The "spirit" of my colleagues...

I am regularly inspired by the qualities of those that serve the DTES at First United and their dedication to being of service to the marginalized.  This letter from my colleague Layton Peck catches this "spirit." I hope you will listen to his video at the end of the letter. 

• To all my colleagues and friends at First United I want to say goodbye, thank you, and farewell. It has indeed been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of his congregation, parish, and the Downtown East Side since April of 2011 and it has been my life’s a great delight to have been given the opportunity by Nina and Ric to make a difference from the shaping the celebrations for our 125th Anniversary ‘Party in the Park’, through the past year of radical and accelerated change here at First United. I have been richly blessed.
  
  I had heard of the work of the First United Church Mission of Vancouver long before moving to BC, and at the time when my life was at it’s absolute lowest, when I was without a home of my own, you took me in, became my family, and gave me a purpose and community in which to thrive. I will, as have so many people who have been served by this institution, ever have a warm place in my heart for you all, still the time has come when I must move on and answer a different call. For those of you whom I may have angered, frustrated, or offended I ask forgiveness, such was never my intent. For those who have sought my advice and shared their confidences I return my humble gratitude and affection, with continued prayers for the growth of your daily blessings. And, for all who have shared their stories, songs, sorrows, frustrations, and laughter, who have broken bread with me here, who have held vigil with me against the forces of darkness, addiction, disease, and depression, and kept the vulnerable of the DTES safe through the night I offer my love, thanks, and friendship.
  
  In my 60 years I have had the honour of being received by, met, and dined with, Presidents and Prime Ministers, Corporate CEO’s, Astronauts, Elite Athletes, Nobel Laureates, and the wealthy and famous from the Arts, Music, Politics, History, Sport, and Industry. Yet among them all I have never met a finer group of individuals than you. I am so very proud to have been a “Firster”. To have had the opportunity to offer a cup of cold water to those who thirst, to bind up open wounds, and after a year of trying, to finally have gotten Mikal Bales to go to the hospital. Mikal told me last Saturday that he knew he needed to go, but he was dragging his feet because he would miss this place. Because it is his home, and it is here that he is loved and appreciated most. I know exactly what Mikal meant.
  
  Here, in this place I have been honoured and humbled to have been asked to pray with the grieving, the conflicted, the ill, and the abused. To have with Amanda’s assistance, saved Cheryl’s life on Christmas Eve. What a special privilege it is to have seen Thomas these 2 and a half months sober, to have been a friend of Irish Mike, Mikal, Dan, Mateyo, Fernando, Tim Whiskey-Oscar-Delta, Tony, Roz, Jodie, Noreen, Elsie, Miles, Brian, Greg, Jimmy Dion, Kelly and far to many more to name. I am so grateful to have known Tina James, to have wept with Rabbi David at Charlene’s passing, to have been prayed over by Rev. Sally and Ross Banister, to have jammed with Stephen Gray, to know Rodney Watson, and to be a colleague of everyone who ever put on the ‘Blue Vest’. To have been embraced, fist pumped, or slapped on the frozen shoulder, and called Brother, Uncle, Grandfather, Pastor, Friend, “Pucking Gar-r-r-r-r-bage Shift Manager”, and so many less flattering names by the wondrous palate of people that make up of the Canvas of the First United Church – The Firsters of the Downtown East Side. So now I take my leave with thanks, admiration, and a tinge of sadness – and the knowledge that I can finally smoke a cigarette without being asked for the kill.
  
  A video gift to you, from Calvin Harrington and Myself, with all my thanks for your help and support, and for the opportunity to have been one of and among you - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIKYXqBfzP8
  
  May the Lord bless you and keep you,
  
  May God’s Face shine upon you
  
  And be gracious unto you
  
  Yes, and may God grant you Peace
  
  This day and ever more . . . . goodbye,

"...a brother in need..."

Vancouver City Workshop at the Dugout

Friday, representatives of the City of Vancouver Community Services Group held a workshop at the Dugout. The purpose was to do some asset mapping and beginning to collect data from the residents of the DTES (Downtown Eastside) about what places and things are important to them. Participants opinions and observations will help the city planners understand the effects of development for the future of the community. This was the first of many workshops to be held in the area and the findings will be published this fall.

