"Beyond Meals: Discover the Deep Spiritual Impact of Soup Mobile's Mission"-ft. David Timothy

In this episode, Pastor Wayne Walker, CEO of OurCalling, interviews David Timothy, also known as 'Soup Man', founder of Soup Mobile, a mobile soup kitchen in Dallas. They delve into the origins and evolution of Soup Mobile, which began over 20 years ago and remains dedicated to feeding and nurturing the homeless with sustenance and love, under the scriptural command by Jesus to "feed my sheep." Through discussions about the essential role of thousands of volunteers, the influence of David's experiences with poverty, and the organizational approach during challenges like the pandemic, they explore how the Soup Mobile provides meals and offers emotional and spiritual support. The conversation also touches on the innovative ways Soup Mobile engages with the community, including cultural elements like music and David's forward-looking perspective on the future of their mission.
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https://www.soupmobile.org/
https://www.ourcalling.org/

1. **Soup Mobile's Mission** (01:01-01:24): David Timothy explains that Soup Mobile, founded over 20 years ago in Dallas, is a mobile soup kitchen aimed at serving the homeless directly where they congregate, providing not only food but also love and compassion as directed by the Christian principle to "feed my sheep."

2. **Serving More Than Food** (02:00-02:36): The mission is simple but profound—“Feed My Sheep," implying feeding both physically and spiritually, offering food alongside love, care, and compassion, differentiating their service from mere food distribution.

3. **Volunteer Engagement** (03:31-03:54): Over 30,000 volunteers have contributed to the Soup Mobile over the years, drawn by the combination of direct aid and emotional connection the organization fosters.

4. **Definition of 'Soup Man'** (04:38-05:46): David Timothy views the 'Soup Man' as an ordinary person trying to follow Jesus’ example, aiming to "repay the gift of the cross" by serving others despite feeling unworthy of Jesus’ sacrifice.

5. **Importance of Pastoral Care in Service** (07:25-09:08): Pastoral care is central to the operation, with the primary goal being to love and spiritually nourish individuals, which complements the physical nourishment provided through food.

6. **Strategic Partnerships and Growth** (11:22-13:01): Soup Mobile operates 365 days a year, partnering with local churches to extend their reach, particularly focusing on children in poor areas who might have shelter but lack food.

7. **Personal Motivation from Childhood** (12:20-13:01): David’s personal experiences of poverty and hunger in childhood power his empathy and drive to combat similar suffering among today’s homeless and needy children.

8. **Impact of Volunteers and Community Involvement** (03:31-04:17): Highlighting the crucial role of volunteers who not only provide food but also open a pathway to the hearts of the people they serve, embodying the mission to deliver food with compassion and care.

9. **Expansion and Adaptation** (21:06-25:43): Discusses the growth of Soup Mobile from one van to a fleet and the construction of facilities like Soup Mobile Church and a headquarters, maintaining operations and expanding reach even during challenging times like the pandemic.

10. **Innovative Outreach Tools** (29:52-30:20): Utilization of unique vehicles like a trolley and an ice cream scooter to deliver food and prayers, creating a distinctive and engaging approach to outreach.

11. **Inspirational Approaches** (34:23-36:34): Using iconic elements like the Rocky theme song to inspire hope and resilience among those they serve, underpinning their service with cultural touchstones that resonate broadly.

12. **Future Outlook and Expansion** (38:07-43:59): David insists on continuously expanding and innovating how they serve, driven by a commitment to respond to God’s guidance without a rigid blueprint for the future, reflecting a dynamic and responsive approach to ministry.

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Creators & Guests

Host

Wayne Walker

CEO and Pastor Wayne Walker serves as the CEO and Pastor to the homeless at OurCalling. In 2001, Wayne, along with his wife Carolyn, started serving the homeless community in Dallas. They founded OurCalling in 2009. During his youth, Wayne’s family actively pursued the scriptural commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” by modeling the life of Jesus to scores of foster children whose own origins represented generations of human brokenness, dysfunction, sexual exploitation, and abuse. Early exposure to these destructive forces set him on a path to recognize the long-term effects of trauma, which often lead to homelessness. While completing his Master’s Degree in Cross-Cultural Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary, Wayne befriended and ministered to men and women in the homeless community. During that time he began to establish personal, discipleship-oriented relationships with homeless individuals, many in the same urban setting where he and his family continue to work today.

Editor

Orange and Teal Productions

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Designer

Sarah Katherine

What is OurCalling - Our podcast about homelessness?

A Podcast by OurCalling—the goal is to be a learner. What can we learn about serving those experiencing homelessness? Even though we have years of experience, can we step back, take a fresh look, and rethink everything we know? OurCalling is a Christian nonprofit (501 c3) serving the homeless community throughout Dallas County in Texas. Our team helps people get to know Jesus and get off the streets every day. Last year, we helped individuals exit homelessness over 1,300 times. We have a facility in downtown Dallas, and our street outreach teams visit over 4,000 locations throughout the county. We serve about 10,000 individuals experiencing homelessness each year. We partner with the most amazing organizations and recognize that we are stronger when we work together.

Wayne Walker: 00:01

Hey. This is Wayne with Our Callings podcast, our podcast. And today, we're gonna talk to the Soupman who runs the Soup Mobile. What is it? What do they do?

Wayne Walker: 00:10

And to learn more about their story. Who is our calling? What does our calling do to help the homeless? The nonprofit. We care with dignity.

