In Love with Jesus
Jesses Thoughts - BDMC Executive Director
I think it’s easy in ministry to get lost in what we do.
Paul reminds us often that we are saved by grace through faith alone, in Christ alone. Our works, or good deeds, our love for others, our Sunday morning routines, our small groups and ministries have ZERO impact on our salvation. However, as I continue to grow spiritually, I need more substance in my faith, right?! I personally am no longer a baby Christian but a teenage Christian now! That means living out my calling more each day. Those of you who are further along in your faith can look at my writings and be like, okay, he is growing; we will give him grace! For that, thank you! I don't have it all together, but as I study the word and listen to God, certain things have become clearer. I do not need to understand everything; I only need to allow God to reveal what he chooses to reveal.
This year, my goal is to do more writing of letters! Remember those? It’s the 8.5x11 single sheet of paper that gets folded into 3 parts, stuffed into an envelope (the thing you lick and seal shut,) then you put on a stamp (that you have to buy from the actual post office) write someone’s address on the outside then stick it in your mailbox (the thing at the end of your driveway or attached to the house). I love letters. I love getting them, I love writing them.
My grandma, a devoted follower and lover of Jesus, wrote prison letters for many, many years. After giving my life to Jesus, I, too, got involved in prison letter writing. (Crossroads Prison Ministry is always looking for more mentors!) I often spoke with her about verses she would share and her process of praying over them. Before she passed last year, she wrote me a letter that included her favorite verses and some of her thoughts on what to include for inmates. What a cool thing for us to share! I’m looking to expand that into writing letters to our community members.
Who am I writing to?! To those we have served, and anyone who wants a pen pal! With that, leave your name and address below. I’d love to write you a letter! Something about slowing down to actually write something you can't delete is something I need more of in my day-to-day. Information is SOOO fast. Even at my day job in Corporate Insurance as a video producer, I'm constantly getting more work and told to use AI to get through it faster… so I can do more work! Can you imagine what it must have been like for the authors of the books of the Bible to sit down and let God use their hands to write the events as they happened? Heavy! I would have loved to be in the room as Moses, or his scribe, or whoever actually held the pen, was there, listening and feeling God's presence. Wow. I aim for that this year. Slowing down. Listening to God in my bible time and prayer time.
Again, sign up below with your name and address!
AI generated image of Jesse writing letters. How many errors can you count?!
Jesse’s Pen Pal Program 2026 form
Anyways, February Blog time!
My first point of clarity is that the city of Beaver Dam is our ministry’s mission field.
We do NOT have an actual center or main building.
As of now, we minister as Jesus did. In our homes, in spaces offered by others, in the hotel lobbies, and in public places. If God wants to give us a building, we would use it as a hub, but we believe that the ministry should be as much OUTSIDE the four walls of a building and in the lives of those who need his love and message. If you have a building space you're willing to let us use, email me! jesse@missionbd.org
In January, we served 9 people in crisis, and a handful of kids received new winter boots through our school-aged kids' shoe program.
Our board met at the beginning of February, and we discussed basic financials and the systems we are implementing to streamline donations and expenses, improve transparency, and save time, allowing us to serve more and manage funds and systems more effectively! We discussed the fall shoe event and ending the shoe program in May to ramp up for it. We talked about partnerships with some orginizations who are looking to bring a shelter to BD.
I share this information to be transparent!
As a record for me to look back on and see the growth.
As a reminder to those who know that God is always working, even if we don't post or share updates.
We share this to shine the light of Jesus and give him so much glory and praise for all he does in us.
God has supplied the exact right resources, finances, and people as needs arise. Thank you, Jesus, for this!
We keep the details of our work private so we can do our good works in secret. As a ministry, we shine light on the help we offer because larger ministry work is also biblical.
Do not hide your light under a bushel. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Stories from the field
If you read this blog, then you might also follow our Facebook page. If so, you will know we sent out a request for help for a 21-year-old man seeking housing in Beaver Dam. Since we don't have an actual center, we asked for friends and neighbors who felt God's call to respond. Since Jennifer and I live in the country, it's tricky for us to have homeless people with us who do not have transportation. We keep praying God reveals a place for us in town so we can take in more homeless that God brings to us. This is a call in scripture to love our neighbors and house the homeless. This young man, we will call him John Smith. John grew up with his father, who was into heavy drugs. I can't imagine what it would have been like; maybe part of childhood felt “free” because John wasn't properly supervised and could live whatever life he wanted. But without a parent, it must have really taken a toll on John, because you could see he longed for structure and peace.
