Food provides a 'faith lift' at Geno's

Nearly every day, Geno's Cafeteria at Backstreet Missions serves up what some call "soul food." \nGeno's is part of the Backstreet Missions, a nonprofit Christian ministry for the homeless. Other services include a men's shelter, food pantry and thrift store.\n"I come for the good food, good fellowship and great people," said John Kerns, a two-year patron of the cafeteria. "This place is real close to a lot of people's hearts."\nKerns gets admittedly giddy while talking about his faith, firing off verses from Matthew and inserting a "Praise Jesus!" every now and then. But just two years ago he said he was a "completely lost" alcoholic and drug addict. He was homeless, suicidal and just out of rehab when he heard about Backstreet Missions. After a stay at the men's shelter, Kerns now has a good job as a carpenter and a home. And most importantly, he said, he has Jesus.\n"This place completely changed my life. It introduced me to God, so I'd say that's not too bad," he said with a chuckle. "It's absolutely amazing how much it's done for me."\nLinda Kelley, Backstreet Missions' director and co-founder, said the organization's range of services is there to help people in various destitute situations. She and her husband, the late Gene Kelley, started the organization in 1995 because of a longtime desire to reach out to the homeless. Backstreet now has about 18 employees, several volunteers and receives support from 19 area churches. \n"If anyone has a fire and loses everything, they can come to us. Or a lot of people are waiting on disability and need help," she said. "Sometimes people are just in difficult situations. We are here to help them."\nKelley said the men's shelter is open and accepting residents all the time. Last year, 250 men stayed there, but the number of men constantly changes. The shelter helps give its inhabitants direction through biblical teachings and showing them a Christian way of life. They live under some rules, including having to work in the kitchen one day a week. Kerns calls the shelter a "spiritual hospital" because some people stay for just a night, while others stay for several months.\n"It changes day to day, week to week," said Carol White, receptionist, bookkeeper and case manager for the shelter. "You never know who's going to come in. For some it's temporary, like just a day or two, and for others it's longer."\nKelley said Geno's Cafeteria serves between 40 and 100 people in the community each day and there are no eligibility requirements to receive free meals. \nGeno's offers free lunch to the public from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday and dinner from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cafeteria also offers a popular Saturday morning breakfast. \nGeno's is located on the ground level of the men's shelter on Westplex Avenue and is open to anyone in the community needing a meal, regardless of religion. But to say that Geno's Cafeteria is faith-based is an understatement. A large wooden cross rests on one wall and in another corner is a waist-high stained-glass picture of Jesus. Pamphlets on Christian living line one wall, and in a corner sits a small bookcase filled with Bibles. For many of the people who eat here, this atmosphere is just what they need.\nBrian Bentley is another man who stays at the shelter and eats at Geno's. He said he battled with a dangerous mix of drugs, alcohol, arrogance and rebellion since high school, but he now spends his afternoons at a temporary position at nearby Baxter Pharmaceutical Solutions or studying to get his paramedic license. He's been at the shelter for five months and credits Backstreet Missions for helping turn his life around.\n"I could talk for hours about what I've learned," said Bentley, who attends church three times a week and a Bible study every night. "I used to be violent, mean and only concerned with myself. But I've decided that I want to do right, and this place has encouraged that." \nKerns, who continues to eat at Geno's nearly every day and volunteers on Saturdays, agrees that his experiences with Backstreet Missions have been "miraculous" and "a wonderful gift." He said everyone who comes to the shelter is brought by God and is looking for some guidance, whether they know it or not.\n"I never had any structure in my life until this place. It brings you to a point of structure. People come here to find help," he said.\nKerns said he believes the organization is doing the work of the Lord.\n"This place is just a little pinky in God's big hand of life," he said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Kelly Ginty at kginty@indiana.edu.