Mel Trotter (1870-1940)

Melvin Ernest Trotter was a former alcoholic who founded and directed the Grand Rapids Michigan City Rescue Mission. Today it is flourishing and called Mel Trotter Ministries.

In 1897, a bedraggled,drunk, suicided minded Mel, was invited into a Pacific Garden Mission by Harry Monroe. Harry, the mission superintendent said ’ Jesus loves you and so do I.’ He then gave a personnel testimony about his own troubled life. At the close of the message Harry gave an altar call. Mel, aged 27, walked forward and gave his life to Christ. It was the beginning of a new life and career. He was on his way to becoming an evangelist.

For the next 40+ years he worked as a rescue worker, mission superintendent and evangelist. He devoted his energy to redeeming lives of men and women who fought the same demons he once knew. He became known as ’ the man who raved about Jesus.’

Mal helped supervise 68 rescue missions. Many of these were founded by former alcoholics.

He remained a simple person . He believed God’s love had the power to change even the most ruined life.

In my research I found his own testimony -it’s a very power read.

The Mel Trotter Ministries (MTM) he founded is flourishing. Their statement of intent reads MTM exists to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ through rescue and restoration for anyone experiencing hunger of homelessness.

I also decided to have a look at The Pacific Garden Mission where it all started for Mel. It is still flourishing. I also found a 12 page history of the mission written in 1942 about the* The Great Triumvirate* - Harry Monroe, Mel and Billy Sunday.
The first 7 pages look at the whole of Mel’ s life association with the Rescue Mission.

Sources used
Ambassadors for Christ contribution from Margaret Bendroth
Wikipedia
Pacific Garden Mission
A testimony of Mel Trotter