We, at the Astoria Rescue Mission, serve all who come to us, physically, spiritually and emotionally, sharing the Love of Christ with everyone. We have daily Bible studies and chapel services, provide counseling, encourage higher education, provide community service through our “Reasonable Stewardship” program, and when each individual is ready we help them acquire and maintain employment.

WE PROVIDE:

  • Housing
  • 3 Meals a Day: Breakfast- 7:00am Lunch –12:00noon Dinner–6:30pm
  • Free Clothing daily from 11:00am – 5:00pm
  • Laundry Facilities: one load each week Between 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
  • Showers: daily 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
  • Bible Studies: Monday – Friday
  • Chapel Services: every day
  • “New Life” Discipleship Program

Hi, my name is Richard Swank. I worked at Pacific Power and Light for twenty years in I.T. Services, working my way up to lead computer operator. When PP&L merged with another company they decided to downsize. After 20 years I lost my job. Soon following, I found myself divorced after eight years of marriage. I got a job with family members who owned a motel until they sold the business. Once again I was out of a job. I saw no prospects and no real reason to motivate myself to get another job.

In spite of this my ex-wife and I were considering remarriage in 2010, when she was suddenly found to be in the late stages of cancer and passed away. As a result, I went into a cycle of depression and turned to alcohol for escape. My life was going nowhere. I was staying at my sister’s home staring at the walls with no direction in my life and no friends.

At my sister’s urging, I came to the Astoria Rescue where I have found people I can call family. People that truly care. The depression I was suffered from is gone. Through the daily Bible studies, fellowship and church I have found a continuing peace and contentment with God.


During my life I have had my share of struggle. Life was good when I was walking with the Lord, and when I wasn’t it was very bad.The Lord has been very merciful to me and has given me so much. Unfortunately, I wasn’t willing to turn my life completely over to Him. I wanted to live for the world and for the Lord at the same time. It was through God’s continual discipline that I learned (and am still learning) I couldn’t serve two masters. Finally, God had to take me to the woodshed. I was offered a teaching position and, on the way, to sign the contract, I hit a tree at 55 miles per hour. I had to get a blood transfusion to save my life. I had 9 broken bones, a crushed sternum, bruised heart, permanently disabled shoulder, and a major head injury. Even with all these injuries, I knew God was not done with me, because I was still alive.I knew things had to change in a big way. I knew I needed to have a true and committed relationship with Jesus Christ. I needed to know him; to talk with him; to walk with him. After my divorce, I had nowhere to go and a good friend of mine urged me to go to the Astoria Rescue Mission. In fact, he insisted and said, “go.” I agreed and went. Other than asking Jesus into my heart, this was the best decision I have made in my entire life.The Astoria Rescue Mission is a place I can call home. I’ve met some incredible men. It is a place where we can sit around the table and study God’s Word. We can talk to one another. We can pray with one another. We can laugh and cry with one another. I can truly call them my brothers in Christ. I can call them family.Jesus’ light shines in this house. I can feel the abundance of His warmth and love here and in my heart, beyond what I could have ever imagined.I don’t know yet, where I will go from here. What I do know is that I will let Jesus lead the way.What the Devil meant for good, God means it for good. Jesus has set me free, and I am free, indeed. – Michael

Larry Mills has been part of our Astoria Rescue Mission Family for 2 months now and it has been a blessing to see the growth and progress he has made in his life since coming here. He has found new hope and strength in his life.He has found that he no long has to be bound to the chains of anger and addiction and has embraced the truth of Romans 13:14 as he learns to “…clothe himself in Jesus Christ and put off the desires of the flesh.”Larry is mending fences with his kids. He recently became a grandparent of twins. There were complications with the twins, who were so tiny when born, but are growing stronger and healthier every day and doing wonderfully. Larry is confined to a wheelchair at the moment but is hopeful that a, soon to be, hip surgery will help him to walk once again.