Jimmie Hale Mission celebrates 65 years

The annual report of the Jimmie Hale Mission says it begins with a meal. Hunger will cause a man, no matter his lot in life to reach out for help. For 65 years, the Jimmie Hale Mission has fed hungry men.

Executive director Tony Cooper said “we were founded as a store-front chapel, because Jimmie Hale was a converted drunk before his salvation experience, he was the town drunk… and so our primary purpose and mission has always been to change the heart first and work from the inside out.“

Work continues on the Jimmie Hale Mission’s new location in the old Thomas School. More room will allow the mission to feed, educate and train men for the rest of their lives.

Wes Parkhurst is the program director at the mission. He used to drive by the old Jimmie Hale Mission and wonder how in the world someone ends up there… but he came to the mission when his life was falling apart.

“I come from a great family and a lot of support, like a lot of kids and young people in our community I developed a drug addiction which destroyed by career and my life,“ Parkhurst said.

The annual report has an actual pie chart inside showing that more than 75 percent of money raised by the mission goes directly to programs and services.

The men who come here don’t have to be told they need help; they come knowing that. The mission offers no apology for what they believe is the only real answer to life’s valleys.

“Christ changed my life, but he works through the ministry of the Jimmie Hale Mission,” Parkhurst said.

“In Corinthians 5:17, which is any person be in Christ, they’re a new creature, a new creation or new construction if you will,” Cooper said. “And because of us sharing the gospel and people responding to that with their faith in Christ we can say our product at the Jimmie Hale Mission is changed lives.“

After 65 years, the Jimmie Hale Mission is in the same business here, as well as at Jessie’s Place for women and children and at several other ministries they operate.

It may begin with a meal…and it leads to a new life.