Always about people finding freedom
John Keegan is a beaming presence, volunteering full-time at The Salvation Army’s 2168 Food 4 Life Market Miller at the suburb of Busby in Liverpool.
He also volunteers doing Salvation Army welfare, helps out in the family store, pub ministry and shopping centre money collection. And he helps out on Sunday at the Liverpool Salvation Army doing announcements in the service and opening and closing the building.
In fact, John volunteers for The Salvation Army seven days a week.
The local community benefits greatly from John’s gift of time. But he says with no family around him and no job since suffering a serious heart attack, The Salvation Army has given him so much more – a sense of purpose and family.
Living in what Food 4 Life manager Joel Spicer describes as “pretty much the worst spot in the community”, John rents a small and ageing public housing unit, in an area known for violence and break-ins.
Because of the atmosphere in his neighbourhood, John had become quite isolated.
He says he had drifted a long way from God until he met Joel. His parents had passed away, and a marriage and subsequent relationships had broken down.
He says: “When I was younger, my brother, sister and I went to church and I don’t know why, but later I just gave it away. After my mum and dad passed away I got in with the wrong sort of crowd and dealt in a bit of drugs. Then I got out of that.
“I had a heart attack in 2000 and had a triple bypass. I hadn't worked for a few years and I went to a men’s group and I met Joel there (just before the market opened in September last year),” he says.
“We were playing pool (at men’s group) and Joel said to me about three times, ‘do you want to come to church?’ So I went and I enjoyed it. Then I started doing volunteering work and then I decided to do a soldiership course and I found out I’m the first soldier from the Miller area!”
John had a range of support from The Salvation Army himself, including assistance and encouragement to start a TAFE course. Over time he has taken on more and more roles as his confidence has grown.
Food 4 Life Manager Joel describes John as “the ultimate volunteer” and says: “If you wanted the ultimate person with a servant heart – that’s John. He throws himself into everything – anything you ask of him – 100 per cent. He loves volunteering. It gives him a sense of energy and purpose and it’s his way of supporting his community.”
And the needs in the local community are significant, Joel says.
“We have significant level of public housing,” Joel explains. “Many in the area suffer from mental illness, and drug and alcohol problems are quite common. Many people skip meals so that they can pay their bills.
“Also, many living in small department of housing units in the area are lonely and socially isolated and need someone to talk to and listen to them. Our Food 4 Life program/ministry plus local People’s Shed – run with the Greater Liverpool Council – helps meet those needs,” he explains. The Food 4 Life stores allow people to purchase nutritious and very cheap food.
John says of his work with the service and his other community work: “I love doing it. I enjoy helping other people, but my life has also turned around 100 per cent and I feel like I have a purpose at last!”
By Naomi Singlehurst
Photo courtesy of Joel Spicer
