BC was referred to us by a man we had gotten to know over the years who was also chronically homeless. We came to Bojangles to talk with JH to begin the process of getting him off the street. He brought BC with him and asked us to help him instead.
BC is a man in his 60’s, who has been through many life challenges that left him homeless and with health struggles. At our first meeting when we asked BC how we could help him, BC asked us if we would take him to church. I told him I would be there Sunday morning at 9:30, and if he met me at Bojangles, I would take him. He showed up in nice pants, a shirt and tie and his hair neatly combed. He was ready to go! We have given BC a ride to church almost ever Sunday ever since that first meeting, and after a month of attending, BC decided to get baptized – in the river – in chilly and windy weather! He was not fazed at all at the elements, but focused entirely on getting baptized and getting back on his feet! After being baptized, he disappeared into the woods and came back out all dressed and ready to go on with his day.
BC has come to the outreach on all the Saturdays that he is able to make it there. It is a priority for him and he has become a member of the outreach. He brings his Bible and participates in the Bible study we have before walking around. It was apparent that BC needed shelter from the elements as they were having a negative affect on his health. It was hard picking him up for church, taking him out to eat afterwards and then returning him to the woods. I brought him home to stay with us after our second meeting, until we could find a place for him to live, which was only a few weeks away. I contacted Advocacy to Alleviate Homelessness, one of our collaborators and resources who was by our side as we both worked to find BC housing and other resources. BC went with me to Oak City Cares, another one of our resources, to start the intake process for different types of assistance. I searched on Facebook Marketplace for a home or roommate situation that was within the small disability check he receives each month. We hit gold when a landlord responded and had a condo that had a group living situation with 3 other roommates, and he was looking for the 4th roommate. Within a few weeks, BC moved into his new space with his own room and bathroom and a short walk to a bus stop.
BC was very focused on the mission he felt he was to pursue – sharing how Jesus had changed his life, with anyone who would listen. This is a hard task for BC as it is not easy to understand him. He has lung damage from a chemical exposure in an industrial accident many years ago, along with other physical challenges. In his 20’s, he fell off a building he was doing construction on, was on life support for several months and after coming off, they had to rebuild his pelvis and legs. He has problems with the prosthetic device they inserted in his knees to allow him to walk.
With all these issues, BC continues to walk around with us on Saturdays, with his oxygen tank and cane, visiting with individuals he knew and became friends with while he was homeless, and when he encounters a new person he has not met, he shares his story and prays with them that Jesus will come into their lives and they will be restored. I have noticed that when BC prays for others, they understand him with a clarity that is not there prior to or after he prays! Many of the homeless, store and restaurant employees know him and give him a warm greeting. An incident with one person reflects the power of BC’s ministry. A man recognized BC during our Bible study time and made his way to him with tremendous joy and gratefulness. He proudly announced to us that he was now a successful Realtor and business owner who had met BC some 20 years ago when he too lived on the streets. He stated sincerely that we were in the presence of a powerful godly man.
BC used to have him come to the storage facility that he ran his landscaping business from, which also provided BC shelter off the street. They would study the Bible, pray, and worship together. He claimed BC’s encouragement and mentorship were key in his recovery from his bad choices and habits. This is one of the many testimonies we have heard from others about BC.
As wonderful as it has been to get BC into a home and off the street, his health challenges continue and he has been in and out of the hospital. We moved into an advocate role for him while talking to doctors and nurses after taking him to Urgent Care and then the hospital, following one of our meetings, and observing their interactions with him. They could not understand him and assumed that he spoke another language. He does speak Spanish; however, his main language is English. Because they could not understand him, they did not know what was going on, why he was there, or how to treat him. We stepped in and told them what we had observed and asked questions. BC seemed relieved to finally have a voice. He had been in doctors offices and hospitals while he was homeless; however, they would just release him as they didn’t know what to do with him. We have been determined to get to the bottom of his health challenges and to help him get his voice back so that when he speaks, others can easily understand him.
Initially, although BC was excited to have assistance with this, he was sad at the same time. BC has a daughter in her 30’s that lives in the area. She used to help him with this, but then disappeared and he has very limited contact with her. He believes she has changed her phone number, and possibly where she lives. He has 2 grandsons that he misses and wants to take them fishing and spend time with them. We may be temporarily filling this role as an advocate, which he needs, but hope that one day, his daughter will come back and they can have the relationship he desires.
We have learned a lot about his health challenges; however, this is from countless doctors appointments and hospital visits. Although we are making progress, BC is spiraling downward. I can only imagine how tired he must be from his breathing issues, the pain he has in his knees and not being able to be as mobile as he would like. Being in constant pain over an extended period of time, and not having the ability to communicate effectively with others has got to be stressful, and can mess with the mind.
We are trying to find a place for BC closer to the Bojangles we meet at so that it will be easier to assist him. With a 30 minute drive each way, and at times, 2 trips each day, it has become harder to assist him with his needs. We are still praying for him, and hoping to find a place that is closer by the end of the year.