Since 1992 Mission Possible has served the poor on Austin’s east side. Although its objective is not service, it is life transformation. Not just for those we serve, but perhaps even more so, for those who are serving. That has certainly been the case in my life.
Mission Possible is involved with three primary audiences in east Austin – the homeless on the street, children and families in government housing projects, and the elderly living in the community. Lives are touched and transformed through more than a dozen different programs and through partnership with other organizations and churches also serving the same community.
Tim Pinson is the founder and executive director of Mission Possible. Tim has been a close personal friend for many years. He is the visionary and the passionate, hands-on personality behind this important ministry. He is joined by two full-time staff members, Beau Hamner (who leads the ministries and volunteers that serve the homeless on the street) and Kimberly Ginnings (who leads the ministries and volunteers that serve children and families in the government housing projects). And there are number of part-time and contract workers that serve in a wide variety of roles within the organization.
The organization is located at the intersection of 12th and Chicon (described by the Austin American Statesman as Austin’s most crime infested intersection 5 years ago).
Mission Possible renovated an abandoned church and parking lot at that intersection several years ago to house many of its programs and to provide space for some of its ministry partners. More recently we acquired and renovated a property across the street that had been a tavern, liquor store, and brothel. Today it houses Gandalf’s prayer café and provides space for Mission Possible’s staff.
I had the privilege of serving on Mission Possible’s board from 1998 to 2003 (chairing it the last three of those years) and am now completing a second term (which began back in 2008) on the board.
I was doing some devotional reading in Proverbs earlier this week. In Proverbs 31:8-9 it says: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” What a delight to be a small part of an organization that does just this in a less fortunate part of the community that I have lived in for nearly 40 years.
