News
5-11-08
MEAN STREET NEWLETTER
May 11, 2008
Many know that Mean Street ministers to the homeless living in motels, shelters, and the poor
living in projects along east and west Colfax Avenue. We do this by about a dozen people
grouped into threes, knocking on doors and offering burritos, sweets and fruit, an extensive
Resource Guide for every kind of need, toiletries, Bibles, bus tokens, formula and diapers, toys
and books, prayer, a caring presence and a listening ear.
Few know the process of events and the number of volunteers involved in making all this
happen, and that there are many places within the ministry where people can serve aside from
going out on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Before the Mean Street van goes out each week, food is purchased and/or received through
donations by 2-3 volunteers and delivered to the burrito makers, 8 to 10 people, who assemble
320 burritos every Monday morning. The burritos make two transfers before being loaded in
baskets on the van later that day. Meanwhile, every Saturday morning, 1 or 2 volunteers pick
up boxes of bread and pastries donated by the Bergen Park King Soopers. The bread is taken
to a trailer park near Colfax and Depew on Monday afternoon and the sweets are added to the
van to go out on Tuesdays. Monday and Tuesday evenings, any where from 6 to 16 "willing
souls", as James Fry calls them, show up to hit the motels and projects. Always, our evenings
start and end with prayer for Gods guidance, thankfulness for being able to serve and the
desire to glorify Him through what we do. Volunteers come from many different churches
as we desire this to be a Christian ministry and not to be about recruiting people to go to or
support one particular church.
On Tuesday night, while passing out burritos, we offer food boxes, and assess situations for
which we might offer further assistance. This could include things like mentoring, financial
assistance, addiction help, transient housing, the need for physical items like furniture, dishes
or school supplies, spiritual counseling or just someone to listen.
Wednesday morning food boxes are assembled and delivered, later that day, directly to the
ones who requested them so the people do not have to have transportation to receive the
boxes. This big job is currently being done by just 2-4 volunteers. Ideally, during these
deliveries, further assessment of needs can be done and more help offered. Sometimes, due to
lack of volunteers, we cannot meet the needs as well as we would like.
Thursday is another busy day in the Mean Street Ministry. In the morning two to four people
drive the large Mean Street truck to COMPA to lift and load large quantities of food into the
back. This is unloaded to the refrigerators, freezers and storage sheds at the Frys homes. A
trip to do the same at Rocky Mountain Food Bank also takes place that day. In the afternoon
Mean Street sets up food stations in the yard. People come from many different areas, as
far away as Evergreen, Bailey, Denver, Aurora, and Thornton, to pick up food that they then
distribute in their own communities. Additional volunteers would enable this part of the ministry
to function more efficiently and give relief to those already participating.
Throughout the week Mean Street fields many calls of people asking for help of all kinds. We
averages 45 calls a day, many regarding information in the Resource Guide and desiring further
assistance. James puts in an average of thirty six volunteer hours every month and does not
always have the time or manpower to attend to every request.
We are reminded often that the work of God done through volunteers is not always very
obvious and may happen totally unaware. But we know by faith and with the evidence God
gives us that what we do does make a difference. Just when we need encouragement God is
generous in showing us the results of his grace in the lives we touch.
As an example, a year ago James received a call from a mother in Boston desperately asking
him to find her son who was somewhere on the streets in Denver using heroin. By Gods hand,
James was able to find that young man, then mentored for some time and helped him find
work. Unfortunately he eventually fell back into an undesirable life style and James lost track
of him. Two weeks ago, James was contacted by that young man to tell him about a woman
from Jamaica who was scrounging a mattress from a dumpster near Colfax who badly needed
help for her and her family. The young man told her about Jesus and His saving grace and that
Mean Street would help her. From that same young man James had searched out and found
living on the street, we helped Grace, the Jamacain woman, get the resources and furnishings
needed. It was discovered that her and her children "sing like angels" to our Lord! This family
does lack transportation and volunteers are needed to make sure she can attend the church of
her choice.
We received another blessing when a woman, a drug addict for 19 years, was embraced with
prayer and counseling, and were subsequently able to overcome her addiction and is now clean
and free of all drugs.
Last month the ministry was able to help a family of five move out of a motel room into an
apartment, and this month a family of three. Several other families are in the process of being
able to move into their own homes. These are just a few examples of Gods merciful hand on
the people we touch. We pray and ask you to pray for these and all those we see who are in
need, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Besides the street ministry side of Mean Street, other activities may happen once a month
or just periodically - other places for volunteers to get involved. On Friday, April 4, Mean
Street held a prayer breakfast on the east side at New Beginnings Church, officiated by
Dwayne Johnson. This happens monthly. The first Sunday of every month Dwayne also holds
a service at a Cherry Creek nursing home.
