RECON - Helping the Chronically Homeless Find Hope
During chapel in our Men’s Shelter last spring, Rod Kenner asked the disheveled group of homeless men a piercing question: How many of you are still in the same predicament you were in a year ago? Almost every one raised his hand. I told them my goal was that in a year, none of them would still feel the way they felt now, remembers Rod, Men’s Shelter administrator.
Rod’s passion gave birth to the RECON ministry, which was launched in 2004 to actively seek out chronically homeless men who wanted to change, but who would not ask for help. Through this 90-day ministry, men first discover true change comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They attend Bible studies and gain life skills.
This ministry is reaching men who aren’t ready for the structure and long-term commitment of our Christian Life Program. And, it ministers to men who are on the waiting list to enter the CLP, which only holds 50 men.
Our goal was to teach men spiritually we want to lead them to Christ. We want to give them some hope, Rod says.
RECON, which stands for reconciliation, was an instant hit with the chronically homeless. Over 30 men joined the ministry’s first cycle, and about 20 men have joined each month since. And the results are amazing: Men who have been homeless for years are now holding down jobs and living independently.
