On November 4^th my dad and I visited Tom Lister of the Portland Rescue Mission to visit their three main facilities, and discuss how I could help with their ministry through architecture. The main facility is a late 1800’s four story building in downtown Portland referred to as the Burnside Center. This is their primary outreach center for those off the streets, where 600 to 700 are fed daily; chapel services, beds, recovery programs are all initiated from this 1^st step stopping ground for the homeless. This century old building has had some upgrades, but is in need of many more as funds are raised, project too numerous to list in this brief blog.

The mission also operates a “next step” center, which will shortly be undergoing a major remodel and upgrade (they wished they had known about HIM’s architectural services sooner!). The next step facility is a 1960’s former nursing home east of the downtown area, away from the major sources of drug and alcohol dealing and abusing. This facility is where recovery programs are really put into practice, and where career training will also takes place to help the homeless be homeless no longer. The mission hopes to one day build a rural recovery center, which, when in God's timing land or facilities become available, I will likely be able to assist as an architect for HIM.

Finally the third facility is The Shepherd’s Door, for homeless women and children, and well as a Christ based preschool for the neighborhood at large. This center is relatively new (2003), and provides a safe and secure center for women and children who frequently are at the shelter due to abuse. The Shepherd’s Door was recently gifted some money which will be used on providing soft surfacing, security fencing, and equipment for a toddler playground. This is my first opportunity to help provide architectural services through HIM, it may not seem like much, but to see the joy in the young children’s eyes, as we measured and discussed this upgraded playground area was such a pleasure. Drawings are required for the fence, and playground ground covering material installation; a project small enough that I should be able to squeeze this in during weekends and evenings, and a great opportunity to begin serving the Lord more purposefully through architecture.

I want to thank Tom Lister (pictured here with my dad, in the Burnside Center chapel). Tom spent the whole day with us, showing us their existing facilities, treating us to lunch, and sharing his own, very fascinating story leading him to leave a successful construction job for full time work at the mission.

Thanks Tom - looking forward to our future projects together.