OurCalling

Pray for our neighbors out in this freezing weather.

McCarthy Architecture

OurCalling is a church and homeless outreach ministry in Dallas which we have worked with on a number of projects in recent years. At their existing facility which was designed in 2015, finish-out is underway for a new women's center in a second floor area originally designated for future expansion. This new center will provide a dedicated, secure women's space and will house classrooms, counseling rooms, a laundry area, shower rooms, a catering area and a large multipurpose room.

https://www.mccarthyarchitecture.com/news/entry/ourcalling-women-s-center-progress

OurCalling is working to solve Dallas' homelessness problem - Dallas Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/02/07/ourcalling.html

bizjournals.com OurCalling is a faith-focused group working to build relationships and serve as a place where those who are homeless can spend their time and use various resources.

The memorial service for Richard Prendergast.

[02/07/20]   The memorial service for Richard Prendergast will be streamed here live. The service is running a little late as we wait for a few friends/family members to arrive.

After 12 years of homelessness

Joe lived homeless for 12 years before finding OurCalling...

Today (2/7) we will be hosting a memorial service for our dear friend Richard Prendergast. If you are available, we would love for you to join us at 1PM.

Due to inclement weather conditions, OurCalling will be open tonight.
We have volunteer positions open. You can email [email protected] to sign up. (Please note that you must have already been through volunteer orientation to serve overnight.)

Have you ever joined us for one of our Wednesday morning church services? 8:30 AM every Wednesday, show up early if you want a chair!

Our dear brother Richard Prendergast has passed into the presence of the Lord. His family and friends will remember his lively attitude, his quick wit, and his love to share his testimony. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2Tim 4:7" You can watch part of Richard's story here: https://youtu.be/7AQbJfofGM0

“...but someday you will.”

“So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.””
‭‭John‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today is my friend Lynda's birthday. Last April we met her where she lived with her cat Valentino in the doorsill of an old abandoned church in Oak Cliff.

Today is also the day that they found her body. The coroner believes that she died about two weeks ago, which happens to be about the time that I last visited her in the apartment that we were able to get her into.

Between that first day and this, a young married couple, an elderly married couple and a church youth group took an active interest in her and brought her food, kitty liter, used pieces of furniture and a space heater to keep her warm.

One of the women came by to see her earlier this week and, not getting a response, left a note on her door wishing her a happy birthday. That note remained there until it was removed by the police when they broke in to find her.

Tonight we all feel a soft sad sinking in our hearts for this amazing woman we got to know and learn to love. An only child who never married or had children, had we not found her, her life and death in that empty church would have gone unnoticed.

But instead, as we go to bed tonight, there will be little memorial services for her in all of our hearts. And a homeless person who might otherwise have died in total obscurity will be mourned and missed. That's something that she never would have imagined.

(Story from Stan Gilbert, Search and Rescue)

Our new Women's Center is well on its way. Plans are done, permits have been received, and the construction teams are in and out every day. In just a few months, this new space will open soon to serve thousands of women every year who are experience homelessness.

The condition of homelessness afflicts thousands of people in our midst every day. At OurCalling, we believe that the path to a healthy and productive lifestyle should be open to everyone—but none of us finds that path alone.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?

- Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

OurCalling is to glorify God by leading homeless people to Christ and by making disciples on the street.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Dallas is growing at a faster rate than ever before. Our poverty rate is one of the fastest growing in the nation, and affordable housing has become extinct.

InspireMore

He's taking his barber skills to the streets, giving fresh cuts to those most in need.

Thanks to OurCalling and Master Barber Joshua Louvano, we are proud to bring you this production that highlights the humanity in homelessness.

This month, InspireMore is spreading the word about OurCalling, an organization addressing the root of homelessness in Dallas. Joshua offered several hours of his time to give free haircuts at their facility - the looks on his customers' faces says it all.

Many thanks to Joshua Louvano of Blend barbershop on Singleton - Dallas, TX and OurCalling.

Funds for temporarily housing the Dallas homeless population dwindling fast...

Visit our "in the media" page to see our most recent media mentions.

https://www.ourcalling.org/in-the-media/

We are thankful for our friends who are helping us spread the word about OurCalling.
@1panchopistolas @xavierolalde @sroronia @ OurCalling

We are so thankful for @toyotausa who donated two new vans for our Search & Rescue teams!

#ourcalling #homeless #lovethyneighbor #corporateevents #dallas #corporateresponsibility @ OurCalling

We had 3,482 volunteers this year. Tonight, we spent time honoring those who serve faithfully week after week alongside our staff. Thank you Big Al’s BBQ for providing such a delicious meal!
We also honored 3 particular volunteers: David Cranston, Susie Castro, and Marshall Scantlin as Outstanding Volunteers of 2019.
We couldn’t do what we do without our amazing volunteers!

It’s #GivingTuesday!!!
When you give...
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‘I do matter’: Holiday dinner a welcome pause for Dallas homeless, but struggles on street as real as ever

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2019/11/28/i-do-matter-holiday-dinner-a-welcome-pause-for-dallas-homeless-but-struggles-on-street-as-real-as-ever/

dallasnews.com Unlike other Thanksgiving Day dinners where volunteers serve food in an assembly line, the Dallas nonprofit OurCallling pairs families with people...

It’s a joy to have 500+ over for Thanksgiving! Here are some pictures of our day. Our friends experiencing homelessness graciously choose to come here and let us serve them. We are thankful for them and the volunteers and supporters who join in the celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving from OurCalling. We are so blessed and thankful for every person that is experiencing homelessness that we get to touch, and all the volunteers and supporters who pour their lives into long-term transformation.

