As Vice President of Development at the 100-year-old Miami-based nonprofit The Caring Place, known as Miami Rescue Mission |Broward Outreach Centers, an organization that helps the homeless, Marilyn Brummitt has witnessed the transformational power of God in countless lives.
MIAMI, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As Vice President of Development at the 100-year-old Miami-based nonprofit The Caring Place, known as Miami Rescue Mission |Broward Outreach Centers, an organization that helps the homeless, Marilyn Brummitt has witnessed the transformational power of God in countless lives.
"Going from being homeless to a Caring Place graduate is miraculous and beautiful, and all it takes is the white flag of surrender by the individual, first to God and then to the process of transformation," she said.
With a mission to emulate Christ's example by serving others, The Caring Place has changed the lives of many who lived on the streets or came out of abuse. Thanks to its programs, these individuals are empowered to stand on their own.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, the history of The Caring Place is documented in a new book launching in October called "The Miracle Mission: The incredible story of the Miami Rescue Mission's first 100 years and beyond" by Walter Villa.
The ministry operates centers in Miami and Hollywood, Florida (in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties) to help men, women, and children by offering meals, safe shelter, life-changing residential programs, career readiness, and housing.
"Our mission is to transform lives," Brummitt said. "Hundreds of people are fed and cared for daily. We also have voluntary in-house residential programs, including adult education and case management. These programs are what I call the mission's university, and this is where we see the personal transformation happen."
Readers will learn how the nonprofit that started in 1922 and originally called Grace Mission then Miami City Mission grew from its beginnings under a tent. The nonprofit endured turbulent events such as The Great Miami Hurricane in 1926, the stock market crash of 1929 (the Great Depression), World War II, and eminent domain location changes. As changes continued with various locations, the nonprofit became known as Miami Rescue Mission. The story continues to chronicle the changes through four couples in the past 100 years.
Not only does the book chronicle the mission's history but also the dramatic life stories of the Rev. Ronald Brummitt— who greatly benefited from the ministry's help—his wife Marilyn, other mission graduates, and supporters. The readers will also learn about Dr. Frank and Maxine Jacobs (third in the chain of leaders and considered the re-founders), and their special calling to rescue the Rescue Mission.
In her experience with the homeless, Marilyn Brummitt explained that over the years, the makeup of guests and residents has included more women and children leaving domestic violence situations and people of different ethnicities.
She also points to more cases where mental illness along with a lack of education and finances can contribute to homelessness.
"Drug addiction and mental illness can be tied together; it's hard to know what comes first," she said. "Most of the time, these two things eventually lead to a disaster of losing jobs, destroying relationships, becoming homeless and/or becoming mentally ill."
She added: "Lack of education is also a factor. Having a high school diploma is essential in the job market along with proper computer skills. Another factor is financial issues. During the last mortgage crisis, for example, more people who lived paycheck to paycheck started finding themselves homeless. Now the economy is making it hard on those who have to decide which bill is the most important; rent, electricity, or food."
The Caring Place's future vision is to expand the existing women/children's center to be a more comprehensive family of services and add additional permanent housing all on an existing five-acre property in Miami Gardens. Brummitt also sees the ministry having campuses in other counties and possibly in other states.
"We want to create a solid foundation here for the next generation of leaders as they assume leadership. The goal is to keep the ministry strong financially and keep the roots of Judeo-Christian principles that have been the mission's foundation since 1922." Brummitt said.
"The Mission Miracle" is available at Amazon. For more information about The Caring Place, visit https://www.caringplace.org.
About The Caring Place:
Since 1922 the Miami Rescue Mission | Broward Outreach Centers (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) continues to serve the homeless and needy men, women, and children of South Florida. Our organization provides food, shelter, clothing, long-term rehabilitation programs, education, job training, spiritual direction, health services, youth programs, and housing, and in Miami and Broward to nearly 1,000 homeless on a daily basis. This is all done with Christian compassion and encouragement. For additional information, please visit: http://www.caringplace.org.
Media Contact
Marie Lazzara, JJR Marketing, 630-400-3361, [email protected]
SOURCE The Caring Place
Share this article