This blog is probably well overdue.  As some are already aware, The Good News Rescue Mission has hired me as their new Academic Director.  I had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Lynn Swanson, the former Academic Director, during our transition and know she will be dearly missed.  Thank you Mrs. Swanson for your years of dedication and heart of love for our students. 

            My vision for the Academic Center is that we will create an output of students who are highly desirable in the local workplace due to an outstanding degree of education, high moral and ethical standards and centralized experience prior to work placement, while being sponsored by the reputation of a highly favorable academic center.

            In order to accomplish this vision I have developed a three phase process.  In the first phase, students will work on academics to restructure their minds and learning as they recover from their addictions which degraded most of their mental processing.   Once students have met or exceeded the minimum scores for academics, they will then advance to the second phase. 

In phase two, our students will enter a computer literacy course.  Students will learn to type without looking at 40 wpm with 95% accuracy.  They will then learn to master basic software such as, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.  The computer literacy course will help students achieve a competitive edge for job placement in the local market place.

            The third phase will be a Job Preparedness course in which students will take various career assessments to discover their occupational propensity.  Students will then develop a career portfolio containing a cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation, achievements and awards.  Students will learn goal setting, business ethics, values and organizational structures.  Toward the end of their Job Preparedness course, students will learn pertinent interview skills and be given mock interviews.  The coaching students receive in conjunction with the course will help them gain confidence and understanding necessary for placement in the job market. 

            Finally, the Mission our Academic Center Staff holds to is that we exist to serve students by providing a Christ-centered education while instilling biblical worldviews and demonstrating the sacrificial love of Christ to each student. 

            It is an honor to have been given the privilege to direct the Academic Center at the Good News Rescue Mission and I look forward to sharing our progress with you all.  As always, I encourage everyone to keep our staff and students covered in prayer as we march forward toward strength and freedom of Christ.

I will end with a testimony.  Mark N. in our New Life Recovery program recently took his GED assessment after studying at the Academic Center.   When we received the results, we not only learned Mark had passed his GED but Mark had also scored 99% on 3 of the 5 subjects and was in the 80 percentile for the other 2 subjects.  Mark is now excited and entertaining career options in fields he has always dreamed of but never thought possible.  Mark has been affirmed, “With God, all things are possible.”

Thank you,
Jonathan D. Anderson
Director of Academics

Greetings,

Graduation is over and still the work at the Mission moves on preparing the next class of programmers for success in their recovery and academic programs.

Today at Communion one man will receive his Academic Center (AC) Certificate showing significant improvement in the areas of Math and Reading. 

Two gentlemnen will be receiving their Life Skills Certificate showing significant improvement in the areas of Math, Reading, and Writing, as well as learning how to type, write a resume and cover letter, learn about budgeting and how to maintain a budget, the completion of career assessments and research into the career of their choice, as well as the completion of 50 hours of electives with a minimum of 5 options in the areas of Vocabulary, Science, History, Music, Religion and Logic just to name a few.

Classes are held for the Men, Women, and In-Step Programmers throughout the year.  It is not closed for summer, spring, or Christmas break.

Please continue to hold these men and women up in prayer.

Until next month:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breaths away."  George Carlin

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director

530-242-5920

lswanson@gnrm.org

It's difficult to believe Easter is upon us this Holy Week.  May God be with all of you and may this Easter be one of celebration not only for you but also for our programmers and guests.

Unfortunately with the beginning of May I am going to be losing two staff members.  One has worked with the Women Recovery Programmers and the other staff member has worked with the Men Recovery Programmers.  My prayer for these two delightful people is that God will continue to stand by their side as they enter a new chapter in their lives.

Last week two Advanced Life Skills Certificates were awarded at Communion.  The woman, who received her certificate chose to research Journalism and Graphic Arts and how they can be combined in the organizing of newsletters.  The gentleman who received his advanced certificate researched Apiculture (the study of bees) specifically the raising of queen bees for sale throughout the world.

Graduation is coming up Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m.  The location for graduation of the programmers is Redding Christian Fellowship, 2157 Victor Ave., here in Redding.  As seats fill up fast I suggest you show up by 6 p.m.

