Our Vision is to be a FIVE STAR Gospel Rescue Mission
Our Mission:
To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
To feed the hungry,
To shelter the homeless,
To rehabilitate the addict, and
To restore the ex-offender.
The Mission aspires to:
Establish High Standards,
Maintain Strong Boundaries, and
Give Clear Direction
The Old Savannah City Mission is a local 501(c)(3) funded by people
who care about the less fortunate and demonstrate it by giving of their
time, talent and treasure.
The Mission works with a bare-bone Staff of seven employees. These
dedicated servants work with hundreds of volunteers to deliver
services to our community most vulnerable and needy citizens in a
highly cost effective way. People interested in volunteering must apply
and provide pertinent information. In order to serve in some areas, it
is necessary to receive training.
Mature Christian men approved by their pastors may apply to serve as
Mentors of Students enrolled in the Mission's Urban Training Institute.
Once enrolled and trained, Mentors must serve with their assigned
Mentoree for one year with a minimum of two hours of face to face
contact. Mentors serve as a critical resource and receive incredible
satisfaction in facilitating a lasting life change. Training is offered
quarterly. For more information contact Mr. Max Baldwin through the
Mission office (912) 232-1979.
To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
To feed the hungry,
To shelter the homeless,
To rehabilitate the addict, and
To restore the ex-offender.
The Mission aspires to:
Establish High Standards,
Maintain Strong Boundaries, and
Give Clear Direction
The Old Savannah City Mission is a local 501(c)(3) funded by people
who care about the less fortunate and demonstrate it by giving of their
time, talent and treasure.
The Mission works with a bare-bone Staff of seven employees. These
dedicated servants work with hundreds of volunteers to deliver
services to our community most vulnerable and needy citizens in a
highly cost effective way. People interested in volunteering must apply
and provide pertinent information. In order to serve in some areas, it
is necessary to receive training.
Mature Christian men approved by their pastors may apply to serve as
Mentors of Students enrolled in the Mission's Urban Training Institute.
Once enrolled and trained, Mentors must serve with their assigned
Mentoree for one year with a minimum of two hours of face to face
contact. Mentors serve as a critical resource and receive incredible
satisfaction in facilitating a lasting life change. Training is offered
quarterly. For more information contact Mr. Max Baldwin through the
Mission office (912) 232-1979.
 | Food | |
| Clothing | |
| Towels | |
| Bedding | |
| Pillows | |
| Toiletries | |
| Cleaners | |
| Laundry Detergent | |
| Office Supplies | |
| Office Equipment | |
Needs:
Donation Drop Off:
For A Donation Pick-Up:
Call 912-232-1979
Call 912-232-1979
Old Savannah City Mission
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| 2414 Bull Street Savannah, GA |
"Savannah's Five Star Gospel Rescue Mission"
More than a Meal
| Knowing that someone cares. |
Located at 2414 Bull St. - Savannah - GA - Phone 912-232-1979
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| Students Outreach |
| Testimonies |
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| Old Savannah City Mission - LOCATION MAP |
Reverend Jim Lewis is the Executive Director of Old Savannah City
Mission (OSCM) in Savannah, Georgia. Jim has been at OSCM for 7
years and lives with his wife Damaris in a beautiful old Savannah
home.
Jim’s route to OSCM took him through many places and various roles
of ministry. He did not plan his career to bring him into ministry to the
poor and homeless. Previously, he served as a missionary in Costa
Rica and Spain. He taught at a Bible college and a couple of Bible
institutes—in English and Spanish. While serving as pastor in
Burbank, California , he experienced a tragic loss and his ministry
within the institutional church was de-railed. However, the worst thing
that he could have imagined turned out to be the best thing that ever
happened to him. Jim testifies that he was not smart enough or
spiritual enough to find his way to the niche God had for him at the Los
Angeles Mission. He describes what took place as an upside down
promotion. He tagged his tragedy as a Romans 8:28 experience. God
fulfilled in his life the promise of Joel 2:25, “I will restore to you the
years the locust hath eaten.” KJV
Jim stumbled into a safe place, a place of healing ... the Los Angeles
Mission. He discovered a passion-driven ministry in which he served
as a wounded healer. As he poured his heart into the hurting and
homeless, he recognized God was pouring into his heart.
Jim stayed at the Los Angeles Mission for 15 years. Many of his old
friends could not understand what he was doing at a Rescue Mission.
Jim was often moved to tears as he sensed a transfer of Luke 4:18
into his life. Some of his new friends called him the “old hippie”
Chaplain because of his longer hair and beard. Jim thrived on the
freedom to be passionately engaged in real, down-to-earth ministry.
He was doing the stuff that Jesus did and he thrived on it.
