Urban servants U


Lutheran volunteer program reaches Denver’s down and out


rban Servant Corps is a one-year, full-time Lutheran volunteer program in Den- ver. Seeking “to fulfi ll Christ’s mission of love,” as its mission statement reads, vol- unteers live in community with each other while working at nonprofi ts that serve


low-income and at-risk populations. Founded in 1987 by Lutheran pastors Nelson and Bonita Bock, Urban Servant


Urban Servant Corps volunteers live together in community while serving nonprofi ts that work with those most in need in Denver. Above are 2013-14 volunteers.


Corps (www.urbanservantcorps.org) began as a ministry of Avondale Lutheran Church. T e program has given a total of 712,000 volunteer hours (equal to $10.6 million at an hourly wage of $15). It provides 18 volunteers a year with food, housing, health insurance and a monthly stipend. Participants who complete their service can receive an Americorps Education Award to pay off $5,500 of education loans or to help pay for graduate school or seminary.


T is is one of several ELCA-related volunteer programs, including Young Adults in Global Mission (www.elca.


org/yagm); Lutheran Volunteer Corps (www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org); ALT-Year (www.altyear.org); and Border Servant Corps (www.borderservantcorps.org; founded by an Urban Servant Corps alumna, Dot Quaintance). In this article, three volunteers refl ect on their Urban Servant Corps experiences. 


Good morning; whatever By Lacey Joseph


I


wake to the dark still dampening my room and creep out


of bed. Before long I start the cold car, turn on the radio and let my coff ee sizzle.


When I arrive at the building, I mut- ter, “You can do this,” and walk in confi dently. Some youth who are already awake (they need to be off - property by 7 a.m.) glare as I walk by. With a warm smile and most of my might, I say, “Good morning.” “Whatever,” most respond. A few


reciprocate with, “Hmm.” First I visit the offi ce for “cross-


over,” the sharing between night and morning staff of any drama that has occurred among the troubled youth. T en I venture into the rank- smelling dorms to wake the remain-


36 www.thelutheran.org


ing sleepers. T ere isn’t a name I haven’t been called for simply waking them up. T ey slowly get out of bed, eat and complain about breakfast, and get ready for the day. T ese 15- to 20-year-olds are cli-


ents of Urban Peak, a Denver shelter for homeless youth. I’m an Urban Servant Corps member, placed here for my volunteer year as a direct care counselor. Urban Peak is one of sev- eral nonprofi t agencies that partner with Urban Servant Corps. Almost 930 youth are homeless in


Denver. Nearly all of those at Urban Peak have experienced trauma in their lives, whether it be emotional, physical or sexual abuse, recovering from drug addiction, suff ering from a mental health concern, or having been asked to leave their homes. We try to lead them to resources that will help better their lives. Some mornings I wonder what


I’m doing here, but a few youth remind me.


“You are my favorite staff ,” Mina


(client names changed for confi denti- ality) tells me in the morning. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Chris cuts daily to try to feel


something, anything other than the urge to use drugs to distract from a lifetime of pain. He has locked him- self in the linen closet. I reach out and Chris settles down to talk. I just listen. “T ank you for saving my life today,” he said. Tina is trying to get away from


prostitution. She pulls me into my offi ce and asks for some juice and a restriction so she can’t leave the property and doesn’t have to go out into the world. Aſt er listening and explaining that she doesn’t have to live this life, she weeps and agrees. I look up ways to get her home to Minnesota. She gets a ticket and is gone in three days. Joe sees people who aren’t there


and can hear God telling him to complete tasks. I help Joe set up a


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