All They Needed Was Someone to Open the Doors

Authored by the Rev. John K. Talbert, rector of St. John's, Mobile.

I had known Eric and Erik for only about 20 minutes before handing them the keys to our building. That was all the time we had. The entire process had unfolded in less than 48 hours.

Hurricane Isaias put the entire Gulf Coast on alert. In the four days leading up to landfall, I talked with friends from New Orleans to Apalachicola who were taking the necessary precautions. Our entire diocesan coastline was under a warning. Schools began announcing closures. Our Clergy Conference was canceled, and Bishop Russell called clergy and wardens together Thursday afternoon to confirm that everyone had completed their own preparations and secured their church buildings.

Take pictures. Secure windows. Check on your people. Let us know if you leave.

During the meeting, I felt compelled to ask whether any of our buildings near the storm’s path planned to open as shelters. From Mobile County to Walton County, thousands of people experience homelessness. I began imagining what it would be like to ride out the storm on my front porch rather than within protected walls. During my four years at St. John’s, I had come to know many of our neighbors who live on the street by name. I started looking for somewhere they could go.

One benefit of Facebook is the ecumenical network it can provide. If you are a church leader, look for a community group focused on a particular ministry. You'll likely find one. The group I found, “Homeless in Mobile,” has more than 14,400 members.

As I scrolled through the group’s posts, I noticed one from Eric Bump Overstreet that read:

“I haven’t heard of any churches opening presently. TCOG is a metal building and not allowed to open for hurricanes. If your church or business will open, I can manage security and feeding for you. Plz lmk”

Having just drawn attention to the need for this ministry, reaching out to Eric seemed obvious. After talking with my senior warden and Bishop Russell, I messaged Eric around noon Thursday to ask if we could talk. Minutes later, we were on the phone.

Before our call, I had learned that Eric organizes and runs a men’s stabilization ministry that helps people get off the streets. He was confident he could recruit volunteers to stay overnight and arrange for food to be delivered if we opened as a shelter. All he needed was someone willing to open the doors.

The earliest our schedules allowed us to meet at the church was Friday morning — the day the storm was expected to arrive. That afternoon, I contacted the Rev. Mark Fitzhugh and the Rev. Deacon Terry Goff about the possibility of opening the building. Deacon Goff helped coordinate the transfer of a dozen overnight cots from Church of the Redeemer. Father Mark and the people of Trinity Episcopal Church provided drinks and snacks for potential guests.

I got up early Friday morning and met Eric and Erik, one of his experienced volunteers, at St. John’s by 7 a.m. After brief introductions, we walked through the building, identified off-limits areas and bathrooms, and discussed safety, communication, and volunteer-to-guest ratios.

Our interaction quickly established a sense of trust, and I had no concerns. By 7:30 a.m., I handed Eric my keys and told him we would leave the alarm off.

At 7:50 a.m., he posted the shelter opportunity on social media. We hoped to open by 3 p.m., but our first guest arrived at 10 a.m.

By 2 p.m., the first major bands of rain and wind were moving through downtown. The city of Mobile announced a 7 p.m. curfew. After dark, the shelter doors closed for the night, with seven volunteers and 22 guests staying safe together inside.

I returned home that morning to finish securing my property and preparing my house, but I stayed in touch with Eric throughout the day. He regularly posted updates on social media, many of which received hundreds of reactions.

The next morning was calm and quiet. I left home early and was fortunate to reach St. John’s without many detours. By the time I arrived, one of the volunteers had already driven half an hour out of town to the nearest open McDonald’s and returned with biscuit sandwiches.

Some guests had already left. Others were happily enjoying what, for some, was the first breakfast they had eaten in a long time. Eric’s volunteers were scrubbing down the kitchen and folding the cots. Everyone was smiling.

All they needed was someone willing to open the doors.

Since opening the shelter, Eric and I have continued talking about ways to serve our neighbors who live on the street. Winter freezes are routinely deadly, and St. John’s is in a uniquely accessible location. We hope to collect or raise enough money to purchase blankets and cots to accommodate 50 people as a warming shelter later this year.

Whether it is a shelter, a food ministry, or another form of community outreach, I encourage you to seek out partners in your community who simply need a place to carry out their work. The Holy Spirit is doing good work beyond our church walls, including through ministries that may not be affiliated with a church.

Finding ways to partner with these ministries and help their work bear more fruit may be as simple as trusting someone else with your keys.

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St. John's Episcopal Church is located at 1707 Government St, Mobile, AL