June 1, 2016
Dear Family and Friends,
I first met David two years ago at an urban men’s retreat at Morning Star Ranch. We stood outside, surrounded by the beauty of the camp as he talked about his life, a story that has stuck with me ever since.
David was adopted as a small child but was in and out of group homes until the age of 18, when he decided to strike out on his own. He hitchhiked across the US and Canada but it wasn’t long before things caught up with him and he became addicted to drugs, alcohol and was homeless. It was at the lowest point that he found himself in Phoenix, AZ at a shelter. Here his life turned around.
The director of the shelter saw something worth redeeming in David. He worked with him and mentored him until one day, he asked David to take over the leadership of the shelter. David was stunned. This was not something he had planned or wanted but he took time to think about it. Very soon the Lord revealed Himself to David in a way that made it unmistakable that this was to be his next step.
So he told the director that he agreed, deeply sensing the Lord’s urging to do this. A week later the director passed away. David was in charge and he led the shelter successfully for 12 years. At the end of this time he again felt the urging of God, this time to enroll in seminary.
Wanting a cooler climate and hoping for an opportunity to study, he moved to Denver. He soon realized that the cost of seminary was prohibitive and put his goals on hold.
But God didn’t.
Talking to a friend one day he shared his hopes for the future. The friend got excited, telling him about a man who “taught theology” in his office building. This was his introduction to TUMI Denver—seminary training that he could afford. David was now getting the theological and leadership training that he had hoped for. After taking a number of classes he was asked to invest himself in the process by becoming a mentor/instructor, which he did.
David continues to have a heart for the homeless, working with the Denver Rescue Mission. Through this he comes into contact with 600 men a night. He also has a street ministry to the homeless in Aurora which provides food, evangelistic services, prayer ministry, laundry vouchers and hygiene kits. Because of his personal experiences he is able to connect with these men in a significant way.
It is Aurora which is now on his heart. In addition to the street ministry, David has a vision to provide theological and leadership training for immigrant pastors who have landed there from Africa, Vietnam and China.
Today I completed an interview with David to confirm the new satellite in Aurora and David as Site Coordinator. As I spoke with him my spirit was refreshed and encouraged. As we see God at work in our prison sites, so He is also working among other marginalized people, calling them to Himself.
Pray for David! Be encouraged in the work that God is doing! We are witness to great things.
Blessings, Bob and Linda Stevenson
