James wanted to be a good man. He just didn't know how.

Like James, many of the men who turn to Northlands Rescue Mission never had appropriate models for manhood in their lives, and traits like steadfastness, responsibility, initiative and humility are foreign concepts. They don't know what self-sacrifice and delayed gratification look like. They act on their whims with little forethought to the consequences.

As a result, confusion, poor decisions, repeated mistakes and lack of direction keep them from becoming productive members of the community, and they take little responsibility for their own lives.

James never finished high school, and his lack of accountability and respect for others burned all bridges with his family. He moved from Illinois to Minnesota to live with a girlfriend, but that didn't work out as he'd planned. He couldn't find work and had no way to support himself, so he came to Northlands Rescue Mission.

When we first talked with James, we could tell he had at least one thing working in his favor. He wanted to change, find direction in his life and learn what being a real man is all about.

A core value at Northlands Rescue Mission is to make each guest, like James, responsible for his own care as he develops life tools every man needs—through training in job skills, goal setting, interpersonal relationships, conflict management, decision making and showing respect and compassion toward others. We encouraged James to face his problems directly and overcome obstacles in his path to a stable, self-sufficient life.

"The Mission gave me a job and helped me get my GED," James says. "Then I was able to move on to a better job in factory work." Now he lives independently in an apartment of his own.

Through our Bible studies, church services and prayer, James also found his role model and mentor in God and Jesus Christ. Now, James walks with a Father to guide him and feels God's love and approval for the first time in his life.

With Christ in his heart and God's tools in his hands, James is becoming the man he wants to be. Your support of our work makes it possible to share God's tools with all who are ready to build new lives. Bless you.