The Rest of the Interview with Bill Wheeler

The Rest of the Interview

with Bill Wheeler, Exec. Director

Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, Inc.

Q: When did you become the director of the Gospel Rescue Mission, and what is it like to have a challenging job where so many people need help each day?

A: Since 1998 when the Board of Directors asked me to consider taking Sky Martinez's position, everyday has been a joy to come to work. Each day is a new challenge, and with the Lord's support, problems have been solved and lives impacted. This at the end of the day has glorified Christ.

Q: Who do you see when you see a person with a drug addiction?

A: I see a potential heart that the Lord can touch and turn their life around once they realize God’s love for them and understand the sacrifice that Christ went through to give them a perfect relationship with God. The recovery of drug addicts that committed themselves to our four month biblical recovery program have given me the greatest joy. The key to their recovery is the change in their heart that is made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking of volunteering but may be a little nervous?
A: I ask all the volunteers to pray for God to make it clear to them that He will provide them with the words and the strength to work with the people group that we work with. God will protect them. They can’t expect that the change will be instantaneous. It takes repetitive faithfulness in reaching out to them.

Q: There have been some recent changes at the Rescue Mission in its ability to accommodate families. Can you tell me more about that?

A: I’m very pleased about our ability to restructure two of the families rooms in what used to be called the woman’s and children's’ area of the mission to accommodate husband and wives with children to be able to stay together. That’s a change in design from how the mission was designed. We have a secure, separate children’s playing area, and housing area from the men’s area. We are blessed with a local church that is improving our playground to include an underground sprinkler system.

Q: What would happen if the Gospel Rescue Mission was not in our community?

A: If the mission had not been here in 2008, there would have been 381 decisions to follow Christ that would not have been made. Plus, 105 people that made re dedications and impacted their lives through the nightly one hour chapel services. Those services are led by volunteers from numerous churches within the community. The other obvious thing is the number of meals and nights lodging would not have been available. I think the whole community should take great pride in what we offer in the interchange of two interstate highways.
All of those meals are served by cooks who have volunteered who themselves have been homeless.