On a bright, crisp winter morning, we walked into a coffee shop not far from the skid row district in L.A. and a growing homeless population. At our appointed time, we slid into a booth to join Bob Engel who already was sipping his first cup of coffee. Engel lives an amazing, but often stressful life.  

Bob Engel graduated from Taylor University in 1982. He portrays himself, when he first came out of college, as a “Richie Cunningham” type. The role model existed (channeled by Ron Howard) in the TV series, Happy Days. Today, Engel is 47 years old. He has been married for 17 years and has four children. His eyes have seen a lot of life and troubling situations since those early happy days.

“Back then, I was simply a clean cut, typical American guy. I never experimented with drugs and I never got drunk.” 

It did not take long after graduating before Engel, this typical nice guy, began to find what would be his avocation and occupation.

“Service to others has always been a value and compulsion in my life. Even before college, I felt the need to do something; possibly the Peace Corps or a short-term mission…something along these lines. There are more references in the bible to caring about the plight of the poor, those who are disenfranchised, and the outcasts, than any other subject. I felt it was my Christian obligation.”

In his senior year of college, at the age of 21, Engel read a book by Dr. Keith Phillips called The Making of a Disciple.

“That initial read made me very uncomfortable. I said to myself, ‘No way. I have my own dreams and I want to do my own thing.’ So, I put the book aside, vowing that I would find another path.”

Despite his initial annoyance, Engel couldn’t turn his back on what he’d read. He picked the book up again and reread it a few days later. It became a turning point in his life.

“On my second reading, I must have had a more open mind and the message came through; this is what it really means to follow Christ. I needed a mentor to guide me and I also need to train or mentor someone else.”

That was when he first learned about the role of the organization known as “World Impact” and it aligned with his personal quest to make a difference.

“World Impact took more of a ‘front page’ in my life. I found out that they were committed to the poor in the inner cities of America as well as supporting the concept of discipleship.”

It was then that Engel needed to figure out how he would fulfill his role in helping the poor.
   
When he graduated from college, Engel’s physical image bore little resemblance to someone who would (or could) survive on the tough side of town.  Slight of build and decidedly Anglo-Saxon by race, he was 5’ 9” and he weighed most of 119 pounds. Engel was a naturally good runner, but was unable, by his own account, to jump much more than a few inches off the ground. Contact sports were not part of his athletic background and no recruiters from the NBA or NFL had called on him during his high school or college years.

It is hard to explain his abiding fascination with the gritty lifestyle he conjured in the inner cities of America. Nevertheless, it was his calling early on in life and it would drive his aspirations and interests soon after college. His vision is strikingly unique.

“One can be committed to the poor by working on Wall Street. But, I always liked adventure and challenge. I thought I would find that in the inner city. I considered gangs and bullets a romantic notion, and I thought going into situations and incidentally helping people was a good fit,” Engel pauses to think about how odd that might sound to others and then smiles. “God had to work on me to get past that glamorous stuff and focus on helping people in need.”

In contrast to many service providers who come into the inner city from more affluent areas, Engel and his family live in the run down neighborhood, allowing him to walk the figurative mile in the shoes of the very people his organization serves.

“We are an ‘Incarnational Ministry.’ That means that we live or ‘relocate’ where we minister. Just as a missionary travels overseas, I go to the target area to be a witness by model and by word. That means I choose to connect with the poor as much as possible.”

As a family of six, Engel lives below what the federal government defines as the ‘poverty standard.’ At the same time, there are benefits that the ministry provides for people who serve in Engel’s capacity. In addition to health benefits, there is a board that is dedicated to taking care of the needs of the ministry staff. The question, however, remains; Does Engel consider himself poor? 

The answer is, not exactly. Poverty, by Engel’s definition is a lifestyle with a lack of options. Engel, on the other hand, has a number of options at his disposal.

“I’m a smart guy, I have an education and my job prospects are viable. At any time, I could say to my wife, ‘Susan let’s pack up our bags, we are moving on.’ But the poor don’t have that option. They are firmly stuck in a cycle of poverty.” 

Engel’s Job Description
Today, Engel operates in two completely different spheres.
• He is one of six regional vice presidents for World Impact. In this capacity, he oversees the ministries within the cities of Oakland, San Francisco and Fresno.  The leadership role of VPs includes developing policy, procedures, resolving issues and strategic planning. The city directors report to the VPs.
• In Los Angeles, Engel’s title is “Coordinator of ministries.” In that role, he does the ground work on starting and supporting many small ministries. In this job, he reports to a city director, who in turn reports to another VP.

