Worthy Music Ministries Christmas Eve Concert @ Tacoma Rescue Mission

It was Christmas Eve 2009 that I first saw Dylan & Dulcinea Hatch hiding behind the Christmas Tree at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.  Well, they weren't hiding but it kinda' of looked like they were.  I was gearing up to begin recording my newest CD I'm Not Dead Yet and when I heard their harmonies I realized the purpose for being at the Mission that year was not just to sing.  It was to meet them and eventually record them singing backup on my CD.  Today, Dulcinea and Dylan, their grandparents Norma and Mike are like family and I'm proud to say I'm their friend.

Dulcinea and Dylan Hatch Christmas 2009

Every Christmas reminds me of all the Christmas' that came before it.  Some Christmas' there were tons of presents under the tree and stockings stuffed to their fullest.  Other Christmas' there have been no gifts at all but I was still blessed.

Jerry Corelli Christmas 1974

This year I was given the privilege, through Worthy Music Ministries, to once again sing at the Tacoma Rescue Mission for their Christmas Eve Dinner.  For some who may sing at Rescue Missions their thoughts may be, "There but the Grace of God go I."  When I sing there it's, "There for the Grace of God I've been."

Through Worthy Music Ministries I've ministered in song at the Tacoma Rescue Mission 7 times in 2010.  There hasn't been one time when at least 10 people have come up to me and thanked me for singing there, or told me that a particular song I wrote and sang meant something to them. 

I was surprised this year to see fewer people attending the dinner.  This Thanksgiving there were thousands who attended the dinner at the Tacoma Rescue Mission and for Christmas I don't think there were more than 300 who came through in the 3 hours they served dinner.  My hope is that many of those who didn't attend where able to spend Christmas with family or friends.

Dulcinea Hatch Christmas 2010

This year at the Tacoma Rescue Mission Dylan and Dulcinea Hatch, Chuck Worthy and myself were scheduled to sing Christmas songs throughout the dinner time.  We gave away about 100 CD's this time and I especially enjoyed relaxing and listening to Dylan and Dulcinea's two sets and Chuck Worthy's closing set.  Dylan, Dulcinea and Chuck seemed perfect in their delivery with special renditions of Christmas favorites.

Jerry Corelli Christmas 2010

Homelessness in America has grown considerably with so many losing their jobs and homes in these hard economic times.  We tend to think of the homeless as people with no goal or ambition in their lives.  Perhaps the word "lazy" also comes to mind.  There's no doubt that a few choose to be homeless, I know because I've met them when I was homeless.  However, that few is probably less than 1%.  I don't know what the percentage is for those who have mental or drug addiction issues, or issues dealing with self-esteem just trying to raise themselves up from the curb.  I do know that homelessness is a place most would rather not be if they had a choice.  Perhaps in a few weeks, months or in a year many who are homeless today will have more choices to make.  Perhaps a job will open up and they can make the choice to take it.  Perhaps they have a job but can't save enough to get into an apartment or rent a home.

 

My hope, my prayer is they will make a choice to follow Christ.  I can't guarantee that by choosing Christ they will no longer be homeless but I can guarantee that through Christ all of life's struggles and hardships are so much easier to bare.  I know because I've walked in their shoes.

Worthy Music Ministries Thanksgiving Concert @ Tacoma Rescue Mission

It would certainly be my prayer to walk into the Tacoma Rescue Mission and discover no one showed up for dinner because everyone had a place to go for Thanksgiving.  I wouldn't mind at all singing for just the staff but this time they had two large rooms with tables to hold the over 2000 meals they served this Thanksgiving.

This is my 101st post and National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week too.  

Over the course of the last week or so I've had people commenting on the fact I would on the Worthy Music Ministries' Showcase Stage at the Tacoma Rescue Mission on Thanksgiving Day.  They were all wonderful comments yet, to me, with a surprising theme.  Many of the comments I've received have mentioned the sacrifice made to minister and sing at the TRM than to be home with my family.

Sacrifice,what sacrifice?  Years ago I sat in that same Dinning Hall and enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner that more than warmed my body and soul.  Many people would look around at those eating a warm meal and see, through their eyes, the lowest of our society and say, "They need to get a job!", but not me.  I had a job and I had a car but that was pretty much it.  I worked nights loading trucks and for a time I just slept in my car, woke up and drove to a truck stop to eat breakfast and clean up.  And that was during the winter.  

Finally, one day I hear that a new Tacoma Rescue Mission building was built and they had more beds.  With the TRM there I was able to eat and not have to spend money at the truck stop.  I used to shower at the truck stop but that cost money too.  At the mission I could shower for free.  It didn't take that long and I was finally able to save enough money to get an apartment and "Get off the streets".

