The SoupMan, Executive Director of the Year???

Hello, my name is Lon Ricker and I’m the Director of Development at the SoupMobile. That’s just a fancy title for saying that I do everything I can to raise the money to support what often seems like outrageous ideas of the SoupMan. It also means that I have passwords to, among other things, his blog site, and today I decided to “take over” and talk about him, the SoupMan (a.k.a., David Timothy).

When I transitioned from stirring spaghetti on Wednesdays to writing grants and other fundraising activities (such as the Celebrate Jesus Christmas event), a few of the other “office workers” quietly lobbied me to “fix” the SoupMan. “He uses too many exclamation points” and “Sometimes he doesn’t use the correct grammar” and “You CAN’T buy personalized license plates for a vehicle you don’t even own yet!” were some of the things that people tried to convince me needed to be fixed. To say the SoupMan is unconventional is a bit of an understatement. (I mean, how many people have the nerve to put a One Million Dollar button on the Donation page of their website? http://soupmobile.org/component/content/article/129)

Face it, David became the Executive Director of the SoupMobile because he STARTED the SoupMobile. Its not because he has a wall full of degrees and credentials. And its not because he had experience running mega-bagillion dollar capital campaigns. And its not even because he climbed the ladder of leadership at other nonprofits. No, its because God put into his heart to feed and shelter the homeless and he’s darn good at it.

You see, when the SoupMan gets an idea of how to help the ones Jesus called the ‘least of these’, he not only throws conventional wisdom aside, but he pretty much ignores it. Don’t get me wrong, he is NOT some loose cannon running around doing crazy things with no thought given. Rather he doesn’t know the word ‘impossible’ and he won’t accept the attitude of “but you’ve never done it before” as reason for not doing it anyway. Like the bumblebee that aerodynamically should not be able to fly, David accomplishes all that he does because “no one told him he can’t fly”.

SoupMobile Village is just one example of people trying to convince David that he should “stick with what he knows best (feeding)” and leave housing the homeless to those with experience. Well, in less than a year we have 3 (THREE!) SoupMobile Village homes up and running and just received notice that funding is on the way for the FOURTH! Ummm, Mr. BumbleBee….ah, never mind you’re already working on SoupMobile Diner.

I can tell you this, I’ve actually had grant requests denied because we don’t follow ALL of the conventions for a “normal” nonprofit agency. It drives me crazy because some of these large foundations look more at “structure” than they do at what we are actually accomplishing. They don’t seem to take notice that nearly 80 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to our mission to “Feed HIS Sheep”. They seem to ignore the fact that for the 7 years that David has been the Executive Director of the SoupMobile, his salary has averaged less than $13,000 per year! (Come to think of it, maybe he’s the Executive Director because no one else WANTS the job.)

Well folks, I’m happy to tell you that has all changed! That’s right; David is not the Executive Director of the SoupMobile because of his credentials. He’s the Executive Director of this growing agency because he is good at it! Because he has a passion for it!!! And BECAUSE of what he has accomplished with his unconventional ways!!!!! (Exclamation points and all!)

And at their 10^th Anniversary Night of Light ceremony, the Center for Nonprofit Management crowned The SoupMan as Executive Director of the Year!!!

And in true SoupMan style, when they made the announcement, and cranked up the Rocky Theme Song, he RAN up to the stage with the enthusiasm and spirit of a man that doesn’t live by conventional wisdom. His ‘style’ of shaping and growing the SoupMobile into what it has become today was affirmed on that night. You don’t have to sit behind a big mahogany desk (we occasionally move the mop bucket out of his office if he’s expecting a guest) or follow some “Roberts Rules of Order” to be acknowledged for the work you are doing. David will often say “if you are doing God’s work, He will help you accomplish it”.

Well, I should probably turn the password to his blog back over to him, but I thought you should know that this unconventional, even a bit quirky man that we know as the "SoupMan" has finally been recognized and validated by his peers. As for me, I’m just proud to call him Friend.

God bless,

Lon

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS FOR JESUS

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Well, that's another Christmas in the books. Or as we like to say at the SoupMobile---Another Christmas for Jesus! How so, you say?

2,000 years ago there was 'No Room at the Inn' for baby Jesus. However in 2010 the SoupMobile made 'Room at the Inn' for hundreds of homeless folks. We just celebrated our 6th Annual CELEBRATE JESUS Christmas event. We took 500 (YES 500) homeless men and women right off the streets of Dallas and put them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel for Christmas. They all received new clothes, fabulous gifts, lots of love and we held a huge mega banquet in their honor. Most important when they woke up on Christmas morning it was in a warm safe bed at the Hyatt---not in a cardboard box under some bridge.

