I couldn’t find parking so by the time I ran to the Raleigh Rescue Mission, I was already 10 minutes late for my meeting with the Executive Director, Lynn Daniell. When he came out to meet me in the simple but beautifully maintained reception area, he wasn’t irritated at my tardiness. He just said, “Don’t worry. We’ll just walk a little faster!” He gave me the tour of the facility, introduced me to his staff as we walked by, and even gave me a chance to speak to them about my project and ask questions. Every single person I met seemed to be genuinely excited and happy about their work and the organization’s mission. Lynn explained later, “We all have our strengths and weaknesses as human beings, but we come together in unity of purpose, and our common faith.” The Raleigh Rescue Mission is a Christian organization and proud of it.
The whole facility is clean and well-kept. Even though it is a really old building (with several renovated sections and new additions), it looks loved and cared for. As we walked through the Emergency Women’s Shelter, I noticed that the beds were neatly made for the homeless women who would arrive in a few minutes to spend the night. “We respect the people who walk through our doors, and see their worth as human beings even though they are currently going through rough times,” explained Lynn. I can’t really describe the feeling you get when you walk through the halls, but it is different from most homeless shelters. It doesn’t feel like one!
In addition to the emergency shelter beds, Raleigh Rescue Mission houses men and women who commit to a long-term program that spans physical, mental, and spiritual recovery. The organization believes in serving the whole person, and its approach is rooted in the Christian value system so it doesn’t accept or seek government funding. I asked Lynn if the organization forces its religious and spiritual beliefs on the homeless people it serves. He answered emphatically that it does not. “Everyone’s road to God is different. We express our views. We share our stories. But ultimately, it is up to each person to decide what they believe. Yes, our employees are Christians, because we are a Christian organization. But we will never turn anyone away because they don’t share our beliefs. We don’t beat them over the head with the Bible either!”
I attended a Roman Catholic school growing up in India surrounded by nuns. We recited the ‘Our Father in Heaven” prayer every day even though most of the school’s population came from Hindu families. India is full of these contradictions and allowances — so many faiths co-exist and saying a prayer doesn’t take on the fundamentalist fervor you see in the US. A nun from my school would happily sit through a Hindu ceremony – and it wouldn’t upset or offend her in any way. She knew what she believed. But she respected that there were many ways to find God/spirituality. In fact, we all participated in each other’s religious and cultural festivals — it made life more interesting and colorful.
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There is a small medical and psychiatric clinic at the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Friendly nurses and caseworkers smiled and said hello as we walked by. I was impressed that the organization had these important services available right here on the premises. They even have a preschool next door in a converted chapel — so single moms can get clean, or get a job, or whatever else they need to do to get back on their feet.
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Later, Lynn invited me to sit in on a meeting with a group of people who go into the woods and find the homeless living in tents or under bridges so they can minister to them. These pastors see their role as bringing the Gospel to the poor and the homeless. They were meeting to coordinate their ministry and humanitarian efforts. Again, I didn’t share their passionate evangelism but I understood their faith was the driving force behind their relief work. People can criticize evangelists (of any faith), but is it really fair to cast aspersions unless you are willing to step in and do the work yourself? I don’t see anyone else trudging into homeless camps with casseroles and clean underwear. One woman actually takes dirty laundry at one homeless camp, washes it and brings it back the next day. All she wants is for you to bow your head and say a prayer with her. She has complete faith that Jesus can save you. When the 100,000 homes campaign wanted to count the number of chronically and critically homeless, they asked groups like these to help them. I wonder how many social workers, case workers, or human services executives venture out into the woods to help the homeless?
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I have to say that Lynn Daniell showed me Southern Hospitality — the kind you read about and imagine when you think of the South. He didn’t ask me if I was a Christian. He was willing to share his knowledge, resources, and insights to help me on my quest with no pre-conditions. I’m sure the Raleigh Rescue Mission gravitates to its natural partners — churches and faith-based groups that share its core beliefs. But it seems open to collaboration with others. Or as he put it, “The Raleigh Rescue can’t do it all. Together, we can put together pieces of the puzzle.”
I asked Lynn about impact and metrics. “My background is in manufacturing so I understand the importance of measurement. But, when it comes to human beings, it’s not that black and white,” he said. “We are fortunate that we are privately-funded so we can focus on healing the whole person. For one person, it may be medical attention. For another, it may be pastoral counseling. Whatever it takes, we do our best.”
As I got ready to leave, I took one last look and realized that when you maintain a facility so well, and your employees are motivated and driven by a shared vision, people notice. You won’t find any cans, bottles, needles, trash, graffiti anywhere. Everyone in the long-term program does some work — laundry, cooking, cleaning, office support. Lynn emphasized the need to develop a work ethic, “Our residents attend therapy sessions and GED classes, but they also work. We believe it plays an important role in recovery.” My own mentor and friend Baba Amte always said, “Work builds, charity destroys” and I was glad to hear this was not a charity-only model.
While I don’t share the certainty of Lynn’s faith, I certainly admire his leadership. Baba Amte reminded me when I was working on my book about him: “I am a follower of Christ but not the sort of Christian who says: “I have an executive meeting at 4:30 while there is a man dying in a gutter.” Lynn Daniell and his team try each day to be true followers of Christ in the spirit of Baba Amte’s quote — at least, that’s the impression I got in my short visit to the Raleigh Rescue Mission.
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What do you think of the Raleigh Rescue Mission and its work? Do you have an experience to share? I’d love to hear from you. Post a comment below, or send a private email to homelessincarolina@gmail.com
I will be following up with Lynn’s team to get their insights on the biggest gaps for the homeless in Wake County, and listening to their ideas on what I should focus on, given their one-on-one interactions, especially at Moore’s Square.
The Homeless in Wake County, North Carolina: The Listening Project 