Saturday, April 12 brought Mean Street again to the east side for a breakfast. Fifteen churches
were represented! The meal was followed by worship and singing. One of the goals of Mean
Street is bringing many churches together, breaking the denominational barriers to more
effectively serve the disadvantaged.
Families and friends gathered together on April 20th at the Frys home to celebrate a Passover
dinner. It was a time of praise, singing and good food.
A service was held by Mean Street for the homeless at the Denver Rescue Mission Chapel at
19th and Lawrence on April 23. Jon Roberts provided music and Evangelist Lilly Harcrow of
Harcrow Prison Ministries gave the sermon. Ten young homeless men gave their lives to Christ
that Day.
Thursday, the 24th. Mean Streeters attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Morning
Star. Eight churches were represented and they ministered to the sick and needy.
Four people represented Mean Street on April 27 at a service at House of Hope where they
ministered to the sick. From there they went to a nursing home for a service in which
Evangelist Lilly delivered the sermon. A trip was then made to Morning Star to meet with choir
groups from other churches.
There is much going on with Mean Street Ministry. We would like to grow our outreach and
expand into new areas such as more effective mentoring, small fellowship groups, ex-felon
assistance, home fix-up and repair and who knows what else God may have planned! We are
praying for more volunteers to step forward, perhaps people who would like to take leadership
in a new areas forming committees and inviting others to join them.
On June 7 the Board of Operations and the newly formed Board of Directors will meet to get
better acquainted and learn better what everyone is doing. The Directors will begin working
on short and long term goal and how we implement them. We continually seek Gods direction
and counsel in all that we do.
2-20-08
“Maybe, after the sermon,
after the multitude was fed,
one or two of them felt
the soul slip forth”
-from Maybe, Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize winning poet.
Conversations with Chaplain James Fry of Mean Street Ministry always leave me enlightened,
admonished, impassioned and challenged as a believer. Here is one to whom the suffering of the
Colorado homeless and working poor is real. The God, Mean Street is preaching makes absolute
sense to me. He is the God of right here and now. He is not the God of abject and abstract
promises but practical, forward momentum. Proverbs in the Bible says, let not a man withhold
what good he can do, what is within the power of his hand to do. God, I believe, has given us a
lot more power than we are willing to exercise in His name.
Curiously enough, I am now able to give examples from my own life. As you all know, my
family and I are legal immigrants to the United States. Nine years, 14 immigration lawyers and
several American employers later, we are still at the threshold of becoming legal citizens. Was
not power in the hands of some of these people to do the right thing at the right time and save my
family the stress and suffering we are undergoing? Yes. Were some of these people Christians
and churchgoers? Yes. Then why?
Chap. James did not give me a platitude when I cried out ‘why?” He did not hand me books
on the theology of suffering or ask me to read Harold Kushner’s “When Bad Things Happen
To Good People”. He simply cried out with an equal measure of passion and anger, in words
that seemed to come out of Jesus mouth, “…because it is not their crisis.” Relating it to fund
raising for Mean Street, James said that he ran into the same kind of apathy when he was
trying to convey the urgency of meeting a particular need for an individual or family. People
would say to James, “well, if God really wanted you to do this then God would provide.”
It was then the light bulb went off in my head. I had suddenly that epiphany. That moment,
literary types and liberal arts majors like myself are taught to recognize in literature. Incredibly
enough, my epiphany did not come about from some professor of literature but from a fellow
Christian. It is a moment of epiphany brought to life, about life by a Christian brother. Praise
God. And what is that moment of epiphany?
It is in the Bible. Revelation 3:16 (Whole Chapter)
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
And why is this so relevant to our lives as we face the rest of our days from this day forth or this
moment on? Because God is a God of passion, His passion for beauty, truth, justice and love
is what makes things happen. Mean Street Ministry is able to move individuals and families
forward because Rev. James and the ministers do not draw their identities from the pain and
suffering of others. Like Jesus, they walk amongst the Colorado homeless and poor, not in a state
of ennui or self-righteousness but seeking ways in which to not only alleviate suffering but to
bring individuals and families to wholeness and joy.
