03/14/2023
A little more than 13 years ago, I felt the call to volunteer at the City Union Mission, wanting to be obedient, I went through the process in order to volunteer. Soon thereafter I was preaching in the men’s shelter and staying afterwards and visiting with as many of those men that I could, where I was able to continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a blessed time, a humbling time as I listened to so many tragic stories and tried to encourage men with the hope that only comes from God. I have no idea of the impact I had while I was there, I leave that to the Lord, it was all His doing...we are just the messengers.
My wife Angela and I had the same hope 11 years ago when the Lord re-directed my path and brought me back to our own community in Harrisonville. Along with my wife we would minister to those by way of Cass County Rescue Mission.
From the beginning we purposed in our hearts to trust God to supply all our needs, we never asked for a penny in donations, yet God for 11 years has supplied and continues to supply abundantly through kind and wonderful hearts of fellow believers in this area. Also including delicious food, 2 vans, bibles, clothes, household goods, ect…, amazing volunteers who are now dear friends, a new restroom, a building given to us bought and paid for by a blessed Pastor and his amazing wife and so much more.
Even those that outwardly appeared to be enemies, God turned into blessings as we learned how to forgive and love those that hate us.
Over the past 11 years there has been 31 guests/friends pass away, preaching a number of the funerals myself. We learned how to grieve our loss and rejoice in their gain as they went home to be with the Lord.
We learned that ministry done right is a sacrifice and a blessing, but also that the Christian life and our daily walk with Christ is a “ministry” and a blessed sacrifice as we “let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
When CCRM opened, our lives as we knew it were over, but in a good way, in a way that only serving others in the name of Christ could do. We were about to embark upon the most difficult, yet blessed thing we had ever done.
We have learned that ministry and our lives belong to Christ to do with as he pleases and we would not have it any other way, even though there have been times when fear, doubt, and uncertainty had to be overcome.
We have learned how to prayerfully make difficult decisions, which is what this post is about. As I said previously our lives and ministry belong to Christ and after much prayer we have decided to take CCRM in a different direction.
First of all we prayerfully believe this is the Lord’s will, and the Lord’s ministry and His right alone to inspire these changes. Our heart is to walk in obedience to His leading. CCRM will continue to accept donations of clothing, shoes, toiletries, nonperishable food items, ect…as we continue to reach out to those in need within our community. Our main focus will remain getting the gospel to those in spiritual need.
The Saturday service with a meal will no longer be available, it has been a blessed time that has changed my wife and I in ways that would of otherwise not have happened.
Now we feel led to take the gospel out into our community and beyond, meeting and serving people where they are at, nursing homes for example. Even though we are no longer serving meals on Saturday, CCRM is NOT closing-it is changing direction.
The building at 304 E Wall Street will still be in use, there is a Bible study on Mondays, Journey Outpost HomeSchool Co-op uses it on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, CASCO has used it for special painting parties, we will still have Movie Night the 2nd Friday night of each month, the Christian Motorcycle Association meets there once a month and there is a church on Sundays.
The biggest change we are praying about is bringing in men of God on Saturdays to teach the Word of God, a free Bible class to anyone who wants to learn. No meal, maybe coffee and doughnuts.😁 I have always believed that the most important thing we do at CCRM is to preach the Word of God, this is what changes lives and eternal destinations. How this aspect of CCRM will develop and what this will exactly look like, I do not know but we will seek the Lord and be still until He wants us to move. Our prayer is that CCRM will be around for a long time after we are gone, serving others and glorifying God.
Changing direction is not easy, but no one ever said serving God would be. Changing direction will allow us some time to focus on certain personal health issues and also my dear Mom, whom I love dearly, has Alzheimer’s and I need/want to spend time with her, helping her however I can.
Angela and I love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He is the reason we do what we do, and we know that God is not done with us yet-He is just getting started and we are excited for the next chapter of CCRM and our walk with Him. We appreciate your prayers, friendship, fellowship and patience. We love everyone who God has brought into our lives through CCRM. As the Lord leads us, we will update you.
Thank you and God Bless,
Mark Roach
Founder of CCRM