Rescue Mission Man

My journey with the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission actually began in 1987. Our local church, Word of Liberty, had home groups. It was in one of the sessions of our home group that I met one of the night managers of the Rescue Mission, Mr. Eugene Ganaway.

When Eugene started hosting home group meetings, he’d invite residents of the mission to attend. A month or so down the road, Eugene mentioned that there was an opening at the mission for an Evangelist to preach. So, after clearing it with my local church leadership, I was on my way to a ten year journey with the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission.

I would come in once a month, on the third Tuesday night of the month, from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m., lead them in song and present my message. But my “mission” continued on after I left the mission. Many of the people I met became some of my best friends. They were like family. We shared holidays and birthdays. I would pick them up to go to church and home meetings at my house. The circle of fellowship was greatly enlarged because of the influence of the mission, and our church grew because some of the staff and residents of the mission wanted to fellowship with us.

The first time that I preached at the mission, I was expecting to see a room full of old drunks and winos. You know . . . the stereo type bum. Boy, did I get a surprise! What I saw before me were people from all races, all ages, and from all walks of life. HEY! We’re talking young men in their early twenties on up! Not only that, they had a women’s auxiliary, a home for displaced women.

I was blessed to retain a few of the residents, both men and women, as close friends --- but every month the faces at my meetings would change. I would look out into the congregation and see new faces, with those age old questions on their face that asked, “Are you for real?” and “Can you help me?” After the meeting they would come up and ask me what church I was from. Some would even ask if they could come to my church.

Many, many churches make up an alliance to support the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. Each church sends their representatives to minister every day, 365 days a year. The need is endless, especially around the holidays. During the holidays church volunteers come in to help serve food to those that need a meal and some fellowship.

The mission is a living organization that is trying to reach out to the least, the last, and the lost of our communities. It is not a one man show, it is a community effort. I was just a small part of the mission; in fact, in the ten year period that I ministered, I was only known as the “Guitar Man.” From this experience, I wrote the “Rescue Mission Man” song.