Bobby’s Story

My sister and I had the great honor of sitting down with Bobby as he humbly, truthfully, and tearfully shared his story. Bobby is homeless and has been for several years. As we crowded into the small office at SOX Place (a homeless youth day shelter where Bobby has volunteered and now is on staff), he gave my sister and me the only two chairs while he chose to sit on a stack of donated water bottles. Through beautiful blue eyes and a face framed by dreads, he began at the beginning.

He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to a mom and dad who were not equipped to be parents. He is one of six kids (his mom had her first baby at 14). His dad is a crack addict, and he lived with his Nana and Papa. With them, he went to church every Sunday and attended private school from 6-8th grade. Even through eyes filled with tears, Bobby graciously says of his mom, “She tried her best, but she never grew up herself”.

As Bobby got older and was faced with loss after loss after loss (his cousin died at six years old, his brother was killed, his stepbrother died at twenty, and his sister passed away in a drunk driving accident at twenty-five), God began to work in him. He said of his older brother, who was a mentor, “He taught me to work with my hands and that my actions speak louder than my words.”

Through a series of moves from Florida to Ohio to Denver, while working as a framer on construction sites, Bobby continued to speak truth to those in his life who he loved and watched making destructive self-choices. He says, “I have two choices…anger or sadness”. He chose to allow his heart to be broken again and again instead of choosing to become bitter through anger. This deliberate choice ended up developing in him a deep tenderness and compassion.

Bobby went to Denver with the intention of working on two construction jobs. He was supposed to have his tools shipped out to him, but in a vindictive act, his ex-girlfriend dumped in the Ohio River everything of value that he needed to work. Even through everything he had been through, that was his lowest point. He was in a city where he knew no one, with no job or ability, as he was now without his tools and was now facing a future of homelessness. “My first day in Denver was my first day homeless. I never expected this. Not in a billion years”. He continues, “I felt like I was in a nightmare, crying out to God – ‘Please let me wake up!’”.

Fast forward a few years. After living in a tent and doing day labor work, Bobby began a connection with SOX Place and forged a genuine friendship with Jordan Robinson, who runs the shelter. Bobby had decided, “The streets can influence me, or I can influence the streets.” He realizes that “Christianity is there to help us heal,” and he “appreciates everything that has happened because (he) wouldn’t be who (he) is today without it.”

Bobby currently lives in a “tiny house” community for the homeless that he helped build. The reality is that theft, violence and drugs still prevail in that place. His dream is to have a piece of land where he can build his own little cabin and live peacefully with his dog, Goku. Bobby doesn’t drink or do drugs. He is not a recovering addict of any sort. He is a precious, Godly man who loves people. He is kind and has answered God’s call to serve the homeless and the “least of these”. Even though loving these people “is tough having to be around so much pain”, he chooses to remain steadfast and give of himself again and again. He believes “the five closest people to you affect your mental growth and character,” and he has no desire to “have power or ultimate influence. That type of person can turn bad. I just try to be righteous”.

We hope that through this GoFundMe page, we can help Bobby with his dream of buying some land and building a home for himself. He will always choose to serve the poor and choose kindness and humility over pride and bitterness. Also, it took quite a bit of cajoling to talk him into even doing this. He is a private and honorable man. He needed to understand that we deeply felt God was calling us to do this. The Lord wants to bless Bobby abundantly for his faithfulness, and we invite you to be a part of that blessing! Please give as extravagantly as the Lord calls you to give!