This is the second in a series of articles focusing on Central Christian Church’s outreach ministries. You will read stories of people helped through the ACTS Homeless Ministry, the Prison Ministry and Open Table. We’ll explore how these ministries complement each other as well as how the Open Table model works in a faith-based setting. Read the first article in the series here.
Bobby was born with a hole in his heart. At the time, he was the youngest heart patient ever in the Phoenix area. His heart problems, though, were only one of the obstacles he faced in his young life. No positive father figure to guide him and a mother unable to care for him meant he spent a lot of his time on the streets. Expecting to die at any time from heart failure, Bobby lived the fast life. He lived a hard life, too. He used drugs and eventually made the street his home.
The first time the folks at Central Christian’s ACTS Homeless Ministry met Bobby he was bleeding from his chest. When they learned he’d had heart surgery and had just been discharged from the hospital, they rushed him back to the hospital for further treatment. It wasn’t until later that they learned Bobby had died during that hospital visit. The doctors were able to bring him back by delivering electric shocks to his heart. What a gift to receive a second chance at life!
As Bobby got to know the ACTS volunteers and as they became aware of his story, they felt the desire to offer him a second chance as well…a chance to make a new start with his life. Members of Central Christian’s Community Outreach Department worked with Bobby to help him get his life back on track. They used their knowledge and personal contacts to help Bobby get off the streets and to build job skills.
Over time, Bobby got off drugs. He became a Christian and witnessed to people in all walks of life where ever he went. He invited people to church… people that you and I might never be able to reach out to because we haven’t walked in their shoes. Members of Central Christian’s Community Outreach Department got him into vocational training to help him build job skills. As part of his vocational training he was asked to cut his hair for his job interviews. He was proud of his long, brown hair that grew down to the middle of his back. He had 8 inches of it cut off and donated it to Locks of Love. Central Christian Community Outreach staff also helped Bobby apply for SSN/Disability benefits. Soon after receiving his first benefits check, Bobby passed away from heart complications. He was young, in his thirties.
Bobby lived a life filled with difficulties, a life that was cut short. He didn’t expect to have a long life. Living the fast life might have felt good, might have dulled the pain, might have been the easiest path…for awhile. But Bobby received a second chance. He chose the hard but right path–and it made all the difference.
Bobby’s favorite song was God of This City by Chris Tomlin. The song lyrics resonated deeply with Bobby and revealed alot about who he was:
You’re the Light in this darkness
You’re the Hope to the hopeless
You’re the Peace to the restless
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Bobby knew there was much work to be done in our city. Much work.
You can find out more about Central Christian’s ACTS Homeless ministry here. There are also printable cards to be used to hand out to the homeless.
Nancy Bandusky, Central Christian’s Associate Director of Local Outreach will be speaking at the October 20th EVCMC meeting. This meeting will convene at 8:30am in the Higher Grounds Cafe at Central Christian’s Mesa campus (933 Lindsay Road, Mesa, AZ 85213). Please join us!
If you have questions about ACTS or any of Central Christian’s Outreach ministries, contact Nancy at 480/924-4946 or e-mail her at nancy.bandusky@centralaz.com.
Thank you to Nancy for sharing this story with us.
