Pastor Mary Rathke of the Great Lakes Dream Center lies on the couch on the roof on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 in Bay City. Rathke stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
×It rained. It snowed. It plummeted into the mid 30′s throughout the nights. But Great Lakes Dream Center Lead Pastor Mary Rathke had a mission to complete.
“I wanted to raise that awareness to the community that as we go into the winter months, that people will be sitting on their couch with a pile of blankets and what better than to have a visual of me, sitting on a couch with a pile of blankets,” she said.
Surviving only on items the church gives to those in need, Rathke stayed on the roof located at 700 Lafayette Avenue for three days and three nights.
The ‘Rooftop Survivor’ initiative took place Thursday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 14. Rathke wasn’t going to come down until $50,000 was raised through giving awareness of those experiencing homelessness or struggling to pay heating bills.
“It was really eye opening. It’s a good reminder when people are experiencing homelessness, they don’t have bathrooms, they don’t have showers, that don’t have that covering over them,” she said. “So, if it was raining, I was wet. If it was cold out, I was cold. If it was snowing, I was covered in snow.”
While Rathke was up on the roof, a person experiencing homelessness stopped to visit her. After chatting for a bit, Rathke said this person asked for a cup of coffee. She told them that she couldn’t come down from the roof, but someone would be at the church soon that could assist.
They stepped back and realized Rathke was talking from the roof and learned why she was up there.
“All of a sudden, he had this huge smile on his face and he was like ‘you know how cold it was last night, you know what I went through last night,’” Rathke said. “So for me personally, it’s definitely changed my attitude of what somebody is going through.”
Rathke said the money that was raised will go into Great Lakes Dream Center general fund for 2022 and will be moved as needed throughout the year.
“My friends – for me, they were like ‘you can’t be out here in this cold!’ I’m like ‘lots of people are out in the cold and let’s take that compassion that you have for me and let’s transpose that onto the people here in the community.’”
Rathke says she’s super thankful for the full day sponsors Ambrose & Squires Funeral Home, United Bay Community Credit Union and all other businesses and families who stepped up and helped reach the goal.
Regardless of whether she’s up on the roof or not, Rathke says the church will keep doing what they can to continue helping the community.
Todd Rathke and Claudia Rathke, 12, gather in their living room as they help Pastor Mary Rathke pack for staying on the roof of the Great Lakes Dream Center during the ‘Rooftop Survivor’ event on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Essexville. Mary stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke listens to songs performed before delivering service at Great Lakes Dream Center on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 in Bay City. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke of the Great Lakes Dream Center lies on the couch on the roof on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 in Bay City. Rathke stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke of the Great Lakes Dream Center and Marlene Mika measure the space for a banner for the ‘Rooftop Survivor’ event on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 in Bay City. Rathke stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke of the Great Lakes Dream Center hops off the lift for the first time to set up her area on the roof for the ‘Rooftop Survivor’ event on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Bay City. Rathke stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Claudia Rathke and her mom Pastor Mary Rathke chat in the kitchen of their home home as they pack for Mary staying on the roof of the Great Lakes Dream Center during the ‘Rooftop Survivor’ event on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Essexville. Mary stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke of Great Lakes Dream Center checks out her bathroom area as she settles in on the roof on the first day of the ‘Rooftop Survivor’ event on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 in Bay City. Rathke stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke, her husband Todd Rathke, son Wesley Rathke, 14, and daughter Claudia Rathke, 12, enjoy dinner together on the roof of Great Lakes Dream Center during the ‘Rooftop Survivor’ on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 in Bay City. Mary stayed on the roof of the church from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14 to raise at least $50,000 for those in need. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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Pastor Mary Rathke delivers service at Great Lakes Dream Center on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 in Bay City. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)
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