Dear Pastor Dewey,
I wanted you to know what your friendship and support of me and the ministry God has given me means to me.
As you know, when I was asked to consider becoming the Executive Director of the then Noon Day Ministries, I was on the shady side of a 32 year law enforcement career. Getting close to mandatory retirement at 57, I was 56 at the time, I had my life all planned out. I was going to stay in law enforcement, maybe as an instructor at a local police academy, or even moving to Artesia or back to Brunswick, Georgia and becoming an instructor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC). God had gifted me with the ability to teach and I thought that was His plan for me. When I was approached by the board of director’s at Noon Day Ministry and asked to consider becoming their new director, this was in late 2007, I thought they were kidding. I knew very little about homelessness, except the encounters I had had in my law enforcement career and thought surely that God didn’t want me to change directions away from my plans. I promised the board that I would pray. As my wife and I prayed about this new position, it became clear that this was what God wanted us to do. The board offered me the job and I retired from the United States Marshals Service the last day of December, 2007 and became the Executive Director of Noon Day Ministries on the first day of January, 2008.
I was a fish out of water, after spending thirty years as a cop, but God brought some Godly folks into my life almost immediately. These folks came along side me, supported me, prayed for me and encouraged me. One of these men was Pastor Dewey Moede. At that time Dewey was a great support to me, inviting me on the radio on several occasions and God continued to put us together at other times also. The world would call these chance meetings coincidences, I certainly knew that it was God’s perfect time and His perfect plan for me and for my ministry.
I remember one of those occasions was on the streets around the Albuquerque Rescue Mission (ARM), where I had joined with Pastor John Hill, Executive Director of ARM, for his first annual foot washing and Easter celebration with the homeless. As I was standing on the street in front of the mission, I noticed two men standing at the end of the street, and realized that one of them was a man who was currently experiencing homelessness that was a regular at Noon Day, but I didn’t recognize the second man. I could tell that they were praying as their heads were bowed. I walked towards them and soon realized that the second man was Pastor Dewey Moede. When I got close enough to hear what they were praying about, the man with Dewey was praying to receive Christ. After their prayer I walked closer and both of them recognized me and greeted me. Both men were smiling broadly and Dewey shared that this man had just prayed to receive Christ. I encouraged the man to come see me so we could talk further. I visited with Dewey then got called away to do something else, but throughout that morning and early afternoon, I would see Dewey stopping on the street to talk with people and I knew that his conversation was about.
I have often thought about this day and often use it to get me back on center, to realize that while we serve amazing meals and offer much needed services and aid to the homeless and hurting in our community, the greatest gift I can give to these that I minister to is an invitation to know Christ.
Dewey and For God’s Glory Alone Ministries (FGGAM) continue this rich heritage of sharing the Gospel with anyone and everyone that he has the opportunity. Pastor Dewey has been a friend, an encourager and a mentor for me in my almost nine years at The Rock at Noon Day.
Thank you Dewey, and I pray God’s richest blessings on you and your ministry,
Danny Whatley
Executive Director
The Rock at Noonday
Biblical Hospitality for the Homeless, Hungry and Hurting.
Thank you for your sweet words Danny! Proverbs 16:24…Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
All for God’s Glory Alone!