When he first called, he was a bit anxious as he told me how his mother and even the people he had been staying with here locally were all into heavy drugs, and he couldn't be around that. Not just because of his probation for the drink, but also because he really wants to be sober.
During our lunch I was able to share my testimony of how God opened my eyes and allowed my wife and I as well as a group of dedicated chrstians to start the Beaver Dam Mission Center. After offering a Bible, he said, "I've never had a Bible before." What a cool experience to pray with him and over him, praying that God would work in his life. Whether he took a Bible or not, I knew we were going to do whatever we could to help him because I felt the Holy Spirit guiding me and telling me that his heart was genuine, even if John is a bit rough around the edges.
Many of us are so sheltered that we have parents who are still together or didn’t have it too rough. It hurts my heart how many people DO NOT have good parents, who have so little money that they skip many meals. Stuck in addiction to numb the pain of life. As Christians and followers, our hearts should break for what breaks God's heart. For me, it's all too real: we get about two to five calls every week from people in crisis.
John called me a week after being in the hotel to tell me a story of him going to the liquor store and buying some booze. When he got back to his hotel, he was so convinced that he got rid of the bottle. He opened his bible and started reading. As he read, he told me he was overwhelmed by emotions and by the feeling of God in his heart.
I’ll speed up the story a little from here. John spent some time at Super 8 while we prayed and asked you to do the same. Since he couldn't come stay with us because of his work in town, he was able to get into Joe's sober living house. We have been able to go to church with John, to share our love with him, and I pray for this season of sober living that John is able to see Jesus for who He is, and that is Savior of the world, and make Him lord of John's life. Keep him in prayer.
If you've never had a homeless person in your home and you love Jesus. I pray God sends someone your way to help. Because when we lean on God, he protects us and guides us, and that person will NEVER forget you. The first person we had brought into our home just called me recently, and my heart was so full. Things are not perfect for him, but the love of Jesus he saw in our service has not left him. I say this not because I did anything special. Instead, I died to self in that moment and said. Jesus, use my home, give me the selflessness to do your will right here in my day-to-day. Jesus did just that. It was amazing to be a part of God's work in that.
Prayer Requests -
Pray for one of our sisters who has a plumbing issue in her trailer and needs to leave until it's repaired. She is now staying at a local hotel. Pray for speedy repairs so she can get back home. Pray that Jesus works in her heart and opens her eyes to his love and lordship of her life.
Pray for Owen, who has been in and out of the hospital this past month, for healing and restoration. Pray that Jesus gives him dreams and visions of Him.
Pray for another young man and his fiancée who are currently experiencing homelessness, living with friends, and out of their car. They are moving up north in March, and they need strength and believers to walk alongside them, encourage them, and share Jesus with them in this season. Pray for surrender to God’s will in their life. Pray that they see Jesus as the LORD of their lives, not just as our savior.
Pray for our friend “John“ as he continues his sobriety battle in his new housing. That believers would surround him, and he would choose Jesus in this season.
Pray for Trinity United Methodist Church, which will open its overnight warming shelter soon. Pray that the denominational differences die in our hearts and we can come alongside ALL brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that the volunteers will love and encourage those who come there as clients. Pray that lives are transformed and the tangible warmth of a warm place to sleep opens eyes to receive Jesus.
Pray for Adoration Abode as they work through the logistics to open a shelter here in Beaver Dam.
Pray for all believers in Beaver Dam, that we can come together in unity as brothers and sisters. That we can focus on the eternal work that God calls each one of us to.
Where we are going - God willing.
BDMC will soon start discussions about the fall school shoe giveaway.
BDMC is continuing to receive about 2-5 calls per week from people in need of crisis support. Pray God continues to bring us resources to help them.
BDMC plans to close the year-round shoe program in May as we ramp up for the fall giveaway and the next school season.
BDMC plans to support the warming shelter at Trinity United Methodist through volunteers. Pray for amazing interactions of Jesus! Prayer Requests
Where we are going - God willing.
Final thoughts
After attending the No Regrets Men's conference, I wanted to share my big takeaway with you all. I'll speak directly to the men who read this, but the women need to hear this too!
Jesus is not “good”. Jesus is God.
Let's not add Jesus to our lives. Let's not sprinkle some “good Jesus” into our world with other “good” things we have. Let us lead our families, our community, our workplace with Jesus as GOD. Instead of adding Jesus to our kingdom, let's fall on our knees to Jesus himself. Make everything you do filter through God’s lens. Let it all fall under the umbrella of God, not the umbrella of Jesse (put your name here).
Surrender to Jesus.
Trust in God for all things, not the things you want but the things he wants.
Love you all.
No AI was used in the creation of this post. Just Jesse and all his mistakes and messy thoughts.
