Stories of Hope from the Streets of Denver
A Seat at the Table is the official podcast of Christ’s Body Ministries, sharing real stories of transformation, dignity, and faith from the front lines of homelessness in Denver. Each episode brings you into conversations with people who have lived on the streets, volunteers who serve faithfully, and pastors and leaders who are walking alongside those rebuilding their lives. You’ll hear stories that are raw, honest, and filled with hope—moments where God meets people right where they are and begins something new.
EPISODES
Episode #12
Episode Description
In this special episode of A Seat at the Table, Pastor Sterling sits down with four Notre Dame students who have just arrived in Denver for an eight-week immersion experience at Christ’s Body Ministries. Coming from backgrounds in engineering, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, theology, mathematics, and law, each student shares the questions they hope to explore as they step into the realities of homelessness, poverty, addiction, mental health, and human dignity. From conversations about hope, justice, and public policy to the deeply personal stories they are beginning to encounter, this episode captures the starting point of a journey that will undoubtedly change the way these students see the world. Join us as we meet them on day one and discover what they hope to learn from serving on the front lines of ministry in downtown Denver.
Episode #11
Episode Description
In this powerful episode of A Seat At The Table, Pastor Sterling sits down with True Nguyen, the Chairman of the Board at Christ’s Body Ministries, to talk about faith, family, homelessness, restoration, and following Jesus no matter the cost. True shares how becoming a Christian as a teenager led to being disowned by his Buddhist family and experiencing homelessness at 18 years old. Decades later, God has brought incredible restoration to his family, career, and life. This is an honest and deeply encouraging conversation about obedience, perseverance, and how God restores broken stories.
Episode #10
Podcast #10: Sam The Nomad: Life on the Streets of Denver
Hosted By Luke Bodley
Episode Description
In this raw and deeply honest episode of A Seat at the Table, Luke sits down with Sam, a self-described “nomad” currently living on the streets of Denver. Originally from Louisiana, Sam shares what it was like adjusting to homelessness in Colorado, learning how to survive outside, navigating the hidden rules of street life, and why trust becomes one of the most valuable and dangerous currencies on the streets. From sleeping in alleys on a memory foam mattress to finding consistency and community at Christ’s Body Ministries, Sam offers a perspective that is thoughtful, funny, heartbreaking, and deeply human. This conversation gives an unfiltered look into realities most people never see and reminds us how far kindness, dignity, and simple human connection can go.
Episode #9
Episode Description
Every morning before sunrise, Robert takes two buses across Denver just to serve coffee at Daily Bread inside Christ’s Body Ministries. But behind his smile and joyful spirit is a story marked by foster care, abandonment, alcoholism, prison, and years of feeling like he never truly belonged anywhere. In this deeply honest episode, Robert shares how growing up in more than a dozen homes shaped his life, how addiction nearly destroyed him, and how God slowly began rebuilding hope through brotherhood, grace, and community. What starts as a story about “the coffee guy” becomes a powerful reminder that second chances are real and that even the smallest acts of love, like a hot cup of coffee on a freezing Denver morning, can change someone’s life.
Episode #8
Episode Description
Narcan is a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose in minutes, and right now it is saving lives every single day on the streets of Denver. In this episode, Pastor Sterling Copeland and Brett Bodley break down exactly what Narcan is, how it works, and why it matters more than ever. You will hear a real, firsthand story of someone being brought back from the edge of death inside the building, along with clear explanations of what to look for, how to respond, and what actually happens in those critical moments when every second counts.
But this is more than education. It is a window into the reality of addiction, the fear, the urgency, and the humanity behind it. You will hear what goes through a person’s mind after they are revived, why many refuse medical help, and how something as simple as having Narcan on hand can make you the difference between life and death. This conversation will challenge what you think you know and equip you with the knowledge to step in when it matters most.
