06/11/2026
This week's Prayer Letter for Calvary Rescue Mission:
Dear Prayer Warriors,
My youngest son Luke is 2 years old and turning 3 this August. I bring that up because I was studying 1 Samuel and learned that Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord at about that same age. Hannah had prayed fervently for a child and vowed that if the Lord gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord for His service.
The Lord graciously answered her prayer, and Hannah entrusted young Samuel to Eli, the priest of Israel. On the surface, that might seem like an ideal spiritual environment, but 1 Samuel 2–3 reveals otherwise. Eli’s sons were corrupt, and the priesthood was in decline. Samuel grew up separated from his parents and surrounded by spiritual failure. Yet God had a great plan for his life.
From a human perspective, that is difficult to reconcile. A child placed in such circumstances would seem unlikely to flourish. But 1 Samuel teaches us something bigger: God is sovereign over messy situations and does not need perfect circumstances to accomplish His perfect purposes.
So where am I going with all of this? Simply this: God is not limited by circumstances.
That is exactly what we see in 1 Samuel 3. Samuel is serving in God’s house but does not yet know the Lord in a personal way (1 Sam. 3:7). Then God calls his name: “Samuel, Samuel!” (1 Sam. 3:10). God interrupts his ordinary life, reveals Himself, and commissions Samuel as a prophet. Despite his difficult upbringing and imperfect environment, nothing could stop God's purposes for him.
This truth is especially important at Calvary Rescue Mission. One of the greatest challenges facing many of the men here is the belief that their past has permanently defined their future. Some grew up without parents, in poverty, around crime, or without strong educational opportunities. Many carry deep wounds and assume their circumstances have placed limits on what God can do with their lives.
Yet the gospel tells a different story. The message of redemption is that God is in the business of calling unlikely people, restoring what is broken, and writing stories that display His grace. Our past may explain some of our struggles, but it does not have the final word. God does.
Tonight, I preached from 1 Samuel and asked the men a simple question: What if Samuel had chosen to be defined by his circumstances? Instead, God called him by name and used him mightily.
Friends, would you join me in praying that the men at Calvary would respond to God as Samuel did: “Here I am”? And would you consider writing a letter of encouragement to the men staying here? Many need to hear that God is bigger than any difficult past and that He specializes in turning broken stories into testimonies of His grace.
Blessings,
Tim Schlum
Assistant Director, Calvary Rescue Mission
Please continue to join us in prayer for our many needs as well as our praises, including:
Please donate boxer briefs (medium - extra large)
Please donate razors (twin blades)
Please donate small pants (30 inch - 34 inch)
Please donate Purell hand sanitizer
As the Lord expands our ministry to homeless men in our city, would you consider partnering with Calvary Rescue Mission through a financial gift if you are not already supporting us?
Please pray for more local churches to get involved by 'owning a night’ at Calvary Rescue Mission. This involves providing the meal, serving the meal, and leading a chapel service. Consider asking your church leadership if they would get involved at Calvary Rescue Mission (if they aren’t already).
Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so in any of several ways:
Secure online donations by going to our Calvary Rescue Mission website. (https://calvaryrescue.org/)
We are now setup to receive stock donations, so please email: [email protected], if you’re interested in donating any stocks
Mail checks to: Calvary Rescue Mission, 960 S. Third St, Memphis, TN 38106;
Designate Calvary Rescue Mission as your charity of choice on your Kroger card (https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards) so that a portion of their corporate giving will come to us.
