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River Cleanses Their Lives

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

TAMPA - This is no ordinary soup kitchen.

For starters, it doesn't serve soup.

"I don't think I've ever served a bowl of soup here, ever," declared Albert Beckman, pastor of River of Grace Ministries, a little church with no steeple at 2801 N. Tampa St.

Before he was ordained, Albert was the ministry's chef. He's no short-order cook. He appreciates a good sauce, a pretty presentation and the freshest of vegetables.

Thanks to Sweetbay Supermarkets, which supplies River of Grace with free food, they work magic in this kitchen.

"Just because somebody is homeless and in need of a meal doesn't mean they should eat any old thing," he says.

"Especially when you're attaching God to it. We want to show them the love of God, so we put that love into how we prepare the meals."

A fellow minister calls River of Grace one of Tampa's best-kept secrets. For 31 years, this north-of-downtown mission has opened its doors and its heart to the city's down and out.

It was founded by the late Rev. Bill Brown and his wife, Ruth, who led the Pentecostal congregation for two decades under the name Abundant Life Ministries. After Bill died in December 1999, his widow turned to church volunteer Ruth Beckman and nudged her.

You have the love and the calling to work with a church that serves the homeless, Ruth Brown told her. Just pray on it.

Ruth Beckman didn't have to pray too long. The former schoolteacher earned her master's in theology at Life Christian University in Tampa and was ordained soon after. She served as pastor of the struggling church for several years until Albert, her 35-year-old son, took over in November.

She has gone back to work as a district legislative assistant for state Rep. Trey Traviesa but still serves the church as associate pastor.

Three Meals A Day Offered

The congregation is mainly homeless men, who come by bike or foot for worship, counseling, food, shelter and help in finding jobs. They come for physical needs and for spiritual help, attending services Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m.

Meals weren't so regular a few years back. But now, River of Grace serves breakfast every day. Volunteers hand out lunch bags to those working day labor and more sacks to those who stop by at noon. Every night of the week, they cook a hot dinner.

For some of the men, the church is home. At night, pews double as beds. The city allows up to 40 men to sleep in the sanctuary. A good thing, because there are fewer and fewer places for the homeless to go - even though the need for more beds just keeps growing.

Seems River of Grace got itself in a spot of trouble a few weeks ago. An anonymous tipster complained to the city's fire marshal about possible code violations.

When inspectors visited, they found that the building - classified as a dormitory - did not have a proper fire alarm system. It also needed a sprinkler inside the hood over the kitchen stove.

So the Beckmans had two choices: shut down or pay the "fire watch" fee of $255 a night for an on-duty firefighter until the problem was corrected. It would cost about $12,000 to get the right systems installed.

Closing down wasn't an option. But the unexpected cost "might as well have been $1 million," Albert says. The ministry operates on an annual budget of $157,000, supported by local church partners and individuals.

When the Beckmans first contacted me, things looked bleak. But now it appears they will overcome this latest obstacle.

Supporters came through when the Beckmans started making calls. Among them: the congregation at River of Life Church and Douglas Wingate, president of Life Christian University. A system is in place now. Capt. Bill Wade of Tampa Fire Rescue said Friday that pending the final hookup and inspection, all systems will be "good to go" at River of Grace.

The Beckmans say they've raised about two-thirds of that estimated $12,000.

So what next? With the economy careening downhill, the Beckmans expect to be feeding and caring for a lot more people in the coming months. They used to serve about 1,500 to 1,800 meals a week; that number has jumped to about 2,900. They know they can't slow down.

Sites Would Allow For Expansion

So here's their dream. River of Grace sits at Tampa and Warren streets. Two commercial buildings and one residential site are up for sale. For about $750,000, they could purchase the properties and expand their operation to include an 80-bed dormitory, a counseling center and a job development program.

"It's a good deal for the community," Ruth says. "Because our mission is to get these men back on their feet and become self-sufficient. We start by getting them right with the Lord, and we work from there."

She says of all the men who come through the ministry, a few dozen a year make that transition. Ruth says it would be worth all the effort if just one person claimed a victory over drugs, alcohol, porn addiction and homelessness.

"God says give a helping hand. That's what we're doing here. We show them how God will walk them through this," she says. "We believe in restoration because we see it work here all the time."

Turning Around His Life

Frank Craven, 54, is one of those restored at River of Grace. He used to work in air-conditioning repair. Then crack cocaine got a hold of him, and his life shattered. He lost his marriage, his job and his self-worth.

Last year, he was living on the streets, sleeping in front of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, under bridges, in alleys. Then someone directed him to River of Grace. He ways he wasn't a religious man. But when he came here, he felt peace. And he felt the desire to read the Bible and rededicate his life.

He has been clean for six months. He works day labor and volunteers at River of Grace. He hopes to be on his own soon.

"I'm an example how things can change if you work at it and trust in God," he says. "I've told many people that Jesus saved my soul, but Pastor Ruth and Pastor Albert saved my life."

Albert says he gets his inspiration every day from people such as Frank. Every day that he sees a broken person take a step forward in hope, it gives him joy. He doesn't concentrate on the heartaches - and there are plenty in a homeless ministry - but on those success stories.

The Beckmans invite you to pay a visit to their humble church. This is the real deal. And they need your help to make their vision a reality.

To donate to the ministry's campaign to expand its services, call River of Grace at (813) 274-3081 or go to riverofgrace.org. See program in action on Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" segment at 9 a.m. Sunday on WFLA-TV. Michelle Bearden can be reac

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