Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn...For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness. It is your focus from dusk to dawn...No matter what you do, you prosper...The journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal. (From Psalm 1)

I have a habit of placing something I need in a “special place” that I promise myself I will remember but almost never do. This can cause no end of distress as I remember placing the item someplace special but for a million dollars I could not tell you where that special place is. Very little sympathy comes my way from a wife who has added color coded dots to all our DVD covers so she can easily find and file them by subject like romance, mystery, spiritual, etc. (I will refrain from making any undo observations about her habit of buying Christmas gifts in July that she can’t find in December.)

Finding our way in the world in so many different circumstances can determine our success and happiness in life and often our safety and survival. Where we put our talents, our energies, our affection and allegiance matters. Where we look for affirmation and spiritual nourishment shapes us. I tell the people entrusted to us here at the Mission that the process of finding our way means first letting Christ find us. He is the one with the plan, the roadmap, who painted all the signs and paid all the tolls.

There was a study I heard about that was investigating how birds migrate and find food. It was sizable and over my head but the part I grasped was thrilling. It mentioned blackcap chickadees that hide hundreds of food items per day in wildly different places which they remember to retrieve when needed. It seems birds have, in different amounts depending on their needs, head cells and place cells that inform them of direction and proximity.

If a bird is looking in the “right” direction to navigate, the head cells in its brain light up. If the bird is close to where it hid the food or where food is to be found, the place cells give it an extra zing. It reminds me of the old children’s game we played called Hot and Cold. Spatial cognition keeps Creation fed and heading in the right direction.

Our psalm reassures us that, “…the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.” Once Christ has found us it is possible to find our way to the food, to the journey, to our place in His kingdom. The Holy Spirit within us awakens us to new possibilities. He affirms our good choices and cautions us when danger is near. The scriptures are like those amazing cells that allow birds to feast and reproduce and sometimes cover thousands of miles. “Go this way. What you are looking for is here.”

The Bible is full of guidance and nourishment that all of us and those who have come to us here on Tudor Road need. It is our necessary food and it is served up with love daily right alongside our free hot meals. For those seeking our help we always want their entrance through the doors of the Mission to prompt a still small voice that whispers to them, “You are getting warmer…”

Thank you for your loving support which enables us to serve up both biscuits and Bibles. May your own life’s direction be clear with blessings awaiting you at every turn.

In gratitude and hope,

Pastor John LaMantia
October Director's Letter
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09/24/2026

You may notice something different about us. New logo, new colors, a new look across everything we do. The website is live with it now. The signs outside the building, the brochures, and the rest will catch up over the coming weeks. If you see the old look somewhere, it is still us, just not updated yet.

What hasn't changed: the door, the work behind it, and the people who walk through it every day. More than a new look. The same open door.

See what's new:

Our door is open every day. Meals, emergency shelter, clothing, and a safe next step, at no cost. This is a sober shelter, and if that isn’t where you are tonight, we’ll help you find a bed somewhere else. Get Help.

08/21/2026

Looking to the Future

The Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission in its 60’s is getting a make-over. Same life changing, good news message. Same commitment to stewardship and accountability and never taking your partnership for granted.

We are very excited to partner with Upper1Solutions to expand our reach to share our message and mission with those who have never heard of the work of this ministry. They will also be helping us to share our message in ways that allow us to use funds currently spent on postage for other needful things.

Printing and postage are costly for us and those costs continue to increase every year. You will be given the opportunity to go digital with the newsletter, download a copy from our website or continue receiving a paper copy by mail.

We will also be making it easier for you to donate and track your contributions.

Beginning in September, we will be sharing with you, in stages, our new logo, redesigned website, Facebook and newsletter.

Embrace Change! Be open for the new things God has in store. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

07/03/2026

Melinda from our Beauty in Grace program was beaming over receiving the keys to her own apartment. We were thrilled for her.

She was fortunate to have most of what she needed already available in her new place but we were able to help out with plates, silverware, paper products and cleaning supplies.

