It’s Friday, and Shelley and Glenn Meadows are ready for their date night. But instead of heading out to the newest restaurant in Nashville, they’re on their way to Nashville Rescue Mission. For the last nine years, Shelley and Glenn have spent their date night serving at the Mission—not meals, but coffee, fellowship, and fun.
“A friend at church mentioned they were starting a Friday night coffeehouse at the Mission for the men in their Life Recovery Program,” said Shelley. “She said there would be food, music, and fellowship. So, Glenn and I decided to go. We went the third week, and we’ve been going ever since.”
“We also volunteer at our church and several other organizations. But we get more out of being at the Mission than anything else we do,” shared Shelley. “Glenn and I get a chance to see first-hand how God can take a broken man, give him hope, and watch him fight to stay alive.
“Miracles are happening every day at the Mission. People are saved. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
While Glenn Meadows, one of Nashville’s most highly sought-after sound engineers, runs the soundboard at the Friday night coffeehouse at the Mission, Shelley brings snacks, helps serve food, and has started crocheting hats and scarves for the men. This has become their ministry.
“I’ll never forget Bobby, who we met during that first year,” recalled Shelley. “He was a big, ole teddy bear of a man who had spent a long time in prison. He had no idea what I was doing when I asked him his favorite color.”
“As Christmas neared, I handed him a present—inside was a blue scarf I had crocheted for him. In my mind, it was just a little thing. But as he said to me, with tears in his eyes, ‘This is the first Christmas present I’ve received since I was a baby,’ I knew it meant so much more than words could ever say. It changed me. It changed us. I can’t imagine our lives without volunteering at the Mission.”
Regardless of whether you’re serving a meal, chopping vegetables, crocheting hats, working a soundboard, teaching a class, mentoring a homeless student—there is something for you to do at the Mission. It’s a place where anyone and everyone can get involved. You can use your talent or skill to help someone in need of hope. It’s so easy to love on people. All you need is a little time and a heart to help.
Visit nashvillerescuemission.org/get-involved for more details.
