Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

By

Turning Over a New Leaf

by Sam Phillips (Chaplain Intern)

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

It is a privileged phrase, isn’t it? Sometimes in life, we get complacent, bored, or need a change. So, we can say to ourselves, “It’s time to turn over a new leaf.” Sometimes we do not get that gentle nudge into something new. Sometimes it comes as quick as a blinding light.

During my first month at the Central Outreach and Advocacy Center (COAC), I often met guests as they are turning over a new leaf. More often than not, this is not by choice. Life is full of surprises, but for people experiencing homelessness, it also comes with many hardships, uncertainty, and unwanted change.

How I ended up at the COAC also comes from an unexpected life shift. After finishing my degree at Columbia Theological Seminary, I was all set to begin with my dream job in camp and conference ministry. Due to unfortunate circumstances and realizing I was not in the right place, mentally and spiritually, I had to leave. So, now I was a recent graduate with little direction, and I felt like I had made an enormous step backward in my career, and now I was trying to get off the ground.

It was not until I gained some connections from old and new friends that I got connected to Central Presbyterian Church. There was a part-time job open for family ministries. Plus, I was considering what I had to do to complete the last step in my ordination, which was to complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). And it just so happens that there is an accredited CPE site in the basement of Central Presbyterian called the Center Outreach and Advocacy Center. Once I learned of this and began to meet the wonderful people participating in these wonderful ministries, I realized that I had not moved backward but was turning over a new leaf.

Sometimes life is the one to turn over the leaf, good or bad. And although I believe that God is big enough to hear complaints and laments, we must remember that God is not the cause of our misfortune but the presence that holds and endures our suffering. Perhaps gently nudging us into new places and spaces.

When we feel the discomfort and change that comes with something new, something lost, a piece of us yearning, it is hard. But in Christ, there is new Creation. In Christ, we are created new every day. Because every time that we turn over a new leaf, on our own will, or by life’s misfortune, or by God’s guiding hand, we are reconciling our old life to our new one.

I am blessed to be part of this ministry, where I get to be with people and hear their stories daily. Everyone who enters these doors has a story that will touch your heart. And as the chaplain, whether I am helping folks with new documents or simply listening to their stories, I see God at work making us new and reconciling our old selves to where we want to be, myself included. Ultimately, I’m not the one turning over the leaf as our guests embark on their next part of life, but I get to be a witness to and celebrate it with others.

Hallelujah and amen.

By

Our Purpose Is For Others

By Sonja Hodges (Direct Service Advocate)

Arthur, Nelson Henderson, wrote “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade we do not plan to sit.” The last few years of my life have really brought this quote to life, both personally and professionally.  As a Habitat for Humanity homeowner I saw first hand how so many people gave so freely of their time and talents, Saturday after Saturday.  I mean one really has to take Serving with A Purpose pretty seriously to show up EIGHT Saturdays in a row, rain, sleet or shine to help build a house they or anyone they knew would never live in!

I also see this daily working here at Central OAC. It’s amazing to witness how volunteers, interns and my co-workers serve our guests with so much empathy and patience. Whether it’s ordering documents needed to obtain their ID or finding resources for the simple things we take for granted such as the ability to take a hot shower or change into dry socks, we meet our guests where they are. Most days this is a thankless job, but there are those moments that God allows us to see why we do what we do here. Our purpose is to help, and whatever that help looks like we get it done, day in and day out. To witness someone come back day after day, week after week, month after month, years even, some for over 18 years, makes my soul smile. Everyone here at Central OAC displays just what ” Serving with a Purpose” looks like.

Our passion is for US, but our purpose is for OTHERS.

By

Truly Blessed

By Nicole Jiskoot (Summer Intern)

I began this summer as a Clinical Pastoral Education intern at Central Outreach and Advocacy Center. I am a student at Columbia Theological Seminary, studying to become a minister, and this internship is one step toward pursuing the call I feel God has placed on my life. I had a choice as to where I wanted to spend my time during this internship. I knew I wanted to work in urban ministry of some kind. Being from a small town, I had very little experience with the types of ministries that center around an urban population. COAC was the first stop on a grand tour of potential sites and it instantly became my first choice. I got to tour the office, meet some guests, see what services were provided, and really get a feel for the difference this organization was making in people’s lives.

As I finished training and began meeting with guests one-on-one, I quickly realized that I was likely to get more out of this summer’s experience than I would be able to offer to anyone else. The men and women I met this summer were inspirations to me. I was able to hear their stories firsthand. Some of them have been shared with you before. Yet, there is something sacred that happens in the spaces behind the walls and inside the courtyard. In fact, my very first day was a sign of what was to come. As I approached the gate prior to opening, a gentleman on the street, one of the unhoused guests who frequented COAC from time to time, greeted me with the warmest smile, asked who I was, and prayed a blessing over me for the summer ahead. Here I was, ready to serve as a chaplain to the “less fortunate,” and a man with no home blessed me.

As the weeks passed, I met some of the most courageous and determined people I’ve ever met in my life. I also met some who longed for a sense of hope for the future, for whom taking one small step in the direction of stability and safety was a heavy task on their own. Regardless of the individual responses to their circumstances, what I found most consistent in my guests was gratitude. They were grateful for the services we were able to provide for them. They were grateful for the nourishment they received as they walked through the doors. As the summer wore on, they were grateful for the air-conditioning. Ultimately, however, they were grateful for the dignity and respect with which they were treated by the staff, volunteers, and interns.

As my time at COAC comes to a close, I am torn between the emotions I feel. I, too, am grateful for the experience I had, and I am sad to see it end. I cannot count the number of times a guest got into my heart, and I have a profound feeling they will stay there permanently. I came into this internship with the desire to make a difference, but as I reflect on my experiences, I realize that I am the one who has been changed. It has been my privilege to be part of this program for a time. The gentleman on that first day was right – I have truly been blessed.

By

Life Lessons

by Ani King (Summer Intern)

Living and working in Atlanta has been nothing short of a transformational experience, mainly because of my time at the Central Outreach and Advocacy Center. At the end of my first day of work, I could not believe how such a short visit could be the start of a new beginning for our guests. Nor did I ever expect to be able to assist our guests with a fresh start. Without your essential identifying documents, such as birth certificates, state IDs, social security cards, etc., it creates a snowball effect of issues that start with being unable to secure a job, housing, benefits, and more.

I have learned how to be an advocate and a support system for those with limited access to resources. But most importantly, I have learned how to be a resource for people, which goes beyond providing the services here at Central OAC. It means being a listener, being a learner, engaging in conversation, being empathetic, and being a decent person. Frequently, guests express how surprised they are by how respected and well-treated they are when they step into our space. This sentiment speaks to the vision of Central OAC’s vision of being passionate advocates and invested partners for those experiencing homelessness. In addition, our guests are so grateful that we can help them obtain their essential documents.

Our guests often end our time together, giving endless thanks for the services we offer them. However, I often thank them for sharing their stories because they matter! And while the services we provide can be an asset to the guest we serve, my experience with our guests has also benefited my life. With their charisma and lively conversation, I leave the office feeling fulfilled at the end of each day.