A Heart's Desire to Help People

Following their years of service in Alaska as missionaries, Tom and Letitia Miller moved to Merced. They brought with them their heartfelt desire to help people. They saw the need around them and took the little they had to reach out and make a difference. Their act of faith reminds me of the young boy who offered up his lunch of five small loaves and two fish and gave them to Jesus. Jesus took that young boy’s lunch, prayed over it, and distributed it out to the men, women, and children on the hillside, and over 5,000 people were fed. When everyone had finished eating, Jesus’ disciples picked up 12 baskets of food that were left over. From these humble beginnings, rooted in faith, the Mission has grown into a flourishing tree with branches that represent the Mission’s eight programs designed to meet people where they are.

The tree provides a visual image of the growth of the Mission. Each branch depicts one of our programs and its development. It is important that the Mission works in coordination as one tree, with each branch (or program) playing a distinct role in helping people and providing hope.

In keeping with Tom and Letitia Miller’s heartfelt desire to help people, the Mission continues to reach out to provide hope to people in need.

Click here to visit our programs page and learn more.

Giving that Grows, Legacy Planning

I was excited and extremely grateful when I received information regarding a donation to the Rescue Mission from a couple that had included the Mission in their estate plan. Legacy gifts help make possible the continuation of the Rescue Mission’s vision of HOPE into the future. Our current goal is to expand the Hope for Men and Women program by making the Village of Hope - Phase II a reality. Legacy gifts are an important part of achieving this goal as we strive to lovingly provide hope and encouragement in life transformation through Christ.

As my wife and I have worked on our own estate plan, we have considered our own children and grandchildren and how we can bless them. We have also considered our church and the ministries that are dear to our hearts, including the Rescue Mission. A legacy gift gives us a way to help ministries we have supported further realize the possibilities that God has given them to help others in need.

Many of you reading this have been strong supporters of the Merced Rescue Mission and the work God has given us to do as we reach the least, the lost, and the last in our society. The Mission has had the privilege of loving people who have found themselves powerless and without hope. We’ve witnessed many people whose lives have been transformed and who have become productive members of our community. But not only that — they are joyful change agents who are engaged in helping others who are in the process of coming to know Jesus and turning their lives around.

And who is the Mission? YOU are the Mission! Through your prayers and your giving, you are the ones helping to transform lives through the power of Jesus Christ!

The Mission looks forward to many of you considering a legacy gift by including the Mission in your estate plan. Thank you so much to everyone for your ongoing generosity and love for God’s work!

Dr. Bruce Metcalf, Executive Director

Rescuing People in a Crisis

During the recent flooding in Merced County, the Mission worked with the County to provide housing. We filled the classroom at the Navigation Center with cots, put people on sofas at our Bridging Houses, and filled all our available beds. We are presently operating beyond our capacity to meet this crisis. Our hearts ache for all those whose homes were flooded throughout the area. We want to be part of the process of healing and provide what is needed to help those who are suffering.

The Merced Rescue Mission with help from men in our Hope for Men program took clothing, hygiene items, and sanitizer to Planada to help flood victims.



2022 Impact and Accomplishments

214 men and women housed in 2022

34 men and women made a commitment to Christ

827 individual lives touched by Mission programs

Meals Served

328,500/year 2022

196,450/year 2021

160,000/year 2020


Nights of Shelter

109,500/year 2022

79,200/year 2021

68,027/year 2020

300 men and women currently in our programs. Please pray for more changed lives!

From hopeless to hopeful, the numbers tell the story

A message from CEO, Dr. Bruce Metcalf

God has done amazing work among us, and we are excited to share some numbers with you that proclaim the great things that He has done!

In 2016, just 7 years ago, the Mission was in a 100-year-old three-story building on Canal Street. When the building was condemned, the Mission found itself homeless. Can you imagine a homeless Rescue Mission? Where would we go? What would we do? Thankfully, Christian Life Center took us in, and Pastor Caesar, who was Youth Pastor at the time, gave up his youth room so 20 men could sleep on mattresses on the floor.

The Mission, not knowing what else to do, started renting houses for our programs. The ministry expanded and more houses were rented. In 2021 a 75-bed Navigation Center for people coming from the street was opened. Phase I of the new Village of Hope campus was built and opened in 2022 to take in families with young children, veterans, and people coming from the hospital to recuperate. During the last 7 years, our facilities have tremendously expanded and our programs have grown from 30 people to over 300. Wow! Consider what God is doing among us. The numbers give you a glimpse of what is happening! Thanks for your caring, your prayers, and your giving!

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE — The Mission is receiving gifts and contributions to complete our Village of Hope Campus -- Phase II. The impact when completed will be to provide more space and more opportunities to transform lives. Currently, the Mission has an ongoing waiting list for entering our Hope for Men and Women program. Unfortunately, people who are ready and waiting to enter the program, but are put on a waiting list, often fall back into old habits and relapse while they wait. Expanding our facilities will help the Mission reduce this waiting list. In addition, it will be possible for women with children to participate in the Hope for Women program, A place for homeless pregnant women will also be created. Completing our Village of Hope Campus -- Phase II will meet all these needs.

Your help is needed. Every gift, no matter what the size, is important and will help save lives!

Groups make Christmas special at Hope Respite Care

Thank you to Love, Inc. and the UC Merced Helping Hands Club for making our clients at Hope Respite Care feel special this Christmas. Each client was able to receive a Christmas gift bag because of the kindness and generosity of these groups. The UC Merced Helping Hands Club sold hot chocolate on campus to raise the funds to help make this possible. Thank you again!

Making a difference in YOUR community. Scarves, hats, and blankets donated to those in need!

High School senior, Sidney Roest, crocheted over three dozen scarves to keep people warm.

A wonderful lady from Merced knitted hats for those in need!

Hilmar quilting group made quilts and pillowcases for children in our Hope for Families program.