I cannot write about James and Mean Street without also mentioning James mother, Betty Fry
and his brothers and sisters of color on the West Side. Dwayne and Sharon Johnson and Fred
and Vicki, Pastor Ronnie and the amazing group of people, rather more representative of God’s
kingdom, at work. This puts that new song in my heart and heightens the epiphany. Elie Wiesel,
the holocaust survivor, when asked where was God in the holocaust, replied, “where was man?”
I hate to admit it, but I think God has given me poverty to brush with, so I too, say, “Darn it.
Here I am, Lord.”
-Anushka Anastasia Solomon, Author of “Please, God, Don’t Let Me Write Like A Woman,”
Finishing Line Press, 2007.
1-10-07
Greetings from Mean Street.
The Christmas celebration on Mean Street this year was a major success. On Colfax Avenue in Aurora Jack Ruland played the part of Santa Claus. The gifts came from several sources: many were given by Rockland’s Sunday school children; others were purchased with Mean Street funds. Dwayne Johnson, Mean Street’s major man on the Eastside came with a pickup load from the Marine Corps Toys For Tots, and teachers from Walnut Hill Elementary School where Dwayne works also brought many gifts. It was all greatly needed because at the apartment and hotel we visited, there were a huge number of children. They came streaming out, many barefoot and coatless. When we ran out of coats, the elementary teachers gave up their own coats and even the coats of their own children to meet the vast need. What a life-changing experience this was for these teachers and their families. They were quite overwhelmed.
Santa had a few reflections to share regarding the evening. One nine year old boy approached him and said, “You’re a phony, aren’t you?” To this, Santa replied, “I’m not a phony in my heart. Are you?” The boy grudgingly said he wasn’t either. They then spent twenty minutes tossing a toy football back and forth.
Two other little girls were in great awe of Santa. Their grandmother (and mother) explained that neither of them had ever seen a Santa before. The younger one finally approached Santa and said, “I love you.” Another little girl kept calling Santa “Christmas”. When Santa held out his arms to her, she leaped into them for a tight hug, saying, “I love you, Christmas.” Christmas carols were sung by many of the volunteers, providing a heartfelt evening of joy.
The celebration the next night on the Lakewood end of Colfax was quite different. It was very cold. Hot chocolate was served, presents were given by Chris Tindall, our second Santa (a veteran from last year), and several brave Rockland choir members provided Christmas carols. There were not nearly as many children on the Westside for some reason, but the adults were most grateful for the gifts and festivities. What a joyous time of giving and receiving! THANK YOU to all of you who had a part in providing the love and celebration for those who needed it so desperately.
Weekly Mean Street ministry continues since poverty takes no holidays and winter can be very hard. The snow, while frustrating to many, has actually been a blessing to those who have been hired to shovel it. Employment is most welcome, no matter in what form it comes.
Mean Street provides literally tons of food weekly in boxes to hungry families and seniors; however, food distribution at the trailer park has been somewhat difficult with the heavy weather. COMPA also takes the holiday season off, limiting our resources greatly.
Donations of coats, hats, and gloves are especially important this time of year. We also continue to need “meals in a can”, canned tuna and chicken, and other easily prepared foods. Donations of funds are always needed to ensure the success of this ministry. Your generosity in 2006 has been greatly appreciated; please help us continue to bless needy families and singles in 2007.
We appreciate and commend the many volunteers and donors who have blessed us this month. Thank you! This ministry runs best with many hands involved. We would really like to extend a heartfelt welcome to anyone else interested in any phase of the ministry. There are all kinds of opportunities available. Please call James Fry for details or to schedule an evening out with us (720-933-6926).
8-9-05
Beloved Ragamuffin Projects:
Mean Street Ministry & Road to Hope
Mean Street continues to be an exciting and challenging ministry. Both
East and West sides have been blessed with many people coming to know
Jesus. We will now have two different nights for ministry. The West side will
continue on Tuesdays and the East side will begin to go out on Thursdays
or Mondays so that ministers can attend both nights if they wish.
We are presently praying about and considering a building near
Alameda and Sheridan to serve as a shelter for families. It was previously
a prison halfway house and would suit our needs very well. It is already
equipped with office space, room for a food bank, a shop space, large
shared kitchen, dinning, living room, and laundry room. It also is equipped
with some nice digs for a resident family. If you are interested in becoming a
part of this venture, please call James Fry at 720-933-6926.
Our efforts on Mean Street continue to be most needed. We give out
close to 500 sandwiches and lots of donated bake goods, yogurt, popsicles,
bread, diapers, and toys each week. Our greatest blessings to these people
are still our resource packets, prayer for specific needs, and our love. Many
of the people we encounter are amazed that people they don’t even know
would care enough to come and see them, and express concern for their
situations and their lives. This ministry definitely belongs to God because He
makes such incredible things happen in us and others during the evenings.