Larry McDaniel, a fellow missionary friend of Jim’s and Pastor of The
Sanctuary in Savannah, Georgia, came to the Los Angeles Mission to
preach week-long revivals for a number of years. When Larry would
return to preach at The Sanctuary in Savannah, he would tell the
congregation about the Los Angeles Mission. The Mission’s ministry
was contagious. And soon, members of The Sanctuary were on board
to start a Mission in Savannah. Pastor Larry brought members of his
church with him to Los Angeles. They caught the vision of Rescue
Ministry, too. Under Larry’s leadership, the Old Savannah City Mission
was established in 1997. In a real sense, this was a daughter
mission. Jim encouraged Larry to grow and develop a residential,
recovery program patterned after the one at the Los Angeles Mission.
During his tenure at the L.A. Mission, Jim served as chaplain, director,
vice president and toward the end of his service, he was named
executive director. During the last year of service at the L.A. Mission,
Jim began using the prayer of Jabez (I Chronicles 4:8-10) in his prayer
time. Jim prayed boldly for God’s blessings and gave Him all the
options to do His will.
During this season, Jim received a call from Larry. Unfortunately, there
was a lot of turnover in the leadership of the Savannah mission and it
was in July 2003, that Larry called and asked Jim if he could
recommend someone for the position of Executive Director at the Old
Savannah City Mission. Jim said that yes, he did have someone in
mind. Out of praying the Jabez prayer, Jim felt a nudging from the Lord
to leave the Los Angeles Mission after 15 years. However, at the time,
Jim was 57 years old and it was not the time in his life to intentionally
decide to move and make such a drastic change. However, Jim and
his wife, Damaris, prayed and the Lord nudged them to step out and
make the cross country move. It was a “set up”. It was actually another
upside down promotion. Jim shares, “Things are not as they seem.
What people would see as a demotion was truly God’s leading me on
possibly the last great adventure in my life.”
Since Jim’s beginning in rescue ministry in 1989, God has given Jim
new dimensions to his ministry. He gave Jim favor at the Los Angeles
Mission and also in Savannah. It was at the Los Angeles Mission
where the Urban Training Institute (UTI) was born and began to unfold.
As he left Los Angeles, the Mission honored him by naming him
“Dean Emeritus of the Los Angeles Mission’s Urban Training
Institute.” UTI has continued to develop in Savannah. It champions
“high standards, strong boundaries and clear direction.” It is a vehicle
that advances transformation. It gives formerly homeless drug addicts,
alcoholics, ex-offenders and others who feel themselves outcast to
become STUDENTS. For those who have little or no self esteem,
labels are removed and they are given a new name. This is
fundamental to the ministry of the Old Savannah City Mission. No one
is called “homeless, guests or clients.” UTI students, staff and
volunteers refer to those they serve as “friends and neighbors.”
UTI is the “crown jewel” of the Old Savannah City Mission. It
transforms students from being a receiver to being a giver. The
students are the engine of the entire operation of the Mission.
Students are empowered, trusted and held accountable. Jim’s
definition of success is when the student excels the teacher— in line
with John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me,
the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he
will do, because I go to My Father.”
Greatest Accomplishment
The Georgia Department of Corrections nominated the Old Savannah
City Mission’s Urban Training Institute’s Fresh Start Division to receive
the Association of Paroling Authorities International’s Community
Award. The presentation on May 18, 2010 put some wind under the
wings of Savannah’s Five Star Gospel Rescue Mission.
Greatest Challenge
When asked this question, Jim replied, “It is the down to earth, nuts
and bolts. It is our cash flow problem. It’s funding! The Old Savannah
City Mission is privately funded. It receives no public or United Way
funds. Because we are a Gospel Rescue Mission we are intentionally
politically incorrect. Here at OSCM we walk by faith and not by sight;
however our fountain of faith runs low sometimes. We know God never
fails, but He does make us nervous. In Spanish we say, Dios aprieta,
pero no ahoga. (God squeezes you, but He will not drown you.) ... God
always comes through.
Greatest Joy
I delight to see people learn because when they learn God’s Word,
they change. I love to teach God’s Word. To see it germinate in
someone’s heart and grow ... to see the work of God in someone’s
life. My greatest joy is when I see a student “get it.
Mission (OSCM) in Savannah, Georgia. Jim has been at OSCM for 7
years and lives with his wife Damaris in a beautiful old Savannah
home.
Jim’s route to OSCM took him through many places and various roles
of ministry. He did not plan his career to bring him into ministry to the
poor and homeless. Previously, he served as a missionary in Costa
Rica and Spain. He taught at a Bible college and a couple of Bible
institutes—in English and Spanish. While serving as pastor in
Burbank, California , he experienced a tragic loss and his ministry
within the institutional church was de-railed. However, the worst thing
that he could have imagined turned out to be the best thing that ever
happened to him. Jim testifies that he was not smart enough or
spiritual enough to find his way to the niche God had for him at the Los
Angeles Mission. He describes what took place as an upside down
promotion. He tagged his tragedy as a Romans 8:28 experience. God
fulfilled in his life the promise of Joel 2:25, “I will restore to you the
years the locust hath eaten.” KJV
Jim stumbled into a safe place, a place of healing ... the Los Angeles
Mission. He discovered a passion-driven ministry in which he served
as a wounded healer. As he poured his heart into the hurting and
homeless, he recognized God was pouring into his heart.
