Faith Partners

From the Rector: A miracle of sleeping, keeping, reaping
As I look back 30 years it really has been a miracle” said Christine Burroughs, CEO of InnVision, the Silicon Valley non-profit that now has an 11 million dollar budget supported by donations from government, churches, schools, civic organizations, community foundations, corporations, and individuals. Each year they serve 16,000 homeless and at-risk families and individuals at 20 different sites from San Jose to Menlo Park. With 100 staff people 85% of their budget goes directly to client services, helping people have a place to sleep or a home and food to keep or resources from which to reap. Resources include clothing, showers, laundry, health care, telephone/mail address, computer classes, job training and children’s programs. Urban Ministry’s “Hotel de Zink” is part of their programs, as is the Opportunity Center of the Mid-Peninsula, Breaking Bread Hot Meals and the Elsa Segovia Day Center and the Clara-Mateo Alliance Shelter at the V.A. in Menlo Park. These programs at the V.A. are in jeopardy, by the way, because the V.A. is tearing down the building within the next year. InnVision needs to find or create a new facility to replace the 100 beds and services.

I lay out this brief overview for you not only to remind you of the great work of this local non-profit but to remind you as well of its humble beginnings. Much like the creation of the 8 million dollar edifice for the Opportunity Center of the Mid-Peninsula (Day Center, Health Center, Family Center, 88 units of permanent housing for families and single adults) InnVision started with a few churches meeting together in 1973 to try to do something constructive to break the cycle of homelessness in downtown San Jose. This is the miracle to which Christine Burroughs referred. A few churches believed that they had to “do something,” thought they could do something. They had no choice. Something needed to be done! 35 years later a lot has been done in breaking the cycle of homelessness. A lot of care has been given with a lot of practical results.

The next time you feel depressed or overwhelmed or frustrated with the lack of progress when it comes to supporting those in need or you can’t envision a transformation from despair to hope, check out the InnVision website (www.innvision.org) and remember that it started with a few people meeting with a few more people to do something to turn things around. Miracles do happen. We still need more miracles because, as you know, the needs are still about us locally and globally. Just don’t say “nothing can be done”. Don’t even think it. It’s not true and we have proof all about us. And God is calling each one of us to prove the point, starting small and working hard with heart, soul, and hope.

In Christ,
Matt
St. Mark's MESSENGER Summer 2008
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