Wayne Walker: 00:18

Our calling

David Timothy: 00:19

Can't help but think about the definition of Christian

Wayne Walker: 00:21

We connect with intentionality.

David Timothy: 00:23

Called our calling To our calling We build community with integrity. Calling our calling

Wayne Walker: 00:30

This is our calling and our podcast, a word on the streets about homelessness. Okay. David Timothy, the suit man. You even have a shirt that says the suit man. I do.

Wayne Walker: 00:47

Soup mobile.

David Timothy: 00:48

Yes, sir.

Wayne Walker: 00:48

Okay. So what is Soupmobile and what is first of all, it's Soupmobile, not Soupmobile like a mobile phone. It's Soup Mobile. And why is it called the Soup Mobile and what is it?

David Timothy: 01:01

So the Soup Mobile, Pastor Wayne, was founded 20 years ago, 20 plus years ago now, right here in Dallas, Texas. And we're a mobile soup kitchen. And it is soup mobile just like automobile, but with the word soup. And, over the years, we've served a lot of soup to the homeless here in Dallas, Texas. But the key to what we do, we're on wheels.

David Timothy: 01:24

We take the food to where the homeless congregate. We go to them, and we serve them food, but also a healthy dose of love, caring, and compassion. 2000 years ago, Jesus, as you know, said feed my sheep. We think he meant food and more, and that's where the love and the caring and the compassion come in. So, that was, 20 plus years ago, and it's just been a, a great ride ever since.

Wayne Walker: 01:54

Wow. Feed my sheep. Now what's the mission statement of Soup Mobile?

David Timothy: 02:00

So it is those three words, feed my sheep. We don't have a long and complicated mission statement. It's not pages and pages. It's just those three words, feed my sheep. But, again, Pastor Wayne, we think he meant food and so much more.

David Timothy: 02:18

And so for the soup mobile, the food is critically important. We know that these people need to be fed, but we think that they need so much more. Anybody can hand out a sandwich. Mhmm. But can you hand out a sandwich with some love and some caring and some compassion?

David Timothy: 02:36

That's what Jesus did. When Jesus, multiplied the loaves and the fishes, he wasn't just here's some food. He was making sure that that that love that love of Jesus was, being given to these people. And so all we're doing is we're we're trying to do the same thing is give that love of Jesus to these people.

Wayne Walker: 02:55

I love that. You you talked about Jesus feeding people. Right? The feeding of 5,000. He didn't open up a soup kitchen or in his time a falafel stand.

Wayne Walker: 03:03

Right? He wasn't serving just shawarma to folks there that were hungry. He delivered the most important message they ever heard and he delivered food. Mhmm. And he had the disciples go and do it.

Wayne Walker: 03:15

He could have snapped his finger and every belly been full, but he chose to use them like you have used thousands and thousands of volunteers to go out and serve people and also deliver a message. Yes. Now talk about volunteers. How many volunteers do you guys have?

David Timothy: 03:31

So over the years, we we actually counter these up, as best we could. Over the years, we've had more than 30,000 volunteers come to the suit mobile. Some come one time, some come, and most come multiple times. Once they get a taste of the water, they want more. And they come back and they volunteer again and again.

David Timothy: 03:54

And what we love about our volunteers is they get it that while the food, yes, important, there has to be so much more. Just feeding them isn't enough. We start there, But for us, the food is just the doorway into their hearts. So volunteers, they're the heart and soul of the Soup Mobile for sure.

Wayne Walker: 04:17

Wow. That's amazing. That's a lot of people to not only have serve with you, but to train and encourage to walk beside and and to learn what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ. Right. Right?

Wayne Walker: 04:30

I love that. So if that's what the Soup Mobile is, give me a definition. Who is the Soup Man?

David Timothy: 04:38

So people ask me to about this suit man thing. That's my nickname on the streets. That's what, the homeless call me, but a lot of other people call me the suit man too. But the suit man is a is a just a guy, a regular guy that says, jeez, 2000 years ago, Jesus hung on the cross for me. Now that's pretty unbelievable from my viewpoint.

David Timothy: 05:05

Why? Why would he do that for me? I wasn't even born yet, but he hung on the cross for me. He paid my sins. Why would I hadn't done anything?

David Timothy: 05:17

And even to this day, as the suit man and serving the homeless and needy children, what have I really done that would deserve somebody hanging on the cross for me? And the answer is nothing. I haven't done anything to deserve that gift. So when you say who's the suit man? The suit man is a guy that is just trying to follow in the the vapor trail of Jesus, just in his dust that's coming off his feet.

David Timothy: 05:46

If I can just stay in the dust trail, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. The bottom line for me is I know I'll never be able to repay the gift of the cross, but you better believe that every day when I wake up, that's my number one goal, to try to repay the gift of the cross. And that's really what the Superman is all about. Just a regular guy trying to repay a guy from 2000 years ago that did something for me that just just staggering.

Wayne Walker: 06:18

We had a debt we could not pay. Yeah. And it was written with a check of Christ's life for us, and we do what you do what you do. And I what I'm hearing from you is not to earn it, but as a you know, as as as Paul says, I wanna be a slave of Christ. Yeah.

Wayne Walker: 06:38

I wanna I wanna freely give myself to his service because of what he's done for me.

David Timothy: 06:42

Right.

Wayne Walker: 06:44

I've always said if I get a tattoo, doulos is one of the one of them I'll get. I just love that.

David Timothy: 06:49

Yes.

