Story of the Week: Brother Bryan Mission
Bedouins International has been telling stories from all around the planet during the past couple of years. In 2010, we’re hoping to connect with more local ministries in the Birmingham area while still staying involved with ministries overseas and in other parts of the States. So for this week’s story, we wanted to feature an organization that is literally right around the corner from our office—in fact, we can see the Brother Bryan Mission from the 5th floor window of the Bedouins International loft!
For nearly 70 years, Brother Bryan Mission has been helping homeless and impoverished men from Birmingham get off the streets and transition into a better life. As a non-profit, nondenominational Christian organization, BBM believes that the “life-changing power of God and His Word” is a vital aspect to recovering from issues such as depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse. The Mission is a long-term shelter with room for 66 men who are required to have a job in return for a place to stay. Besides the basics of three nutritious meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and a safe place to live, BBM also offers counseling services, access to AA, NA, and Celebrate Recovery meetings, nightly chapel services, transportation to work, and seminars on life skills. Their programs are designed to help men “learn to live responsible, productive and independent lives and to become contributing members of the Church, the family and the community within 9 to 24 months.”
The motto of BBM is “Changing lives through Christ-centered recovery,” which has been the goal from the very beginning. The mission was named after James Bryan, a pastor in Birmingham who was well-known for his good deeds such as running soup kitchens for the homeless and handing out presents to poor children in the Christmas season. He earned the nickname “Brother Bryan” because he always addressed people as either brother or sister and ministered to both the physical and spiritual needs of his community. His last wish before he died was to start a shelter where homeless men could find a meal, a bed, and God’s love. Brother Bryan Mission was founded shortly before he died in 1940 and has moved locations four times until finding its current location on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.
Brother Bryan Mission is supported solely by donations. Their website tells more about the history of the mission and includes directions on how to donate your time or money. Though it may be one of the oldest non-profits in the area, BBM is keeping the community up to date through its Facebook page, Twitter account, and blog.
Each week Bedouins International posts a story. Maybe it’s one we’ve helped to tell, or a story we hope to tell, or it maybe it’s just a story we think deserves to be told. In any case, we hope you find them inspiring and motivating. Read more stories here.
Tags: birmingham, Brother Bryan, Brother Bryan Mission, homeless, James Bryan, shelter, story of the week