Tanya Fink, a Social Policy Planner organized the event. I am very familiar with her compassion and effectiveness as she serves in the Eastside. She started volunteering at the Church a few years ago, and was motivated by these experiences to get her master's degree in social planning at the University of British Columbia.

The group attending all had low income housing in DTES. Tanya had a large map of the area and each person used colored dots to demonstrate the assets of the community that are meaningful to them. The Dugout, First United Church, The Carnegie Centre and a variety of parks were the most common. General agreement was formed on the need for a large recreation center offering athletic, recreational and educational programs.

There were three men at my table who have lived in the DTES ranging from 17 to 33 years. It was my first in-depth chance to visit with residents who had worked regularly but are not now because of disabilities from  work injury or retirement. Two are living in SRO's (Single Room Occupancy) where 8-10 rooms share a bathroom and cooking is impractical in their rooms. They listed a half dozen new housing developments that have taken in homeless but not the existing residents in lesser facilities. One of the men who worked 17 years while living in the Eastside was talking about becoming homeless to gain entry given the advice of his residence manager.He has been applying for 8 years. He was prepared to get a tent and live this way if it would gain him access by being homeless. The other man had worked 32 years as a roofer while living in the area.

My primary interests are addressing addiction, but recovery is not possible unless there are stronger social / cultural / spiritual influences available than the drug culture. Safe low cost housing is essential for this to happen in the DTES.This all is in stark contrast to most of Vancouver which has the highest cost of living in North America.

Tanya will be holding another workshop like this in a variety of settings with the next one on June 26 at First United Church where most of the participants will be homeless. It will be interesting to gain from their perspectives.

Memorial for "Irish Mike"

Yesterday a memorial was held for a long term member of the First United Church Community. "Irish Mike" was well known and well thought of. Community members are generally very accepting of each other including those who are deeply troubled and prone to act out when they are using alcohol and other drugs.

Pictured playing the guitar is my friend and colleague Layton Peck. Layton is the night manager of the hosts who are the "front line" contact with those staying at the church. The hosts become very involved personally as well as keeping a sense of direction and supervision in the sleeping and dining areas. They are some of the finest people I have met with hearts of service that helps keep my heart soft and motivated. At least three were former residents at the church and now are living clean and sober lifestyles of service.

Layton, originally from Eastern Canada has been a business leader, minister, entertainer, and has a gigantic heart for the displaced and marginalized who reside at the church. For those who stay more than a few days he knows their names and a major part of the stories that bring them to the Downtown Eastside (DTES). For me he is also an expert on the criminal element that supplies drugs behind the scenes in the 10 block area.

Even though it is safe to walk the streets in the daytime, he tells me it is a different story at nights. Drugs are supplied by gangs and organized crime. It just occurs mostly out of sight. The visible signs of drug dealing I have seen on the streets from time to time in the day time are the secondary dealers, not the primary suppliers.

Layton was a major influence in the life of "Irish Mike." Layton recalls the first time he met Mike was to break up a fight. Then he became a night time confidant as Mike would seek him out when troubled. Layton has memories of holding Mike when he would have emotional collapses, counseling him, and taking him to secluded areas in the church to pray with him.

Mike passed away from natural causes which so sadly is not the reason for the other memorials I have attended at the church. Everyone in attendance was given an opportunity to share their thoughts and memories, and it gave me a sense of how much of a community exists in the DTES. It provides meaning and belonging in spite of the rampant addiction and mental health problems.There is an authentic element to their relationships that is very appealing and the sense of loss and grief was tear jerking.

Workshop at First United Church

Yesterday we kicked off an addictions workshop at First United Church. The participants are a mixture of community workers and hosts /hostesses who are the "front line" workers. They have most of the initial and continual personal contact with the homeless and marginalized staying at the church. First United Church is not a shelter, but a church with a shelter ministry which gives me the platform to present a faith based approach of addiction integrated with the science of addiction.

We will be meeting every other week for five, 2 hour sessions. After I have presented my understanding of addiction then the group will begin looking at strategies of community support for the residents. There are about 60 folks who stay regularly at the church and consider it their home. They are the core group for shaping community at First United Church.