Wayne Walker: 06:49

Praise. David, I also heard you say something 3 different times in the short time we've been talking that tells me that you're not just David, my friend. You're not just the soup man, but David at your heart, you're a pastor, and that the gospel and the message of the cross is so important to you. What talk about that. Tell tell me tell me what what what is it that drives you to be pastoral and and care for individuals, and what kind of role does a pastor have in the middle of soup or food?

David Timothy: 07:25

That's a good question, Wayne. It for me, as a pastor here in Dallas, Texas, I I again, it all goes back to Jesus and following his example. He showed that food is not enough. In all of the stories that we read about in the Bible about Jesus, we see that number 1 was love. That's number 1, what he was giving to people.

David Timothy: 07:55

So as a pastor, my number one goal isn't the food. It never will be. My number one goal is the love. And I believe that we're all pastors in some capacity. We're all people that can take that love that Jesus gave us and give it to someone else.

David Timothy: 08:16

But for us serving food, we've got the the classic doorway into their hearts. When you're handing people hungry people food, you've got their attention. And while we're very low key about, this Jesus thing, and we don't shove it down anybody's throat, we we see this as an opportunity. Here's some food and, oh, by the way, did you hear about that Jesus guy from 2000 years ago? No?

David Timothy: 08:43

Let me tell you a little bit about him. All low key, no high pressure. We don't need to shove it down their throats. And the reason we don't is because there's a God up there that he can prepare their hearts, and he'll match their hearts with our offer of this love and of of Christ. So pastoring, I tell people don't make it too complicated.

David Timothy: 09:08

Anybody can do it if you're willing to take that love that Jesus gave you and pass it on. It's it's just so critical that we do more, particularly in in today's this is a crazy world we're living in. These are the world in many ways seems to have gone haywire. Now more than ever, that that love as pastors, we have to take that love. And pastor Wayne, we have to freely give it, to the homeless, to the needy children, for that matter to everyone.

David Timothy: 09:46

And I believe that's exactly what Jesus wants us to do. And again, never and we don't ever do this in the thought of, Jesus we're even Stephen now. I paid you back. We're good. What's the Bible say?

David Timothy: 10:01

Not of works, lest any man should boast. So the works that we do, again, it's all about staying in the vapor trail of Jesus, just staying in his dust. If we can do that, I think we're good to go.

Wayne Walker: 10:14

Wow. So you wear multiple titles, pastor David, pastor Timothy, David Timothy. Right? You have 2 first names. I think that's cool.

David Timothy: 10:24

I do.

Wayne Walker: 10:26

So pastor David, Soupman, pastor Soupman. To me, I think it's amazing that God has called you into a space where you can meet a physical need in order to give an opportunity to meet a spiritual need. And I love what you said that we don't shove Jesus down their throat. One of the statements I've said around here at our calling for years is that Jesus is not the chips and salsa in order to get the meal. Right?

Wayne Walker: 10:50

We're gonna serve anybody no matter what they believe, and you don't have to believe anything. We're gonna serve really good food. Last week, we served brisket and ribs on one day, and today, we serve thousands of wings, you know, because we wanna serve people the best food that they can get in order to have an opportunity just to love them well, And I love that you do that remotely. Like, is is the mobile part of what you do. Right?

Wayne Walker: 11:17

The supermobile, How many locations do you guys serve in now?

David Timothy: 11:22

So what we do, the Super Bowl, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, is either feeding directly at a mobile location or on some days we're partnering with a church mainly in South Dallas, one of the poorest ZIP codes in South Dallas. We're partnering with them and we're providing them enough food so that they can feed their flock. And not just their flock, but people down in South Dallas, particularly the kids. The these kids in South Dallas, Wayne, as you know, many of them have a roof over their heads. But many a night, the cupboards are bare.

David Timothy: 11:59

And for me, that's personal. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, what, about 39 years ago, maybe a few more. But growing up in Detroit, Michigan, I grew up in a household. We were never homeless, but we were poor. And many a night as children, I remember going to bed hungry.

David Timothy: 12:20

And you would think that hunger for a young child would be a bad thing, But this is how smart God is. For for me, God took my childhood of hunger, and of want and of need. He took that and he built in me a compassion and an empathy for people that are struggling to get food. And and I would have never dreamed in a 1000000 years as a child or even as a young adult or a young person growing up, I would have never dreamed that God was training me, preparing me to be the Superman. It it was it's just amazing.

David Timothy: 13:01

I I keep going back to and I tell people this, he's pretty smart. And he's got this thing where he can look into the future and he knows what's gonna happen. He knew back before I was born that someday I would be the Superman, but he made sure it happened. He made sure that childhood of hunger I had, that was not a coincidence or an accident. Now he he was careful to take care of me.

David Timothy: 13:30

It wasn't something where the lack of food ever crippled me, in a physical way where I couldn't do what I'm doing today or a mental way. So he he was careful not to make it too hard, but hard enough that I remembered. And, growing up, it never got away from that idea of, jeez, there's there's people out there that are going to bed hungry at night just like I did. So when I look at my childhood of hunger and then I look at these, children, particularly in south Dallas that, yes, roof over their heads. We had a roof over our heads, but the cupboards are bare.

David Timothy: 14:06

I I am just staggered that God chose me. Really? What are you thinking? You're choosing me to do this mission? I'm I'm in no way, qualified to do this mission unless you qualify me, god.

David Timothy: 14:25

And he did qualify me in a huge way with the childhood of hunger. So, what's the Bible say when God works out all things together for the good? And I guess all includes bad things. Right?

