COVER STORY 28 September 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition Miami Rescue Mission/Broward Outreach Center, known as The Caring Place, will celebrate 100 years serving the homeless and needy with the “I CARE” 100th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 15th at the Signature Grand in Davie. Describing it as the “Big, Bold, Beautiful Centennial Celebration,” the Rev. Ronald Brummitt, president of the Miami Rescue Mission, said there’s been “miracle after miracle” for the Kingdom of God since its founding in 1922 when the original couple arrived in Miami in a horse-drawn carriage, being obedient to the Lord. The mission has always put God first in its outreaches, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in practical ways in the spirit of Mark 10:45. They now have over 600 residential beds and have held many street outreaches and banquets, serving tens of thousands. In the past year alone, Miami Rescue Mission and its supporters served over 700,000 nutritious meals, provided 220,000 nights of safe shelter, joined forces with over 1,000 volunteers contributing 10,000 volunteer hours and helped more than 100 men and women find jobs. Witnessing miracles Recounting one of the miracles, the Rev. Brummitt and his wife, Marilyn Brummitt, vice president, recalled that when Dr. Frank and Maxine Jacobs assumed the leadership role in the 1970’s, the ministry had few finances and owed their property owners a lot of money. Jeff Tew, the mission’s pro-bono attorney at the time and now chairman of the board, thought they were going to have to “pay up or get out.” As they went into their meeting, Dr. Jacobs asked him, “Do you believe God is in control?” Then the owners decided we don’t need the property; it’s being used for good purpose and let them have it. “It was like a death and resurrection right there and they remained at that location for 35 years,” Brummitt said. Once homeless himself, the Rev. Brummitt describes his own transformation as a miracle. Coming from an abusive home with an alcoholic father, it was after his service in the Army when Brummitt developed a drug addiction that left him homeless for two and a half years. “I came into this program on one of the coldest Januaries in Miami with temperatures in the twenties, but after a couple of days, I decided to leave. I had gotten into some altercations and didn’t like the place. I took my little satchel of clothes that I got here and was turning to go down the stairwell when I met a well-suited man I’d never seen before. He said, ‘Where are you going?’ And I said, ‘I’m out of here!’ Then he touched my shoulder and said, ‘Son, don’t leave. You don’t know what God has here for you.’ It was Dr. Jacobs and that was a pivotal moment. I was able to stick and stay, and 14 years later they selected me to be CEO to come after him… During my induction ceremony, Dr. Jacobs placed that same hand on that same shoulder and was praying for us.” In a recent ceremony, the current Center for Men was renamed “The Caring Place Dr. Frank and Maxine Center for Men” in honor of these re-founders who formally incorporated the mission. And Esteban Bovo, Jr., Mayor of The City of Hialeah, recognized the Miami Rescue Mission with a plaque. “What I think is profound for us as policy makers and just as human beings,” said Mayor Bovo, “is that anybody could end up homeless. All it takes is not being able to pay rent, loss of job, or a medical situation where the bills mount up. We traditionally think it’s somebody who has a drug addiction, but the awareness is no that’s not always the case. It could happen to families, men, women, young children could end up homeless and that for us is very sobering. I don’t know how we tackle this issue if we don’t have programs like the Miami Rescue Mission. They have stood the test of time, and Rev. Ron and Marilyn, they’re the rock stars! It doesn’t work without their compassion and without their love… Those seeking help will find it at Miami Rescue Mission. Whether its serving food, whether its washing someone’s feet, whether its dental care, medical care, counseling, there’s so much that goes on here.” A history forged by four couples The mission in the past 100 years has been led by four main couples: the Schleuchers, the Ashes, the Jacobs, and the Brummitts. In 1922, John and Zada Schleucher founded Grace Mission, holding their evangelistic meetings in tents and providing food and services daily. When The Great Depression hit in 1929, a Miami News headline indicated they were caring for 1226 people each day. The organization would change names several times before being called the Miami Rescue Mission in 1935. Rev. McKinley and Marguerite Ash led the mission from 1947-1970, after originally doing ministry in jails and hospitals. They purchased a building with dormitory beds for 140 men, which was later expanded, operated several thrift stores and added broader services such as job training, medical services and more. Miami RescueMissionCelebrates 100Years! Shelly Pond Good News Editor The Rev. Ronald and Marilyn Brummitt Thousands of volunteers have participated in the mission over the years, including dignitaries such as Senator Marco Rubio, who helped serve the Thanksgiving meal and delivered the prayer at Miami Rescue Mission in 2014. “Throughout the 5,500 years of recorded human history, people have been tempted to put their faith in themselves. And that’s never been easier to do than it is now, when one silly video can make you an internet star. But we’re not called to serve ourselves. We’re called to put our faith in God and serve others. That is what the Miami Rescue Mission has been doing for 100 years,” said Sen. Rubio. “The number of lives rescued and families saved over the decades is impossible to know, but each one is infinitely valuable. Rev. Brummitt and his wife Marilyn remind us of the good that can come from living out our faith. Communities need institutions like the Miami Rescue Mission. They cannot survive, let alone thrive, if people – especially people of deep faith – are not standing ready to help their brothers and sisters in their darkest moments.” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio
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