On March 9, 1917, the ministries of the Evansville Rescue Mission commenced under the vision and leadership of its co-founders, Dr. Ernest “Pappy” Reveal and his wife, Mrs. Edna Reveal. Originally on Main Street and near the corner of First Street in downtown Evansville, the Mission was transferred to larger quarters on Second Street for fifteen years where Dr. and Mrs. Reveal established themselves as prominent evangelists in the Tri-State community.
Later in 1932, the Mission moved to the corner of Ninth and Locust streets where the entire block of the Keller-Crescent Printing Company was purchased through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Ingleheart.
Leading up to his death in 1959, Pappy touched countless lives by reaching out to the lost and those often shunned in society through the different ministries of the Evansville Rescue Mission, including Mission’s church home, the Evansville Christian Center.
Having big shoes to fill, Mr. George Blackmore became the Rescue Mission’s second President and eventually moved the Mission in 1972 to where it stands today (300 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Evansville, IN).
Throughout our 94 years of rich history, the Mission has been able to weather the storm financially through sound leadership (we have only had seven President/Chief Executive Officers since the Mission’s inception in 1917), through fiscal responsibility, and through caring, generous folks living here in the Tri-State.
We are excited to be rapidly approaching our centennial anniversary coming up in 2017. Thank you for allowing us the privilege to care for the Tri-State’s homeless, destitute, and disadvantaged youth.