Wayne Walker: 14:38

Yeah. All those experiences.

David Timothy: 14:39

So that's what he did. He took my bad experience and he he just turned it into something, which I think is, I I hope is helping a lot of people.

Wayne Walker: 14:50

Wow. I mean, I met you a long time ago. I think you were in a van before it even said suit mobile on it.

David Timothy: 14:58

Yep. That's true.

Wayne Walker: 15:00

By behind city hall. I think we were both at the city's old day resource center.

David Timothy: 15:03

Yes, sir. Probably

Wayne Walker: 15:04

that's right. 15, 20 years ago.

David Timothy: 15:06

That goes back a few years.

Wayne Walker: 15:07

Yeah. I don't think I I had any gray hair then, and, but a lot has changed. So it's been fun to to grow up next to each other

David Timothy: 15:17

Yes.

Wayne Walker: 15:17

And to watch each other. Going back to the beginning though, what led you to change direction and to start serving soup?

David Timothy: 15:29

So, for many years, as I mentioned, I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, a city that, to this day I love. And, that's where I had my professional career, as a pension consultant. And I worked as an adult in, the Detroit Detroit area for many years, and and had a fairly successful career. And it was something I enjoyed doing. I seem to have a knack for it.

David Timothy: 15:58

But, then my late wife, got sick and, she needed medical treatment. And we ended up coming from Detroit to Dallas because here, we have UT Southwestern Hospital, one of the the top facilities in the world, not just the country. And so we came to Dallas for that reason only to get my late wife some medical, treatment. And when we got here, and and we're seeing the homelessness in Dallas as as as you know, we just drive down, Main Street and you see the homeless camped out on the streets, the sidewalks by City Hall. And so as we'd be driving to the hospital, for her appointments, and I've seen all these homeless, it just started ringing a bell in my head about my own childhood of hunger.

David Timothy: 16:53

It was like it was like God tapping me on the shoulder and saying, hey, see them? They're they're hungry. You remember your hunger, David, when you were a child? Remember that empathy and compassion I put inside you? And it was for me a trigger.

David Timothy: 17:11

And I, I remember turning to my wife at the time and, and saying to her, babe, what do you think? Is there a way we can, we could work feeding the homeless here in Dallas, into your, between your appointments and things? Is, is it even possible? And, and she looked at me and she said, sure. And then she quoted me the, the Bible verse, about through Christ, all things are are possible.

David Timothy: 17:38

And so from that that little tiny conversation on on the way to a doctor's appointment for my late wife, and seeing these homeless people, that's where the suit mobile was really birthed. And just like you said, we bought an old man. It wasn't even they had lettering on it yet saying suit mobile. And there we were, serving out behind city hall. And from those meager beginnings, those those humble beginnings, I think, it's safe to say we've grown into a fairly substantial charity here in Dallas.

David Timothy: 18:12

And even that is a little bit of a miracle because you know yourself from starting our calling. The it's a business. We're we're running a business. We can talk about love and compassion, and that's all there. But it's a business.

Wayne Walker: 18:25

We gotta pay the bills.

David Timothy: 18:26

Yeah. We gotta pay the bills. We gotta file tax returns. And you know the success rate for businesses in the United States, is abysmal. 5 years, 90% are are gone.

David Timothy: 18:38

10 years might be 1 per 2 percent are left. So so just starting a business like the suit mobile are are calling and surviving, for 20 years. That's a little bit of a, a miracle in itself, which constantly tells me God's hand is on your mission, our calling. It's on our mission because of his hand is not on your mission. I think you're gonna fail.

David Timothy: 19:03

I don't I don't care how smart you are. I don't care how good of a pension consultant I was and good with figures. That means bupkis. If God is not gonna support your mission, I don't I don't think it's doable. So out of those humble beginnings back, many year 20 20 plus years ago, that's that's how the suit mobile was born.

Wayne Walker: 19:24

And starting a business is hard, and then starting a ministry business is even harder because you don't sell anything. Yeah. You don't make anything, and you're trusting God every step of the way, and it's just been so, miraculous. Right? It is miracles to watch him provide.

Wayne Walker: 19:42

I had someone come in this building, right after we moved in this space in 2017, and they were looking around at how beautiful this building is, and they were saying, you know, you must have, like, one big donor, like, you know, some billionaire kind of guy. And I said, well, actually, we do. We like to say we only have 1 donor, and he owns the cattle on a 1000 hills. And she was like, really? He's a farm and rancher guy?

Wayne Walker: 20:06

I'm like, no. In in the old testament, it talks about God who owns everything. He owns a cattle on a 1000 hills. And when God sells some cows, he provides for us. And we've watched God provide for so by, you know, through the hands of so many people for so many years, and it's been fun to watch you guys grow.

Wayne Walker: 20:22

And it's it's at least 20 years, I think, that we we know each other.

David Timothy: 20:25

Yes.

Wayne Walker: 20:26

It's before our calling existed. I know for sure.

David Timothy: 20:28

That's right.

Wayne Walker: 20:29

And but where you are now from a van, a little white van, serving suit behind the city hall to where you guys are now. You're down the street from us. You have a beautiful facility. You've got a church down there, the Supermobil Church.

David Timothy: 20:46

Right.

Wayne Walker: 20:47

Kinda give us, an overview of what does the Supermobil look like today, and it's changed over the years. The pre pandemic, it was different now than what it is now. Y'all used to have housing, all kinds of different stuff. But what is the Super Bowl doing today? Like, what if you were to describe your organization today, what what is it?