Until May's Posting:

"If your actions insire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader." John Quincy Adams

Happy St. Patrick's Day, 

If you are a woman who is interested in becoming a part of the Academic Center Staff on Mondays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and/or Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. I could use your assistance.  Please complete a Volunteer Interest Survey (found on our website) or stop by the Mission's Administrative Offices, fill out a Volunteer Interest Survey and turn it into Janet Shields our Volunteer Coordinator.

At Communion this past week we (the Mission) recognized Mr. Dean Boring.  Dean has been assisting not only in the Academic Center but also with the Mens' New Life Recovery Program since 2005.  What an asset he has been.  Thank you Dean.

Since last month the following has taken place:

• We have a gentleman in our recovery program attempting to complete the requirements for his High School Diploma.  I'm working in conjunction with Shasta Adult School on this.  This gentleman has 15 units to go. He's already completed 4 units.  Thanks for keeping this man in your prayers...he's motivated and wants to receive his High School Diploma.
• When a man or woman attempts to pass the GED he is tested in 5 areas - Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies and Science.
• This month 1 lady and 1 gentleman took their Reading and Social Studies GED exams.  Results should be available in about 2-3 weeks.  These two programmers have 3 exams to take and pass with a minimum score of 410 per section.  Please keep them in your prayers. 
• A gentleman who has already completed the Social Studies portion of his GED took his Writing and Science portions this month as well.  3 down and 2 to go!

Until next month:  "Draw a circle, not a heart, around the one you love because a heart can break but a circle goes on forever."

Blessings to All,

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director 

Happy Valentine's Day,

Communion is about ready to begin and I decided to update my blog before I headed over to the chapel.

Since last month the following has taken place:

• We have a gentleman in our recovery program attempting to complete the requirements for his High School Diploma.  I'm working in conjunction with Shasta Adult School on this.  Please keep us in your prayers as we attempt this new chapter in the Academic Center's Life.  This will be a first for the Academic Center and what a first it will be to have a gentleman receive his high school diploma.!
• When a man or woman attempts to pass the GED he is tested in 5 areas - Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies and Science.
• We have a lady and a gentleman who will be registering this month so they will be able to begin taking parts of their GED exams in March.  These two individuals are only attempting 2 out of the 5 parts - no mean feat.
• A gentleman who has already completed the Social Studies portion of his GED successfully will be tackling the Science and Writing portions of his GED in March.
• Today at Communion a gentleman, about ready to enter into Phase 4 of his recovery program will be receiving his Academic Certificate.
• Also at Communion today a woman in her recovery program will be receiving her Life Skills Certificate.

Until next month:  "Make your whole year's plans in the spring, and your day's plans early in the morning." Chinese Proverb

Blessings to All,

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director 

We've begun a new year in the Academic Center with the passing of the first part of a GED, the attempt to take two portions of the GED, the beginning of college, the returning to college, and the awarding of three certificates tomorrow at Communion.

One of the gentlemen in our Recovery Program passed the Social Studies portion of his GED with a score of 470 (60 points over the minimum score required for passage).  This young man will possibly be attempting his Writing and Science in February.

One of the women in our Recovery Program will be attempting to pass both the Social Studies and Reading portions of her GED next week.

Please keep these two people in your prayers for the successful passage of their GED exam.

Two people (a woman and a man) will be receiving their Life Skills Certificates tomorrow at Communion.  A Life Skills Certificate means these two people have relearned their math, reading, and writing Skills, have learned how to type, completed a budget course, took two career assessments and researched careers they are interested in, wrote a resume and cover letter, as well as completing 50 hours of electives in subjects ranging from Religion, to the Sciences, Vocabulary, Social Studies, and the Arts.

A woman will be receiving her Advanced Life Skills Certificate tomorrow at Communion.  Her area of interest was learning the Spanish language. She spent 60 hours learning how to read and write the Spanish, wrote a paper describing what she learned, and presented this information to her fellow women programmers today.

Beginning next week those programmers currently enrolled at Shasta College will be returning.  In addition to these returning students there will be 3 additional compatriots (1 woman and 2 men).

Please continuue to keep all of our programmers in your prayers as they attempt (sometimes what they think is the impossible) to successfully complete the goals set out for them in the Academic Center.

