Dr. Rudy Rasmus lives an extraordinary life.
After making the unexpected transition from running a no-tell motel to becoming a minister, Rasmus, along with his wife and co-pastor Juanita, managed to grow the membership of St. John United Methodist Church in downtown Houston from nine to over 9,000.
St. John is the church where Beyoncé discovered her phenomenal vocal talent. In 2008, Pastor Rudy—that's what his congregation calls him—proudly officiated her marriage to Jay-Z.
So, yeah. He's not your typical dude.
Although he is friends with some powerful people, Pastor Rudy's heart lies in serving others, rather than being served. You can hear it in his voice, which is so well-suited for public speaking; his mission is clear: attending to "the least, the last and the lost."
This calling is what sparked the idea for his nonprofit, Bread of Life, which began by serving hot meals to homeless men and women almost 30 years ago after his first service at St. John. Today, 30% of his flock is composed of people who used to be homeless, but aren't anymore.
That is the power of doing good.
Since then, Bread of Life's reach in the community has experienced exponential growth. For those who have access to a vehicle and are in need of basic essentials, they offer a weekly drive-thru distribution line. Volunteers hand out boxes of everyday essentials such as Tide, Pampers, Crest, Secret and Gillette, as well as antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, to people in need.
"On a typical Wednesday, we see about 600 cars in our line," Pastor Rudy told Upworthy. "Since the pandemic, the line of cars gets longer every week. We are starting to see the first wave of the economic impact of COVID-19 on the middle class."
A line of cars spanned six downtown blocks on the day Upworthy spoke with Pastor Rudy, a stunning spectacle complete with law enforcement to direct traffic. Before our interview, he decided to take a walk to see the line for himself. He wanted to see the faces of the people waiting in their cars.
"The level of visual despair was my most stark observation," he said. "It looked like shock. That's what it looked like. Classic, textbook shock."
This overwhelming need in the community is what makes Pastor Rudy most grateful for his relationship with
Matthew:25 Ministries. After Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017, Pastor Rudy was introduced to Tim Mettey, CEO of Matthew:25, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization helping more than 20 million people in need each year.
"We have been responding to COVID-19 since it began," Mettey told Upworthy. "We have helped over 700 different organizations throughout the United States; we have shipped 1.4 million pounds of product from our warehouses." Mettey's nonprofit has a partnership with Procter & Gamble, so they already had a lot of high-demand items, such as cleaning and hygiene supplies, on hand and ready to send to the people who needed it the most.
Matthew 25: Ministries
Because of the continued partnerships between P&G, Matthew:25 Ministries, and Bread of Life, the organizations have been able to help a LOT more people—support that is especially impactful during a pandemic.
Additionally, Bread of Life partners with the Houston Food Bank to distribute fresh produce, bottled water, and cleaning supplies to the homes of senior citizens or people sick with COVID-19. However, food banks are taking a massive hit.
"Now, the food banks have one-third of the food and a line that is three times as long... Matthew:25 helps to make up the difference between the two. Because of that partnership, we have been able to multiply what our local supporters are able to offer."
Pastor Rudy voiced concern over what is to come, and hopes Americans are preparing for a long road ahead.
"I would really encourage people to find small ways to help," he told Upworthy. "For instance, if a person is capable of buying two bags of red beans, give one away. You don't have to look that far—in this day and time, we all are agencies. Each of us has an equal responsibility to our neighbor. And my neighbor is whomever is standing right in front of me."
Turn your everyday actions into acts of good every day at P&G Good Everyday.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.