David Timothy: 21:06

So you're right, Wayne. We've come a long way. Again, we're giving the credit to the guy upstairs, but we've come a long way from that that, old van, to a fleet of vehicles now. And we have Soup Mobile Church, the home church for the homeless here in Dallas. Beyond right next door to the church, we have, as you know, a very nice facility, an office, and a a warehouse facility.

David Timothy: 21:34

And each one of those things seem to have been, a a miracle in itself. So for example, when the pandemic was starting, we had a small piece of land, across from the church that we had purchased. And but we had no money to develop it. And now we're hearing about this pandemic thing. And, it's like if we had any chance to develop this property, now there's no chance.

David Timothy: 22:03

And out of the blue, I get a call from a banker friend of mine who had donated to the Super Bowl for many years. And he said, David, he said, come on down with the bank and, tell me a little bit about, what's on your radar screen? What are you doing now? And so I went down there and we're talking, and I'm telling them we've got this piece of land. It's not going anywhere.

David Timothy: 22:24

And and now this pandemic thing that we're hearing out of China is coming. I said, I think we're just gonna be sitting on this piece of land for for a while. And, he said, can I come down and look at it? I said, sure. And so he came down the next week and we're standing on this vacant piece of property.

David Timothy: 22:43

And, he said, David, tell me your vision, for this property. And, so I start describing, talk about lack of faith. I start describing this really, bare bones operation where maybe we put a trailer on the property and we put some gravel down so we have a little bit of a driveway. And, and I'm like 3 or 4 minutes into it and he goes, stop. Stop.

David Timothy: 23:13

He says, you're not telling me your vision. You're telling me what you think you might be able to do. He said, I don't wanna hear that. I wanna hear your revision. So I said, okay.

David Timothy: 23:23

You asked for it. Here it is. So I gave him the vision of what I wanted for the property. You've seen the property. It's pretty nice.

David Timothy: 23:31

And, when I got done, he looked me in the eye and he said, Superman, he said, I'm going to lead the fundraising, and you're gonna have your buildings and this property. I'm gonna, lead this for you. And, I said, really? He he said, yes, I am. And I said, and I was joking at the time.

David Timothy: 23:52

He's a banker, very successful banker. And I said, I'd take that to the bank. Right? And we both laughed. But long story short, from that humble beginning years ago to just that one van, and then building Supermobil Church, then to this banker saying, I'm going to lead the fundraising, and he did.

David Timothy: 24:12

And, why we don't have those Rolodexes anymore like the old days, it's all computer. This guy had a Rolodex of contacts like you just can't imagine. And he started calling them and he said, I know this guy, they call him the Superman, and he's got this vision that he told me about. And I bought into the vision, and now I want you to buy into the vision. And, of course, he's talking financially.

David Timothy: 24:37

And, it was just staggering the doors that opened up that I could have never opened myself. While the Super Bowl, I think, has built a fair amount of respect over the years, Wayne, we certainly didn't have the the financial ability to pull a project off of that size. We needed a partner that had impeccable financial, contacts and reputation, and this banker was it. So when you ask about what's the suit mobile looked like today, not only do we have more vehicles, not only do we have a a church. It's a little White House on the Prairie type church.

David Timothy: 25:22

Now we have this, headquarters that we built during the pandemic. You talk about God being on the job. I had people tell me, Wayne, and I know people told you when you bought this building, because this building was in rough shape to be sure. People told you, like, have you lost it, Wayne? You know, have you gone up the deep end?

David Timothy: 25:43

Look at what you're you you're buying here. And we kinda got the same thing during the pandemic. I had people come to me and say, David, no. No. There's a pandemic going on.

David Timothy: 25:54

You you can't build during the pandemic. And I said, well, things have changed. Times have changed. I said, but I have a question for you. Has God changed?

David Timothy: 26:06

And their answer was always the same. No. You know, he hasn't changed. The same God that parted the Red Sea can part the waters that we can build this project. And and we did.

David Timothy: 26:19

And even though the zoning offices, were closed a lot because of the pandemic and people were off work, nonetheless, he gave us favor. And so when you ask about what's the suit will be look like today, 30,000, volunteers later, fleet of vehicles later, a church later, major headquarters later. We look like somebody that went through the Red Sea. All of it. Everything we have today, every single thing, including my shirt that says Superman, everything we have today is because that guy from 2000 years ago said, David, I'm gonna pay for your sins.

David Timothy: 27:03

I'm going to the cross for you. You didn't ask for it. You don't deserve it, but you're getting it anyway. And that's that's why the suit mobile is what we are today. Wow.

David Timothy: 27:16

David, I

Wayne Walker: 27:16

keep hearing you point back to Jesus, man. That's just beautiful.

David Timothy: 27:22

He I tell you what, he's my guy. And I'm not, you know me for years, Wayne. We're both pastors, but, you know, I'm I'm not a fanatic about it and neither are you. We get it that God will prepare people's hearts. But I I believe, just like serving regular food, you put it out there.

David Timothy: 27:45

They might not like it, might not wanna eat it. That's okay. No no hard feelings. I'm offering it, but you don't have to take it. And the same thing with this this Jesus thing.

David Timothy: 27:54

We're offering it. Mhmm. You don't have to take it. Maybe God hasn't prepared your heart for for me yet. Maybe as I offer it and you say no, maybe God is is getting you ready for a year from now when pastor Wayne offers it and maybe you'll be receptive then.