Until next month keep this in mind: "The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk."  Jacqueline Schiff.

God Bless,

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director

242-5920

lswanson@gnrm.org

Merry Christmas to One and All,

Another year is almost over and the students in the Academic Center are preparing for a new year of challenges.  On December 9th I had the honor of handing out an Academic Center Lifes Skills Certificate to a gentleman in our recovery program.  This young man will be beginning his Advanced Academic Center Life Skills Certificate in 2011.

Another man in our recovery program took the Social Studies element of his GED last night.  A woman programmer is preparing to take her Social Studies and Reading portions of her GED in January.  Please keep these two programmers in your prayers for passage of their GED exams.

Until January 2011 may God continue to be with you this Christmas season.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director

2842 S. Market St.

Redding, CA  96001

242-5920

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Academic Center Staffs' latest challenge is preparing those men (who are entering Phase 4 and/or graduating) to complete all all the prerequisites necessary for them to attend a vocational institution or college.  We are also providing them with the skills necessary to obtain a job.

Today at Communion two men received their Academic Center Certificates for significant improvement in math, reading, and writing.  It is tremdously rewarding watching the men and the women in our recovery programs grow, not only academically but also in the area of self-worth and their love for Christ.

Until next month:  "Having it all doesn't necessarily mean having it all at once."  Stephanie Luetkehans

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director

lswanson@gnrm.org

242-5920

As we get closer to the Holy-days, we get busy here in the kitchen.  It is a great time to donate food.  Many businesses, service clubs, schools and other organization like Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops contact us about hosting their own food drive.  WE LOVE THAT!!  If your group wants to host a food drive, just CLICK HERE to get more information and to start the ball rolling.  God bless you!

The Holidays are upon us and recent storms have hit hard possibly indicating a very wet winter lies ahead.  We serve 3 hot meals a day and provide sack lunches to guests who are out working or looking for work and can't be here for lunch.  Cold and wet weather means we'll be serving more hot meals and providing shelter to even more people in need.  Now more than ever, we can use your donations of non-perishable food items and frozen foods as well.  God bless you and be on the lookout for one of the many "Indie Drives" in our community during the Holiday season - a food drive hosted by a local group or business.

Today is October 14, 2010 and I just came back from celebrating Communion and recognizing the following achievements by our programmers.

2 men received an Academic Center Certificate for significant growth in reading and writing and 2 men received their Academic Life Skills Certificates.

The men and women in our recovery programs continue to amaze me each and every day I am blessed to have them in class.

I have also been blessed with an increase in the Academic Center staff.  There is still a need in the Men's afternoon classes (Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30-3:30) as well as the Women's classes (Monday 9:30-11:30 and Wednesday 9-11) 

Interested in becoming a viable part of this ministry?  Please call me Tuesday-Thursday between 9-5 and I'll be more than happy to discuss our program.

God Bless

"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figures it our." Michael Burke
Lynn Swanson
Academic Director
2842 S. Market St.
Redding, CA 96001
530-242-5920

Fall is beginning to creep into the air and we're welcoming the change here in the Academic Center.

This past week, at Communion, three men received their Academic Center Certificates.  Congratulations!

As the men hit Phase 4 (which is the last phase of their Recovery Program) attempts are being made to continue to assist them in providing them with skills to successfully survive in the real world once they conplete the requirements of the Recovery Program.  To that end efforts are made to make sure the programmers know life skills: such as budgeting, writing a resume and cover letter, and learning how to type.

Feel God leading you to assist the in the Academic Center experience?  Just give me a call Tuesday-Thrsdays 9-5.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller

Until my next blog God Bless.

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director

242-5920

Greetings:

It's hard to believe graduation is upon us already.  This coming Friday, May 28th, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. the GNRM will be hosting its annual graduation ceremoney for those women and men who have successfully completed their Recovery Programs. 

