Bill Holmes views his recent, dramatic job change as a small step. Others might call it a leap of faith.

Holmes manages the 92 apartments at Mary’s Place, a nationally known, Christian-based transitional housing facility in Minneapolis that provides shelter for nearly 400 families a year.

Until recently, Holmes could be found serving pizza and burgers in Twin Cities restaurants. A 2007 BSU business graduate, he used his people skills to become a successful waiter. But something was missing.

“For many years I had an interest in working with the underprivileged to make a difference in their lives,” he said. “I was unfulfilled.”

By 2013, Holmes had moved into management. At his restaurant, he visited frequently with Mary Jo and Dick Copeland, founders of the safety-net organization Sharing & Caring Hands that operated a homeless shelter. Motivated to serve more than food, he shifted careers and began as a part-time trainee last summer. On his first day on the job full time, the Copelands presented him with a startling proposition. The manager of Mary’s Place was leaving, and they wanted him to take over. He started on Oct. 10.

“I was in shock,” he said. “But Mary Jo is such an intuitive leader that when she said I could do it, I just believed her.”

The transition to a new profession has been hectic, but a staff that values the nonprofit’s mission has helped.

“My colleagues are constructively critical, and we guide each other with appropriate advice and support,” Holmes said.

A spiritual person, he viewed the opportunity as a continuation of his religious journey. He said he felt faith is best expressed through service, so the sudden transition became a logical step taken with a measured, but real, leap of faith.