David Timothy: 28:10

Maybe, David, you're just the the stepping stone to someone else. So we never take it personally. We never shove it down their throats, but we're constantly pointing back to Jesus. He's he's the key to the puzzle. Wow.

Wayne Walker: 28:28

And you do that with vans and with box trucks. You deliver a ton of food in South Dallas. You guys make a lot of food there in your facility. You have a church service there. You guys are faithfully serving every week, and where you are is so strategic.

Wayne Walker: 28:46

You know, you are there where the Coombs camp used to be. That's right.

David Timothy: 28:49

It's one

Wayne Walker: 28:49

of the biggest homeless camps in Dallas, right there under 45 at Coombs at a piece of property that probably anybody would have looked at and said that's worthless. It's not only worthless because it's only this weird little corner lot

David Timothy: 29:02

Yep.

Wayne Walker: 29:03

But it's worthless because it's under a bridge by 100 of homeless folks. I remember when the Super Bowl came to Dallas, like, 20 something years ago

David Timothy: 29:10

Yes.

Wayne Walker: 29:12

That, you know, they just cleared it out. Put everybody on buses and send them packing somewhere, you know, to make it look good.

David Timothy: 29:17

Yeah.

Wayne Walker: 29:18

You know, that area is exactly where you wanted to be and you planted right there across in the middle of those crossroads to be a beacon for Christ.

David Timothy: 29:28

Yeah.

Wayne Walker: 29:28

And not only did you get, more soup vans and soup box trucks, but you have a trolley car and you have a little ice cream scooter thing to pass out ice cream, I mean, the Lord is using you to be flexible and creative. You do it with pizzazz and you don't do it for show. You're down there just to be his hands and feet. I think that's so cool.

David Timothy: 29:52

Yeah. Yeah. We, the word you use, pizzazz. I I think that's an appropriate word. The Super Bowl, we try to do everything with just a little a little bit of pizzazz.

David Timothy: 30:05

And you're right, not to show off. We're we're not showing off. If anything, we're showing off, the incredible might and power of Jesus Christ. But when we drive up, like, we do have a trolley. I think we have the only private trolley.

David Timothy: 30:20

It's a gasoline trolley on wheels. It's a regular trolley with wooden seats. I think we probably have the only private trolley in all of Dallas, Texas, maybe maybe all of Texas. I don't know. You don't see him on the road too often.

David Timothy: 30:33

When we drive that trolley down the road, man, people stop. They stop their cars.

Wayne Walker: 30:37

Man, when I saw it the first time, I thought it's like a rice a Roni commercial. You know? Remember that growing up? Yes. But what do you do with that trolley?

David Timothy: 30:45

So, on in big stenciling letters on the side of the trolley, it says, soup mobile prayer trolley. And that's exactly what it is. So we take out volunteer groups, in that Supermobil prayer trolley. And we go, to different areas where the homeless congregate and we get out of that prayer trolley. We've got some food with us.

David Timothy: 31:06

Remember, the food for us is the doorway under their hearts. But it's all about, do you need prayer? I got my prayer team here. Yeah. This is this is the ACE prayer team right here in Dallas, Texas.

David Timothy: 31:18

I got them with me today, and they're here to pray for you if you want it. No pressure. But if you'd like some prayer, we're here to pray for you. And usually, the response not usually, all the time. It's overwhelming.

David Timothy: 31:32

I would say 99% of the crowd wants prayer. And so they come up, and we've got the prayer team in different stations around the trolley, and the people come up and they pray 1 on 1 with them. So the Supermobil prayer trolley, while it's about food, just like everything else we do, just the doorway into their hearts. And that's where the pizzazz thing comes in. Nobody else is pulling up with the trolley.

David Timothy: 31:59

That doesn't make us special or better than anybody else, but it says something to the homeless we're serving. I think it says to them, we think enough of you that we're gonna do a little pizzazz for you. We think you're special enough that we're gonna do some pizzazz. And here's today's pizzazz, the Soup Mobile prayer trolley.

Wayne Walker: 32:21

And you also do it and have done it for years with theme music. You've had this song playing when you show up at pastor Karen's place. Right? At Dallas International Street Church. You've served there for years in their parking lot with theme music.

David Timothy: 32:39

Yeah. You're right, pastor Wayne. We're I'm from Detroit, Motown, and so we're big into music. And so, we know that music from experience, it just has a real power to break down barriers. And so whether we're playing music out of a boombox, or we we've got several volunteers that actually sing.

David Timothy: 33:04

They come and they sing. And do the homeless love that, particularly if they're singing Motown. Last summer, we had, Grammy award winner, Dante Beau, come to Soup Mobile Church. We put up a stage on the parking lot of the church, and he came pro bono, didn't charge us a dime. This is a Grammy Award winner.

David Timothy: 33:25

Can you say, Aretha Franklin, Grammy Award winner? Wow. He came to sing for the homeless. So we know that that music, and song has a real power and it breaks down barriers. When you're tapping your feet and dancing to a Motown song with a homeless person, it doesn't matter if they're white, black, purple, atheist, Christian, it makes no difference.

David Timothy: 33:52

It breaks down barriers. And if you can break down that barrier in a in a in a benign way, which music does, then guess what? Here comes that love of Jesus thing. Here comes that Christ thing, always coming in on the table interested.

