SGM staff finds inspiration on a trip to Jacksonville

In early March, the staff of Star Gospel Mission traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to gain inspiration and insight from larger operations with a similar mission as theirs. 

During tours of the two facilities, they were inspired by what Star Gospel Mission could grow into. Plus, the team gleaned easily transferable practices that could enhance their work right away. 

“The team was very encouraged and very motivated by that trip,” said Dr. Marion Platt, Star Gospel Mission’s executive director. “I heard them discussing wonderful ideas of how to build out effective programming at Star Gospel Mission: ‘Wait a minute… We could do this!’”

Dr. Platt and six employees of Star Gospel Mission traveled the two and a half hours to visit The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville and the nearby Jacksonville City Rescue Mission. 

The Star Gospel Mission team brings a wealth of experience, and gained inspiration during their visit in Jacksonville.

One of those employees was Marcus Wilson Stevenson, a lodge program associate.

“In a nutshell, it was somewhat life-changing to see the new and innovative ways of helping individuals that are in need,” he said. 

Both organizations in Jacksonville serve people who are homeless, just like Star Gospel Mission’s primary ministry population. However, the team got an insider's look at providing comprehensive services, including resources for housing, employment, job readiness and physical and mental health care.

A clean start

At the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center facility, Mr. Stevenson saw a man who had been sent there from Star Gospel Mission late last year. But he almost didn’t recognize the man, given his cleanly shaved face, which is a requirement for men entering transitional housing. 

“I did remember his voice, so I recognized him,” Mr. Stevenson said. “He was so clean and sober, which was really refreshing.”

Star Gospel Mission Executive Director Dr. Marion Platt poses with an ARC beneficiary from Charleston.

Star Gospel Mission staff toured the recreation area and the gym. They saw how men had an ID that was scanned to track class attendance rather than writing down names. The residents also used the IDs at check in, and their sobriety checked with a breathalyzer.

“...Which I thought was really good for establishing who was entering the facility,” Mr. Stevenson said.

The most impressive aspect of the Adult Rehabilitation Center was how the men worked at The Salvation Army Family Store. Their jobs included everything from picking up furniture and managing inventory to checking out customers. 

“That’s just great for morale and job readiness to have an on-site location to work — to get the feeling of responsibility again,” Mr. Stevenson said. 

Same mission; different … Mission

Their second stop was the Jacksonville City Rescue Mission, which has been serving the homeless and needy in Northeast Florida since 1946.

CRM provides food, clothing, shelter, emergency services and residential recovery programs to homeless men, women, and women with children, and has separate housing units for women and families on-site.

The breadth of services on that campus was “mind-blowing,” Mr. Stevenson said.

Residents had access to an on-site doctor, a dentist, a pharmacy, a chiropractor, the worship center, housing services and a kitchen designed to function like a culinary school for the residents.

The residents also produced chocolates as part of job training. The chocolates were labeled with the mission’s logo and sold to local grocery stores to help raise funds.

Mr. Paul Staci, Executive Director of Jacksonville City Rescue Mission, expressed his willingness to host board members and employees at the site, especially as Star Gospel Mission works on scaling its operation to make a bigger impact in Charleston.

Future plans

Mr. Stevenson said the team came away with more than inspiration and zeal. 

“We saw very tangible things that could be applied to our location and our situation,” he said. “There was so much to absorb and learn.”

Dr. Platt said his next goal was to bring the executive committee of Star Gospel Mission's board of directors on the next tour. The goal was to help the whole team envision the next phase of growth.

"Star Gospel Mission is poised to make a larger impact on the city of Charleston," he said. "The need is there, and our team is ready to think big in how we are helping transform lives."