Our History

1991 As the City of Bridgeport discusses plans for bankruptcy, concerned Christians and executives from rescue missions in neighboring states begin to pray about opening a rescue mission to serve Bridgeport, Conn. At the same time, in his home in West Virginia, Rev. Jim Watson feels called to begin a rescue mission in Bridgeport after watching a broadcast about the city's plight.

1993 Jim and Tammy Watson move to Bridgeport and open Bridgeport Rescue Mission on the city's notorious East Side. The Watsons cook meals in local church kitchens then distribute them from the back of their station wagon. Jim preaches and prays while Tammy sings gospel music accompanied by a karaoke machine.

1994 The Watsons purchase a building on Harriet Street and open a 14-bed shelter and discipleship program for men. The Mission is surrounded by gang violence, drug dealers and other street crime. Soon area prostitutes begin asking for help. In the fall, the Watsons purchase a five-room house on Barnum Avenue and begin taking in homeless women and children. After a prostitute is murdered, the Watsons adopt her two children. The Bridgeport Catholic Diocese leases the former St. John Nepomucene Roman Catholic Church to the Mission. The Watsons renovate the building to include a chapel, clothing room, day room, commercial kitchen and dining hall with a seating capacity of 200. About half their clients are children.

1996 The Mission converts an RV into a Mobile Soup Kitchen. Staff and volunteers dispense food, the Gospel and prayer to hungry men, women and children in the urban core once a week. Later that year, the Mission acquires the 35-room Fanny Crosby Memorial Home on Fairfield Avenue and relocates its men's shelter there. In December, the Mission leases a nine-bedroom home nearby with plans to initiate a women's New Life Discipleship Program.

1997 In March, after extensive renovations, Bridgeport Rescue Mission opens the Beacon Light Home for Women. The building provides a one-year discipleship program for women. By the end of the year, three women and two men graduate the New Life Discipleship Program.

1999 Rev. Mickey Kalman becomes executive director of Bridgeport Rescue Mission, instituting physical fitness programs, adult education and 12-step support programs for the chemically dependent.

2002 Rev. Terry Wilcox accepts the position of executive director of the Mission. He and his staff continue to develop and strengthen the New Life Discipleship Program and build a strong financial foundation for the ministry.

2006 The Mission initiates the $1 million Light the Way capital campaign to raise funds for a facility to provide emergency shelter for women.

2007 The Mission returns to its roots on the East Side of Bridgeport when it purchases and renovates a three-story Victorian house on Barnum Avenue and opens a shelter for homeless women in October. Its administrative offices, men's services and program remain in the Fanny Crosby Memorial Home building on Fairfield Avenue, along with the Fanny Crosby Memorial Library.

2008
The Mission expands its Mobile Kitchen food and clothing services to include Ryan Park in S. Norwalk on Sunday afternoons. During the peak of the recession in late 2008, the Mission is stretched to meet the increasing needs among the working poor and needy. In 2008, the Mission provided 280,000 meals, a 60% increase over 2007. The Mission’s men’s and women’s shelters are filled to capacity throughout the year and 20 men and women graduate from the yearlong New Life Recovery Program.

2009
As the recession of 2008 bears down on the working poor and needy, the Mission is challenged to meet alarming increases in assistance while also growing in operational efficiency to ensure income levels meet the requested needs.