Wayne Walker: 34:11

There's a theme song that plays out of your vans and trucks when you show up over at sister Karen's place at Dallas International Street Church. You've played it for years. When people hear it, they know it's the Superman.

David Timothy: 34:23

That's right.

Wayne Walker: 34:24

It's the Rocky theme song. So what's the story with that?

David Timothy: 34:28

So back when the suit mobile was founded 20 plus years ago, somebody, I think it was me, said we gotta have a theme song. And, and, but we just didn't have a clue of of what it could be. And I said, it's gotta be something with hope, something that stirs hope in people. And we talked about different songs and and, again, I'm from Detroit Motown and, it kept coming back to Rocky was on the list. The Rocky theme song from the movie, which if I didn't mention it already, the greatest movie of all time is Rocky, bar none.

David Timothy: 35:08

So the Rocky theme song, it's it's truly a story of hope, not just for me, but for anybody that watched the movie, you see this boxer Rocky, and the movie starts he has nothing. He's he's just a a plug. He's down and out. His career is over, but through the grace of God, he he gets a second chance. And through some prayer and some hard work and some perseverance, Rocky rises up to be the champion of his own life.

David Timothy: 35:38

He becomes a boxing world champion eventually, in the movie. But this rise up, there's a scene in the movie where he's on his knees praying. This rise up didn't happen by by accident. And, when we serve our homeless people and we play this Rocky theme song, it stirs something in them. Everybody knows the story of Rocky and how he came from nothing to be the champion of his own life.

David Timothy: 36:06

And so our message when we come with that music is, you too, young man, young lady, you can be the champion of your own life. Not gonna be easy, maybe. It wasn't easy for Rocky, but he did it. And if you'll incorporate some prayer just like Rocky did in your life and some hard work and some perseverance, you can be the champion in your own life. And so it's more than just it's a great song, the theme song to Rocky.

David Timothy: 36:34

It is, everybody knows it, but it's by design that we chose that song to literally inspire people in their own lives, to rise up and do better.

Wayne Walker: 36:46

You know, I feel like I'm sitting with the Rocky of serving and feeding the homeless. If you rose up from adversity, your career was over, right, in the pension world

David Timothy: 36:58

Yeah.

Wayne Walker: 36:59

And you had some personal challenges going on at a time in your life, and you rose up from the ashes, you're running up the stairs with both hands over your head, not to build up yourself, but to really build up a ministry to focus on Christ. And that's just been so, so cool to see. Yeah. You're the Rocky of the soup world.

David Timothy: 37:21

Well, I I tell you, just like Rocky, though, I I never forgot and never forget where it's all really coming from. It's coming from that guy from 2000 years ago. No matter how determined or diligent I am and, if he's not part of it, it's just not gonna happen. So, yeah. I I think, the Superman has come a long way, but, only because of that guy from 2000 years ago.

Wayne Walker: 37:51

Wow. So you talked about where the Superman came from and and where the Super Bowl is now. What's next? What's the future of the Super Bowl? What what what I I can't imagine what kind of ideas the Lord's put in your head.

Wayne Walker: 38:06

But what's next?

David Timothy: 38:07

Alright. So this is the number one question I get asked is, what's next? We're in our 21st year. We know our history. We know we've come from nothing to where we are today.

David Timothy: 38:20

We know it's been one parting of the Red Sea after the other, for sure, particularly building our headquarters during the pandemic. So I've had people say to me, David, you're cool now. You're you're you've got to the point where, you could pretty much coast if you wanted to. And, and I I respond to that and I'm always polite. But I say, do you think Jesus ever coasted?

David Timothy: 38:49

Do you think he ever got to the point where he said, I've saved enough people. I've healed enough, no more. I've I've done really good, but but it's enough. And the answer is no. Jesus never stopped.

David Timothy: 39:04

He's not stopping today. He's coming back, for us. So I feel like we are expected to continue this mission, not just coasting, not just resting on our laurels, and staying where we are. I think we're supposed to keep doing more. An example I use, I was talking to a friend of mine, who is an atheist.

David Timothy: 39:28

And, and we we were talking about, this concept of growing and about Christ being the key to it. And, an example I gave him, I said, let's forget about God for a minute. Let's forget about Christ. Forget about all that. Let's just talk about the universe.

David Timothy: 39:46

I said, is it true? We'll call him Joe. Is it true, Joe, that the universe they proven is constantly expanding? And he said absolutely. He said it's a scientific fact.

David Timothy: 39:57

The universe is constantly and has been constantly expanding, since the very beginning, whatever you think that beginning was, constantly expanding. I said, so again, setting God aside. I said, if the universe is constantly expanding, isn't that a clue to us? Isn't that a nudge to us that we're supposed to keep constantly expanding, to be in tune with the very universe that we live in? And so, winding back to the question of what's next for the next 20 years?

David Timothy: 40:31

My answer is, I don't know. I don't know what's next. And that's the beauty of it. I don't have a 20 year plan where I'm going, well, let's see 20 years from now we'll have, now we have this many vehicles, we'll have this many. We have a prayer trolley.

David Timothy: 40:51

20 years from now, we'll have this, flying car that we fly to the homeless. I don't have that kind of vision in my head, and the Lord hasn't revealed it to me. But guess what? He didn't reveal anything to me when we started. When we started and saw those homeless people down by city hall, me and my late wife, and said, gee, could we get a van and maybe feed them?

