Hello,
As our little faith has grown by leaps and bounds these last few months we receive occasional requests regarding our history, faith background, and qualifications for ministry.
This is a quick summary - but I will add to this information as time allows, and I hope to receive permission to include a couple of photographs.
Our ministry formally began approximately 20 years ago, thanks to the extraordinary example and life choices expressed by the family of John Hubertz. His blessed father Carl (deceased, 2001) and his blessed mother Bernice reacted to a life crisis involving John not by rejection, judgement, or anything remotely resembling "tough love", but by expressing absolute and unconditional acceptance of his new life circumstances. John's life had spiralled suddenly from apparent success and stability to a whirling mess of confusion, obvious issues with his mental health, and at that time, serious alcohol use and drug addiction.
Not for a moment - not for an instant, did Mr and Mrs Hubertz consider turning John away, setting boundaries that would result in rejection, or join the chorus of voices that demanded his immediate expulsion from their lives and the lives of normal human society.
So, John lived - not well, but he lived, at the home he grew up in. He rattled in and out of their lives for several years, until thanks to God's unearned grace, their ceaseless prayers and the help of some serious professionals, John's life began to stabilize and return to a new normal.
They did this despite an unending barrage of friends, family, television "experts" and popular addiction and mental health advice that demanded they demand John instantly change or reject him permanently from their home and their lives.
This advice fell on deaf ears - and their love continued to flow, like a wellspring of hope and healing.
During these dark times, they also encouraged John to bring home his friends from the streets and alleys, from the liquor stores and seedy bars, from the drug houses and those strange lonely places where the throwaways of society wander this great nation.
And when he did begin to bring "friends" home, they ignored their obvious strangeness, their intoxication, their smell and their appearance. Hot food and showers and a warm bed were offered to one and all. And that humble but large home on Palisade Drive in Fort Wayne became a place of miracles - of healing, of hope and of courage and of faith. Not the faith of Sunday mornings and TV preachers, but the faith of Jesus -- the faith of miracles and truth and God's saving grace.
And the miracles you should have seen the MIRACLES! Miracles abided in this house and were witnessed by all who visited in those wonderful days.
John's condition and mental state had steadily improved and by 2004 he and some friends from the Carriage House Clubhouse in Fort Wayne (a facility for life-skill improvement and social engagement for the mentally ill) decided to expand on the mission and values of Carl and Bernice and begin actively expressing their philosophy, their values, and the philosophies and values of the clubhouse system (an internationally recognized mental health therapeutic society with certified facilities worldwide).
John and his friends formed a loose-knit not for profit family company they called "Right Hand Enterprises" - and their motto became "Helping People Help Each Other."
The core principles of the Hubertz household, the Carriage House clubhouse, and of Right Hand Enterprises (RHE) are expressed in four guarantees to all who walk through the doors:
1. The right of a place to come (without cost, without limitation)
2. The right to meaningful work (if you wish to help, or to obtain a paid job - but this is not required)
3. The right to (form) meaningful relationships (with us and those you meet here and through us)
4. The right (if necessary) of a place to return (for example, if someone is asked to leave due to violence or thievery or causing conflict with others - once things have settled down, they are automatically welcome again)
That is it - four simple rights, and a door that is always open.
As our little faith has grown by leaps and bounds these last few months we receive occasional requests regarding our history, faith background, and qualifications for ministry.
This is a quick summary - but I will add to this information as time allows, and I hope to receive permission to include a couple of photographs.
Our ministry formally began approximately 20 years ago, thanks to the extraordinary example and life choices expressed by the family of John Hubertz. His blessed father Carl (deceased, 2001) and his blessed mother Bernice reacted to a life crisis involving John not by rejection, judgement, or anything remotely resembling "tough love", but by expressing absolute and unconditional acceptance of his new life circumstances. John's life had spiralled suddenly from apparent success and stability to a whirling mess of confusion, obvious issues with his mental health, and at that time, serious alcohol use and drug addiction.
Not for a moment - not for an instant, did Mr and Mrs Hubertz consider turning John away, setting boundaries that would result in rejection, or join the chorus of voices that demanded his immediate expulsion from their lives and the lives of normal human society.
So, John lived - not well, but he lived, at the home he grew up in. He rattled in and out of their lives for several years, until thanks to God's unearned grace, their ceaseless prayers and the help of some serious professionals, John's life began to stabilize and return to a new normal.
They did this despite an unending barrage of friends, family, television "experts" and popular addiction and mental health advice that demanded they demand John instantly change or reject him permanently from their home and their lives.
This advice fell on deaf ears - and their love continued to flow, like a wellspring of hope and healing.
During these dark times, they also encouraged John to bring home his friends from the streets and alleys, from the liquor stores and seedy bars, from the drug houses and those strange lonely places where the throwaways of society wander this great nation.
And when he did begin to bring "friends" home, they ignored their obvious strangeness, their intoxication, their smell and their appearance. Hot food and showers and a warm bed were offered to one and all. And that humble but large home on Palisade Drive in Fort Wayne became a place of miracles - of healing, of hope and of courage and of faith. Not the faith of Sunday mornings and TV preachers, but the faith of Jesus -- the faith of miracles and truth and God's saving grace.
And the miracles you should have seen the MIRACLES! Miracles abided in this house and were witnessed by all who visited in those wonderful days.
John's condition and mental state had steadily improved and by 2004 he and some friends from the Carriage House Clubhouse in Fort Wayne (a facility for life-skill improvement and social engagement for the mentally ill) decided to expand on the mission and values of Carl and Bernice and begin actively expressing their philosophy, their values, and the philosophies and values of the clubhouse system (an internationally recognized mental health therapeutic society with certified facilities worldwide).
John and his friends formed a loose-knit not for profit family company they called "Right Hand Enterprises" - and their motto became "Helping People Help Each Other."
The core principles of the Hubertz household, the Carriage House clubhouse, and of Right Hand Enterprises (RHE) are expressed in four guarantees to all who walk through the doors:
1. The right of a place to come (without cost, without limitation)
2. The right to meaningful work (if you wish to help, or to obtain a paid job - but this is not required)
3. The right to (form) meaningful relationships (with us and those you meet here and through us)
4. The right (if necessary) of a place to return (for example, if someone is asked to leave due to violence or thievery or causing conflict with others - once things have settled down, they are automatically welcome again)
That is it - four simple rights, and a door that is always open.
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