Denver Rescue Mission is a true inner-city mission in the heart of Denver. What most people don’t realize though is that there is more to Denver Rescue Mission than the downtown mission sight. Denver Rescue Mission also has a ministry called Champa house which is a place for women and children. However, that is not all. Denver Rescue Mission reaches out and ministers to men that are coming out of addiction, jail or homelessness in a wonderfully unique setting. Harvest Farm is a full functioning 100 acre farm that is home to Denver Rescue Mission’s rural rehabilitation center. This rural setting allows men to truly get away from it all and get their hands dirty, while cleaning up their lives.

The farm can house up to 65 men at one time. They can live and work on the farm for up to two years. While they are on the farm, they not only work on their spiritual life, but also on their physical and education life as well. The farm has instructors to help men finish their high school diploma or take their G.E.D. Men also learn valuable on the job training and work their way into an off site job. The money they earn is set aside and used for the purchase of a vehicle and securing housing once the men leave the farm. The farm promotes individual accountability, while the participant learns to rely on God.

The farm, located north of Denver about one hour, invites youth groups to come and work on the farm. Not only does this help the farm, but it provides a wonderful mission site for youth. The work is hard, but the days are not too long. The youth work alongside the men, which allows for relationships to form and stories to be shared. One of the highlights is hearing the testimony of some of the men during evening sharing time.

Each day begins with breakfast and morning devotions. Hearty farm meals are part of the package when a mission group serves at the farm. The farm also has a beautiful cabin that sleeps up to 20 for mission groups. Next to the cabin, which sits at the edge of the farm’s lake, is the bath and shower facilities.

Mission groups can stay for a week or less if need be. To learn more about the farm visit the Denver Rescue Mission website. Feel free to contact Mark Hutton, at markhutton@presbycov.org for more information as well. Mark has done 12 mission trips to Harvest Farm.