And, as any Mean Street minister will tell you the people we meet often
prove to be a tremendous blessing to the ministers as well. Our food
bank continues to supply our Road To Hope families, and to any families
struggling to make ends meet. The Mean Street telephone assistance given
by Betty Fry who also directs those in need to the many resources listed in
our resource packet.
Our greatest need right now is for funds of course, then computers -
CPUs, monitors, scanners, printers, etc. All parts should be in good working
order for obvious reasons. These computers will be used by students
in school who lack such equipment. Our website is undergoing much-
needed change. www.meanstreetministry.org We hope to improve it by
incorporating the attitude of our fast growing ministry with new graphics,
video, and informative content. Hopefully it will have a greater number of
interesting aspects to it soon. We also need someone to help us develop a
power point presentation and a video for us to use in showing this ministry
to other churches and organizations. The need out there is far greater than
one or two churches can handle. We would like others church ministries to
become a part of Gods blessing to those living in great need.
We were delighted to have Pastor Ken join us one evening this past
month. Ken was a wonderful addition to the ministry and had no trouble
becoming a part of the group. He was very impressed with the great need
of people to whom we minister.
How about you? Would you like to be a part of this exciting new ministry?
There are a great variety of places to become involved. Please give us a
call at our office number, 303 237 0443, so we can discuss with you the
possibilities. Or, talk to any of our Mean Street ministers in our church.
Some of our street ministers include:
Marge Hughes,
Penny McDonald,
Roy McDonald,
Nancy Pranaitis,
James Fry,
Lori McDowell,
Jack Ruland,
Alan Ruth,
Sterling Church,
Kathy Mullins,
Dwayne Johnson,
John Ware,
Sheila Rubin,
Moose,
Bob Williams,
Tracy Zellars,
Kelly Evans,
Betty Fry,
Liz Pendley,
Matt Lindsley,
Bill Nee,
Susie Nee,
Tim Billman,
Lynn Billman,
Billie Melvin,
Deb DeBruyne,
Carla Pranaitis,
Justin Neal,
Luke Pendley,
Brice Twombly.
5-23-05
Greetings from the Beloved Ragamuffin Projects: Mean Street Ministry, Fountain of Life Rescue, and Rockland
Rescue. We have all kinds of exciting happenings to report this month.
1. We have been accepted for access to food at both Compa and Food Bank of the Rockies. This will
enable us to better serve needy families with our food bank.
2. The Eastside Mean Street Ministry is growing quickly and their ministers are gaining much experience.
They also have an active food bank.
3. We now have an established website – www.meanstreetministry.org Look us up when you get the
chance.
4. Two of the couples we have been mentoring have gotten married. The first – Dempsey and Kimberly
– were married at Rockland in the entrance to New Fellowship Hall by Rev. Gary Everest (our ministry
pastor). The second couple – Sarah and Ricky – were married at the Holiday Inn at Wadsworth and
285.
5. Two of the single moms we are mentoring, Sara Amara and Melody Romero, received Christ as their
personal savior. Both are quite excited about it. Please pray for their spiritual growth and faithfulness.
6. A homeless man visited the food bank at the Lakewood Church of the Nazarene and was raving about
how Mean Street Ministry had changed his whole life. He had found Christ and was so excited.
7. We will be attending a graduation for Jeremy, one of the first teens in our mentoring program.
8. We are looking for a building in the Colfax area to house our office, food bank, and clothing and furniture
supplies. Please let us know of any possibilities.
We will soon have a picnic for the whole ministry to celebrate God’s goodness and to train us for increased
ministry opportunities. We thank you for your prayers for safety and God’s blessing on this exciting ministry.
They have certainly been effective.
If you are interested in joining us or have any questions, please contact us.
-
News
News articles, newsletters, and press releases. More
-
Events
Activities and events you may want to participate in. More
-
Shadow People
Stories and poems about and by people who have been ministered to by Mean Street. More
-
Prayer Requests
-
Resource Guide
Brochure with helpful information regarding medical care, housing, counseling etc. More
-
Get Involved
See where you fit into Mean Street. More
-
Affiliated Organisations
Churches, community organizations and ministries we work with. More
-
Photo Gallery
A gallery of photos. More
-
Donations
How can you help financially? More
-
About Us
Contacting us More
