“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” These words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 18:20 became very real when Mark Mendenhall came to the Gospel Center Rescue Mission Recuperative Care Center this past year.

Raised by his mother and father in Stockton, Mark recalls having a wonderful childhood. He grew up with his parents, a brother, and a sister. He was athletic and often dreamed of one day being a football player.The neighbor kids often took Mark, his brother and sister to the Christian Life Center for Sunday School and Church.