Lexington Rescue Mission exists to serve and glorify God through Christ-centered service that meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the poor and homeless in Lexington.
The mission began as Jim and Becky Connell from Columbus, Indiana, felt led by the Lord to start a a ministry to the poor and homeless in the fall of 2000. Lexington was one of three communities in the region that was identified by the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions as needing a rescue mission.
In April 2001, Jim left his job in Columbus and moved to Lexington to start the mission. Four months later, the mission purchased a building on North Limestone Street with the help of a generous gift from a Lexington couple. On November 21, 2001, services started with a Thanksgiving banquet at Broadway Christian Church. Since that time, the mission has fed and clothed the poor and hungry in our community. In March 2003, renovations on the Limestone Street building were completed, and the mission launched its residential recovery program for men battling drug and alcohol addictions. In addition, a Homeless Prevention Program was started to give emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities to those on the brink of homelessness.
In January 2004, the mission purchased a 5,000-square-foot building in north Lexington on Glen Arvin Avenue. We received our occupancy permit in May 2005 and opened The Outreach Center. Today, the mission serves free, hot lunches to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at noon, and chapel services are held preceding the weekday meals. Last year, 23,516 meals were served to the hungry. Free housing and employment counseling, medical care and life-skills classes are also offered. These service are case-management driven, allowing us to address the needs of the whole person, and are heavily dependent on volunteers.
The mission is an interdenominational Christian non-profit organization that is governed by a Board of Directors and is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.