“25 YEARS OF SERVICE…Since 1978 our heart for street-involved youth in the city of Seattle has flourished. It started with the compassion of one man, and a handful of volunteers…”

The above quote is from our 25th Anniversary kick off brochure. Beginning June of 2003 New Horizons is celebrating our 25th year of serving street youth. Four words that define our years of presence on the streets are COMPASSION, SERVICE, PARTNERSHIP, and RESPONSE.

COMPASSION is a deep and abiding caring. Our staff, volunteers, and supporters have to this very day practiced deep and abiding unconditional love for the youth living on the streets of Seattle. Through the simplicity of our presence on the streets and in their lives, relationships have been established.

SERVICE has been a daily practice. Starting with listening, NHM volunteers and staff have been present in the lives of the youth. Through court dates, jail, rehab, pregnancy, birthday celebrations, dental or doctor visits, set backs, heartbreak, and accomplishments we were there. Through the persistence of God’s grace, we were there.

PARTNERSHIP , your partnership, has helped us to dream, to broaden, and to sustain increasingly comprehensive services to these youth we all love. As well as your essential partnership, NHM has partnered with churches, other parachurch ministries, social service agencies, and our youth in a commitment to walking through this journey of life.

RESPONSE…Since 1978 people like you have shared our heart for street-involved youth. Through your encouragement, your support, your prayer, we were and are able to be there for “our” kids. Until the need is gone, we intend to be there. Thank you for being here with us and for sharing in this journey of love.

The next time I write to you I will be sharing the results of our September Strategic Planning time. I’m excited about the ways God is directing us and the new ways the youth we love are getting involved in service here at NHM. As we celebrate 25 years of Service we are looking ahead to our continued presence in the youths lives and what that should look like. I look forward to sharing our next steps with you.

With deep respect and appreciation,

Rita Nussli, MSW
Executive Director

Rita's Report Archive
- November 2002