“To reflect the love of Christ to all who come through our doors.…” The beginning of our mission statement is our foundation. Christ loves us so that we can love those He loves. Here at Dégagé, we know that every person who walks through our doors is one that Jesus loves. Often, the first people they encounter are our Dining Room staff and volunteers.
Recently, one of our patrons, Andre, received news that his mother had unexpectedly fallen ill. He came into the Dégagé Dining Room greatly distressed and asking for prayer. Not only did staff offer to pray for him, but many patrons stepped up and offered to pray for him as well. Two days later, he re-entered the Dining Room with the news that his mother had passed away. He was deeply mourning and full of grief, but he expressed his gratitude over the microphone to the staff and patrons in the Dining Room who showed him Christ’s love in such a deep place of pain. “You all showed me more love than my one and only sibling. The love and support of my Dégagé family has given me the strength and endurance to move forward.”
Another patron, Elizabeth, came to Dégagé greatly distressed over her unexpected homelessness. Staff reassured her of Christ’s love and faithfulness and the support that we would give her in her current situation. The next day, she told one staff member, “You know, I’ve never been a religious person, but I believe in God. I think He brought me here to Dégagé for a reason.” We know that reason is so that Jesus Christ would reveal Himself to her through the love that Dégagé has shown her. We praise God for making Himself known over these past 50 years through various staff members, volunteers, and other patrons who show Christ’s love to all who walk through our doors.
This is the first in a series of articles that we will share throughout the year on how we live out our mission statement each day.
Written by Molly Hilbert
The Rapidian, a program of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Community Media Center, relies on the community’s support to help cover the cost of training reporters and publishing content.
We need your help.
If each of our readers and content creators who values this community platform help support its creation and maintenance, The Rapidian can continue to educate and facilitate a conversation around issues for years to come.
Please support The Rapidian and make a contribution today.