Reaching the Lost & Gathering the Reached
Each year, we take time to reflect on the impact the Medford Gospel Mission has had on our community and to look forward with hope to the year ahead. As we enter our 66th year as a para-church ministry, we are deeply thankful for the thousands of people who have been part of this Mission over the decades.
We are grateful for the hundreds of board members and staff who have continued to operate with biblical truth and faithful practice in the midst of an ever-changing culture, and for the countless individuals, donors, and volunteers who have given of their time, treasures, and talents. Without this faithful support, the transformation we witness in the lives of men and women through the grace of God would not be possible.
Our Mission: Reaching the Lost & Gathering the Reached
We take our mission statement—Reaching the Lost and Gathering the Reached—very seriously. We strive to reach people who are caught in cycles of poverty and separated from God and His people, and to gather them into local churches right here in our community.
As important as our work at the Medford Gospel Mission is, we know that we “have power to accomplish our purpose only as we are rooted in and lead back to a believing community”—our local churches. For this reason, our desire is to serve the local church we love by championing the Gospel with clarity, compassion, courage, and joy.
As part of our discipleship process, we encourage the men and women in our program to find and join a local church where they can build authentic, healthy relationships that last a lifetime.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
— Matthew 28:19
Financial Stewardship
The Medford Gospel Mission operates 100% free from federal, state, and local government funding. This independence allows us to serve people in ways that honor God, align with His Church, and avoid unnecessary interference. It is the generosity of people like you that makes this ministry possible.
Financial Support
(Fiscal Year: October 2023 – September 2024)
This past year, we received just under $870,000 in financial contributions, allowing us to operate the Mission 365 days a year.
Sources of Financial Support:
- 79% Individual Contributions
- 11% Local Churches
- 7% Businesses
- 3% Recycling
Expenses
We carefully operate under a tight budget, enabling us to direct the majority of donations toward restoring men and women. This past year, we operated within 1% of our total financial support.
Use of Funds:
- 71% Restoration Program
- 21% Administration
- 8% Fundraising
Gifts in Kind
Gifts in kind—such as food, clothing, and household goods—play a vital role in our ministry. These items are donated by individuals, local businesses, non-profit partners, and churches. Without these generous gifts, we would not be able to maintain such a low operational budget.
More importantly, gifts in kind help us build relationships with people, which is the foundation of real, lasting life change.
Legacy Gifts
In addition to regular financial support, individuals continue to bless the Mission through legacy gifts included in their wills. These gifts allow us to complete essential upgrades, remodel aging facilities, and plan for the future.
This past year, legacy funds were used to:
- Replace a 25-year-old HVAC system at the Jackson Campus
- Replace a 30-year-old HVAC system at the Bartlett Campus
- Replace a 25-year-old walk-in freezer
- Remodel living and office space at the Jackson Campus
Outcomes: Relational Restoration Takes Time
At the Medford Gospel Mission, we value relationships and aim to equip people for long-term development. Our outcomes are not simply tasks to be checked off a list; they focus on learning to relate rightly to God, self, others, and creation.
We equip men and women to learn new skills, rediscover their dignity, and grow in their ability to navigate the complexities of life.
This past year:
- Men and women in our program invested 79,074 hours working on restoration.
- Staff, church members, volunteers, and participants together invested 97,946 hours working side by side toward restoration.
Relational restoration takes time, and these hours represent real people committing real effort to rebuilding their lives within community.
Our Values: God’s Story and Relational Restoration
The Medford Gospel Mission’s values form the foundation of our culture and identity. They shape how we understand brokenness in our community and guide the programs and services we offer.
We Value God’s Story
God’s story is one of creation, fall, redemption, and re-creation, with Jesus at the center. This is why the Gospel of Jesus and the people of Jesus—the local church—are fully integrated into every aspect of our ministry. We are guided and shaped by the stories we believe, and we choose to focus on God’s story above all others.
We Value Relational Restoration
God is our relational Creator—Father, Son, and Spirit—and as His image-bearers, we are relational beings designed for relationship with God, self, others, and creation. Material poverty, suffering, and sickness are symptoms of a deeper problem: broken relationships.
We flourish when those relationships are restored.
We Value Asset-Based Community Development
As God’s image-bearers, every person has dignity, worth, gifts, and abilities. Though all of us experience brokenness, there is still much good in each person. For this reason, we begin with assets—“What’s good and right with you?”—rather than problems—“What’s wrong with you?”
This approach reflects our belief that every person has something meaningful to contribute and that restoration happens best within community.
Thank you for helping make 2024 an amazing year. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward with hope to all that God will continue to do in the year ahead.
Partner with us in God’s work of relational restoration.