Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

My name is Bernard. My homeless plight began about two years ago, when I drank a single beer on company property…while off the clock! I had been with the company for twenty-nine years, but that did not save me from losing my job. While waiting for the Union to have me reinstated, I withdrew my life savings - $150,000 in stock options and proceeded to live “high on the hog”. (Does this begin to remind you of Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son?)

Needless to say, living this lifestyle, my money ran out before I was reinstated in my job. Before I knew what had happened, I was living with friends for two weeks at a time living here and there…nobody wants you when you are down and out. Then I began the daily walking of alleys behind stores and restaurants, searching for thrown away food, in the cold of winter, always on the alert for some place to spend the frightening hours of night. One day, someone told me about a shelter called the Oasis. Since I was on the run from the Michigan Department of Corrections for four years, and had no place to go, I decided to try the Oasis…this decision became the changing point in my life!

I began to attend chapel services at the Oasis. Here God started to do His work in me through The Oasis chaplain, the Rev. Pat Smothers. My spirituality began to be awakened, but my old ways had not left me completely. I was still using drugs and doing the same things that put me in this situation.

Now, for what I call the ‘miracle’ that caused me to become a believer. On this particular day, drugs had taken me farther than I wanted to go…and kept me longer than I wanted to stay. I knew I had to be back at the shelter at a certain time if I wanted a bed for the night. As I half walked and half ran, I knew I couldn’t beat the clock. Just when I needed it, God brought to mind something that Rev. Smothers had said: “ask and ye shall receive.” So, I did just that … I asked God for a ride, and a man in a pick-up truck pulled up to me and said, “You look as though you could use a ride.”

I arrived at the shelter just in time to receive a bed for the night. And this happened on two occasions. God “nudged” me twice! I knew that He was working in my life. My spirituality was renewed and I entered drug treatment at Christian Guidance Center (CGC). After completing treatment, I was made an Associate Staff member at CGC and moved into the New Beginning Program. Now, two years later, I still work at CGC, although I have been restored to my previous job with one of the Big 3 auto companies I thank God for DRMM. Before then, there were too many sleepless nights… too many hungry nights…too many nobody nights!! Had it not been for God’s grace, I would not be here today.

PRAISE GOD, THE PRODIGAL SON HAS COME HOME!!!