There is a myth that one has to leave DTES to live clean and sober. Many who stay in the DTES are not comfortable living in mainline society and don't feel a sense of belonging so crucial to identity and recovery.The group will begin to explore the principles of abundant community and asset mapping to provide contact with and shaping restorative community in the DTES. The asset mapping will include all the available resources in the area and matching the gifts of the residents as well as considering new community constructs at First United.  Those volunteering and working with the marginalized will be encouraged to explore the gifts they bring to community.

I am so excited to discuss and help initiate the possibilities of "Missional Church" and its role in shaping community. I am so grateful for your thoughts, prayers and regular support that enables and encourages me to do so. If you would like to explore these principles more, click on my blog at Missional Church and watch the short series of videos by Alan Hirsch.

Oregon Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (OCHH) Conference

Greetings my friends.

The OCHH conference was a great experience! I had too much material for the time allotted in each of the 3 presentations including the 3 hour workshop on addiction. It was a great learning experience for me.  I am grateful my presentations were well received, even though my material was cut short. In the future I think I will be better able to prioritize material to time allotted.

The perspective I brought from the DTES and the innovative approaches being taken there stirred some great discussions. I was reminded the majority of today's homeless in America are so because of poverty, not addiction or mental health as in DTES where I serve. I was touched by the passionate concern of the group and a number of them inquired about coming for a visit to experience the DTES first  hand.

All of us are concerned about deaths of the homeless. There were 47 reported just in Portland last year. We expect the most marginalized to be able to respond rationally to society's efforts to either "fix or contain them."  But those who die generally have such progressed addiction their willpower has been hijacked leaving few moments of clarity. Innovative interventions are needed for the most marginalized who are the most damaged. This calls for creative strategies in housing and shelters. I was able to share some psycho-social-spiritual dynamics for building community among the marginalized encouraging them to help each other.

A special treat was spending time in the beautiful setting at Hood River with old friends Nick & Marisha Johnson who serve on the board of OCHH. What topped off a wonderful time was my youngest daughter Courtney joining us for the addiction workshop.

Tomorrow I am meeting with an interest group at my home church Redeemer's Fellowship in Roseburg OR after the regular worship service. I will be sharing an update with many of my friends who support me with regular thoughts, prayer and financial  support.

Finding a Niche...

Greetings my friends:

When I arrived in this area on July 7, 2011; I was a stranger to most of the folks I would eventually be working with in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver BC (DTES). There are many civic organizations, government programs, a number of churches and faith based shelters all trying to create communities to help the marginalized living in the DTES recover from their dislocation.

As much as I enjoy meeting with and encouraging individual residents in the DTES, I feel my calling is primarily in educating, training, and encouraging staff and volunteers in the area about addiction and recovery. I teach a faith based view integrated with the science of addiction. I have become part of three groups here: First United Church, the Dugout, and The New Way Community. My passion also includes offering workshops to local churches outside the DTES as I feel the church is the ideal place to treat addiction in concert with self help groups (Workshops).

Last month we held a two part workshop at the Dugout which was well received and we will hold another there in the future. Next month beginning on May 18 I will be doing a two hour training every other week including case studies with the staff that has the most direct contact with the residents at First United Church.

At New Way Community we are discussing attracting theological and other students from local seminaries and universities to the DTES for a 1x1 guided tour. This would give me a choice to do some individual mentoring leading to group training on addiction and recovery for the most marginalized. Only 13% of pastors have had any formal education or training about addiction.

I am humbled about being a keynote speaker at the annual conference of the Oregon Coalition for Housing and Homelessness (OCCH) to be held in Hood River on May 2-4. At the welcoming luncheon my focus will be Homelessness and Addiction: Challenging the Status Quo. The next day will be a 90 minute seminar Home for the Homeless and then on Friday a 3 hour workshop on Addiction and Recovery that many of you have attended. What an opportunity to present faith based strategies and the reality that I am supported in this outreach by so many of you readers.

On May 6th I will be in Roseburg for an interest group meeting at Redeemer's Fellowship after the third service (around 1:15 PM). I hope to see most of you there to catch up on our fellowship and the current direction of this journey we share.

Your thoughts, prayers, and financial support make this "niche" possible.
Ross