Newsletters, Podcasts, and Social Media
For media inquiries contact Lisa Thompson at 540-777-7683 or email lisa.thompson@rescuemission.net
Serving with Heart – and a Paintbrush
For Susan, volunteering at the Rescue Mission of Roanoke is far more than something she does — it is a calling.
Volunteering since 2021, Susan has become a familiar and welcome presence at the Mission. Some days you’ll find her in the kitchen helping prepare meals for guests. Other days she is quietly working with a paintbrush in hand, helping refresh the very spaces where ministry happens each day.
“The Lord led me here,” Susan shares. “Serving at the Mission is one way I live out my faith.”
Click below to read more about Susa’s story and the rest of the 2026 April Newsletter!
Anthony’s Story: “A Blanket at 3:45 a.m.”
Anthony didn’t come to Virginia looking for a fresh start. He came for work.
A skilled lineman — climbing poles, working cable and fiber — Anthony traveled from Tulsa, Oklahoma to rural Virginia to help expand internet access in mountain communities. He was trying to rebuild his life after a hard stretch, determined to keep moving forward.
But the job didn’t go the way it was promised. Checks weren’t enough to cover the hotel. Groceries became scarce. Stress stacked on stress. Alone in a place where he didn’t knowanyone, Anthony began to slip — physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Click below to read more about Anthony’s story and the rest of the 2026 March Newsletter!
From Shelter to Stability: Deborah’s Journey Forward
Life can change in the blink of an eye, leading us to find ourselves in situations we could have never imagined. When Deborah walked through the doors of the Rescue Mission, her life had been shaped by profound loss and unexpected change. After her husband passed away in Connecticut, Deborah moved to Virginia to care for her brother. Like many who experience sudden life transitions, circumstances soon led her to seek help at the Mission.
Her time in shelter wasn’t always easy. “It got me from A to B,” Deborah shared honestly. But within the walls of the Mission, she found more than a place to sleep or eat; she found support, guidance, and people willing to walk alongside her as she worked toward stability.
Click below to read more about Deborah’s story and the rest of the 2026 February Newsletter!
All Things New: A Story of Renewal at the Rescue Mission
January is a month that reminds us that God is always doing something new. At the Rescue Mission, we see this promise lived out every day—in quiet steps forward, in fresh starts, and sometimes, in extraordinary transformations.
One of those stories belongs to a guest we’ll call “J.” His journey is a powerful testimony of what can happen when a life once shaped by trauma and violence is met with the love of Christ and the steadfast support of a caring community.
Click below to read more about J’s story and the rest of the 2026 January Newsletter!