Newsletters, Podcasts, and Social Media
For media inquiries contact Lisa Thompson at 540-777-7683 or email lisa.thompson@rescuemission.net
One Act of Kindness: John’s Next Chapter
When you first meet John, you notice his smile—steady and determined, the kind you see on a teammate who believes the game isn’t over. He’s seventeen, the oldest child, living at the Rescue Mission with his dad and siblings. He’ll tell you right away he doesn’t want to be in a shelter—“nobody does”—and yet he’s quick to add: “Y’all are helping us. I’m grateful.”
This isn’t the first time the Mission has been part of his story. As a little boy, this was the last place he stood before being taken into foster care for 18 months. Returning now stirs painful memories—but also a sense of redemption. “It hurts,” he says softly, “but I know God has a plan.”
Click below to read more about John’s story and the rest of the 2025 December Newsletter!
Serving Up Second Chances: Krystal’s Journey of Hope and Recovery
When Krystal walked through the doors of the Rescue Mission, she wasn’t looking for a job, she was looking for a chance to start over.
After being released from jail, Krystal moved into an Oxford House, where residents were required to either work or volunteer. “I never volunteered a day in my life,” she admits. “But a friend told me about the Rescue Mission and that she had been volunteering in the kitchen. She said, ‘You should come with me and give it a shot.’ So, I did.”
Click below to read more about Krystal’s story and the rest of the 2025 November Newsletter!
Finding Purpose in Service: Connor’s Work at the Rescue Mission Pantry
When you step into the Manna food pantry at the Rescue Mission, chances are you’ll see Connor hard at work. For more than a year, Connor has served as Pantry Assistant, helping to ensure that families across Roanoke receive the food and care they need. His days are full of organizing the warehouse, managing incoming donations, and making sure everything is ready when hundreds of families come through the food distribution line each week.
What surprises many people, Connor says, is the sheer volume of food that comes in. “The other week we had eight tons of Coca-Cola donated. That’s 16,000 pounds. That’s not normal, but we get a lot of product,” he explained with a laugh. Whether it’s donations from Kroger or a sudden truckload from another partner, Connor and his team make sure every item is sorted, stored, and ready for distribution
Click below to read more about Connor’s story and the rest of the 2025 October Newsletter!
20 Years as a Servant of Hope: Dr. Faith Pasley’s Mission at the Fralin Free Clinic
When Dr. Faith Pasley came to the Rescue Mission two decades ago, she wasn’t simply looking for a place to practice medicine, she was answering a lifelong calling.
The daughter of a pastor, Dr. Pasley went to medical school with a dream of serving in overseas missions. While her path didn’t lead her across oceans, it brought her somewhere just as meaningful: the heart of Roanoke, where the need for compassionate, Christ-centered medical care is profound.
Click below to read more about Faith Pasley’s story and the rest of the 2025 September Newsletter!
“God’s Not Done With Me Yet”: Ricky’s Story of Pain, Purpose, and Preaching
Ricky has survived more pain than most of us could imagine – and through it all, his faith, though shaken, has not been broken. His story is one of miraculous survival, deep-rooted trauma, and quiet, persistent redemption. Today, he hopes to be a powerful voice at the Rescue Mission, offering others the encouragement and truth that helped bring him back from the edge.
Born and raised in the Roanoke area, Ricky’s childhood was marked by deep tragedy. At age six, he witnessed the horrifying death of his father, who was hit by a tractor-trailer. Ricky was nearly killed in the same accident, suffering severe trauma to his chest. Not long after, he endured years of physical and sexual abuse, from the age of six until 14. “I could write a book,” he says with a tired but knowing smile.
Click below to read more about Ricky’s story and the rest of the 2025 August Newsletter!
“You Can Come Back”: Thomas’s Journey Through Darkness and Home Again
Thomas grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia, in a family that believed you could achieve anything if you set your mind to it. So, when addiction took hold, it was more than just a personal struggle—it was a battle against everything he’d been taught. For years, he tried to fight it alone, caught in a cycle of jail, probation violations, and despair.
“I kept thinking, I can beat this on my own,” Thomas said. “But addiction doesn’t work like that. I just didn’t want to be locked up again.”
