Springs Rescue Mission's Spotlight

Springs Rescue Mission would like to recognize Steven Oates as this week’s SRM Spotlight!  Steven has served as the Education and Career Program
Coordinator for the New Life Program for 3 years.  He wears many hats in this role, serving as coordinator and teacher of the morning Bible and Life Skill
classes and the Career Employment Services classes.  Also coordinating assessments, evaluations, curriculum and volunteers for the Career Advancement
Center and serving as the Prison Outreach Liaison.  Steven coordinates, schedules, recruits and trains staff/volunteers for these programs.  He also
writes curriculum for each program.   The volunteer opportunities in Colorado Springs are endless, but Springs Rescue Mission is so fortunate to have
Steven in their corner!

These programs offer the men of the New Life Program with educational classes, a GED (when necessary), a 10- week course on successful job searching
skills, basic job skills, resume writing skills, job interview skills, etc.  They also give the gift of the Lord, through Bible studies.  The men of this
program are taught the skills they need to better their lives and move forward with God and with a career.  Steven plays a huge role in this by giving
back to this program and serving the men of the New Life Program.

Steven shared a few thoughts with us about the volunteer opportunities in Colorado Springs that he has chosen to participate in.  Here’s what he had to
say;

What is special about what you do?

“Being a part of God's great working - It is God who does the work, I am a humble servant tool in His hands.  Being a part of God's great working in life
transformation, in setting the captives free from addictions and destructive life patterns.  Empowering people, volunteers to use their God given gifts
and abilities, to be a part of God's great working in this life transformation.”

How has your time at SRM impacted you the greatest?

“To learn this great life lesson - God accepts us where we are, we do not have to clean up our act, our lives before coming to be accepted by Him.  God is
rich in His love and mercy, we come to Him just as we are, with our lives messed up - We come to Him under the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We
are complete in Christ, fully accepted and deeply loved by God.”

How is what you do making an impact in others lives?

“To see a man coming out of prison or jail, for him to earn his GED, for this man to see genuine life transformation - transformation of core beliefs and
values; To see a man walk out these doors with a job, a place to live, a car, a relapse prevention plan in place, and a Christ centered life view - To see
a man come into a salvation experience and knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

Thank you Steven for your time, your talents, your passion and your willingness to serve at Springs Rescue Mission.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities in Colorado Springs contact Springs Rescue Mission at 719-632-1822 or visit our website at www.mySRM.org.