On Thanksgiving Day in 2006, the Detroit Better Living Center (BLC) hosted its first free Thanksgiving meal for the surrounding community, partnering with area Adventist churches to provide more than 200 meals. Approximately 50 people came to the BLC between 12 noon and 3 p.m. to enjoy music, fellowship, and turkey and dressing with all the trimmings. Close to 30 volunteers from the Burns, City Temple, Conant Gardens, Highland Park, Ecorse, Sharon (Inkster), and Ypsilanti churches donated menu items, and prepared and served meals to community residents. The remaining meals were packaged for homeless, shut-ins, and provided for visitors to take home or share.
It was a vision that became a reality for Ray Young. Since becoming the new director in July 2006, it was his goal that the BLC, owned and operated by the Lake Region Conference, would become a central hub for Detroit-area churches to provide services for the under-served in the surrounding community. Young contacted Yvonne Jones, community service leader at the Burns Church, to ask for her help in setting up a Thanksgiving meal. Jones did better than that! After talking with her team, they consented to move their traditional Thanksgiving community meal to the BLC site.
An early November planning session brought together community service leaders, health team leaders, and pastors from Detroit-area churches to hear the vision and plans for the BLC and how they could become partners in the effort. It was at that time that other churches were invited to support the community Thanksgiving meal project. They responded with wholehearted enthusiasm.
What transpired was the foundation of a collaborative partnership between the churches and the BLC. On a warmer-than-usual Thanksgiving day, the atmosphere of excitement was palpable as volunteers scurried about completing tasks in preparation for the arrival of community guests. Maurice Rogers from the Ecorse Church brought left-over gift bags of personal care items, hats, and gloves from the Yorba Hotel where Pathfinder TLTs (Teen Leaders in Training) served breakfast that morning to the community.
“I love to do this work. I figure if I could pass out drugs, I can now pass out tracts. Every chance I get, I’m passing out literature,” Rogers said. He knows what it is like to be out there. A former drug addict, he gave his life to Jesus and has been dealing Christ instead of crack ever since.
The program began with the Burns Church Praise Team leading a number of praise and thanksgiving songs. When invited to offer a testimony of thanksgiving, one woman expressed her thanks for God’s goodness in a song. It was a moving experience to see as the Praise Team affirmed her gratitude by adding their voices in the background.
Community residents came from far and near. One woman who lived in Macomb, Mich., considerably farther away, was paying her bill at the gas company when someone told her about a Thanksgiving meal that was provided every year at the Burns Church. When she arrived about 12 noon, a van was waiting to transport her to the BLC. With family in different cities, she appreciated having a home-cooked meal in a family atmosphere.
Another gentleman said he received one of the fliers. A Detroit resident for more than 30 years, he knew about the BLC and had taken advantage of the health clinic in the past. With family away from home, he was grateful for the company and the full-course Thanksgiving meal.
A few volunteers took several take-outs in one of the church vans to give to people hanging out in the streets. Stops were made by several liquor stores where people eagerly accepted the hot food with smiles of gratitude.
For many, food for the body was a priority. But they were also interested in food for the soul. Community guests were asked to complete a survey to share their suggestions about services the BLC could provide to meet their needs. Many indicated an interest in Bible studies.
The Thanksgiving community feast was one in a line-up of several fall events to give greater visibility to the programs offered at the BLC. In September, the BLC carried the "Most Amazing Prophecies" satellite evangelism series with Doug Batchelor, from which eight declared their desire for baptism.
A children’s fun event with Christian clown, Columbus Bones, from the City Temple Church, and other activities gave an option to traditional Halloween trick or treating. A special children’s puppet program was held Christmas Eve which featured Go-Tell Productions, an Ypsilanti-based Christian puppet ministry.
Staple programming at the BLC includes seasonal programs like Vacation Bible School, a summer lunch program, computer classes, and the Senior Café, a program funded by a North American Division Adventist Community Services (ACS) grant to engage community seniors in a variety of activities, including crafts, chair exercises, and Bible studies. Future plans include reviving the dental clinic, offering substance abuse counseling, and development of a mobile health van ministry headed by Steve Veres, ACS community health program director for the North American Division.
Thanksgiving is an opportunity for more than giving thanks and enjoying the fellowship of friends and family. For the Detroit-area churches and the BLC, it’s one more opportunity to tell others that Jesus loves and cares about them. Giving of one’s time is a great way to give thanks.
For more information about the Detroit BLC and how you may help, contact Ray Young at 313-341-8609.
Debbie Young, Lake Region Conference communication correspondent