“My role in Los Angeles is at a very different level. If one were to look my responsibilities in a traditional org chart, it would appear distorted or skewed.”

Engel indicates that he is considerably more comfortable in his “trenches” role. He enjoys walking the streets. He feels at home in MacArthur Park, Skid Row, Watts and other severely economically depressed areas in Los Angeles. He enjoys going with the ministries he supports and working directly with the people who begin coming to the faith through these startup groups.   

How Does The World Impact Organization Work?
“The best analogy I use is that we are a kind of ‘volcano,’” Engel uses his hands to simulate the conical shape of a volcano. 

 
“The ‘inner core’ consists of these items; we evangelize, equip and empower the poor by establishing and supporting small churches. The energy that comes out at the top of our mountain is a number of emerging leaders of non-typical churches, which have been planted among the poor, who are closely associated with the very people they minister to. The ministers we support differ markedly from the ministers who are serving in established churches in the community. They may not be highly educated, have been to seminaries, or have an in-depth background on Christian theology.  Part of our mission is to provide them with additional training and background in the word.

“The ‘outer shell’ of our mountain is what we call the ‘development ministries.’ These can include providing camps or retreats, schools, specific types of education, church stores, clothing, food, etc. Should they not be successful in supporting our inner core, these programs can be removed at any time and replaced by another program. It is our inner core of evangelism that remains a solid, ongoing structure. ”

Engel further defines World Impact as a “Christian Missions organization.” As such, they do not start or operate their own churches.  They do, however partner with other Christian denominations and with Christian churches who are also involved in the inner city. That separates World Impact from being a “social agency.”

“As our individual church leaders gain stature within their churches, our goal is to gradually decrease our responsibilities and oversight until we reach a point where they are self sufficient. At the same time, we help these new churches form relationships with a number of other similar churches so that they can pool their resources and expand their influence by working together. ”

Candid Assessment
Engel's brow furrows and he ponders the question for several minutes before responding. His initial response is unexpected.

“Is there burnout in my line of work? Yes. I would be the first to admit that I have been affected by the situations I have witnessed. I’m human. I will question why I am up at 3 o’clock in the morning tracking down gang guys to resolve some sort of dispute.

“I’ve been hit; I have had guns pulled on me on our front lawn; gangs have shot at the house with little girls in it next door; I’ve buried a number of young men from drugs and gang retaliations; I’ve seen little, innocent children go hungry; I was the first one on the scene of a pregnant mom who was shot and killed in a car…”

Engel’s jaw draws tight as he recounts discovering a young, pregnant woman in a vacant field covered in blood. Her boyfriend had slashed her stomach with a knife causing her water to break. Engel helped her into his car and rushed her to the hospital.

“When I came in I was very idealistic. More than once, I was pulled over by the police letting me know that I was the wrong color, and asking me what my business was in that neighborhood. There have been many times that I have wanted to leave,” Engel pauses and his gaze moves considerably past our booth to recall the painful memories. “I would find myself saying, ‘I’m doing my best; why aren’t things changing for the better?’ I have also asked myself, ‘Does the gospel really work?’”

Perspective
As he gained more experience, Engel began to understand the larger picture of just how the city works. He also recognized how the destructive systems work against the efforts for good.

“It isn’t just the little boy at the bible club whose mom is hooked on drugs; it is the whole system of the city. There are forces of evil working in dark places around the world. Will we ever reach a utopia? Engel pauses. “I don’t believe so.

“The only thing I can stand on as I go along is ‘the call.’ God calls and I am obedient. Without that viewpoint, I would not be able to cope with the stresses in my life. The call helps me when I have to deal with: The prostitute who has been thrown on cactus for holding out money from her pimp; the grieving children of a woman who died from an overdose of heroin; or having to bury a bright young person whose life is suddenly cut short by a bullet or stabbing. From time to time, I refer to a verse in the book of psalms by King David looking over his city that reads,

‘For I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about its walls. Violence and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city. Threats and lies never leave its streets.’

“That verse was written over four thousand years ago. But if it appeared in the L.A. Times this week, people would read it and find it timely.

“I continue today to be a servant that has been called to do my part as I am directed by my God in a geographical place called the inner city. The gospel works one at a time.”