Article By Dennis Smith
Published in the Hoosier
Times on 25 January 2002
 The recent
death of Gene Kelley, founder and executive director
of Backstreet Missions, was a true loss for our community.
Gene challenged and inspired others to live out the biblical
command to feed, clothe, shelter and care for those in
need.
Over
the years prior to founding Backstreet Missions, Gene
and his wife, Linda, took many homeless men into their
own home. They then opened The Crites House in Spencer
as a men's shelter before founding Backstreet Missions
in 1995. That ministry has grown through Gene's leadership
and sacrifice, and it now helps hundreds of people a
month with food, clothing, shelter, and other assistance.
Gene
Kelley's vision was that Backstreet Missions would encourage
Christians from churches of all denominations to work
together to help those in need. He knew that it was God's
desire for His people to care for the hurting and the
poor, offering them a helping hand and not just a "hand
out." Because Gene's vision has been realized, Backstreet
Mission's is no longer just the work of Gene, his wife
and a few others. Backstreet has become the work of the
many churches and hundreds of individuals in our community
who now volunteer or support the ministry.
Although
Backstreet Missions will continue its work, that does
not diminish the great loss that has occurred because
of Gene Kelley's death. That is because Gene's greatest
legacy is in the life that he lived, and not in the ministry
he founded. In a world where so many still question or
ignore the existence of God, Gene Kelley was a living
testimony to the reality and character of God and of
God's amazing love for each one of us. Our loss is that
we will no longer be able to see God reflected each day
through the life of Gene Kelley.
Because
of his own struggles with addiction and homelessness,
Gene could fully appreciate the total forgiveness and
acceptance that God provides to all those who accept
His Son Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Gene became a
daily example of the change that takes place when a man
or woman accepts Christ, and strives to honor God by
serving others. For that, Gene Kelley will be greatly
missed.
Gene
Kelley's life was a present day example of God's words
in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, " ... neither
are your ways my ways." God chose a lowly shepherd
(David) to slay Goliath and become King of Israel, and
He chose Paul, who had been persecuting Christians, to
become one of His greatest disciples. God chose the "unqualified" of
the world so that man could clearly recognize God's power
at work. Similarly, God's choice to lead Backstreet Missions
was Gene Kelley. With only an eighth-grade education
and no leadership experience, he too was unqualified,
except in the eyes of God. Because he was that constant
reminder that God's ways are not our ways, Gene Kelley
will be greatly missed.
Gene
Kelley saw each individual through the eyes of Jesus.
Whether homeless or prominent, whether addicted to drugs,
alcohol or money, whether churchless or church going,
Gene Kelley saw each individual as equally precious to
God. He had the heart and compassion of Jesus, and he
gave of himself for others every day. For that example
of Christ's love and compassion for all, Gene Kelley
will be greatly missed.
As the
apostle Paul said, "... all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God." Gene knew that he, like
everyone else, could succumb to a sinful attitude or
action. However, he wanted to recognize his own failings,
so that he could seek and receive God's forgiveness and
move on. He knew that God works through those who want
to serve Him, despite their own sin and personal failures.
For that example, Gene Kelley will be greatly missed.
From
the time he was diagnosed with cancer to his death 11
months later, Gene never stopped thanking and praising
God for His goodness. He knew that this life is just
a moment in eternity, and he had no doubt that because
he had accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior
a glorious eternity in heaven awaited him. Gene trusted
God regardless of whether he was to be healed of cancer.
For his example of steadfast faith in all the circumstances
of life, Gene Kelley will be greatly missed.
To some,
Gene Kelley was "the guy who headed Backstreet Missions." To
some he was a pony-tailed biker. To some he was an inspiring
Christian brother and to some "one of those fundamentalist
Christians." To those he helped, he was a caring
man like most had never known. For me, and for all those
who truly knew him, he was a treasured friend and a constant
reminder of God and His love. For that, Gene Kelley will
be greatly missed.
Gene
Kelley's death is a true loss for our community. |