Part of the graduation ceremony acknowledges the achievements these programmers have made while attending classes in the Academic Center.  Programmers can attempt and successfully achieve more than 1 certificate.  Friday evening this year's graduates will be able to take pride in the following achievements"

• 1 Woman and 5 Men will have taken and passed their GED exams (which is the equivalent of a high school diploma).
• 8 Men will have received ACC (Academic Center Certificates).  These certificates recognize significant improvement in the areas of Reading and Math; as well as the completion of an essay, resume, or possessing the ability to type up to 40 wpm.
• 7 Women and10 Men will have received ACLSC (Academic Center Life Skills Certificate).  One of the women will be the FIRST IN-STEP graduate to obtain this certificate!!  In order to earn this certificate our programmers must show significant improvement (an average of 80%  or better on all lessons attempted) in the areas of Math, Reading, and Writing, completion of a resume and cover letter, learning how to write and maintain a budget, learning how to type up to 40 WPM with 95% accuracy, and 50 hours of electives in a minimum of 5 different subjects ranging from Vocabulary, Math, Religion, Logic, Science (either physical or life), Astronomy, History etc.
• For the first time ever 4 men will be recognized for obtaining an AACLSC (Advanced Academic Center Life Skills Certificate).  I enjoy this part of the program because our students are provided with the opportunity to choose any subject they are interested in.  They then spend 60 hours researching their subject, write a ten page paper, and teach what they've learned to the rest of their classmates and me (the teacher).  For once I am able to sit back and learn from our students!  What a treat!
• 2 Women and 3 Men will be recognized for attending and successfully completing and passing (with a GPA of B or better) classes at Shasta College or the Institute of Technology.

Congrats to all of you!!  I'm going to miss you!

Do you have an interest in helping these men and women change their lives around?  You can,  by volunteering, a morning or afternoon a week  - classes run Monday and Wednesday mornings ( In-Step and Women) and Tuesday and Thursday monrnings and afternoons (for the Men).  Please give me a  call or email me.

Looking forward to having you become a part of the Academic Center Staff.

Lynn Swanson

Academic Director

242-5920

242-5924 Fax.

lswanson@gnrm.org

"Love is a friendship set to music." E. Joseph Cossman

Good News Rescue Mission: Our prayers are with the people of Haiti after the powerful aftershock. Here at home, the powerful weather is filling the Mission to overflowing. Last night, we topped 230. About 45 men are having to utilize our chapel floor at night and about 24 women/children are having to share floor space at the House of Hope.  And, about 60-70 utilized our extreme weather rules which allow guests to stay in our chapel during the day.

We recently awarded BIMORE:Spend Less (formerly the Shasta Discount Outlet) a hard earned trophy for their efforts on behalf of the Mission during our "March to End Hunger" food drive last spring.  They took first place in our business division by raising or donating over 8,000 pounds of food during March and April this year.  A big thank you to Robin, Ralph, Joanna and the whole BIMORE gang for all you've done to help the hungry in our community.

Mountain Vista's Project

On August 26th, the Mountain Vista's Senior Living home will unveil a new wheelchair accessible box and laptop garden.  The men of our New Life Recovery Program were heavily involved in nearly all aspects of construction and I think it turned out great!  Great job men!

This coming Thursday at Communion I will be recognizing Students of the Month for the In-Step, Women's and Men's Programs

2 men will be receiving Learning Center Certificates.  This means these men, during the time they have been meeting the requirements for recovery, have shown significant improvement in Math and Reading skills, have completed a resume and cover letter and/or have studied subjects such as science, history, religion, or geography.

Two women and four men will be receiving their Learning Center Life Skills Certificates.  One of the women receiving her Life Skills Certificate will be the first in our In-Step Program to accomplish successfully the following requirements:  Programmers are required to improve their math, reading, and writing skills, complete a budget course and quiz, become proficient in typing, research a career after having their career assessments interpreted, and study a minimum of 5 different subjects totaling 50 hours.

Congratulations!!!!!

I am in need of volunteers to assist me in helping these men and women reach their potential.  If you would like to be a part of this life-changing  experience please contact me at 530-242-5920 or e-mail me at lswanson@gnrm.org.

"Always do what you say you are going to do.  It is the glue and fiber that binds successful relationships."  Jeffrey A. Timmons

Lynn Swanson

Hi, all.

With the launch of our new site, we are looking for any history the community may have of the Good News Rescue Mission.  We'll be compiling what we get and will include much of it right here on this site.  So, if you have any pictures of the early years of the Mission, its staff, volunteers or anything else directly related to the Mission, please let us know.  God bless and thank you!