MEDIA PAGE
This page is intended to assist members of the press or media such as reporters, journalists, and others in need of factual information for the purpose of public representation of Springs Rescue Mission
To contact Springs Rescue Mission's CEO Rev.Joe Vazquez, call (719) 632-1822 or email at jvazquez@mysrm.org
About the CEO
Rev. Joe Vazquez is the CEO of Springs Rescue Mission and has been with the ministry for more than 12 years. He also serves on the boards of the Mountain District of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and the Downtown Colorado Springs Kiwanis Club.
Rev. Vazquez began volunteering at Springs Rescue Mission as a second year student at Charis Bible College and was eventually hired to oversee the first men's home at Springs Rescue Mission. As the years progressed he became the Director of Programs and then Assistant Director managing the vital programs that serve the needs of the poorest in our community. He was appointed by the Board of Directors as the Executive Director in July of 2003.
Rev. Vazquez brings a diverse ethnic background to Springs Rescue Mission which includes Puerto Rican and American combined influences born from the heart of a first generation Brooklyn New York family. In years previous to SRM Rev. Vazquez also served as an officer of the court in the Criminal Justice System for 8 years.
He became a born again Christian in 1989 and graduated Charis Bible College in 1998 where he was ordained. Once a broken life made whole by the hand of God, his heart's desire is to share his life experience and what God can do in someone's life. His heart is for those Springs Rescue Mission serves.
About Springs Rescue Mission (SRM)
Springs Rescue Mission is a non-profit, faith-based charity serving the homeless and poor of Colorado Springs.
Our mission: to reach the poor and needy of Colorado Springs with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to provide for their physical needs while ministering restoration to their spirit, soul, and body.
Purpose: Impact this community and be a care provider that meets the needs of the individual lives we serve.
Brief History of SRM
1996: Founded in one room at 22 North Spruce
1997: New Life Program (NLP) for men started; SRM moved to current location at 5 West Las Vegas Street
1998: First men's homes opened; Adult Learning Center opens; 5 West Las Vegas property purchased
2002: 1 West Las Vegas Street property donated; warehouse donation receiving expanded, services to the community expanded.
2003: Opens Samaritan's Kitchen to serve more meals to the hungry and homeless.
2004: NLP doubles bed space to help more men in need of change.
2005: Eclipsed one million meals served; expands food pantry to feed more hungry people.
2006: Becomes second largest emergency food distributor in Colorado Springs, expands emergency services to the community.
2007: Receives grant towards purchase of 11 W. Las Vegas St., starts construction on the Life Recovery Center.
2008: Reforms it's approach to serve the growing need, begins plans for campus environment to better serve the poor in our community.
Core Programs Serving the Community
Emergency Resource Center - Serves the working poor, families with children, and the homeless by providing food, clothing, and other vital needs free of charge. Hours of operation: Wednesday 1:30pm to 4pm, Saturday 9am to Noon.
Meals Program - Serves the homeless, poor families, and children. Provides hot meals six days a week to the hungry and homeless in a cafeteria style facility, a monthly food box program for poor families, and a Culinary Arts vocational training for men in recovery.
New Life Men's Program (NLP) - Serves men who are homeless, drug addicted, or having difficulty functioning in society due to a lack of life skills. The program focuses on five aspects of recovery: Spiritual, Educational, Work Therapy, Vocational Training, Behavioral / life skills, Case management / Counseling. The NLP is residential and one year in length. The NLP is Christian based with Biblical principles taught.
Education And Career - The Adult Learning Center of SRM prepares individuals for a higher education, income earning opportunities with skills needed for today's job market.
Volunteer Opportunities - Open to the community in general for those who want to offer a gift of service, through talents and professional abilities, to help in serving the poorest in our community.
Available to those needing to fulfill an obligation to the courts requiring community service hours.
Core Values of SRM
Christ-Centered - Christ is our foundation and our purpose; this ministry belongs to Him. In all things will we be Christ-honoring and committed to on going transformation, pursuing Christ-likeness.
Service - We commit to serve one another, our clients, the community and donors with encouragement, respect, compassion, grace, and honesty.
Teamwork - We acknowledge and celebrate our differences and the unique way in which Christ made us. Individually, we purpose to fully give of our talents in order to strengthen the ministry team and honor Jesus Christ. We agree to consistently act and speak in a manner that is edifying and promoting of a unified team body.