So for me it's no sacrifice when I sing at the Rescue Mission.  For me it's an honor to sing and minister to those who eat and volunteer there.   To me, it's like I'm singing for family.  I seem to share a bond with those at the mission because I've sat where they are sitting.  This Thanksgiving I felt so fortunate to sing there I decided to give away CD's to anyone who wanted one.  We ended up giving away 50!  I know we would have given away more but many people didn't know about the give away.

Dylan & Dulcinea Hatch

I'm not the only one to go to the mission and sing on Thanksgiving too.  Dylan and Dulcinea Hatch give their time and talent as well as do their grandparents' Mike and Norma.  Chuck and Linda Worthy of Worthy Music Ministries aren't there because they have to be either.  They are there because they want to minister to everyone at the mission.  At times it's frustrating and confusing because of miss-communication but it's always worth it for them in the end. 

Dylan & Dulcinea Hatch

As Dylan and Dulcinea sang I roamed the Dinning room to listen to sound levels.  Time after time I was stopped by someone enjoying their meal to tell me how much they enjoyed their music.  I can't tell you how many times I was asked if Dylan and Dulcinea have their own CD.

Dulcinea Hatch

Dylan Hatch

Jerry Corelli

Worthy Music Ministries has their own YouTube channel now, WorthyMusicMinistry, where you can listen to most all the songs we did at the mission.  In addition they have videos of other fine Northwest Artist that have appeared on the Worthy Music Ministries' Showcase Stage.

Jerry Corelli

Jerry Corelli

So, in response to the sacrifice.  How can I be sacrificing anything when I'm with family?  Dylan and Dulcinea, Mike and Norma, Chuck and Linda and my wife Liv, we're family.  The volunteers and those eating their meals, we're family.  So, on Thanksgiving 2010, I was with my family.

Worthy Music Ministries Showcase @ Tacoma Rescue Mission

Saturday August 21st Worthy Music Ministries Showcase once again provided music at the Tacoma Rescue Mission, New Life Square.

Take a look at this video about the Tacoma Rescue Mission and how they're impacting the community.

I really must give Worthy Music Ministries a high five when it comes to their dedication to ministering at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.  This is an organization that produces top quality stage events at the Tacoma Freedom Fair, Seattle Center, Puyallup Fair, Orting Pumpkin Fest and the list goes on and on.  There's nothing in it for them except the sweat of bringing in all the equipment, setting it up and running it for an hour.  Then after a little less than an hour they tear it all down, pack it up, take it home, unload it again and store it for the next event.  In doing all that they receive no money.

Chuck Worthy started off the evening with 3 songs.  I recorded all of his songs but, because of where we had to position the camera, a gentleman sat down right in front of it and for Chuck's set we have a man eating, and trust me it's not pretty.  The video didn't turn out smooth, mellow and classy but his voice sure sounded that way.  When you're up there singing it's hard to tell if the 100 plus people are listening to you.  But the reality is that everyone enjoys the food and is blessed by the music.

By the time I got up to sing we had about 4 people in front of the camera eating.  Oh well that's what they were there to do.  Toward the end of my set everyone cleared the table and we got a clear shot of me singing "He's Alive" by Don Fransico.

Linda Worthy was able to get pictures without people in the pictures eating but again they came there to eat.

While Chuck dressed with class I put on a favorite T-shirt I like and jeans for the evening.  My wife was out of town so she wasn't there to say, "I don't think so!"  There was a moment, around the end of my set, when I thought I'd be seeing police and ambulances out the cafeteria windows again while I sang.  A gentleman in a wheelchair was attempting to cross the street but decided to turn back.  So, all in all, the evening went without a hitch.

For me singing at the Tacoma Rescue Mission never gives me a feeling of singing for a lower class of listeners.  I've had to sleep and eat at the Tacoma Rescue Mission and I thank God TRM was there for me.  It's not "There but the Grace of God go I", it's "There with the Grace of God I've been".

Tacoma Rescue Mission January 23rd

I once again had the privilege to minister in music through Worthy Music Ministries at the Tacoma Rescue Mission last Saturday.  The above picture is wall paper on one of the walls in the eating area.

I was the first to sing and share what God has done in my life.

G-Write was up next and was one of the best Christian Rappers I've had the honor to share the stage with.

Brain & Bonnie Foxley closed the evening but were cut short due to time restraints.  It was unfortunate that they couldn't do an entire set but I look forward to hearing them again in the future.  They have a really tight band and great sound.