Melinda loves Christ and we have every confidence that He will bring to perfection all the things that concern her.

Prayers and best wishes for the days ahead.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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07/01/2026

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. -2 Corinthians 13:11 (CSB)

In January 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson united a shockingly diverse group of frontiersmen, free African Americans, Choctaw warriors, and French pirates to defend the vital port of New Orleans. America was at war with England again. This time over trade, the kidnapping of American sailors and American expansion in North America. The War of 1812 was in full swing and England planned an easy victory in New Orleans. Highly outnumbered and out-trained, Jackson's patchwork quilt of unlikely compatriots dealt England a resounding defeat in under thirty minutes.

Our United States of America has always had challenges to its interests and sovereignty in the 250 years it has been a nation. We are still young compared to other countries. Some of our interests have been questionable, some noble. Sometimes we fought on the side of the angels and sometimes they looked at us and wept. We are still here and “In God We Trust” is still on our currency. May it always be so.

When people of good-will set aside their differences and strive together for a higher purpose we thrive. When we sink to the level of the speck-farmers who are always looking for something wrong in our neighbor’s eye, we are doomed.

There is a short mention of an incident in Israel recounted in the book of Judges where one of the twelve tribes was out of fellowship with the rest of the nation. Since everyone looked the same how were the “traitors” to be singled out? It turns out that the offending tribe was not able to pronounce a particular word. That became the test of fellowship, not genes, not faith. Mispronouncing one word was a death sentence. The “winners” destroyed their brothers and hunted them almost to extinction. A sad chapter indeed.

There can be no doubt that our country has struggled in areas of unity. You can argue for this group or that, impute blame to this party or that but in the end we all need to find our way back to the unity of purpose that has saved America time after time be it in the port of New Orleans or on the beaches of Normandy, be it airlifting food to a starving Europe in the wake of WWII or landing on the moon. We are just better together both patriots and pirates, Mayflower descendants and new arrivals.

There has to be something that leaves a window open in our soul and still makes us want to offer a hand in friendship. If we trust God with our currency, then maybe that same profession of trust should be written on our hearts. In God we trust. I trust Him with you and you trust Him with me. We trust Him to be God for all of us and to inspire us with His wisdom, courage and fellowship.

Can there be any doubt that the parentage of the United States is divine? No. Have we always lived up to the expectations of our Creator. No, again. Can we, may we, should we? Yes! Birthdays are good times for counting candles, blessings and hopes… anything but grudges. This July 4th let’s light the candles of fellowship and give God what He wished for when His grace birthed a country so sure of His existence and involvement in our lives that our founders declared it along with our independence.

The last line of the Declaration of Independence is one so impactful we should refresh our minds with it every day. “For the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Isn’t it time for us to do the same? Let’s make this a season of restoration, encouragement and deep peace. Let’s make room for one another and set as many places at the table as we have brothers and sisters.

May God bless the United States of America and each and every one of you.

Sincerely,
Pastor John LaMantia
July Director's Letter
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06/27/2026

One of our clients was fortunate to have secured vouchered housing. Problem was there wasn't even a roll of toilet paper in his new apartment and he would have had to sleep on the floor. It is things like this that cause people to abandon their hard won housing.

We were able to provide him with a bed, bookcase, couch and chair as well as cleaning supplies, bedding supplies, towels, dishes, and food for the next week.

The best part was he prayed with us as we left a blessing over his new home that Christ would be present.

Thank you to all of our dear donors who are daily helping us provide for the needs of those looking to change their lives. A lively, practical grace and a bit of common sense goes a long way.
As ever, David and Derek, stopped what they were doing to help get this done. I can't thank them enough for never saying, "No."

Doug and Joyce Steel, that chair was perfect and came at the perfect time!

Pastor John

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06/03/2026

All of us here at the Mission appreciate our dedicated kitchen staff for their daily contribution to the work we do. We especially want to recognize their efforts to make holidays special. We serve many vets and the Memorial Day meal was wonderful. Thank you Daniel and crew for making the day memorable.