a Year of Obedience

In March of 2025 Jennifer and I went up to Minneapolis and stayed at a hotel for a couple days. Both for relaxation and a chance to getaway in prayer to plan the start of the Beaver Dam Mission Center. At that time we were actively serving homeless and people in crisis personally. We had been doing our Sunday night bible study for about a year and we were surrounded by people who had a zeal for Jesus like us. I felt God leading us to formalize what we were doing in an official ministry. Why?! Well, I need accountability in most areas of my life and what better way to serve our community then with the guidance of a board of Jesus lovers! That spring break we spent most of the trip writing and planning and legalizing the Beaver Dam Mission Center into a 501C3 non profit.

I ran some quick numbers since we started last year and wanted to talk more about what happens in one specific program area:

Hotel Vouchers

BDMC spent $4,000 on hotel nights for homless in our area. That’s about 60 nights.

Here is what our process looks like when we get a call:

When someone calls our 24/7 help line they are given two options… Crisis Support or Shoe Program. If they push 1 for crisis suppport my phone rings, and 99/100 times I answer! Since my spiritual gifting is relationships I often ask to hear the persons story. (As a filmmaker by trade, im a sucker for a good story!) I like to know what led them to need a hotel night to begin with, their back story.

Again since the Beaver Dam Mission Center is still new we DO NOT have our own building (a common misconception, I pray and fast often for God to bless us with resources in whatever his will is for us.)

At some point if they don’t ask directly I’ll ask. “What specifically can we help you with?” Much like St. Vinnies here is town, we will offer 2 nights to anyone right out of the gate. We have relationships with both Super 8 Motel on Park Ave and Grandview hotel on Center Street in Beaver Dam. We recently started a relationship with Baymont in Waupun as well. After hearing their story I like to share my testimony. This leads right into why my wife and I starting the Beaver Dam Mission Center. They are often encouraged because my story is filled with addiction, affairs and hurt. From there I ask for prayer requests and ususally pray with them right on the phone. Then I confirm the number of nights we can help with (this is pending resources, so far God has given us just enough to say yes to everyone who has called, praise God!)

Next i’ll drive to the hotel or motel they prefer. I’ll meet up with the person and we will talk more. I offer a bible (not required to receive services) with some advice on where to start in scripture based on what the Holy Spirit brings to mind or based on their situation. I always have a sharpie or pen with me to write their name, my name and the date in the bibles front page. I usually include a scripture verse that’s been on my heart inside the cover as well. Some take it, some don’t. I also always offer to pray, again, with them about their specific situation. If they are believers, many are, the prayers can get pretty heavy. If they don’t have much of a faith background the prayers are often around encountering Jesus in their life and God opening their eyes to the truth. Ive never had anyone turn down prayer, even the ones who turn down bibles seem to love prayer. Which is great for me because I love talking to God!

Generally i’ll shoot a text or call each person we have helped later in the week to talk more about life and see if they want to meet up for a meal or just talk on the phone. I have a BDMC direct number (Jesse Wilson 920.212.6053) outside of the 24/7 help line. Since homelessness can be short or long term sometimes I get called months after helping someone which is great because that’s just another chance to radically love them! Lately i’ve found that God brings specific people to mind along with scripture, in a world consumed by self, you can about imagine what it feels like to have someone text you “Im thinking about you, wanna meet up for coffee?”

After each conversation I log in a google sheet the persons name, their contact information, how they heard about us and details about their situation. I also have a spot to put follow up notes. I go through this master contact list every time I boot up my computer.

I need to be better about praying over these people regularly but I have been pretty good about keep in touch with them.

HOW DO PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT BDMC and our Hotel Vouchers?!

1 year later we have become well established with the local non-profits that serving people in crisis. Our best friends are St. Vincent De Paul, Catholic Charities, Community Action of Dodge County, Renewal Unlimited, Salvation Army, Dodge County Sheriffs office. All of which have sent people to us. Additionally there are some amazing churches in Beaver Dam who often support individuals who are homeless and in need of hotel vouchers. Often those churches will send people to us after first helping them. Sometimes we will get calls from community members who know about us, who have seen or know someone struggling. Overall we get about 2-5 calls per week from those in need and about 5-10 calls a week from our non profit friends as we share information about what we are seeing and if our clients give us permission, we brainstorm resources to help those we serve.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 12:12

Jesses Thoughts

It’s easy to get caught up in serving. It’s easy for many christians to get caught up in checking the box and to be in service mode 100% of the time is incredibly intentional. I don’t accidentally love these people we serve. I can’t casually stroll into a meeting with someone who was hit by a car and can no longer work and now is homeless. For me it requires focus and structure two things I have gotten really good at over the years.

Year one Takeaways:

Mentorship is huge

Radically loving someone is hard but often pays off

Default is to help

Gods in control of the bank account

Surrender often

Pray for opportunities

A Challenge to christians in Beaver Dam

I say this with so much love for you and patience and understanding… this isn’t condemnation, it’s an invitation…Excel even more. It is sooo easy to find reasons to divide. Its so easy to say “I don’t like this part of your theology” or “Ill help someone once but never again” or “how could I bring someone into my house who is a stranger.”

The vision of God separating the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25 is burned on my heart as of late. Some of you will get to judgement day and God will say you didn’t clothe me, you didn’t feed me, you didn’t visit me in prison… and you’ll say when did we see you in prison or hungry Lord? and he will say “what you did for the least you’ve done to me.”

We are not saved by these works, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus… but real faith produces something. It produces action. It produces love.

Look at your life. Have done these things? Are you actively doing these things? Sure you were a missionary in your early years, full of zeal but have you since retired and now cause new christians to stumble with your grumbling?

Yes, Paul says to live a quiet life, but that doesn’t mean we stop loving people radically.

Are you personally loving the least… or have you stepped back from it completely?

Yes we all have different gifts and I am beyond grateful for every dollar donated to us… but giving doesn’t replace obedience. You can give AND still be called to love your neighbor directly.

Let’s not forget that following Jesus costs us everything… but He gives us everything in return. Eternal life. Real life.

We have eternal life through Jesus! It’s time to get uncomfortable, leave your bubble. Join together in unity with all believers and doers of the word. This life is a mist and when we hit judgement day, don’t be left having lived for the wrong things.

closing prayer

God in heaven, maker of the universe. Alpha and Omega. The first and the last, God you reign above all. I pray that your Holy name is known through all the land, I ask that you fill the heart of those struggling here in Beaver Dam. I ask that those who love you and are your fruit would show their fruit. I pray for unity among believers here in our city. I pray for a stirring of the Holy Spirit in all believers. A stirring that causes actions of LOVE. God you are so good and have blessed me and my family in ways I don’t deserve. I pray your blessing on our ministry, that you would bring us just what we need when we need it. Allow us to always be your servants. I love you Jesus, thank you for being my savior and lord of my life. Bless all those who choose to joyfully give to the minstry you can called us too. Bless the hands and feet of every pastor and elder in our city. May your word be spoken and heard by all. I give you my everything Jesus. Bring opportunities to love your people in the next year. Jesus come soon! With humble hearts we serve you, and life this prayer up in the mighty, powerful, healing, demon slaying name of Jesus Christ our lord. Amen and Amen.

Love you brothers and sisters.