Mission has changed

In 2001, Mission of Hope was founded on Matthew 25:31-46. Gathering in the Ecumenical Center on Third Avenue, people packed in to hear a good message and wonderful worship music, led by gifted volunteers.

Later, moving into the current First Avenue site in 2004, countless men and women (including the formerly incarcerated) gave their time and talent to convert a pretty hopeless building into a beautiful place where people felt loved, received clothing and home-cooked meals and attended Bible study or worship services Saturday and Sunday.

In a recent Gazette article about Mission of Hope, Dwyer references 'the past creating a reputation,” 'being committed to improve management,” 'taking significant steps to be good neighbors,” and 'managing it in a way that gives us the witness we need to provide.” One would think the 'former” leadership did nothing to achieve these things. This is an insult to the volunteers who birthed this ministry. These references discount what others have done in the past to build up this ministry and are a dismissal of the lives that have been transformed because of it.

The original 'vision” has changed. Now a meal site and place for Bible study, things are different from what they were. As 'new management” moves on, it's my hope they change the name of their new ministry to protect and preserve the original vision (and the people who were part of it) to better reflect their current philosophy.

Susan Furman Miller

Cedar Rapids

Former Mission of Hope board member and volunteer