Smithfield Rescue Mission
Over 300 rescue missions around the world are members of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM), an association of rescue ministries, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. These missions have served the needy, broken, and forgotten since 1872 when Water Street Mission (now called New York City Mission) was founded by Jerry McCauley. There are AGRM missions not only in this country, but in several foreign countries.
Each is governed by a local board of directors and depends on its area of service for financial support. Donations, generated largely from appeal letters, and coming from individuals, churches, and businesses, is the largest source of income for Smithfield Rescue Mission. This is supplemented by United Way funds, a FEMA grant, occasional grants from area corporations, program fees from employed mission clients, and fund raisers.
Smithfield Rescue Mission was organized Nov. 15, 1977 and began operations as an emergency shelter for homeless men Nov. 1, 1978. In 1987 the mission moved from 2 rented houses on Brogden Rd. to its present location. The donated church, Glad Tidings Assembly, after being renovated to fit the needs of a homeless shelter, became Smithfield Rescue Mission's Glad Tidings Shelter for Men.
On Nov. 26, 1995, Good Neighbor House for Women and Children was opened on Dundee St. The ministry continued at this location for almost nine years until it closed in August 2004. The ministry to women and children was resumed when a larger facility was opened Sept. 19, 2005, on Swift Creek Road.
Founded by Paul and Margie Olsen, Smithfield Rescue Mission serves the Johnston County area at 523 Glenn St. in Smithfield, NC. The Olsen family continues to serve as directors.
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Smithfield Rescue Mission