David Timothy: 41:15

When we started, there was no vision of the future. There was no vision in my head that God gave me a Supermobil Church or or our beautiful headquarters or a fleet of vehicles or a prayer trolley. There there was no vision, that he put in my head. He basically gave me a start. He said, here's what I'm giving you.

David Timothy: 41:35

I'm giving you this van, this old van, and you're gonna put food in it and you're gonna go feed homeless people. And while I didn't hear these words from him, I think this is what he was thinking. Let's see how you do. Show me what you can do, what I've given you with what I've given you now. And if you do good, I'll give you more.

David Timothy: 41:58

And that seems to have been what's happened over the years. We take what he gives us, whatever the idea is, whatever the vision, prayer trolley, church, whatever it is, whatever the pizzazz is that he gives us. I tell my staff, let's rock this baby out. Let's do this the to the very best of our ability and then sit back and go, okay, God, what's next? What's next?

David Timothy: 42:25

What are you gonna bring us? So I am unbelievably excited about the next 20 years, but I don't have a clue of what it will look like. I know some basics. I'm I'm sure our fleet will expand. I'm sure we'll feed 1,000 and 1,000 more.

David Timothy: 42:47

I'm sure we'll start up other programs to serve the homeless needy children. I I get kind of the basics, but but what it will look like, what format will take, I just don't have a clue, and it's okay. I'm totally okay without having a clue because he's got it all mapped out for me. I only have one job here. When he brings it to me, David, honor it, respect it, be good at it, and then wait for the next thing.

David Timothy: 43:16

And and it's waiting with with just anticipation knowing, it's it's gonna be fabulous. The soon mobile prayer trolley, my gosh, I could have not dreamed of that in a 1000000000 trillion years. But when that idea came a couple years ago, it was like, wow. Yeah. Amazing.

David Timothy: 43:37

We can do it. Okay, God. We'll we'll find a trolley. We'll we'll get it. We'll do it.

David Timothy: 43:42

And and we have. And and I I'd like to think he's looking down and going, you doing you doing pretty good with that suit, man. Not perfect, but you're doing pretty good. I got some new stuff. You're not ready yet, but but it's coming down the pipeline.

David Timothy: 43:57

Get ready.

Wayne Walker: 43:59

So what I hear you saying is, like in, the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus said, why do you worry about tomorrow? You know, that today, you wanna be faithful with today. With whether it's 1 van or truck or 10 that you're faithful with that, trusting the Lord for tomorrow, whatever he provides Yeah. Seeking his will to really love his people and do his

David Timothy: 44:23

work. Yes. It it that's exactly it. It, you know, if Moses could trust God said to Moses, I want you to go up to the promised land, which was you it was up to the northeast. And God says, it's south with these millions of people, go south.

David Timothy: 44:42

I mean, what a blunder by God. God, it's the wrong way. I I can hear the people murmuring in the crowd. It's the wrong way.

Wayne Walker: 44:50

Your GPS is broken.

David Timothy: 44:51

Yeah. Were you taking us, Moses? We're supposed to go up there, not down here. But Moses trusted. He trusted that the Lord knew what he was doing and had a greater purpose.

David Timothy: 45:02

In this case, one of the purposes was the Egyptians were or were killed at the Red Sea, never to bother them again. Lord knows if they had gone to the promised land, I I could see the pharaoh going, let's let's take the military up there and get them back. But they were they were destroyed at the Red Sea. So for us, it it's about trusting that whatever direction he sends us just like Moses, we're going like, I don't get it, but I know you do and I know you have a plan. And so tell me what you want me to do now.

David Timothy: 45:36

I'll do it. I'll do it to the best of my ability, and then we'll see what else is is coming down the pike.

Wayne Walker: 45:43

Wow. So, David, you have the Supermobil Church, the Supermobil Fleet of Vehicles. Yeah. You've written how many books?

David Timothy: 45:51

I think the 10th one is getting we're working on the 10th one right now.

Wayne Walker: 45:54

Wow. You have the 5 minute sermons you email out. Mini sermons. Mini sermons. Yeah.

Wayne Walker: 45:59

You have the ask a sup man questions in the newspaper. Right?

David Timothy: 46:03

Yes.

Wayne Walker: 46:04

And the Lord has been using you in amazing ways to minister to lots of people, And what I hear you saying is you just look forward to doing more of it and trust in the Lord for whatever he wants you to do tomorrow.

David Timothy: 46:16

I do. I'll give this a little tidbit. I had a a pretty good friend of mine, say to me, last summer, Superman, you've been doing this for 20 years. When are you gonna retire? And, I remember I burst out laughing.

David Timothy: 46:34

And I said the r word is not in my vocabulary. I said, lord willing, when I leave, and go to heaven, I said, I'm gonna be in the saddle with my boots on, as you know, because you do, amazing good works through our calling. As you know, the rewards for what we do are are beyond you can't even describe them. What we do isn't even work. This isn't work.

David Timothy: 47:06

If it's work, I never got the memo. It's just a pure joy to do what we do. So, the concept of of walking away retiring from something that's a joy, Like I said, the r word is not in my vocabulary. So, yes, I'm, pastor Wayne, I am super excited about the next 20 years, not even knowing what's coming, but that's part of the excitement. I know it's gonna be it's just gonna be fabulous.

David Timothy: 47:37

I just know it.

Wayne Walker: 47:39

Thanks for being here today. Thanks for sharing the story, and, just pray that the Lord will continue to bless your ministry so that you can keep being the Superman.

David Timothy: 47:48

Amen.