"A Living Ministry"
July 21, 2023
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23 “The City Mission Maintenance Department is about more than just accomplishing tasks,” said Director of Supportive Services, Jason Johnson. “It’s an organic, living ministry that God provides through Paul.” He was speaking about Paul Boardley, City Mission’s Maintenance Manager for the past 8 years, and the small team of City Mission residents he leads to maintain the buildings and the grounds around campus. Boardley worked for 36 years in the coal mine before retiring in 2011. He was ready to relax and play golf and enjoy his retirement, but God had a different plan for his life. Once he reluctantly accepted the position as Maintenance Manager at City Mission, he realized immediately that it was not just a job. It was a ministry! “Every day, God gives me the opportunity to come alongside the guys I work with,” said Boardly. “It’s really a blessing. The most important thing I do at the Mission every day is to let these guys know how much I love and care about them. And to let them know that we’re a team – a brotherhood. I’m so thankful every day for these guys.” Last month, Boardley’s maintenance crew fulfilled 78 work orders all over campus, with jobs ranging from changing a light bulb, to hanging blinds, to painting – anything that is needed. “The number’s not important,” Boardley explained. “It’s about getting done what the Mission needs to keep going.” But the Mission Maintenance crew saves City Mission thousands and thousands of dollars on jobs that would have otherwise had to be contracted out to vendors. This past week, Boardley and his team of three residents, Adam, Drew, and Eric, worked in our Women’s Shelter. They fixed a leaky toilet and replaced the damaged floor around it as well as part of the ceiling in the room below it. They also installed a brand-new sink in the bathroom and replaced a rotted-out window. Additionally, they serviced all of the window air-conditioning units in the Women’s Shelter. Before coming to City Mission from the Washington County Jail two months ago, Adam owned his own plumbing and construction business, so he has all the skills needed to do professional work all over campus. “I lost everything prior to coming here,” Adam explained. “I lost my business and all of my equipment, but now none of that really matters. This place has changed my life. God really changed me for the better, and I’m getting it all back tenfold.” At first, Adam was reluctant to come to a homeless shelter. “But this place is more like a home than a homeless shelter,” he said. “It’s a powerful place. Everybody here is so compassionate and open to listening to my thoughts and feelings and opinions. That’s pretty awesome. I used to keep everything bottled up. Being here has really helped me to open up.” Adam is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Mission by using his construction skills to take care of the building and the grounds around campus. “It’s really satisfying to be able to give back,” he said. “This place has helped us. The least we can do is to do a good job and do things right.” And today, his future looks bright. “Anything I do for the rest of my life is going to be centered around Christ.” Drew came to City Mission 3 months ago. After living in California for 20 years, he moved back to the area recently to help care for his mom, who is struggling with dementia. When she moved into a nursing home, he started drinking heavily and realized that he couldn’t stop on his own, so he went to rehab in Aliquippa. But that proved to be too far from his mom, so as soon as he could, he came to City Mission. And he visits her every chance he gets. “I’m really impressed with Drew’s dedication to visiting his mom,” said Boardley. Twenty-some years ago, Drew moved out to California to help get away from the influences that were leading him down the road to addiction. “It was a sort of geographical cure,” he explained. For the most part, it worked. He had some bumps along the way, but he was able to work and develop years of experience in construction while living in California. With a degree in Aeronautics and decades of experience in construction, Drew brings a well-rounded skills and knowledge base to the Maintenance crew. On June 25, Drew and Adam were both baptized at the Porter Pillow and Peggie Beaver-Pillow Chapel on City Mission campus. It was a life-changing moment for both of them. Eric, the third member of the Maintenance crew, has been at City Mission for just over three months. This is his second stay at the Mission. “I was successful when I left here the first time,” he said. “It wasn’t that it was unsuccessful. How many times to Peter deny Him? We all have faults. We all have setbacks.” After he left the Mission a few years ago, Eric ended up back in the Washington County Jail. While he was there, he attended every Bible study he could. “In jail,” he added, “the whole time I just felt this yearning to come back to the Mission and to be closer to God.” “It’s hard to even put into words how I feel about this place,” he said. “The Mission has helped me in the process of completely getting out of my own way. It’s given me an opportunity to figure out how to love other people. To take the focus off of myself and put it on others in a truthful way. Mercy is love in action. If I can show mercy to others, then I’ll receive mercy in return. I’m just trying to figure out how to do it on a daily basis. And whenever I’m here at the Mission, it’s not about me.” “Every job is important,” explained Boardley, “when you do it for the Lord. God has us all here at the Mission for a reason. It’s not a coincedence. This is our chance to honor God with our lives. And God is doing tremendous work here at the Mission – changing lives, reuniting families, and saving souls.” You can help further the ministry at City Mission. We need your help to do what we do every day. Visit citymission.org to find out how you can help.