Friday’s Chapel: Something Old, Something New

In chapel, Assistant Spiritual Life Director Mike Rallo interviewed Tom Bond, Director of Programs at Helping Up Mission. Tom arrived here a decade ago and graduated from our 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program (SRP). He stayed on as a graduate intern and then joined our staff.  Tom became the central figure in building the program as it is today. 

But it did not exactly go happily everafter from there. Part of what Tom shared with the guys was that he lost his focus and relapsed. He went to another recovery program and regrouped his life. Tom did not want to be that 20-year addict anymore.

We invited him back to work on our staff again and here we are 7 years later. He met and married Rebecca. It was my privilege to officiate at their wedding. They bought a house and settled down in the burbs.  Today, Tom directs all 8 programs that are part of Helping Up Mission.

His story was an inspiration to each guy in the room, because God wants to do amazing things for each one of them, too.

But something else happened in chapel which was also very exciting – at least for Tom and me. Ever since I can remember, we have done rollcall at the beginning of chapel by calling out the names of each man in the 12-month SRP and that takes at least 10 minutes. 

Friday, each guy’s HUM badge was barcoded and they were scanned going into the chapel. It worked perfectly! Admittedly, I had to convince some guys that they were not receiving the Mark of the Beast (see Revelation 13), but we got it done. In fact, it looked so cool, I think I want a badge, too. Sure do love my job.

One scan at a time,
Pastor Gary Byers
Spiritual Life Director

PS Oh yeah, Harvey graduated on Friday, too!!!