Miami Rescue Mission

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In 1922 a young couple, John and Zada Schleucher arrived in Miami from Chicago, after graduating from the Moody Bible Institute. The Schleuchers' followed God's call and started Miami's first Mission, one that the Miami Daily News described as “caring for the spiritual and physical wants of needy persons.”

The first location was at 19th SW Eighth Street, but services were held every night of the year in a tent. During the 1920's it operated under the names of Grace Mission, Gospel Mission and the Rescue Mission.

In August of 1929 it opened a facility at 538 North Miami Avenue under the name Miami City Mission. The 1926 hurricane and the great depression in 1929 devastated the city. The local Community Chest and the Welfare Board lost all their funds when the banks failed.

Through those dark days the Mission was the place to go for “soup, soap and salvation.” A headline in the Miami Daily News, June 14, 1930 read, “1,226 at City Mission Cared for Each Day.” The Mission had 190 beds for men and depended on local companies to provide much of the food needed. Seventy-one food barrels were placed in local grocery stores and housewives were asked to “help bear the burden of charity. Just put one staple item in the barrel.”

But there was confusion about the name “City Mission,” which many took to mean support from city funds, so in 1935, the name was again changed to Miami Rescue Mission. The work continued through the difficult years of World War II. In January 1940 men were fed 3, 077 meals and women and children 1,775 meals. That month they had provided 404 bed nights. Rev. Schleucher continued preaching at the Mission until he died in 1952. His widow, Zada lived until 1969.

Men in line Rev. and Mrs. McKinley Ash came to Miami in 1925 and began a ministry in the jails and hospitals. They took up the challenge of rescue ministry and became the leaders who would bring about the formal incorporation of the organization in 1947, with its quarters at 150 W Flager Street. The Mission eventually moved from this location in order for the public library to be built. The next location, 716 N. Miami Avenue proved to be the exact spot the city wanted to build the Civic Center.

In 1969 the Mission built a building at 2250 NW First Avenue which would eventually become the present day location of the Center for Women and Children. The Center for Men moved to their new four-story facility located at 2020 NW First Avenue in 1989.

Frank and Maxine Jacobs first came to the Mission as volunteers, then in 1975; they took over the leadership roles. With their vision, hard work and your support, the Jacobs have been able to oversee the expansion of the Mission to reach out into Broward County with the development of the Broward Outreach Center in Hollywood, FL.

The character needs of the poor and homeless are vastly different today. In the early years, most clients were middle-aged, white, male alcoholics. Today, the span of ages is much greater in scope; perhaps 255 are women and children, and include many races and nationalities. To better serve the community in Miami, the Mission is currently constructing a Community Activity Center. In Broward, they have plans to expand the Broward Outreach Center to include a Shelter for Women and Children.

The location of the Mission and the type of clients have changed over the years. But the only thing that has not changed is the need: There are many who are still “the least, the last and the lost,” and the Miami Rescue Mission is still here to help and give hope for a better life.

It is an independent, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization governed by a self-sustaining board of directors. The present organization was incorporated in 1947 and is dedicated to addressing the wide variety of special needs presented by the thousands of homeless individuals and families in South Florida.

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