Johnny Ellison had been dealing with the desire to help the needy for
years. Occasionally bringing a person into his home, he sought ways that
he could direct that person toward Jesus, and a better life.
Obviously, it was his own faith and trust in the Lord as his
personal Savior that fueled his desire to share it with whomever he
would meet. And yes, that definitely included those he saw all others
had forsaken; the homeless.
In 1969, Johnny sought the support of his pastor and Christian
friends. After much prayer and advice, Melbourne's first Rescue Mission
was born.
Seeking out a name was easy. Since Christ was the answer to
Johnny's personal life, and that was the message that he desired to
share; Christ-Is-The-Answer (C.I.T.A.) Rescue Mission was the only name
that he could use.
A loan from a supporter Mrs. Van Dike enabled CITA to put
$5,000.00 down on a two-story, six bedroom riverfront home in Malabar,
Fl. The owners held the note on the balance of $5,000.00 (imagine that,
$10,000.00 for a river front home).
Since net-fishing would become the main source of food, that
home on the river, would be the greatest location
imaginable.
The Turner family donated the use of a soon-to-be-demolished
store on Strawbridge in Melbourne to be the first CITA Thrift Store.
That store and the canvassing of neighborhoods for support began the
monitory income.
CITA has sprung to life. The 12 men or so that would
live in the new CITA mission would be cleaned up, housed, fed and
ministered to.
(RETURN)
