We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joey Spencer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joey, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
When I was very young, in a household with 7 other siblings and at a time in the sixties, where poverty was rampant and even racism, unlike today, neighbors helped neighbors. My mother struggled to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, we didn’t have much, yet in the neighborhood there were those families with kids that had even less than us. I saw my mother stretch our meals to feed many kids in the neighborhood. She even took kids in out of the cold. I saw my mother’s heart as I began to get older and I saw the Blessings that fell upon her life and ours. It seemed that the more she Blessed others, the more she became Blessed. She instilled in us as children to Share with others, to treat others as we wanted to be treated and God would bless us. She gave and shared from the heart, She was a Staple in the community and lived to be 98 years old, and Blessed me with a Giving Heart, like hers. What we do for the least of them , we are doing for God .
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Elder Joey Spencer, and I am the founder and C.E.O of Bread Of Life Ministries, a 5013c Nonprofit Street Ministry, that both Physically and Spiritually feed the homeless communities and needy families with children, and Seniors onsite and in Shelters. We supply hot meals, backpacks with Hygiene Products,Nutritious Snack food and Water, Feminine Products, Mask, Hand Sanitizer, Coats Shoes, etc, to those to whom have become homeless, or have homes but struggling to make ends meet. I myself at one time in my life for a short period was homeless, and someone helped me. I remember the generosity of the persons who were doing the same thing that I am doing now, I have a passion for helping others and it is my calling because I feel in my soul that this is my purpose in life. To see another person get back on their feet and come back and remind you of that one day in the park, where you gave them a bookbag is Priceless. This Bread Of Life Was Born and has been growing stronger year by year. We are Grateful.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back and still today, I have learned that a person can be Physically Homeless because he or she have no roof over their heads, but you can have a roof over your head, and not have compassion in your heart for others, and still be homeless. I have had people with everything they own in a backpack, but they have joy , they have good attitudes, they are well mannered and grateful, yet I know of many, who have more than anyone can ask for, but are very unhappy and unappreciative and unhappy. I have learned to say ” Good Morning God ” !! And Not ” Good God !! It’s Morning !!!
My advice to anyone who are early in their journey is to always…take God With You !!
Having a good attitude about yourself and others.
Being a good listener.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Life’s experiences, trials and tribulations has taught me to the most about overcoming obstacles in our paths. My family, my Pastor, and God . Remaining teachable and returning to school helps me to acquire the skills needed to be successful . Setting goals and working towards those goals is key.
Contact Info:
- Website: breadoflifeministry63@gmail.com
- Instagram: joey68656@gmail.com
- Facebook: joey68656@gmail.com
- Linkedin: joey68656@gmail.com
- Twitter: joey68656@gmail.com
Image Credits
Elder Joey Spencer
