The Haven of Rest Rescue Mission of Bristol, Inc. was chartered in 1955 in the State of Virginia as a non-profit rescue mission. In 1968, the Mission moved to Bristol, Tennessee. The Mission is a 501-(c) 3 charitable corporation chartered in the State of Tennessee that is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with the corporation Charter and Bylaws.  The Board of Directors is self-sustaining and is composed of Christians who are active members of local Christian churches.  The Mission is funded through charitable donations, sales of merchandise at thrift store prices, and other special fund raising activities.  

 The Mission is Evangelical Christian in conviction and non-denominational in service.  The Statement of Faith states the foundational beliefs of the Mission.  While the Mission seeks to abide by the laws of the jurisdictions to which it is subject, the final authority for the Mission is the Holy Bible. The Mission is pro church and seeks to involve its clients in local churches and to involve local churches in the work of the Mission.  The Mission functions  within its foundational Statement of Faith and leaves interpretation and teachings of less foundational doctrines to the individual churches of the community.