FINDING REFUGE AT THE RESPITE CENTER
For the third year in a row, here at Redemption Gilbert, we have partnered with the Town of Gilbert to provide a Respite Center–an indoor location that provides cots, water, and other comforts in the lobby of our Youth Building for those who have nowhere else to go.
But here, those who find refuge from the heat aren’t the only ones who find relief.
“I have been given my own sort of unique perspective and empathy for human brokenness...”
Jeff Dickinson is one of the coordinators of the Respite Center here at Redemption Gilbert. A swimming pool service and repair contractor for the past 15 years, Dickinson is now in semi-retirement, which has given him time to serve at the center and to grow his faith while helping those who need help.
“I have been given my own sort of unique perspective and empathy for human brokenness,” Dickinson says, recounting his own story of brokenness.
“I came to faith when I was in my early twenties,” he says. “I spent my teen years in promiscuity and experimenting with all sorts of chemical substances. I was invited on a Young Life backpacking trip where I met a youth pastor, who would eventually become my mentor and lead me into a relationship with the Lord.”
After marrying in 1999, Dickinson’s wife struggled with alcohol abuse, tearing apart his family. “I earnestly prayed that the Lord would give me the courage to confront the situation and to put my trust in Him to restore our marriage and family.” His wife received the gift of saving faith and began a journey of recovery and reconciliation with his family.
“Given our personal experience and journey with mental health crises, abuse, and chemical addiction issues, I am keenly aware of the challenges associated with enduring life in addiction. I know how, unfortunately, so many individuals end up with broken relationships and find themselves in extremely difficult life situations.”
With this background, and a heart for service, Dickinson was asked by Community Engagement Pastor Sean Warren whether he knew anyone who had the capacity and time to spend the month of July helping to coordinate the daily activities of the cooling station.
“My thoughts immediately went to others who might be a good fit,” he says. “A short time later, after feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit and examining my own story through the lens of what it would take to serve in this capacity, I realized that this opportunity was for me, and not someone else. I excitedly reached back out to Warren to see if they would give me the opportunity to spend the month working there.”
Dickinson has seen the respite station thrive as more people in need find out about the service.
“We've seen, pretty consistently, on average about 15 guests per day and have had more than twice as many unique visitors over the month so far,” he says. “There are 8-10 visitors that are with us every day, and a few others revolving in and out a couple times per week.”
“It seems as though every single person who has come in has a unique story of how they ended up walking through our doors to find respite.”
Dickinson says the visitors run the gamut, from young adults who have aged out of the foster care system, to retirees who have fallen on hard times, to middle-aged men and women who have chosen drug abuse along with other life-defeating behaviors.
“It seems as though every single person who has come in has a unique story of how they ended up walking through our doors to find respite,” he says. “While we have had the opportunity to develop varying degrees of relationship with most of our guests, some are much more open than others.
“A guest came to the center recently who had entered into AZcends program to help him find a job and temporary housing, after being discharged from the hospital with nowhere to go and no one to go to,” he says. “This individual shared with us that he had spent the past 35 years as an addict, but was now sober for about 90 days or so. This forced sobriety was brought on by the intentional drug ingestion due to a police raid that would have ultimately landed him in jail.
“The large amount of amphetamines ingested caused him to have two brain aneurysms as well as a stroke, which put him into a coma and on life support for weeks. While a remaining family member made the decision to take him off of life support, his body and will did not give up. As he tells it, God was not finished with him! To which I said, Amen!”
Dickinson says the man’s story offers hope because it is true that as long as we are still breathing, God is not finished with us. Despite all of what we have done or all that has been done to us, there is a savior who wants to reconcile and redeem our past, present and future.
Dickinson said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve in the respite center.
“I am proud that our church leadership has recognized that this is a vital way we can connect with the community,” he says. “I hope that all those who came and spent time with us have felt welcomed, cared for, and loved through a sincere listening ear, home-cooked meals, and a well thought out environment created to cultivate rest, and creativity, as well as conversation.”
Dickinson says the staff has been constantly brainstorming and taking notes as to how to improve the experience for our guests next year and searching for ways that our church can make a greater impact in the larger community to help serve those who are experiencing homelessness.
If you would like more information on getting involved in our Close | Near | Far initiatives, you can find it here.