Church congregation donates $10K to Trenton Rescue Mission

Union Baptist Church makes $10k donation

- Mark Jenkins delivering his speech at Union Baptist Church with family by his side. Trenton Rescue MissionTrenton Rescue Mission

Last month, members of the Union Baptist Church in Trenton gathered for their Christmas celebration, where they prepare for the holiday and donate to a nonprofit each year.

A resident from the Rescue Mission of Trenton spoke to the congregation of about 300, detailing his journey through homelessness, crime, and drug and alcohol abuse. At the end of the service, churchgoers gave $10,000 in offerings to be donated to the mission.

“The congregation’s very generous donation will go a long way toward benefiting those we serve – from providing three warm meals a day to counseling in recovery to helping those who are homeless find permanent supportive housing,” Rescue Mission of Trenton CEO Mary Gay Abbott-Young said. “It lifts our hearts knowing that we are connected to such compassionate people, who are dedicated to making a difference.”

Trenton native Mark Jenkins, 51, came to the mission by order of a judge who gave him the choice between the program and a jail cell.

“I took the program and from the day I walked in the door, I took that program serious because I was ready to change,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins was nervous about speaking in front of so many people but ultimately thinks it was fate.

“It felt good afterwards and I really had butterflies, but when I got up there it just flowed," he said. “God works in mysterious ways because I wasn’t even supposed to speak there that night. I was just supposed to show my face.”

Another resident from the mission was scheduled to speak but couldn’t get off from work and asked Jenkins to fill in. He didn’t want to speak that night but said that it has “opened doors” for him.

He explained that after that night he can speak freely about his journey to recovery and hasn’t given the money any thought.

Following the speech Jenkins was also asked to speak to younger congregants. He said he is hopeful he can inspire them to stay away from certain scenarios that could lead to a life of crime and drugs.

India Duke can be reached at iduke@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Inja_NJ.

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