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Parsons celebrates power of Christ in Rescue Mission farewell

Standing in front of a packed room at Bridger Field House in Winston-Salem, Triad’s Dan Parsons did what he’s done for 14 years at the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission’s annual fundraising dinner: champion the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Neal Wilcox, Dan Parsons and Ken Heater at the last fundraising banquet for Parsons

Winston-Salem Rescue Mission leaders past, present and future: Wilcox (left), Parsons and Heater.

But this time Parsons also had another purpose—to publicly pass the mantle of leadership to Ken Heater who will succeed him as executive director in January 2014.

Since Rev. Neal Wilcox founded the ministry 46 years ago, he and Parsons have seen God’s power in countless ways. During their combined tenure, the mission has provided:

  • 1,218,858 nights of shelter
  • 3,582,939 meals
  • 251,283 articles of clothing

Some 926,262 men also have attended chapel services and 3,922 have either accepted Christ as Savior or rededicated their lives to him. Parsons joined the ministry in 1999 after a career in grocery management and took over for Wilcox at his retirement in 2000.

“During the last 14 years, I have been blessed to witness firsthand what God has done and continues to do in the ministry of rescue because churches, businesses, and caring individuals make it possible by giving of their financial resources and, most importantly, by praying for us daily,” Parsons told the crowd. “We have been able to continue serving our community without taking any government funds. For this, we give all glory to our God.

“As you can imagine, it takes a lot of dedicated staff members, volunteers, and faithful donors to make all of this possible. Rest assured that we never take for granted any one of you and thank God for your faithfulness and commitment to help others.”

Parsons’ commitment to helping those left fortunate extends well beyond his work at the mission. He’s been chairman of the Shelter Providers’ Committee, and a member of the Executive Board of the Homeless Council for 13 years. In 2009, he received the Kentucky Colonel Award for his work with the poor and homeless—the highest honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to residents of the state and others throughout the nation for good works.

Changing lives by changing hearts

Dan Parsons with Linda Jackson-Barnes and Winston-Salem Rescue Mission Day Proclamation by Mayor Allen Joines

Parsons and Jackson-Barnes with the “Winston-Salem Rescue Mission Day” proclamation by Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.

Parsons said the mission’s 90-day Life Builders program, 12-month Transformers program, Alpha Acres farm for drug and alcohol recovery, Food Pantry, Thrift Store, Medical and Dental Clinics, and community collaborations with the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program at Winston-Salem State University, the Wellness Program at Forsyth Medical Center, and the GED program at Forsyth Technical College, had one goal: to help the mission help others help themselves.

“The Winston Salem Rescue Mission is all about changing lives by changing men’s hearts,” Parsons said. “Our men need to trust Christ to overcome their addictions and other problems. I have seen God do some remarkable things over these years. On Jan. 1, 2014, Mr. Ken Heater will become Executive Director. I know Ken is God’s man for this ministry. I hope you will continue to support this ministry under his leadership. Thank you for the honor and privilege to serve you at the Winston Salem Rescue Mission.”

Triad’s ties to the missions work are many and start with Parsons, who is a deacon and currently serving on the church’s Executive Leadership Team. He and his wife, Anne, and their daughters, Heather and Melody, also are members. Triad supports the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission financially through its Missions budget, and Tim Gerber, executive pastor for children and ministries, serves on the mission’s Board of Directors.

The ties don’t end there. Transformers program director Greg Cooney and his wife, Sharon, are members as is Executive Assistant Joyce Bagby and her husband, Steve, and Triad’s Care Ministries Director, Dick Lockhart, once served for 15 years on the staff at Alpha Acres.

Parsons said the organization couldn’t operate without the support of Triad and other churches, its staff, and community partners and volunteers.

“It takes a lot of dedicated staff members, volunteers, and faithful donors to make all of this possible,” he said. “Rest assured that we never take for granted anyone and thank God for your faithfulness and commitment to help others.”

That generosity certainly was on display Sept. 19 at the fundraiser where 352 people came both to say goodbye to Parsons and donate $23,000 toward the purchase of a new 15-passenger van.

Along with a standing ovation for Parsons and a warm reception for Heater who outlined his vision to build on the legacy of Wilcox and Parsons, Linda Jackson-Barnes, assistant to Mayor Allen Joines, brought a gift: A mayoral proclamation declaring Sept. 19th Winston-Salem Rescue Mission Day.

The text included one of the key highlights of Parson’s tenure: the construction of the mission’s New Life Center which allowed it to further broaden its work beyond “three hots and a cot” for men wanting to turn their lives around and reconnect with families and society. Opening in 2008, the four-story facility accommodates 37 men in transitional apartments and is home to the Transformers program.

Since the center opened, dozens of men have earned degrees, got jobs and housing, joined churches, and repaired damaged family relationships. Two of those men—Wilfredo Ortiz and Barry Lawson—shared their testimonies at the dinner.

Parsons said the graduation ceremonies (the next is Oct. 4) remain the highpoint of his year.

“This year, 13 guys will graduate,” he said. “When we started these programs, our first class was six, and the number has increased each year. We’ve only had two to come back. The forces these men battle against are real and are not of this world but our Lord is stronger.

“He is victorious and makes the impossible possible!”

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