Dear Friends,
It has been more than 30 years since we acquired what we now call Harvest Farm. A lot has changed during these 30 years, but the vision to help men overcome addiction by sharing Jesus in a rural setting has not.
It is unusual to have a farm that is owned and operated by a city-based Rescue Mission. There are only a few of them across the country, many of which we have visited as we made improvements to our New Life Program (NLP) at Harvest Farm. However, what is not unusual is that, at times, people from the rural community—from farms, ranches and small towns—need help overcoming addiction. If they can go somewhere that they are familiar with—somewhere more sequestered that has cows, chickens, pigs, and corn stalks—then maybe, just maybe, they might join us.
And join us they have over the years, from not only Colorado’s rural areas, but from other states as well. Our doors are always open to those who need help. In case you are wondering, we have also helped people from the city at Harvest Farm.
I think it is significant that most of Jesus’ ministry was in rural settings. From rural people to urban dwellers, we all have troubles. Jesus is there for us all, and that is why we have the Farm. We want to see people’s lives changed in the name of Jesus, and we will do what is necessary to reach out to people everywhere.
Through our Peer Leader Program at the Farm, we equip NLP graduates to mentor current participants. We call them Peer Leaders and they offer guidance through their own lived experience with addiction recovery. I hope you enjoy reading about them in this month’s newsletter. And I hope that their desire to give back touches your soul like it has touched mine. It is what this work is all about!
Brad Meuli has been President/CEO at the Mission since 2001. Brad joined the Mission after a 17-year career in banking. Previous to his staff position he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Read his full bio.
This post is a part of October’s Changing Lives Newsletter. In this month’s edition, The Ripple Effect, you’ll learn about how our NLP Graduates are giving back through the Peer Leader Program.