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23 “The City Mission Maintenance Department is about more than just accomplishing tasks,” said Director of Supportive Services, Jason Johnson. “It’s an organic, living ministry that God provides through Paul.” He was speaking about Paul Boardley, City Mission’s Maintenance Manager for the past 8 years, and the small team of City Mission residents he leads to maintain the buildings and the grounds around campus. Boardley worked for 36 years in the coal mine before retiring in 2011. He was ready to relax and play golf and enjoy his retirement, but God had a different plan for his life. Once he reluctantly accepted the position as Maintenance Manager at City Mission, he realized immediately that it was not just a job. It was a ministry! “Every day, God gives me the opportunity to come alongside the guys I work with,” said Boardly. “It’s really a blessing. The most important thing I do at the Mission every day is to let these guys know how much I love and care about them. And to let them know that we’re a team – a brotherhood. I’m so thankful every day for these guys.” Last month, Boardley’s maintenance crew fulfilled 78 work orders all over campus, with jobs ranging from changing a light bulb, to hanging blinds, to painting – anything that is needed. “The number’s not important,” Boardley explained. “It’s about getting done what the Mission needs to keep going.” But the Mission Maintenance crew saves City Mission thousands and thousands of dollars on jobs that would have otherwise had to be contracted out to vendors. This past week, Boardley and his team of three residents, Adam, Drew, and Eric, worked in our Women’s Shelter. They fixed a leaky toilet and replaced the damaged floor around it as well as part of the ceiling in the room below it. They also installed a brand-new sink in the bathroom and replaced a rotted-out window. Additionally, they serviced all of the window air-conditioning units in the Women’s Shelter. Before coming to City Mission from the Washington County Jail two months ago, Adam owned his own plumbing and construction business, so he has all the skills needed to do professional work all over campus. “I lost everything prior to coming here,” Adam explained. “I lost my business and all of my equipment, but now none of that really matters. This place has changed my life. God really changed me for the better, and I’m getting it all back tenfold.” At first, Adam was reluctant to come to a homeless shelter. “But this place is more like a home than a homeless shelter,” he said. “It’s a powerful place. Everybody here is so compassionate and open to listening to my thoughts and feelings and opinions. That’s pretty awesome. I used to keep everything bottled up. Being here has really helped me to open up.” Adam is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Mission by using his construction skills to take care of the building and the grounds around campus. “It’s really satisfying to be able to give back,” he said. “This place has helped us. The least we can do is to do a good job and do things right.” And today, his future looks bright. “Anything I do for the rest of my life is going to be centered around Christ.” Drew came to City Mission 3 months ago. After living in California for 20 years, he moved back to the area recently to help care for his mom, who is struggling with dementia. When she moved into a nursing home, he started drinking heavily and realized that he couldn’t stop on his own, so he went to rehab in Aliquippa. But that proved to be too far from his mom, so as soon as he could, he came to City Mission. And he visits her every chance he gets. “I’m really impressed with Drew’s dedication to visiting his mom,” said Boardley. Twenty-some years ago, Drew moved out to California to help get away from the influences that were leading him down the road to addiction. “It was a sort of geographical cure,” he explained. For the most part, it worked. He had some bumps along the way, but he was able to work and develop years of experience in construction while living in California. With a degree in Aeronautics and decades of experience in construction, Drew brings a well-rounded skills and knowledge base to the Maintenance crew. On June 25, Drew and Adam were both baptized at the Porter Pillow and Peggie Beaver-Pillow Chapel on City Mission campus. It was a life-changing moment for both of them. Eric, the third member of the Maintenance crew, has been at City Mission for just over three months. This is his second stay at the Mission. “I was successful when I left here the first time,” he said. “It wasn’t that it was unsuccessful. How many times to Peter deny Him? We all have faults. We all have setbacks.” After he left the Mission a few years ago, Eric ended up back in the Washington County Jail. While he was there, he attended every Bible study he could. “In jail,” he added, “the whole time I just felt this yearning to come back to the Mission and to be closer to God.” “It’s hard to even put into words how I feel about this place,” he said. “The Mission has helped me in the process of completely getting out of my own way. It’s given me an opportunity to figure out how to love other people. To take the focus off of myself and put it on others in a truthful way. Mercy is love in action. If I can show mercy to others, then I’ll receive mercy in return. I’m just trying to figure out how to do it on a daily basis. And whenever I’m here at the Mission, it’s not about me.” “Every job is important,” explained Boardley, “when you do it for the Lord. God has us all here at the Mission for a reason. It’s not a coincedence. This is our chance to honor God with our lives. And God is doing tremendous work here at the Mission – changing lives, reuniting families, and saving souls.” You can help further the ministry at City Mission. We need your help to do what we do every day. Visit citymission.org to find out how you can help.
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