On the Streets of Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (ANS) -- It was a cold, bone-chilling Saturday afternoon in Atlantic City where I was in town to learn more about the needs of the city’s homeless and what was being done to assist them.

Beginning to feel hungry, I decided to have supper in a well known casino.

As I entered the casino, my ears were not unexpectedly assaulted with that annoying noise made by slot machines as avid players sat there hoping for Lady Luck to smile on them.

Walking through the casino to get to one of its many restaurants, I passed row upon row of players sitting in front of the slots, seemingly transfixed by the numbers swirling in front of them. Most players didn’t make conversation with anyone else.

Along the way I also passed table after table of roulette and blackjack players, who unlike their slot machine playing counterparts were talking to each other as well as the immaculately dressed dealers.

I arrived at the restaurant and stood at the back of a long line of people probably as hungry as I was. The man immediately behind me told his two sons, who had been asking about the slot machines, to, “Stay away as they'll just take your money.”

Then he looked at me conspiratorially and said, “They'll probably be taking some of mine later on, but I don't want them to know that.”

It was a maelstrom of apparently never ceasing activity in the casino, as well as the 24-hour restaurant in which I hoped to soon eat.

The restaurant line moved slowly-very slowly.

With a television screen to my right tuned to CNN discussing the dangerous political situation in Pakistan, frustrated parents holding an understandably cranky child and the noise of the slots, I feel as if I was in a broken surround sound theater.

A sign at the hostess station perhaps indicated the behavior of some past guests. It read, “Please do not climb over the ropes.” The sign referred to the ropes which blocked presumably very hungry, or really impatient, guests from cutting to the head of the line.

With casino security everywhere in plain sight, I couldn’t help wondering why anyone would even think about engaging in any slightly dubious behavior.

The line stopped moving for a while, and the family with the cranky child got tired of waiting (or gave up hope) and left.

Another family quickly took their place and the mom told her young son, “I'm SURE they have chicken fingers!” (Aah, the universal refrain of children, chicken fingers!)

Eventually, I arrived at the head of the line. But while waiting, I was struck by the contrast between the casino, filled with people intensely focused on slot machines and table games (and with no time for anyone or anything else), and another environment where I had earlier that day spent several hours.

The Atlantic City Rescue Mission

Atlantic City Rescue Mission logo

That was the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, whose director Bill Southrey has time for and a cheery, encouraging word for everyone who crosses his path.

Having been at his post for more than 20 years, Bill Southrey is a rarity in rescue mission leaders. For a number of reasons, most mission administrators seem to move on far more frequently. However, it s evident that Bill’s love for Jesus and Atlantic City's needy is burning just as bright as ever.

Before touring the shelter we sat in Bill's office and shared our individual visions for rescue, and what the Lord is doing in our respective ministries.

As we got to know each other a bit we discovered that we had a lot in common, and I soon felt that I had gained a new friend. What an encouragement that was!

A short while later we toured the building. Wherever we went Bill had an encouraging word for everyone he met, and it was evident that staff and residents alike were glad to see him.

Our tour included the men’s dorm, women’s dorm, dining room and the kitchen. While in the kitchen, staff told Bill what was on the menu for supper. They were so proud of what they'd created they wanted him to try it.

A couple of the guests told me how much the Lord had done in their life since they'd been staying at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. They were obviously excited about Jesus and wanted me to know what He was doing in their lives.

On the Streets of Atlantic City: Help Needed

The next day, I was reminded how many more people need to access the services offered by the Atlantic City Rescue Mission when I was walking through the Midtown section of Atlantic City doing my best to keep warm. A man standing on the sidewalk asked me, “Can you spare some change?”

We started talking. I learned that his name was Paul and he had slept on the Atlantic City boardwalk last night and had gotten very cold.

I suggested that Paul contact the Atlantic City Rescue Mission for help and a place to stay. He hesitated, so I didn’t push the issue. I hoped that my suggestion for him to stay at the mission would come to mind again when he was on the streets with no place to go, hungry and freezing.

I told Paul about Joy Junction and said that if he could get to Albuquerque we would give him a place to stay. He seemed interested.

It was at this time I felt strongly directed by the Lord to give Paul some change.

“Thanks,” he said. “I just want to buy a cup of coffee and a hamburger.”

As we talked I learned that he was trying to get his life back together again. However, he had been in jail for credit card fraud and while there his ex-wife had been shot and killed. Paul said he had no other family. I looked at him and said softly, “You haven’t had an easy life, have you?”

“No sir,” he said.

I asked Paul if he knew Jesus. He said he did. I offered to pray for him. He said, “Sure.”

So right there, surrounded by casinos and stretch limousines we joined hands and touched heaven. After we finished praying and we opened our eyes Paul said, “You know what? I feel better already.”

He paused for a second and looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes before saying, “Now you make sure that you don’t go spend any of your money in those casinos, okay?”

I promised him I wouldn’t and walked on, my body still cold but my heart warmed by being able to share the love of Jesus Christ with a stranger in Atlantic City.

For more information about the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, go to www.acrescuemission.org

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City: A Call to Service." Additional details about "Homeless" are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.