Episode #7
Episode Description
Paul Gonzales has spent years walking the streets of Denver, showing up more than 200 days a year to meet people in moments most of us will never see. As Director of Outreach at Christ’s Body Ministries, he is not just handing out food or clothing. He is building relationships, earning trust, and walking with people toward real transformation. In this episode, you will hear what that actually looks like. A man going from chaos to calm in the middle of outreach. Someone brought back from an overdose who chose conversation instead of running. A couple who once lived in their car and are now sober, working, and rebuilding their lives. These are not polished stories. They are raw, unpredictable, and deeply human. It is the kind of work that is messy and heavy, and sometimes hard to understand from a distance, but when you see it up close, it changes you.
Episode #6
Episode Description
In this episode of A Seat at the Table, Pastor Sterling Copeland sits down with Charles Lucero to hear a raw and powerful story of survival, brokenness, and redemption. Charles shares what it was like growing up in Denver, coming from a poor family, finding success early through boxing and government work, and then watching drugs and easy money slowly take control of his life. What began as selling cocaine and chasing fast money eventually led to crime, prison, and years of spiritual confusion.
Charles opens up about the darker parts of his past with remarkable honesty. He describes how greed, addiction, and the desire for power pulled him deeper into a lifestyle that cost him everything. He talks about prison, the turning point where God began to reach him, and even a powerful moment where he believes the Lord revealed Himself in a deeply personal way. Through it all, Charles reflects on how God was preserving his life even when he was far from Him.
Today, Charles is more than a survivor—he is a changed man. The same man who once lived for drugs, money, and violence now walks in joy, sobriety, and faith. In this conversation, he shares what recovery has looked like over the course of a decade, how God has reshaped his desires, and why he now lives with gratitude instead of chaos. His testimony is a vivid reminder that no past is too dark for Jesus to redeem, and no life is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
Episode #5
From Crack to Calling: Larry’s Seat at the Table
w/ guest Larry Williams hosted by Pastor Sterling Copeland
Episode Description
Larry shares openly about the painful reality of life on the streets—losing apartments, losing connection with family, and spending years trapped in a cycle of addiction. Even with a family that never stopped praying for him, Larry found himself drifting further into isolation. After his mother passed away, the hopelessness deepened, and for years he believed his life might never change. But even in those darkest moments, God was quietly protecting him and preparing a path forward.
Everything began to shift when Larry finally cried out for help. A trip to Denver Health became a turning point when a doctor chose to show compassion and gave him a bed for the weekend—something Larry believes was nothing short of God’s intervention. From there, he was connected to Christ’s Body Ministries, entered recovery, and began the long process of rebuilding his life one day at a time.
Today, Larry serves on the outreach team at Christ’s Body Ministries, helping bring food, prayer, and the gospel to people still living on the streets where he once walked. His testimony is a powerful reminder that recovery is not an event but a process, and that God can redeem even the most broken seasons of life. In this conversation, Larry reflects on his journey from addiction to ministry, the mentors who helped guide him, and the joy he now finds in sharing hope with others who are still searching for a way out.
Episode #4
From Heroin To Hope: Brett’s Seat at the Table
Hosted by Pastor Sterling
Episode Description
Now serving in men’s discipleship and peer navigation at Christ’s Body Ministries, Brett shares raw insight into addiction, relapse, recovery, and the spiritual solution that changed everything. If you or someone you love has wrestled with substance abuse, this conversation offers real hope. Click below to watch the full episode and hear how brokenness became redemption.
Episode #3
From Meth To Ministry: Desiree’s Seat at the Table
Hosted by Pastor Sterling
Episode Description
Episode #2
From Car to Community: Stacy’s Seat at the Table
Hosted by Dr. Jim & Pastor Sterling
Episode Description
This episode of A Seat at the Table centers on the biblical idea from Luke 14 that everyone deserves to be seen, invited, and given dignity. Sterling Copeland and Dr. Jim Copeland explain how Christ’s Body Ministries lives this out daily by serving the homeless of Denver with food, showers, prayer, and community—setting a literal and spiritual table so the gospel can be shared through relationship, not distance.
