"Our objective is that every client will be a responsible person, living in a supportive community (church, spouse and friends), with a job and permanent housing."

Lisa's Story

Lisa says she would have been in the same boat (homeless and using drugs) had it not been for the six-month addiction treatment program at the New Hope Family Shelter. Read more >> 

 

History

A mutual concern for the many homeless men on the streets of Stockton brought a group of people together in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Petersen at 1225 N. Hunter in Stockton on Saturday, September 16, 1939. The Stockton Gospel Center began in the late hours of that evening. The minutes of the meeting record the following:

“After a delightful dinner and conversation the purpose of the meeting was explained by Dr. Petersen who then called upon Evangelist G. Clarence Greene for more details of the subject, which was the founding of a Gospel Center in Stockton.” The Stockton Gospel Center(SGC) was selected as the name of the Center to be established, same to be undenominational in character, to provide a reading room, a tract room, workers room, room for Sunday afternoon Sunday School to reach those not contacted by any other church, auditorium or assembly room for special speakers, Bible teachers, etc. The Center was to be under the supervision of Evangelist Greene and would probably require a secretary-mission worker.”

The SGC was incorporated in California on April 9, 1940 as a Non Profit Welfare Organization. Evangelist Greene was assisted by a businessman named Fred Rose. Greene continued as superintendent for seven years (1939-1946) until poor health and a lack of funds forced him to resign. In a Mission publication entitled, “Panorama Report,” composed under the direction of Superintendent Vern Zook, which looks at the SGC history from 1939 through 1953, the leadership of the SGC proceeded as follows after the resignation of Evangelist Greene.

Gerhard Vander Beek, a Hollander and shoe salesman volunteered to forsake self and salary and pitch in to keep the work going.” Mr. Vander Beek continued as superintendent for five years until he too experienced poor health. In June of 1951, Vander Beek ended his tenure at the Mission and the doors were closed until a new superintendent could be found. The Panorama Report records the following: “Gerhard Vander Beek had seen the Mission through a hard struggle, but through the struggle the goodwill of the churches and the general citizenry of both Stockton and Ripon had been established. The SGC was first located on 332 E. Market Street (two doors down from the Travelers Hotel). It remained at the Market Street location for two years. During the Market Street stay, only spiritual services were provided. Then, due to an increase in rent the Mission moved to 130 E. Lafayette Street (where it replaced a bar room). At the Lafayette St. location the Mission began to serve meals in the basement after the evening evangelistic service.

In May of 1948, the property at 229 E. Church Street was purchased at a cost of $6,500. The original building at 229 Church Street had been a vegetable market with a livery stable in the rear. Later, the livery stable was converted to a bar and dance hall and functioned as such until the SGC purchased it. On September 17, 1951 Vern H. Zook became the new superintendent. During 1952 and 1953 the first new building was built behind the original vegetable market building at the 229 E. Church Street address. The new building housed the chapel on the first floor with a dormitory upstairs. The Mission has remained at the East Church Street location where it has expanded its property and programs to what they are today.

On June 9, 1953, the Stockton Rescue Mission was founded on W. Main Street in Stockton as a new venture by another group who were also concerned about the homeless men in Stockton. It later moved to Washington and Commerce Sts. where it rented a building. Later a permanent location at 401 S. Center was purchased for $15,000.

In 1956 Carl and Ethel Ellison became the superintendents of the Stockton Gospel Center. On January 6, 1970 it was decided by both Mission Boards to merge the two missions, and on July 13, 1970 the merger was incorporated as the Stockton Gospel Rescue Mission. The merger was done so that together a new mission facility could be built to take care of the needs of those who came to the two missions. The united boards decided to locate the mission at 229 E. Church Street. and to purchase the property at 227 E. Church Street on which to build the new building. The hope was to start construction on September 1, 1971.

In 1971, after the property was purchased and the existing building was razed, the new building the united Boards dreamed of was built at 227 E Church Street. This building expanded the mission’s facilities to include a new chapel and offices on the first floor, dormitory for transient men and an apartment for the director on the second floor and a basement with storage and shower facilities. The first building which was built behind the old vegetable market continued to house the kitchen and dining room on the first floor, and a dormitory on the second floor for the men’s rehabilitation program. The old vegetable market building was razed. Carl and Ethel Ellison retired as directors of the Stockton Gospel Rescue Mission on January 1, 1977 after twenty(20) years at the mission.    

In 1979 the old Frazier Furnace Building at 445 S. San Joaquin Street (Corner of San Joaquin and Church Sts.) was purchased to serve as administrative offices, cooler and freezer and warehouse space.

In 1982 the New Hope Family Shelter was added at 403 S. San Joaquin Street in what had formerly been “Alustiza’s Basque Restaurant and Hotel”. In 1984 the facility was renovated inside by a retired volunteers service group, board members and other interested individuals to accommodate the new program . In 1988 three houses were purchased along San Joaquin Street (423, 429/431 and 435/437).

In 1990 the duplex at 224 and 226 Sonora Street was purchased. The two units were first used as affordable housing for staff and later as affordable housing rental property.

On December 17, 2002 the duplex at 224/226 E. Sonora was razed to make way for the new New Hope Family Shelter. At the present time, the Gospel Center Rescue Mission owns approximately 2/3 of a city block. It is a fully enclosed campus which houses all of its ministries. All of the buildings on have served well; but, now the duplex at 435/437, the four-plex at 429/431 and Alustiza's Restaurant & Hotel (all on South San Joaquin St.) are all in need of renovation.

Past and Present Names of the Rescue Mission Include: Stockton Gospel center Stockton Rescue Mission Stockton Gospel Rescue Mission Gospel Center Gospel Center Rescue Mission, Inc.

Past & Present Superintendents / Executive Directors & CEOs G.Clarence Greene 1939 to 1946 Gerhard Vander Beek 1946 to 1951 Vern Zook 1951 to 1955 Carl & Ethel Ellison 1956 to 1976 Jim & Gloria Porteous 1976 to 1990 Bill & Kay Jenkins 1990 to 1991 Bill and Ada Brown 1991 to 2008 Bill Brown 2008 to present