The Power of Showing Up: A YWAM San Francisco Story

by Craig Blair | May 5, 2026 | Places and Projects, Thrive

In late February 2026, a team of skilled volunteers from YWAM Lakeside in Montana and the MBI main office traveled to San Francisco to help complete a much-needed project at a YWAM ministry serving in the heart of the city.

Nearly 20 years ago, YWAM San Francisco purchased a 100-year-old building in the Tenderloin district. Recently, the ministry celebrated paying off the mortgage—making it possible, at last, to begin reinvesting in the building itself.

Meanwhile, the needs in the neighborhood have only grown. Drug use, poverty, and homelessness have steadily increased across San Francisco. During the COVID pandemic, many individuals experiencing homelessness were relocated to the Tenderloin, placing YWAM San Francisco right at the center of a growing crisis.

Today, ministry happens right outside their front door.

Each Thursday, their main meeting room transforms into a bustling food distribution center. Heavy pallets of food and supplies are moved in and out as hundreds of people come through the doors—seeking shelter from the weather, a meal, a shower, and a human connection. It’s in this same space that relationships are built, and the gospel is shared week after week.

As volunteer Andrew Hobby observed, “They are a caring group of staff who are selflessly serving this community.”

But that vital space was in rough shape.

The main floor—covering about 4,000 square feet—had not been renovated since the building was purchased. Years of heavy use had taken their toll, and the floor was in urgent need of repair. While the staff could handle small maintenance issues, a project of this scale was beyond their capacity. Professional estimates to re-epoxy the floor exceeded $100,000.

That’s where the volunteer team came in.

After hearing about the need, John Briggs, a board member for YWAM San Francisco, connected with Ben Walther of YWAM Lakeside. Ben quickly organized a team of eight volunteers from YWAM Lakeside and MBI, ready to donate their time and skills.

From the moment they arrived, the team got to work.

They began by cutting out and replacing damaged sections of the floor, then securing the entire surface to the floor joists. After sanding everything down, they applied a base coat of epoxy, added decorative paint chips, and finished with two additional coats for durability. Along the way, they also replaced broken ceiling tiles and spray-painted the ceiling black, giving the space a complete refresh.

During the renovation, ministry activities had to pause—something the surrounding community noticed immediately.

People knocked on the doors, hoping to come inside, unaware of the work underway.

Volunteer Luke Bosma recalled, “When people found out what we were doing, they became very excited. You could see how invested they were in this space and how grateful they were for what it provides.”

That response left an impression on the entire team.

Volunteer Benjamin Arnold was especially impacted—not just by the work, but by the perseverance of the ministry staff serving those struggling with homelessness and addiction. He reflected on how difficult it can feel to share the gospel with people who seem unreachable.

Then he heard a story that changed his perspective.

Benjamin shared:

“When it comes to homeless ministry, I often feel like Jeremiah, talking about broken cisterns that cannot hold water. It can feel like a waste of time to share the gospel with someone who is out of their mind on drugs. But this is what YWAM San Francisco does week after week, year after year.

“I asked one of the missionaries, Kent, if he had ever seen any fruit from their efforts. He told me about a man named Rex who used to come to their street services while high on drugs—hunched over and completely unresponsive. Kent often felt like talking to him was a waste of time.

“Eventually, Rex stopped coming. People assumed he had died from an overdose, and the community even held a memorial service for him.

“But a year later, Kent saw Rex again—alive.

“Rex explained that he had overdosed and nearly died in the hospital. While there, he encountered Jesus. The only thing he remembered was the gospel message he had heard at those street services. In that moment, he gave his life to the Lord.

“Today, more than 13 years later, Rex is sober, walking with Jesus, and serving the homeless on the streets of San Francisco.”

For Benjamin, that story was a turning point.

In a place that often feels defined by hopelessness, it was a reminder that God is still at work—still drawing people to Himself, even when no one can see it.

By the end of the week, the physical transformation of the space was complete—but the impact went beyond the floor itself.

Andrew Hobby reflected, “This was a big project to complete in a short amount of time. There’s nothing worse than leaving a job unfinished, but God was faithful and helped us complete it—even though everyone on the team got sick at some point. What we accomplished in one week was such a blessing to the staff. It gave them a real boost of energy just having us there.”

Now, the ministry has a renewed space ready to serve the community for years to come.

Luke Bosma summed it up this way: “This experience showed the power of volunteering. This was a necessary project that likely wouldn’t have happened this soon otherwise. We were able to use practical skills to support something that will impact lives for years. It was a privilege to be part of what God is doing in the Tenderloin.”