A little before seven in the morning, Rob is getting the coffee ready at Christ’s Body Ministries. Soon, guests will come through the doors looking for breakfast, something warm to drink, and a place to sit. Rob is there to greet them, pour their coffee, and help with the cream and sugar. Some like a little. Others like a lot. He’s happy to make it just how they like it.

During a recent conversation, Rob was four days into his assignment at the coffee station. He described the work as routine, but his reason for showing up goes much deeper.

“First and foremost,” he said, “it’s all about serving those in need.”

Rob knows what it means to be on the receiving end of that care. His connection with Christ’s Body Ministries goes back to 2018, when he first received support here. He remembers an interview with Chaplain Copeland and the opportunity to enter the program. Today, he comes back to volunteer, using his time and experience to help the ministry keep serving others.

That history gives his mornings here a personal meaning. He isn’t simply filling a shift. He’s giving back to a community that has been part of his own life for years.

Rob is also involved in our Men’s Ministry and attends the Men’s Roundtable. Between time spent in fellowship and time spent serving, he has found connection with people who share a desire to follow Jesus. He spoke openly about his experience with addiction and how much it means to work alongside people whose priority is serving God and others.

Greeting guests and helping with breakfast gives him an opportunity to draw closer to God, too. As Rob puts it, serving “keeps me grounded, keeps me safe.”

With experience in the food industry, Rob has skills he’s glad to put to work. But he doesn’t limit himself to one job. Whether he’s needed in the clothing closet, at the coffee station, or filling in for someone else, he’s willing to help.

“I have no problem because it all pays the same,” he said. “It’s doing the will of God.”

That attitude comes through in the middle of the conversation when someone needs more sugar. Rob pauses to help. There’s a thank-you, a you’re-welcome, and then he gets back to talking. It’s a brief exchange, but it says a lot about the kind of care he brings to the morning.

At Christ’s Body Ministries, those moments matter. Taking the time to listen to someone’s request and prepare their coffee the way they enjoy it is a simple way to offer kindness and respect. Rob helps make that welcome personal.

We’re grateful for Rob and the faithful volunteers who show up ready to serve wherever they’re needed. His story is a reminder that receiving help and helping others can be part of the same journey. And sometimes, the opportunity to give back begins with a warm greeting and a cup of coffee.