Jim stayed at the Los Angeles Mission for 15 years. Many of his old
friends could not understand what he was doing at a Rescue Mission.
Jim was often moved to tears as he sensed a transfer of Luke 4:18
into his life. Some of his new friends called him the “old hippie”
Chaplain because of his longer hair and beard. Jim thrived on the
freedom to be passionately engaged in real, down-to-earth ministry.
He was doing the stuff that Jesus did and he thrived on it.
Larry McDaniel, a fellow missionary friend of Jim’s and Pastor of The
Sanctuary in Savannah, Georgia, came to the Los Angeles Mission to
preach week-long revivals for a number of years. When Larry would
return to preach at The Sanctuary in Savannah, he would tell the
congregation about the Los Angeles Mission. The Mission’s ministry
was contagious. And soon, members of The Sanctuary were on board
to start a Mission in Savannah. Pastor Larry brought members of his
church with him to Los Angeles. They caught the vision of Rescue
Ministry, too. Under Larry’s leadership, the Old Savannah City Mission
was established in 1997. In a real sense, this was a daughter
mission. Jim encouraged Larry to grow and develop a residential,
recovery program patterned after the one at the Los Angeles Mission.
During his tenure at the L.A. Mission, Jim served as chaplain, director,
vice president and toward the end of his service, he was named
executive director. During the last year of service at the L.A. Mission,
Jim began using the prayer of Jabez (I Chronicles 4:8-10) in his prayer
time. Jim prayed boldly for God’s blessings and gave Him all the
options to do His will.
During this season, Jim received a call from Larry. Unfortunately, there
was a lot of turnover in the leadership of the Savannah mission and it
was in July 2003, that Larry called and asked Jim if he could
recommend someone for the position of Executive Director at the Old
Savannah City Mission. Jim said that yes, he did have someone in
mind. Out of praying the Jabez prayer, Jim felt a nudging from the Lord
to leave the Los Angeles Mission after 15 years. However, at the time,
Jim was 57 years old and it was not the time in his life to intentionally
decide to move and make such a drastic change. However, Jim and
his wife, Damaris, prayed and the Lord nudged them to step out and
make the cross country move. It was a “set up”. It was actually another
upside down promotion. Jim shares, “Things are not as they seem.
What people would see as a demotion was truly God’s leading me on
possibly the last great adventure in my life.”
Since Jim’s beginning in rescue ministry in 1989, God has given Jim
new dimensions to his ministry. He gave Jim favor at the Los Angeles
Mission and also in Savannah. It was at the Los Angeles Mission
where the Urban Training Institute (UTI) was born and began to unfold.
As he left Los Angeles, the Mission honored him by naming him
“Dean Emeritus of the Los Angeles Mission’s Urban Training
Institute.” UTI has continued to develop in Savannah. It champions
“high standards, strong boundaries and clear direction.” It is a vehicle
that advances transformation. It gives formerly homeless drug addicts,
alcoholics, ex-offenders and others who feel themselves outcast to
become STUDENTS. For those who have little or no self esteem,
labels are removed and they are given a new name. This is
fundamental to the ministry of the Old Savannah City Mission. No one
is called “homeless, guests or clients.” UTI students, staff and
volunteers refer to those they serve as “friends and neighbors.”
UTI is the “crown jewel” of the Old Savannah City Mission. It
transforms students from being a receiver to being a giver. The
students are the engine of the entire operation of the Mission.
Students are empowered, trusted and held accountable. Jim’s
definition of success is when the student excels the teacher— in line
with John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me,
the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he
will do, because I go to My Father.”
Greatest Accomplishment
The Georgia Department of Corrections nominated the Old Savannah
City Mission’s Urban Training Institute’s Fresh Start Division to receive
the Association of Paroling Authorities International’s Community
Award. The presentation on May 18, 2010 put some wind under the
wings of Savannah’s Five Star Gospel Rescue Mission.
Greatest Challenge
When asked this question, Jim replied, “It is the down to earth, nuts
and bolts. It is our cash flow problem. It’s funding! The Old Savannah
City Mission is privately funded. It receives no public or United Way
funds. Because we are a Gospel Rescue Mission we are intentionally
politically incorrect. Here at OSCM we walk by faith and not by sight;
however our fountain of faith runs low sometimes. We know God never
fails, but He does make us nervous. In Spanish we say, Dios aprieta,
pero no ahoga. (God squeezes you, but He will not drown you.) ... God
always comes through.
Greatest Joy
I delight to see people learn because when they learn God’s Word,
they change. I love to teach God’s Word. To see it germinate in
someone’s heart and grow ... to see the work of God in someone’s
life. My greatest joy is when I see a student “get it.
