Early Struggles Shaped Heart for the Homeless
God made my heart sensitive toward the homeless population through my own struggles starting when I was as a child. My father died when I was 1 year old and my mother soon remarried to a man who turned out to be an abusive alcoholic. The effects of this abusive relationship altered how I was to experience life from that point on. We moved away from him when I was 11 years old. The consequential fear and pain were seemingly insurmountable obstacles that have taken a lifetime to overcome.
It was the fear I learned as a little girl that ultimately led me to homelessness. As I became an adult, I developed a fear of authority figures – mainly my employer. I froze in fear every time he came around me and I eventually quit my job. I stayed at a couple friends’ houses for a short time but soon I had nowhere to go. I felt like I had no one to count on and that God had abandoned me. It became evident that I had to move into a homeless shelter or move back to my mother’s home in Fort Walton Beach. Since I was too fearful to move into a homeless shelter, I moved to my mother’s house and quickly starting working at the first job I found.
It was there that a turning point occurred in my life that changed me forever. A good friend asked me some difficult-to-answer questions about my life’s purpose. She asked this question that struck my heart at its core: “Why do you just continue to do something you have always done? Why not do something you would like to do?
Before this I had seen employment as something I just had to do, not something to be enjoyed. But this question sparked something inside me that caused me not to live in fear, but in hope. I knew just what I wanted to do. After much time in prayer in seeking God’s plan, I sent out resumes to different homeless missions. One of them was the Orlando Union Rescue Mission, where I ended up being hired as a receptionist.
When I arrived at the Mission in 1998, I had very little money. I stayed in a hotel as long as I could but ended up having to move into the Mission. During my 18-month stay, I not only worked there but I also took advantage of all the resources the Mission had to offer: The Victorious Life Program (an overview of the Bible and Christian living), the adult education courses, and most recently, Microsoft Certification courses.
In 2004, God graciously provided me with a wonderful husband. We met in my Bible Study class at First Baptist Church of Orlando. God provided my husband at just the right time. He is a wonderfully godly man and I always thank the Lord for him.
After taking some time off to care for my ailing mother before she went to be with Jesus, I was offered a position as a Case Manager and later, in January 2005, as Intake Coordinator. This is where my heart was. Really, it is what God had planned for me before my birth but I just didn’t know it. I still serve the Mission in this role today.
Being the Intake Coordinator allows me the opportunity to minister the love of Jesus and to share Christ with the people coming through the doors of the Mission. What a pure pleasure it is to make a difference in the lives of God’s chosen children who need the light of Jesus to penetrate the present darkness that they are experiencing. What a privilege and joy it is to encourage and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to so many hurting, homeless and desperate people in need of Jesus.
I believe the Orlando Union Rescue Mission’s 65th Anniversary will be a door for much greater ministry to the hungry, the hurting and the homeless in Central Florida, because of God’s generous love toward those in need and through the generosity of God’s people.
Ephesians 3:20-21 states, ”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.”
I believe the Orlando Union Rescue Mission’s 65th Anniversary will be a door for much greater ministry to the hungry, the hurting and the homeless in Central Florida, because of God’s generous love toward those in need and through the generosity of God’s people.
Darlene continues to minister to share Christ with the people coming through the doors of O.U.R. Mission Home. Each day, O.U.R. Mission Home offers life-changing care to nearly 33 families. Help create more stories of life transformation through your support today. Each gift of $26.82 provides a hot meal and a day of care for a homeless man, woman or child in Central Florida!