We are so thankful for all the wonderful businesses who have supported this years gala!
Almost out of tickets, OurCalling.org/rsvp

Teamwork! Thank you City of Dallas - City Hall for opening up the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as an inclement weather shelter for our homeless friends. Thanks to The Stewpot for organizing transportation. The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center,Austin Street Center, Dallas LIFE, Family Gateway, Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission Dallas, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church for opening up extra space for homeless friends. We couldn’t do this without the leadership of partners like Brenda Snitzer, Monica Hardman, @Dr David Woody, Daniel Roby, Bob Sweeney, @Ellen Magnis, @Blake Fetterman, @Bruce Butler, @Rachael Baughman and our own Pastor Wayne Walker.

A huge shout out to our friends at @enospizzatavern
They heard that we were staying open tonight to keep our homeless friends out of the cold and decide to donate pizza so our staff and volunteers could have dinner.

We love that we get to take care of our homeless neighbors on nights like tonight. We feel honored when local companies take care of our staff.

Side note: OurCalling isn’t even in Eno’s delivery area but they still made it happen!! #dallas #enospizza @ OurCalling

Dallas’ ban on churches sheltering homeless won’t be lifted in time for winter

“There is no other group of citizens in this city that if they were in crisis, the city would move this slow on,” Walker said. “These are citizens of this city, and they are in crisis. And it’s appalling that we can’t find a safe place for them to go.”

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2019/11/11/dallas-ban-on-churches-sheltering-homeless-wont-be-lifted-in-time-for-winter/

dallasnews.com Ahead of anticipated freezing temperatures Monday and Tuesday nights, Dallas officials scrambled before they decided to open the Kay Bailey Hutchison...

Inclement weather tonight with more people at OC than ever before. We can do this Because of your faithfulness. Want to help with tonight’s needs? - tap here https://ourcalling.org/cold

[11/11/19]   Due to inclement weather, OurCalling will be open tonight for overnight stay. We will open our doors at 5:30pm.

November 18th, 6:30PM hosted at the Omni with special guest speakers Emmitt Smith and John Donovan.

Tickets available at
OurCalling.org/rsvp

#dallas #dallascowboys #attbelieves #homeless
@att @omnidallas @emmittsmith22

BREAKING NEWS: City of Dallas - City Hall announces they will open the Dallas Convention Center for temporary inclement weather sheltering beginning November 11. Praise God!

Reports and Rumors: Have Homeless People Been Bused into Dallas?

"Every person out there is somebody's brother, somebody's father, somebody's sister," said Gilbert. "And these are our brothers and sisters, and these are our citizens."
Stanley Gilbert
Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance
#homeless #outreach #Dallas
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Reports-and-Rumors-Have-Homeless-People-Been-Bused-into-Dallas-564641871.html?akmobile=o

nbcdfw.com Reports and rumors about a program in New York has some people wondering if hundreds of homeless people are being bused into Dallas.

[11/06/19]   Working at OurCalling: OurCalling is a Discipleship ministry and every job is considered a ministry position. Everyone on the team wears multiple hats, loves the individuals we serve, and makes a difference in the lives of people. Our primary function is evangelism and discipleship and everything we do points to that primary conversation about Jesus.

Job Summary: This role is responsible for recruiting and managing one of the most valuable assets of our organization – our volunteers. The person filling this role must be energetic, able to communicate well and respond to volunteers in a way that honors the Lord, and is true to our mission and vision.

Candidate Requirements: Must be able to communicate well in public and private, work in a busy environment, and manage volunteers with grace. This position is required to clearly communicate the message of the Gospel to volunteers.

Administrative skills are required, using various online tools to manage and schedule volunteers and groups. Experience in volunteer recruitment/management, leadership, large scale event planning, and someone who truly wants to minister to those they serve. Candidate must be detail-oriented, flexible, able to multi-task, be a self-starter, personable, dependable and function well on a team.

Specific Duties:

-Manage the volunteer database and assist in training staff as needed on the database and volunteer policies and procedures.
-Recruit and onboard new volunteers with orientation, scheduling, and placement.
-Host and attend recruiting events within the community to attract potential volunteers.
-Works closely with the Director of Development to plan large scale events throughout the year.
-Scheduling staff, volunteer leaders, and vendor resources as needed for program events.
-This person will be required to work some Saturdays and evenings, as needed to recruit, welcome, or orient new volunteers.
-Candidate must be very outgoing, pleasant, self-starter, highly motivated, reliable, punctual.
-This person will assist with some general administrative duties and will report to the Director of Administration.

Apply at:
https://www.ourcalling.org/jobs/volunteers-and-events-coordinator-full-time/

Today we partnered with @realpageinc for RealPage Gives. We are so thankful for the generosity they have shown OurCalling.

Pastor Wayne sharing for 10min about OurCalling at the Dallas Dream Team.

Dallas Shelter Opens Doors for Homeless Seeking Warmth

Last night we kept our doors open to keep our homeless neighbors out of the freezing weather. NBC DFW joined us live this morning to share the story.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Overnight-Freeze-Calls-for-Dallas-Homeless-Shelter-To-Open-Early--564220841.html

nbcdfw.com Our Calling, a daytime outreach center south of downtown Dallas, opened its doors overnight and is preparing to do it for a second night, if needed.

In honor of All Saints Day, the The Stewpot is hosting a memorial service to honor those who have died while experiencing homelessness.

This morning we had 100+ individuals wake up in our facility - having stayed in a warm facility away from the freezing weather.

Every day we work to tell the story of our homeless friends to help bring education and awareness around the actual issues homeless individuals face every day.

Tonight we open our doors so our homeless neighbors have a way of escaping the freezing weather.