Bill Jenkins grew up in Mississippi during the civil rights era. He was among the first white college student teachers to be assigned to an all-Black school in the Mississippi delta, an experience that set him on a lifelong trajectory for social justice. Bill concurrently serves as director of Safe Harbors Network and Christ Ministry Center (the “seven-days-a-week” church), an urban community center that is home to three free medical clinics, one of San Diego’s oldest food ministries, home to twelve congregations, and a thriving co-work center. CMC operates The Welcome Home, offering residential lodging for asylum seekers. Bill is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, and is known as “The Bishop of Beds” for his efforts to house and care for over 7,500 refugees over the past three years.

The SAFE HARBORS NETWORK is a coalition of congregations and homes that provide beds and basic service needs for refugees and asylum seekers. Safe Harbors recruits and supports those who provide help for immigrants. Safe Harbors grew out of the GateWAY Loft ministry at Christ Ministry Center in Normal Heights. SHN is the oldest and until October of 2018, the only immigrant welcoming shelter in all Southern California, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency and Church World Service. Today SHN works with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Catholic Charities and Jewish Family Services’ Rapid Response Network, (RRN provides for asylum seekers whose stay in San Diego is 1-3 days), to accommodate longer-term asylum seekers (SHN usually provides for asylum seekers whose stay is three months or more).