b'A Assssoocciiaatitoion nH iHstiosrtyoryfrom rescue ministries in thirty-four nations. Members of its executivecommittee were: Chairman Charles Chambers, Australia; Vice ChairmanRev. Stephen Burger, United States; Edwin Orton, England; Rev. BruceDuncan, South Africa; Rev. Raimo Sinkkonen, Finland; SamuelThangarpulavar, India; Rev. Dr. Paul Toaspern, Germany.On May 31, 2000, the delegates at the 87th Annual Convention changed thename of the International Union of Gospel Missions to the Association ofGospel Rescue Missions (AGRM). The new name emphasized the associa-tion concept and de-emphasized the term union, which many thought to be misleading. It also underscored the term rescue, something that mostmissions had identified with for decades. Rescue became the new mantra. During Burgers tenure, he continued to emphasize mission expansion andoversaw the start of a dozen new missions in major cities. He also soughtto build up the frontline mission worker through adistance-learning program called Rescue College (now City Vision College). By 2006, it became fullyaccredited as a degree-conferring institution. UnderBurger, AGRM also provided oversight to an alreadyestablished ministry, Alcoholics Victorious. Steve faithfully served as executive director of theIUGM/AGRM through June 30, 2007. His wife, Delores,served by his side throughout his tenure. Mostnotably, she was the associations historian and wrotethe book, Women Who Changed the Heart of the City.EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAnother Paradigm ShiftC ultural changes teamed with population movements in the 1980s and1990s found rescue missions having to add continuing education and job training to their lists of services. A new emphasis was put on social enterprises to better prepare those who found new life in Christto adapt to a demanding world and live in society.As the gap between the haves and have-nots in North Americacontinued to widen, it was an economic meltdown at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 that caused rescue missions to seriously re-evaluate their programs and services.Homelessness, always a significant issue, shot to the top of the list ofNorth Americas social concerns. Homeless familiesmost often womenwith childrenbecame the fastest-growing segment of the population insearch of rescue mission assistance. Women and childrens centers beganto grow in number. Missions started to expand their services beyond theirproperties, going deeper into their communities. A new emphasis onhelping people get housing and secure employment began to take hold in missions from coast to coast.13'