Lifting Up A Longtime Volunteer

We’re blessed to work with an incredible group of volunteers who are passionate about serving our community. Some of them have worked with us for quite a long time. So this year, we thought: “What better way to celebrate National Nonprofit Day than to lift up one of our longtime volunteers, Rev. Derrick Henderson?”

Reverend Derrick Henderson is a licensed and ordained Baptist minister and has worked in and around Emmaus House for more than 40 years. 

There and Back Again

Rev. Derrick first discovered Emmaus House in 1979 when his cousins invited him to attend summer camp. Afterward, he began attending the chapel and Father Ford eventually asked him to direct the Study Hall. He would go on to work with the Poverty Rights Office and there provide direct assistance to neighbors in the community.

In his twenties, Rev. Derrick moved away to pursue ordination in the Baptist tradition. During this time, he led a number of churches as a Baptist minister but still visited Emmaus House when he could. In 2005, however, he had what he described as “an epiphany”: God was calling him back to Emmaus House to serve.

A Helping Hand

Since then, Rev. Derrick has continued to be an active and committed member of the Emmaus House Chapel, serving on various committees and leading many activities, although he has also served in many of our programs, primarily as a volunteer. 

He has assisted with our Summer programs (prior to the Freedom School), driven the Emmaus House van, led Bible study for the Seniors 555 group, volunteered with the food pantry as well as our holiday programs—whatever is needed, Rev. Derrick has always been there to help.

He has also comforted a number of families in their time of grief, leading several homegoing services for neighbors in Peoplestown. 

Lighting The Way

Rev. Derrick believes that to whom much has been given, much is expected. Over the years, he has continued to explore what it means to give back to those less fortunate, constantly asking himself, “How can I help?”

He’s grateful for the many opportunities he’s had through Emmaus House to lend a helping hand in the community. 

“Emmaus House is the lighthouse on the hill,” he says. And he hopes it will continue to be that light in the future. As long as it is, he continues to be ready, willing, and able to serve.