Category Archives: Real Stories

It’s 2001 and my whole world comes crashing down. I buried my mother – Doris  Tanner Matthews – the best friend I ever had in this world and a good mother.  Without her love and support, I started drinking and soon after turned to drugs.  I was losing control of my life fast. My relationship with a friend fell apart, and I lost the job that I loved, working at the Alden Park Luxury Apartments.  When I lost my job, I lost my home, too (one of my benefits was a luxury apartment worth  $1,400 a month at no charge).

I t’s now early 2003.  I’m living in my car. The weather’s starting to break, and I have nowhere to go.  I’m sitting in Vernon Park when a thought comes to me-the Whosoever Gospel Mission…

Hi. My name is Gregory Delgado and this is my story. I have been an abuser of drugs and alcohol for most of my life. It became more evident when I was discharged from the Navy. At that time my drinking and drug abuse became more severe – I woke up drinking, went to bed drugged, and I did not know what happened in between.

I have been to several rehabs to get my life in order, but nothing seemed to work. I came to the Whosoever Gospel Mission in June of 1999 after hearing about it from another homeless man (yes, I was homeless at the time, too). My journey began when I decided to give the Mission a chance. While at the Mission I not only got the help I needed but also received counseling. It was in those counseling sessions that I opened up for the first time in a long time. My stay at the Mission began to mean something to me.

A few months after coming to the Mission I was asked if I would like to be part of the Mission’s staff, so I joined and eventually became the store manager.

While at the Mission I learned that I had a daughter. My relationship with my daughter today thrives – only because of God’s grace and mercy. I thank God for all the changes in my life and for the instrument he used in the form of the Whosoever Gospel Mission and its staff. I now live a life worth living and have a wonderful daughter, Chelsea, to share it with. Thank you!

My name is Charles Drake; this is my story. After a brief stint in prison and my release in the year 2001, I yet again indulged in my addiction. I spent about 5 months of pure madness on the streets of Philadelphia. My addiction reached back to my teenage years.
A pastor recommended that I call the Whosoever Gospel Mission. I called and they told me to come in, and I did. At the Mission I was welcomed with open arms. I spent much time in different rehabs over the years, and always went right back to my addiction. But after nine months in the Mission and its program, my life changed. That change still works in me to this day in 2008.

I completed the program in July 2002. Before leaving I began working for a limousine company. Within one month I became an independent limousine contractor and still am to this day. Now I am better known as C DRAKE LIMO. I thank God daily for saving me, and I thank the Whosoever Gospel Mission for being instrumental in the significant changes in my life.

Hi, my name is Joe Rice. My story starts 21 years ago. I started using cocaine and my life spiraled out of control. Near the end I lived under the 30th Street Bridge for seven years, in and out of jail and hospitals, wasting my whole adult life.

One day me and a group of friends were wandering around center city streets and walked up on a man and asked him for some money. He refused, but he said ‘I’ll buy y’all some food,’ so we went with him to a restaurant named Tony’s and we tried to be funny and order a lot of stuff. But he didn’t care. He read the Bible to us and said, ‘Try Jesus and your life could change.’  He told us we didn’t have to live this way and offered to take us to the Whosoever Gospel Mission.

I did eventually go to the Mission where I overcame my addiction, built a new relationship with my family and got a full-time job. In 2004 a full-time position in the Mission’s Lighthouse Thrift Shop became available and they hired me. I was on staff at the Mission for over 3 years.  Since the arson fire, a lot of people ask, ‘Where are all the men?’ I am one of them. I thank God for the Whosoever Gospel Mission.

Reo and Stanley, two of our New Life Program participants, decided to embark on a new career.  When they reached the phase of our program when they could attend school, they enrolled in the Philabundance Community Kitchen and began their journey toward becoming a chef.

Reo and Stanley took their practical exams at Philabundance in June.  On Thursday, June 18, 2009, Bob Emberger and Heather Rice were invited to enjoy a delicious luncheon planned, prepared and served by the students.  The guests were then asked to critique the students’ work from soup to nuts.  It was very tasty (and quite fun)!

Check out this gallery of pictures to see Reo (pictured above) serving with distinction!  You’ll also see Stanley in the kitchen at the school with Bob Emberger.