Missions

The Mission Ministry Team 

Care – Good News Mission 

Several years ago Diane Buxton started going to Good News Mission with a couple of her friends and others from another church to help serve the Saturday noon lunch and help with washing dishes. At times there were only the 3 of them, so she recruited some of us to go, too. I remember being a little on the nervous side, as I had never done any work there or at any mission. I fully expected it to be dirty, probably smelly and filled with all kinds of men who were drunks, addicts and needing baths. We entered through a hallway that was plain, but definitely not dirty or smelly. What a relief and I’ll have to admit a surprise for me. We walked into the large dining room which also housed benches and a television at the far end with several men sitting and watching a ballgame. We turned our attention to the kitchen, where we were met Kenny who explained what we would be doing and what procedures were in place for serving.  

After washing hands and putting on hair nets, we poured drinks and set out salads and desserts. Soon it was time to start serving, so the “bell” was wrung. The men all lined up very orderly along one wall and waited patiently. Kenny asked them to remove their hats and he said the blessing.  I was surprised by several things, which blew away all my preconceived ideas. The men were all clean and neatly dressed. They were very respectful and most of them said please and thanked us for taking the time to come and serve them. What surprised me most of all was their looks. They could have been my next door neighbor and I’m sure many of them had been someone’s next door neighbor not long ago, but had fallen on hard times. Another surprise was that there were several very young men, probably late teens and early 20’s. I wondered what could have happened that they ended up at the mission. 

Over the years we have found out more details as to the house rules and heard many, many testimonials. Not all missions are run the same way, but Good News Mission has rules concerning daily bathing, curfews, no drugs or alcohol and they must all work. Some of the men have regular jobs, but have no place to stay. Others work at the Mission itself in various capacities. Bobby drives the bus to transport the men to their jobs. Kenny is the person who knows what needs to be done in the kitchen and where everything belongs. John used to be in charge of collecting the lunch tickets and handing out the silverware, but now he works in the thrift store that was opened about a year ago. The cooks come and go. Some are there for several months and some we see only once. I think with their skills they may have an easier time finding jobs. 

The men’s stories are varied and most are willing to share how God has and is working in their lives. The hope is they stay long just long enough to get re-established and then they move out and get on with their lives. Some of them have had substance abuse problems, but they must stay off drugs and alcohol to stay at the Mission, so they do. Some of the men are veterans, some have lost their jobs, some have had broken relationships and have no place to go and some are just passing through on their way to somewhere else. One cook was originally from New Orleans, and ended up Indianapolis after hurricane Katrina. There are a few of the men who have chosen to become part of the permanent staff. One young man had a substance abuse problem and kicked the habit, but when he left the mission he fell back into his old ways. He returned to the mission because he knew he needed the support and structure of the Mission to help keep his life in order. He has faith that in time and with the help and love of Jesus Christ he will be able to permanently overcome his addiction. They have daily chapel and Bibles available for study. Many of the men are willing to tell of their problems and horrible situations they have found themselves in, but with the support of the Mission programs and the sometimes newly found message of the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ are learning how to move on with their lives. It is such a blessing to see how God is moving in their lives and how they become a blessing to others within the facility. Some are reunited with families and others are able to save enough money to be able to get their own apartment. 

Good News Mission also has family and women’s shelters, so they provide a haven for many. By now I hope you are thinking to yourself, I think I would like to help, too. Our day at the mission is the 2^nd Saturday of the month. The noon meal is served at 2:30, so we leave the church at 1:30. We set out drinks, serve the food, clean the tables and wash and dry the dishes. We are normally done by 4:00. There are other ways to help, too. They accept men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and other items such as lamps, furniture, dishes and other items that can be sold in the thrift shop. Some of it is distributed to those in the shelters and some is sold in the thrift store. This helps in several ways. The store provides jobs, provides low cost items for those in the neighborhood, plus profits go toward supporting the Mission’s activities since they own the building and the men run the store. One of the programs is a summer camp in the country that gives the kids in the shelter and neighborhoods a chance to get out of the city and the opportunity to go fishing, hiking, swimming and just enjoy nature.  I urge you to consider supporting Good News Mission in some way. There has never been a day when I’ve gone, that I haven’t felt renewed and blessed for having had the opportunity to share and receive the love of Jesus Christ with these gentlemen.   

If you would like to hear additional stories, if you have questions or would like to help in some way please talk to Diane Buxton, John Eichinger, Beth Laycock, Tom Harmon or myself, Beth Harmon.