Statement of Faith
The spiritual beliefs upon which Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) was founded and by which it continues to be driven are outlined below. We ascribe to a non-denominational evangelical confession of faith and adherence to these beliefs is a common requirement for all SRM employees.
We believe and affirm that:
Jesus Christ is God and He came to Earth fully man and fully God.
That He was born of a virgin, and He is perfect and without sin.
He died as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
He was buried but three days later He rose again triumphant.
Additional info:
SRM is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM). The first rescue mission started in 1876. Today, AGRM consists of 290 member missions across the world. In 2004, AGRM members provided 37 million meals, 13 million nights lodging, and 20 million pieces of clothing.
The Mission is interdenominational statement of faith and works with various churches and individual volunteers. No one is denied services because of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.
The Mission does not accept government subsidy. Instead, most funding comes from private contributions from individuals from such as yourself.
Endorsements:
Mayor Lionel Rivera - "Springs Rescue Mission is a blessing to Colorado Springs. Not only do they provide compassionate care to the homeless and hungry, but they also nurture the soul."
Colorado State Representative Keith King - "Springs Rescue Mission is very important to the health of Colorado Springs. It ministers to those people who are in desperate need of help and needing someone to lift them up and help them succeed."
H. B. London, Jr., Focus on the Family - "Springs Rescue Mission is an organization that represents the love of God in action. It is one thing to teach the love of God, and yet another to express it in a genuine, loving manner. We salute and congratulate Springs Rescue Mission and its leadership."
Sallie Clark - El Paso County Rep, Holden House Bed & Breakfast Inn, Former City Councilwoman - "Springs Rescue Mission's faith-based philosophy and focus on workforce training and life skills is a benefit to our entire community. Impressively, their mission is accomplished with private funding and without government subsidies. As a business person and community leader, I'm proud to support Springs Rescue Mission."
Bob Holmes, Homeward Pikes Peak - "Homeward Pikes Peak endorses the commitment of the Springs Rescue Mission to combine a true compassion for those less fortunate with a clear understanding that self-discipline and hard work are two of the early steps to regaining self-respect and self sufficiency."
Tom Perkins, Perkins Motor Company - "Springs Rescue Mission accomplishes the amazing call of meeting needs, providing hope and offering love to the hurting in our community. Through Partnership, we have the opportunity to join them in this endeavor."
This page is intended to assist members of the press or media such as reporters, journalists, and others in need of factual information for the purpose of public representation of Springs Rescue Mission
To contact Springs Rescue Mission's CEO Rev.Joe Vazquez, call (719) 632-1822 or email at jvazquez@mysrm.org
About the CEO
Rev. Joe Vazquez is the CEO of Springs Rescue Mission and has been with the ministry for more than 12 years. He also serves on the boards of the Mountain District of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and the Downtown Colorado Springs Kiwanis Club.
Rev. Vazquez began volunteering at Springs Rescue Mission as a second year student at Charis Bible College and was eventually hired to oversee the first men's home at Springs Rescue Mission. As the years progressed he became the Director of Programs and then Assistant Director managing the vital programs that serve the needs of the poorest in our community. He was appointed by the Board of Directors as the Executive Director in July of 2003.
Rev. Vazquez brings a diverse ethnic background to Springs Rescue Mission which includes Puerto Rican and American combined influences born from the heart of a first generation Brooklyn New York family. In years previous to SRM Rev. Vazquez also served as an officer of the court in the Criminal Justice System for 8 years.
He became a born again Christian in 1989 and graduated Charis Bible College in 1998 where he was ordained. Once a broken life made whole by the hand of God, his heart's desire is to share his life experience and what God can do in someone's life. His heart is for those Springs Rescue Mission serves.
About Springs Rescue Mission (SRM)
Springs Rescue Mission is a non-profit, faith-based charity serving the homeless and poor of Colorado Springs.
Our mission: to reach the poor and needy of Colorado Springs with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to provide for their physical needs while ministering restoration to their spirit, soul, and body.
Purpose: Impact this community and be a care provider that meets the needs of the individual lives we serve.
Brief History of SRM
1996: Founded in one room at 22 North Spruce
1997: New Life Program (NLP) for men started; SRM moved to current location at 5 West Las Vegas Street
1998: First men's homes opened; Adult Learning Center opens; 5 West Las Vegas property purchased
2002: 1 West Las Vegas Street property donated; warehouse donation receiving expanded, services to the community expanded.
2003: Opens Samaritan's Kitchen to serve more meals to the hungry and homeless.
