Modern Rescue Missions: A Survey of the International Union of Gospel Missions

Abstract

While the skid-row rescue mission has been an institution for over a century, modern missions are experiencing many changes. We conducted a survey of the International Union of Gospel Missions, the largest organization of missions in the United States. Missions still relied almost exclusively on private, individual contributions though some missions accepted state, federal, and United Way funds. The missions continued to offer “soap, sleep, soup, and salvation,” but they also offered medical care, psychological counseling, vocational training, benefits counseling, and alcoholism treatment. Most missions required attendance at a religious service to receive service including alcoholism treatment. About half of the missions had alcoholism treatment programs. Most of the programs used psychological counseling, but some programs also offered vocational training and Alcoholics Anonymous. Most of the programs were professionally staffed. The programs emphasized spiritual conversion as the key to successful rehabilitation. Many missions were serving new populations.