Connecting with People in Crisis

Daniel Krupic

Community Life Coordinator, The Bowery Mission

Biggest Challenges: The biggest challenge for me is that my wife is pregnant and I come home everyday knowing I've potentially exposed myself to sickness. Apart from COVID, the biggest challenge is just serving people who are going through a hard time. It’s important to be patient and kind, even though you may not get the "thank you" and "you’re welcome."

Connecting with Guests: Personally, God has changed my life in incredible ways. I used to be on the streets myself and was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol. So even though I may not feel what guests feel, there’s a part of me that understands. At the same time, some people have been through a lot worse than I could ever imagine. But you can still connect in some way, because you understand what pain feels like and where hope comes from.

Welcoming Guests: The best part of my day is the intake process, when all the guests start coming in. We play soothing music and have a moment to talk and hang out. I like meeting newcomers, because when they explain their situation to you, you're able to say, "I can help you today."

Best Part of the Job: My team. I love working with a team that really supports and loves and prays. So every day, even though we may experience or see trauma in guests, we also can come together to debrief. We talk about situations, what we witnessed and have been through, and then we pray with each other and that provides a lot of comfort. Because, doing this kind-of ministry, you need people in your life and you need support.

Lessons Learned: I’ve learned from the way our leaders handle situations. I see how they pray and act when a decision needs to be made. Now, when I face issues, I think, “What would they do?” I’ve learned how to observe people and situations before I take action. I’ve also learned how to talk to people in a way that calms them down.

Making an Impact: At the Mission, people’s lives really do change. You see them come in the door a certain way and come out different. People feel safe here, like they're going to be OK and the Mission can be their temporary home. They may laugh more or start saying, “thank you.” Their hearts soften. I love seeing that.