"Raising People Up" Is Jansen's Mission At The Emmaus Center

By Sharon Mager
The Emmaus Center on Central Avenue in Glen Burnie is a haven for the world-weary needy. Some walk the streets, homeless and downtrodden; others have homes and families but just can’t get by and at the end of the month they need a helping hand. For these and many others, Emmaus volunteers are there to help.

The center was founded in May 2008 by The Reverend Ed Jansen, MA, BCPC, affectionately known as “Father Ed” and his wife, the Reverend Trish Gaffney, LCSW-C, CCDC. They came to Maryland from South Florida and now reside in Gaffney’s family home in Severna Park. Both were clergy, Jansen, a pastoral counselor and Gaffney, a licensed psychotherapist. Their plan was to set up a fee-based counseling service, offer church services on Sundays and minister to the needy.
“Much to our surprise homeless people started coming in,” Jansen said, “And there were a lot of them.”
The couple began to sense God was changing their focus. So, after much prayer, Jansen and Gaffney decided she would conduct the private practice and Jansen would primarily oversee an outreach to the homeless and needy.
“We made some mistakes in the beginning but we set some boundaries and we’ve been growing ever since. It has evolved. We really do have a sense of community here. People feel they belong, that they are valued and loved in spite of their circumstances.”
They feed people and give them coats when they’re cold, but more importantly for them there is a powerful spiritual dynamic.
“We’re sensitive… we don’t force our faith on anyone,” Jansen said, though he said many come to faith as a result of seeing God’s love demonstrated in practical ways.
Emmaus has become a family community. The center is 100% volunteer based as many homeless or formerly homeless provide front desk, kitchen and operations services. They vacuum, clean bathrooms and organize the food pantry. Some even go the extra steps and make hospital visits or minister to others having more immediate needs.
“It’s in giving back and serving others as Christ served us that they find real joy and happiness in life,” Jansen said.
Many of those who come for help are falling between the cracks — the working poor who run out of funds before the next check. They show up seeking food and encouragement.
The center distributes over a ton of canned goods every month and serves 1,200 to 1,500 breakfasts and lunches. Emmaus also offers mental health counseling and addiction programs.
“I hardly go 50 minutes without addressing some area of recovery or teaching on it,” he commented.
Recently Emmaus started a learning center offering job training skills, money management and even Microsoft Certification — learning to put together networks, tear down and rebuild computers and other hardware and software skills. It’s restricted only for those in financial need and it’s free. There are also financial management classes such as learning to handle a check book and budget.
The center also offers monthly anger management courses. Some who attend do so because they’re court ordered, but many take the course to deal with their own anger problems. Jansen said he sees people truly changed through the classes, and they’re surprised they’re not the only ones dealing with these issues. Every session brings couples who tell Jansen they think he must be peaking in their living rooms when they’re fighting.
Reflecting on the success of Emmaus, Jansen said, “We’re not doing anything unique. It’s what the church has been doing for 2,000 years, though sometimes we lose the focus of who Jesus came for. What we’re doing is raising people up.”