The heart of the episode is the testimony of Stacy Thomas. Stacy and his wife arrived in Colorado homeless, battling addiction, marital strain, and complete instability. Through street outreach, meals, and Friday church at Christ’s Body, they encountered a ministry that didn’t just offer services but offered belonging. Even while still living in his car, Stacy began serving by opening and running the showers, giving others dignity while rediscovering his own sense of purpose.
The conversation explores addiction as more than substance use—it is deeply tied to environment, trauma, and isolation. Stacy shares how leaving old environments and surrendering his life to Christ were key to real change. Dr. Jim reinforces this with insight from addiction research, emphasizing that spiritual awakening is often central to lasting recovery.
The episode closes with hope: Stacy and his wife are now housed, employed, and serving others—his wife working in homeless services and Stacy preparing for culinary school. Their story shows what happens when someone is invited not just to survive, but to step into community, responsibility, and a true seat at the table.
Episode #1
From Prison to Purpose: Roger’s Seat at the Table
Hosted by Dr. Jim & Pastor Sterling
Episode Description
Sterling and Dr. Jim unpack how a “seat at the table” means more than inclusion. It means being seen, known, invited, and given dignity, not pushed to the margins. They reflect on how tables in Scripture often represent community, transformation, and deep connection, and how Christ’s Body strives to offer that same belonging every day, from serving breakfast onsite to feeding hundreds more on the streets. They also highlight the vision to connect suburban churches and supporters to the realities of homelessness, emphasizing that caring for “the least of these” is a calling for the Church.
The episode closes with a powerful interview with Roger Archambault, a CORE program graduate and now a key leader within the ministry. Roger shares his journey from years of addiction, incarceration, and deteriorating health to finding renewed purpose through a life anchored in faith. He describes prison as the season where he truly sought God, and he recounts how difficult it was to find housing after release due to his medical conditions. When Christ’s Body said “yes,” Roger experienced it as a miracle and an invitation to new life.
Through the CORE (Community Reentry) program, Roger was welcomed into transitional housing, spiritual community, and men’s round tables focused on growth and transformation. Over time, he was invited not only to stay beyond the typical period, but to serve as a house manager, helping new men coming out of prison stabilize and rebuild. Today, he also serves faithfully in daily operations, including making coffee for Daily Bread and outreach, viewing every task as worship and obedience to Jesus.
Roger’s closing message is simple and compelling: if God is working in your life and you want a way to thank Him, come volunteer. This first episode sets the tone for what the podcast will be: a place where stories of restoration are honored, where the unseen are given dignity, and where the Church is invited to take its place in loving action.
Donate To Our Ministry
Our 3 Key Areas
The focus of this 75K Challenge Grant is simple: We want more people to hear about the love of Jesus Christ!
We will do this by focusing on 3 key areas of ministry at Christ’s Body that need to grow to accommodate the great need we are seeing in the Denver area.
Expanding Generosity @ 850 Lincoln
Almost everyday, we make food in our kitchens and host an influx of homeless people coming to us for personal and spiritual care. We provide food, showers, clothes and laundry services. We spend time with our guests and share the love of Christ to everyone the enters our doors.
Expanding Generosity with our Mobile Outreach
We are already have a shower & laundry trailer that provides needed dignity to those living on the streets. We use the time they are with us to meet their needs and share the love of Jesus. We want to expand our generosity with a added mobile clothes trailer and serve more locations with our “Caravan of Care!”
Expanding Generosity in our CORE & RISE Residential Programs
Our CORE and RISE residential programs are thriving! The men are enjoying our program and want to stay longer. We are currently booked with a waiting list. We currently have 5 beds, but the city has authorized us to have up to 12 beds. With some renovations, we can expand to full amount. This gets us up close and personal with our guests and allows us to daily share the love of Jesus and provide needed rest and recovery to our residents.