Click below to read more about Thomas’s story and the rest of the 2025 July Newsletter!
A Father’s Fight: A Journey
from Brokenness to Hope
Here at the Mission, every story of recovery is precious. But on Father’s
Day, some of the most powerful stories we hear come from the men who are not just working to rebuild their lives – but to reclaim their role as fathers.
One of those stories belongs to Eric, a man whose past was marked by pain, addiction, and incarceration – but whose present is full of purpose, compassion, and hope.
Before Eric walked through the Mission’s doors for recovery, he had already stayed in the Shelter several times. Back then, he admits he was lost.
Click below to read more about Eric’s story and the rest of the 2025 June Newsletter!
Amber: A Message of Hope
Meet Amber, a beacon of resilience and faith at the Rescue Mission. As a mother of four and a supervisor in the Women’s and Children’s Center, her journey is one of incredible transformation. Amber’s life was marked by addiction, domestic violence, and homelessness for seven years. Yet through it all, she never lost sight of the hope that faith can bring.
“Back in 2019, I reached what I felt was the end. I asked the Lord for forgiveness, and I asked for His help,” she shares. “That was the turning point. It was then that I began to hear Him, and my recovery started. I’ve been sober for six years, and I haven’t looked back. More than just recovery, I found a deep relationship with Christ, and His grace and love continue to transform me.”
Click below to read more about Amber’s story and the rest of the 2025 May Newsletter!
A Life of Service: Larry’s Journey from IT to Inspiring Change
For 34 years, Larry built his career in IT at Anthem, solving complex technical problems and navigating a world of systems and data. But when he retired, he found himself searching for something deeper – a way to give back and make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
Larry’s introduction to the Rescue Mission of Roanoke came through his daughter, who worked in the Women’s and Children’s Center at the time. Seeing the Mission’s work firsthand, Larry was moved by its profound impact. He wanted to be a part of that change and soon began volunteering, teaching money management classes for seven years. But what started as a simple opportunity to give back soon became a calling.
Click below to read more about Larry’s story and the rest of the 2025 April Newsletter!
A Heart for Service: Danielle’s Journey of Compassion and Dedication
Danielle’s story is one of unwavering dedication, compassion, and the deep desire to make a real difference in the lives of others. A hardworking single mother of two young boys, Danielle has always believed in the importance of helping those in need. Raised in Roanoke, she pursued a career in social work, driven by her passion for serving others. Her experience working with various agencies, including social services and the health department, gave her a unique understanding of the struggles many face.
Click below to read more about Danielle’s story and the rest of the 2025 March Newsletter!
Gratitude and Resilience: Glenn’s Journey
Glenn often reflects on how much he owes to the Fralin Free Clinic and Melanie, the Heart Corps service member who has been with him every step of the way. With a family history of heart disease and diabetes, Glenn is grappling with both conditions before even turning 50. His father’s early death at 59 from a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery left a lasting impact on him.
Glenn is a proud father of a 23-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter, and he’s been married for 25 years. He has been a licensed security officer since 1999, but after facing health challenges, Glenn found himself staying at the Rescue Mission. Here he works with the Mission Opportunities to Serve (MOTS), helping with everything from making beds to distributing shirts.
Click below to read more about Glenn’s story and the rest of the 2025 February Newsletter!
A Life Transformed: The Power of Second Chances
Blair’s story is one of struggle, survival, and ultimately, redemption. Growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia, he was raised in a world few could truly understand. His family had been in the bootlegging business for generations, operating several small clubs that served as both home and business. From a young age, Blair was immersed in a world of excess – smoke-filled rooms, the clink of bottles, and the constant hum of adult conversation. It was a world where indulgence was the norm, and the lessons of his upbringing would shape his path in ways he could never imagine.
Blair’s father was the embodiment of this lifestyle. Known for his love of the party life, his father’s death at just 33 from cirrhosis of the liver left Blair with a deep wound. But instead of pulling him away from the path his father had walked, it pushed him deeper into it. Blair’s life spiraled downward, and by his teenage years, he was no longer just following the footsteps of those before him – he was heading down a dark and dangerous road.
Click below to read more about Blair’s story and the rest of the 2025 January Newsletter!