Our History

During our 50 year anniversary we created this video timeline. It's amazing to see what the Lord  has already done. And what HE continues to accomplish - through YOU - God's grateful and giving people! Through your commitment of volunteerism, food donations, and dollars, you have helped us reach back into our community in so many ways. We encourage you to scroll through the pages of our website to see the continued impact of our joint efforts with you, and what's in store for the next 50 years.

1968

The Mission was founded by Jim Resh, of Hagerstown, who had a heart for mission’s work; Mr. Resh founded six other missions through his ministry.

1969

Westminster Rescue Mission first opened on Green Street, with a thrift store on the ground floor; the men in the program occupied the rest of the house. We outgrew Green Street house and moved to Railroad Avenue where clients worked as street sweepers.

1981

Purchased 39-acres of farmland on Lucabaugh Mill Road in order to move away from the easy access to alcohol and other temptations that came with being in town. The City of Westminster helped us find this land to move to as they needed our railroad avenue location to expand parking space for downtown Westminster.

1986

New Mission facility opened, where it served 32 men (video says 27men). The program was helping many men to turn their lives around through the power of the gospel and the structure, nurturing, and help of the staff, and we had long waiting lists for the program.

1999

Our neighbors at Random House inquired about purchasing the Mission’s land to expand their warehouse operations. When negotiations concluded, Random House purchased over 9 acres that they needed and the beautiful 30,000 square foot facility we now enjoy was built to accomplish even more ministry to the addicted and hurting. In the same deal with Random House, we were able to move from a store in downtown Westminster that was found to be structurally unsound to a building on Main Street to house the Spare Room, later known as The Mission Store

2003

Larger facility built. The 30,000 ft facility we use today. Also grew the mission’s food outreach program. We partnered with Maryland Food Bank and Feeding America, allowing the Mission to redistribute a surplus of food in the community to people in need.

2012

In April, a fire destroyed the barn and one of the Mission’s thrift operations.

2015

Our onsite food pantry was serving so many people in need, that we had to expand the location and move its operations down to the original Mission building on campus (Sparrow’s Nest).

2017

The downtown building sold in July and The Mission Store operations was consolidated with the store at our Lucabaugh Mill Road campus.

2017

Mission celebrates 50th anniversary.

2017

August marked a grand reopening for The Mission Store.

2018

CARF three-year accreditation was awarded to WRM in the spring for the following programs: Community Housing- Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults) and Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults.) Also, the structured 9-month residential program is licensed by the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration as an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 3.1 level of care.

2024

Westminster Rescue Mission’s Addiction Healing Center  expands their levels of care to include: 3.3 and 3.5 residential treatment, as well as more comprehensive outpatient counseling services.