing for sober living, mental health treatment, or other needed living situations can be

facilitated by the Mission. 

     A Resource Center offers vouchers for food, haircuts, identification.  But the center offers more, like referrals to many local agencies, such as “Second Home, Mental Health Outreach, Victor House, Promise Homes, the Veterans Resource Center, People of Progress, the Hope Van, Restoration Enterprises, Women’s Refuge, the Smart Center, Bethel Church Benevolence, Golden Umbrella, Crisis Recovery Center, Parent Partners,” and,

“If their need is shelter we offer them a 30 day stay, food and clothing while they are here. If they need to stay beyond 30 days, they are responsible for starting the work search program within the first week. If they have an income they have the option to discuss the money savings program. They qualify for money savings if their income is sufficient to support them once they leave here. If not, then they must do a simultaneous work search program in order to have an extended stay.”[26]

      Distributed are clothing, of which over 1000 items a week are given out, and small household items and appliances.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered daily in the dining hall, as are food boxes, with over 175,000 meals served in 2015, alone.[27]

     Medical services include volunteer nurses on site, with assessments offered and referrals made as needed.  Two respite rooms that allow daytime usage are available for clients who have been in the hospital.  The Hope Van comes to the GNRM site once a week as another avenue for medical services.  Dental services are offered every Wednesday evening by volunteer dentists.  The GNRM website says over 4,000 medical, dental and chiropractic services were offered in

2012.[28]      

     An Academic Center offers people the opportunity to complete their GED or obtain a high school diploma.  Assistance is offered in preparing for college or obtaining certification in technical education.  The program offers help in obtaining a job or starting a new career, but mainly the core teaching is that success come from a relationship with God. 

     The Women’s and Children’s Ministries/House of Hope is an 18-month residential program which helps women live a life of recovery.  Curriculum includes learning positive, self-affirming vocabulary, drug relapse prevention and Bible study. Additional opportunities to remain self-sufficient include the House of Grace transitional home, post graduate programs, mentors, transportation, and food assistance.

     The Men’s New Life Recovery Program is an 18 month, residential, Christ-centered, holistic program centered around the what is called the Genesis Process and integrates graduate transitional housing. Curriculum includes Bible study, managing one’s anger, disciplined living, relapse prevention, and vocational training. 

     Other services include the Journey Home bus ticket program which helps people return to their families out of the area, the Homeless Rock Stars wherein Nigel Skeet dresses up people and then takes professional photos,[29] a Thanksgiving and Christmas food giveaway, a Christmas party for children, and participation in the Veteran’s Stand Down annual assistance event. 

     Visually, the GNRM appears to be for the poor and homeless, as the buildings are older, not the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and the facility is spread out in many buildings located within several blocks around the main shelter in a poorer part of Redding.  When one enters the main shelter area, the smell of dirty body odor is apparent, and things are not sparkling clean.  This would be expected, due to the hardship of being homeless on the streets of Redding and the number of people offered shelter daily, on average 200 a day.[30] One of the rules, among rules against obscene language, coarse joking, and the absence of any illegal contraband, is “no inappropriate clothing,”[31]  Ramona, a young woman in the House of Victory recovery program stated to me that, “we have to wear office type clothing to all of our meetings.”  Clearly, the GNRM demands of its guests’ certain behaviors that exemplify honor for God and each other.

     Despite the visuals, however, many positive and transforming activities are taking place inside these buildings: daily Bible studies and evening chapel services, a dining hall, food distribution, job search and education.  There is the Men’s New Life Recovery, the House of Hope and House of Victory, addiction recovery homes for men and women, and other services as needed by the homeless.  Although visually the GNRM seems unassuming and antiquated, the core activities are being met with enthusiasm by the staff of the GNRM. 

     While the climate for the homeless can sometimes border on hostility, it is obvious to me that this organization is loved and supported by the citizens of this area and if the past is an indication of the future, the GNRM will remain another fifty years.  Pastor Blue states, “In waiting for God, we sometimes see him providentially intervene and do something we never dreamed He would do.  It is important for us to give God an opportunity to prove that He is not only faithful, but He is also able to do what He says He will do.  This can only be proven true as we calmly wait for the Lord.  We are to stand still and watch Him do His work among us.”[32]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blue, Royal D. Interview at Shasta Bible College, Alpha-Omega Conference.  April 6, 2018.

Blue, Royal D. Manning the Controls. 2000. Promise Publishing: Santa Ana, CA.

Good News Rescue Mission. Full website. Accessed April 10, 2018 from https://gnrm.org/.

Good News Rescue Mission.  Guest Services Brochure.

Longoria, Sean.  At 90, Rev. Royal Blue has lifetime of accomplishment. August 07, 2016. The Redding Record Searchlight. Accessed April 9, 2018 from http://archive.redding.com/news/local/at-90-rev-royal-blue-has-lifetime-of-accomplishment-395a56d1-4d36-061b-e053-0100007fac48-389432731.html/.