2004: NLP doubles bed space to help more men in need of change.
2005: Eclipsed one million meals served; expands food pantry to feed more hungry people.
2006: Becomes second largest emergency food distributor in Colorado Springs, expands emergency services to the community.
2007: Receives grant towards purchase of 11 W. Las Vegas St., starts construction on the Life Recovery Center.
2008: Reforms it's approach to serve the growing need, begins plans for campus environment to better serve the poor in our community.
Core Programs Serving the Community
Emergency Resource Center - Serves the working poor, families with children, and the homeless by providing food, clothing, and other vital needs free of charge. Hours of operation: Wednesday 1:30pm to 4pm, Saturday 9am to Noon.
Meals Program - Serves the homeless, poor families, and children. Provides hot meals six days a week to the hungry and homeless in a cafeteria style facility, a monthly food box program for poor families, and a Culinary Arts vocational training for men in recovery.
New Life Men's Program (NLP) - Serves men who are homeless, drug addicted, or having difficulty functioning in society due to a lack of life skills. The program focuses on five aspects of recovery: Spiritual, Educational, Work Therapy, Vocational Training, Behavioral / life skills, Case management / Counseling. The NLP is residential and one year in length. The NLP is Christian based with Biblical principles taught.
Education And Career - The Adult Learning Center of SRM prepares individuals for a higher education, income earning opportunities with skills needed for today's job market.
Volunteer Opportunities - Open to the community in general for those who want to offer a gift of service, through talents and professional abilities, to help in serving the poorest in our community.
Available to those needing to fulfill an obligation to the courts requiring community service hours.
Core Values of SRM
Christ-Centered - Christ is our foundation and our purpose; this ministry belongs to Him. In all things will we be Christ-honoring and committed to on going transformation, pursuing Christ-likeness.
Service - We commit to serve one another, our clients, the community and donors with encouragement, respect, compassion, grace, and honesty.
Teamwork - We acknowledge and celebrate our differences and the unique way in which Christ made us. Individually, we purpose to fully give of our talents in order to strengthen the ministry team and honor Jesus Christ. We agree to consistently act and speak in a manner that is edifying and promoting of a unified team body.
Statement of Faith
The spiritual beliefs upon which Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) was founded and by which it continues to be driven are outlined below. We ascribe to a non-denominational evangelical confession of faith and adherence to these beliefs is a common requirement for all SRM employees.
We believe and affirm that:
Jesus Christ is God and He came to Earth fully man and fully God.
That He was born of a virgin, and He is perfect and without sin.
He died as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
He was buried but three days later He rose again triumphant.
Additional info:
SRM is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM). The first rescue mission started in 1876. Today, AGRM consists of 290 member missions across the world. In 2004, AGRM members provided 37 million meals, 13 million nights lodging, and 20 million pieces of clothing.
The Mission is interdenominational statement of faith and works with various churches and individual volunteers. No one is denied services because of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.
The Mission does not accept government subsidy. Instead, most funding comes from private contributions from individuals from such as yourself.
Endorsements:
Mayor Lionel Rivera - "Springs Rescue Mission is a blessing to Colorado Springs. Not only do they provide compassionate care to the homeless and hungry, but they also nurture the soul."
Colorado State Representative Keith King - "Springs Rescue Mission is very important to the health of Colorado Springs. It ministers to those people who are in desperate need of help and needing someone to lift them up and help them succeed."
H. B. London, Jr., Focus on the Family - "Springs Rescue Mission is an organization that represents the love of God in action. It is one thing to teach the love of God, and yet another to express it in a genuine, loving manner. We salute and congratulate Springs Rescue Mission and its leadership."
Sallie Clark - El Paso County Rep, Holden House Bed & Breakfast Inn, Former City Councilwoman - "Springs Rescue Mission's faith-based philosophy and focus on workforce training and life skills is a benefit to our entire community. Impressively, their mission is accomplished with private funding and without government subsidies. As a business person and community leader, I'm proud to support Springs Rescue Mission."
Bob Holmes, Homeward Pikes Peak - "Homeward Pikes Peak endorses the commitment of the Springs Rescue Mission to combine a true compassion for those less fortunate with a clear understanding that self-discipline and hard work are two of the early steps to regaining self-respect and self sufficiency."
Tom Perkins, Perkins Motor Company - "Springs Rescue Mission accomplishes the amazing call of meeting needs, providing hope and offering love to the hurting in our community. Through Partnership, we have the opportunity to join them in this endeavor."
