At the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, we are committed to helping individuals transform their lives in 2026. But I want to be clear about something — change is hard work. (Please read about the hard work Zach Newton, who shares his life story in this month’s Rescuer, went through to get sober and begin running marathons).

The road to recovery, healing, and lasting transformation is not easy, and the Rescue Mission does not believe in offering shortcuts. Our New Life Recovery Program is a structured yet challenging path for those who are ready to embrace the hard work of change. I often share with our program members that the road they walked to bring them to the Mission was hard. Thus, the road to recovery will be filled with hard work for the heart, mind, soul, and body.

Work therapy is a central part of the program. Every participant in our New Life Program is assigned a role at the Mission, where they serve others in tangible ways. This could involve serving meals to our guests, making beds, washing linens and towels, checking guests in at night, cleaning, washing dishes, or doing a variety of other tasks.

These tasks may seem simple, but for those coming out of homelessness, it’s a critical part of the healing process. More than just fulfilling daily duties, this work is about instilling a strong work ethic and giving individuals a reason to show up each day with purpose and dedication.

In addition to work therapy, there are required classes, Bible studies, and accountability sessions. These classes are essential tools that help our students develop skills and spiritual strength. Through these classes, they receive healing for past wounds and begin to build a relationship with Jesus that is central to transformation.

We regularly assess our New Life Program members’ progress through tests and evaluations to verify that they are internalizing their education. It’s a way to ensure they’re not passively moving through the program but actively engaging.

At the time when students advance to the outside employment phase of the program, some are scared. They share they have not worked in years (just like Zach Newton) and fear they will not be able to do so. At this point we remind them about what they have been doing for the past seven plus months: staying sober, being committed to learning about God, working the program, and fulling their responsibilities. They need only recall these commitments outside the Rescue Mission, while resting in the grace God has provided through Jesus.

The New Life Program is not about permanent handouts; it’s about restoring dignity and community. It is about a hand up, not a handout. Our goal is for every participant to graduate and move on to a life of stability and self-sufficiency, not to rely on long-term government subsidies.  We are here to support, but the real work of transformation comes from God’s enabling power and the hard work of change.

Thank you for supporting this transformative work. You are truly helping our program members transition out of homelessness and into employment and self-sufficiency. It’s only through this effort, combined with God’s enabling grace, that true, lasting change is possible.

God Bless You,

Chris D. Croswhite
Executive Director