Once again the special guest server at this years event was Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. He was joined by over 1,500 volunteers who came to the Hyatt to help out with the event. For the 2nd year in a row, Lon Ricker was the Chairman of the Celebrate Jesus Christmas event. He did an amazing job as he coordinated and ran this massive event. Our special thanks to Lon for giving of himself to this wonderful cause.

In reality it all keeps coming back to Jesus. HE said "Feed My Sheep." At the SoupMobile we believe he meant more than just food. He also meant love, caring, compassion and shelter. The SoupMobile does this on a daily basis throughout the year. Celebrating Christmas at the Hyatt with our 500 homeless guests is the grand finale of our efforts every year. My special thanks to all the volunteers that attended the event and to all those that supported the SoupMobile during the year.

Yes, it was another 'Christmas for Jesus.' Now its back to 'every day for Jesus.' The SoupMobile is on the front lines on a year around basis as we wage a war against hunger in the Dallas area. Every day we are spreading the love of Jesus as we go about our mission of 'Feeding' and 'Sheltering' the homeless. The SoupMan would be honored if you would join him in 2011 and work shoulder to shoulder with him as we 'Feed HIS Sheep.' For more details about the SoupMobile go to: www.soupmobile.org

May the Lord Bless Bless & Keep You.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Dear SoupFriends,

What's the true meaning of Christmas?

Is it just about Christmas trees, lights, holiday dinner and gifts? Or is it more? For me its all about the birth of Jesus. More specifically its about giving. My wife Shana says it this way, "If you're not giving, you're not living." We know from the Bible that Jesus was all about giving.

So what will you be doing this Christmas? Will you be giving? No I don't mean giving in the 'commercial' sense. I mean giving of yourself to help others in need. I mean reaching out to your fellowman in love. I mean stepping out of your comfort zone to make a real difference in the life of someone less fortunate than yourself.

In just a few days the SoupMobile will be celebrating its 6th Annual SoupMobile Celebrate Jesus Christmas event. We will be taking 500 homeless men and women right off the streets of Dallas and putting them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel. They will all receive new clothes, fabulous gifts, lots of love and we will hold a huge banquet in their honor. Most important is that when they wake up on Christmas morning it will be in a warm safe bed at the Hyatt---not in a cardboard box under some bridge.

How would you like to be part of a group of more than 1,500 volunteers who will be coming to the Hyatt this Christmas. How would you like to join us in making it a magical Christmas for 500 homeless men and women. How would you like to experience the most magical Christmas of your own life. A Christmas of giving---not the giving of gifts but the giving of yourself.

Let this be your year---your Christmas to make a real difference in the life of a homeless person. For more details how to volunteer, go to www.soupmobile.org and click on CELEBRATE JESUS.

Merry Christmas and may the Lord bless and keep you.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

MAYOR WITH A HEART

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

2,000 years ago a child was born in Bethlehem. As this child grew into manhood he did some amazing things. He did miraculous things like turning water into wine. Then he topped that by walking on the water. He went around laying hands on people and healing them. Then he bumped that up a notch & started healing people that he had never seen by simply speaking the Word. Not satisfied with that, he began raising people from the dead. Even that was not enough as he raised himself from the dead. His name---Jesus!

A couple of thousand years later a man was born who would grow up to the Mayor of one of the largest cities in America. His name---Tom Leppert. You might be asking what these two men born 2,000 years apart have in common. The answer is simple---they both have a servant's heart.

At Christmas this year, Mayor Tom Leppert will be attending the banquet at the SoupMobile's 6th Annual Celebrate Jesus Christmas event. Just like we do every year, the SoupMobile will be taking 500 homeless men and women right off the streets of Dallas and putting them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel for Christmas. Yes, I said THE Hyatt Regency. All of our homeless guests will receive new clothes, fabulous gifts, lots of love and we will hold a huge banquet in their honor. Most important is that when they wake up on Christmas morning it will be in a warm safe bed at the Hyatt---not in a cardboard box under some bridge.

Please note that Mayor Leppert isn't coming to the banquet to be served. He is coming to serve! He will be coming in his Tuxedo and he will be the chief server at the Homeless Banquet on Friday December 24th from 12:30PM to 2:30PM. He is coming with a servants heart---just like Jesus would do. Yes, I call him the Mayor with a heart---a heart for reaching out to the ones Jesus called the 'least of these.'

How about you? Care to roll up your sleeves and serve shoulder to shoulder with the Mayor this Christmas? Yes come and help us "Feed HIS Sheep." Come and experience the most magical Christmas of your entire life. Come not to be served---but to serve!

For more details about volunteering at the SoupMobile's 6th Annual Celebrate Jesus Christmas event, go to www.soupmobile.org and click on CELEBRATE JESUS.

May the Lord bless and keep you all.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan