Michigan—When it opened to the public on Aug. 8, 1926, the Hotel Yorba (Yorba) was described in the Detroit Free Press as “One of the finest residential hotels on the west side of Detroit…. The Yorba comprises all the conveniences of the modern, high-priced hotel.” The colorful article continues, “Containing nearly 300 sleeping rooms, the hotel is luxuriously appointed throughout…. Its location away from the dirt and noise of the heart of the city makes it doubly desirable. Yet with bus service on Lafayette Boulevard and West Grand Boulevard, and but a block away from three [street] car lines, the hotel is brought actually within 12 minutes of the center of the city.”
The four-story stone and face brick structure cost “in excess of $500,000.” That would be approximately $27 million in 2006 dollars. The passing 80 years have not been kind and the hotel has lost its luster. She is far past her prime. Gone are the street cars; instead, the hotel is adjacent to the I-75 Interstate which kicks up dirt and emanates considerable noise on its own. The area, well let’s just say you shouldn’t wander around alone. Needless to say, you will not find the Yorba in any travel guide book for the Detroit area.
The Yorba clientele have fallen on hard times, as well. Thrown together for various reasons, they are either un- or under-employed, suffering from infirmity, drug problems or just plain bad luck. The Yorba, their home for the time being, is little more than a flop house. But the big heart of a little woman named Adlon Turner (Mother Turner) ached for the residents of the Yorba and the surrounding area. She believed the words of Jesus, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40 NIV).
In approximately 1990, Mother Turner arranged with the Yorba management to take over the “large, private dining room on the first floor” and turned it into an outreach. Using these facilities, Mother Turner bought, cooked, and fed these children of God four times during the work week. She distributed clothing and food baskets and poured her life into helping many of the needy living in this area of Detroit.
Mother Turner also solicited and received help from the members of several of the Michigan Conference District 12 Adventist churches. The church members provide and prepare the food and serve meals on Sundays as well as present a short worship time and Bible study.
Mother Turner was in her 80s and knew she needed help to continue her ministry. She prayed and trusted that God would provide the needed aid. About four years ago while assisting the Metropolitan Church on their Sunday rotation, Roy Coleman found out that Mother Turner did all the outreach work by herself. Roy offered to help during the week and became her “answer to prayer.” She mentored Roy in the outreach.
God’s timing is always perfect. Mother Turner passed away alone in her home in August 2004. Today the Yorba Outreach Ministry continues with Roy Coleman as director with Michigan Conference backing the ministry. Fourteen thousand meals are provided and 7,000 pieces of clothing are distributed annually on a shoestring budget, surviving only on donations.
Mother Turner’s legacy lives on following Jesus’ words, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in … I needed clothes and you clothed me” (Matt. 25:35-36 NIV). Visit Yorbaoutreach.org for more information or to make an online tax deductible contribution.
Please keep the Yorba Outreach Ministry in your prayers. It was Mother Turner’s and now Roy Coleman’s desire that residents of southwest Detroit would some day be citizens of Heaven and live in mansions that outshine any hotel on Earth, even the Yorba in her heyday.
Joy Hyde, Metropolitan Church correspondent
