I completed the service portion of my sabbatical this week by volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission. The Denver Rescue Mission provides housing, meals and other support services for the homeless here in the Denver metro area and other communities. As I understand it, this organization is a private gospel ministry and as such, has certain pros and cons. The pros being that they can pray publicly and the cons are that they receive very limited federal state or local funds to help their mission. I have to admit, when this was explained to me I was perplexed… but that will be a story for a different day. I selected this organization because I would be in Denver visiting my family. I grew up not far from from this place. We always called it “Jesus Saves” because that was the only signage on the building. As a kid I was always wondered what the sign meant.
A couple weeks before I started my sabbatical, I visited their website and was very impressed! I clicked on the ‘Volunteer” tab and created an account and selected the days and shifts I wanted to serve. I picked 3 days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I showed up on Monday morning for my 5 AM shift to prepare and serve the breakfast meal. As the website instructed, there was a gated parking lot for “volunteers” and there was even a staff member there to greet me and point me to the door where I needed to enter. Once in the door, there was a kiosk inside. I stepped to the kiosk grabbed the mouse and low and behold my name was there and I clicked “sign in”. Maybe I’m a technology geek but I thought that was really cool! I washed my hands as the video instructed (yes video!), put my apron on and was ready to go to work.
I was introduced to my supervisor Dean. Dean shared with me that not too long ago he was on the “other side” of the serving line. He was close to death due to liver failure from alcohol abuse. He explained that after his brush with death he decided to make a change. The program hired him and he is now in rehab. Dean said “God gave me a second chance”. On this day, my job was to clean the trays and plates from the guests and stack them for the dishwasher (it became pretty gross after a while). As I observed the guests, I was taken aback by the diversity of the people that came through the turnstile. Some where drug addicts , some where handicapped, some were young, some were old and some were perfectly healthy. We served french toast coffee, donuts and yogurt with fruit on the side that day.
On day two, my supervisor’s name was Jacob. Jacob wandered here from Oklahoma because of a broken heart-yes, a broken heart. He explained to me that his girlfriend had broken up with him and the pain drove him to drinking and was in a tailspin ever since until he was given a chance by the program to rehab and work to get on his feet. As he described his story Jacob said ” I guess God had to bring me all the way out here so I could listen”. On this day, I cut 2,000,0000,324 green and red peppers ( maybe I’m exaggerating but it felt like that many!) for the stew we were to serve for lunch that day.
On day 3, my supervisor was Pedro. Pedro lost his job a few months ago and simply did not have the resources to pay the rent. He mentioned he will be starting a new job soon but also stated “this experience has brought me closer to God”. Today I cut 2,000,0000,324 apples and oranges for the fruit salad we were to serve at lunch.
Interesting that there is a common theme in all of these men’s stories -crisis occurs-God appears. Now I understand the meaning of the sign outside the building.
Ive been accused of being a big picture guy before and I guess I kinda am. As I look back on this experience it was rather rudimentary- I go in. I help. It feels good.
But what strikes me is The Big Picture!
There are essentially 3 turnstiles in this operation:
- The Food- the donated food comes from local grocers , restaurants and others. Food that is slightly old or not used for its original purpose -not up to a certain standard. Maybe overripe for high end restaurants I guess??
- The Help-very few are paid employees and most are volunteers.
- The Recipients- The people who come through the turnstile to get a meal
I know I am oversimplifying this process. I understand this facility has a heck of a time fundraising and all the political battles that must be involved in all of it but I am flabbergasted on how this place serves 2,000 meals a day through charity!
I cant help but marvel at Gods presence here…
No matter what turnstile you come through here at the rescue mission God’s presence is evident. Whether it was the program receiving a couple of boxes of vegetables from a local restaurant, an online reservation from a volunteer who is willing to give of their time to help serve the meal, or the employee who needed a second chance at life. Maybe you just needed a warm meal. In all of these situations God provided!
Mark 10:45 reads ” for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve …”. After my experience here this week I am forced to ask myself am I being a servant?
?
God makes it easy to serve, if it is your will….just click “Volunteer”…Hell even send a concierge to show you to the door…
A picture of Dean and I and a picture of the sign that reads “Jesus Saves” (yup its still there)-attached
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Matthew 14:13-21