ABOUT
CANDYMAN
MISSION & HISTORY.
J.L. Mann Cromer (Bubba) has not always been known as "The Candyman." A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Bubba attended Dreher High School, where he served as Student Body President. Afterwards, he attended Clemson University and the University of South Carolina School of Law.
An attorney licensed to practice in South Carolina, California, and the District of Columbia, Bubba was elected as the only true independent in the history of the South Carolina General Assembly in 1990. Currently, he is the elected reading clerk for the South Carolina House of Representatives and he practices law part-time. Practically all of his spare time is spent with Candyman Homeless Outreach. Bubba strives to consistently serve the homeless every single night he is in Columbia.
Becoming the Candyman
Bubba Cromer launched his homeless work about 13 years ago. Inspired by the post-presidential career of Jimmy Carter, and motivated by the election of Pope Francis, he began volunteering at a well-Known Midlands Homeless shelter. In short order, he created the job description and coined the job title “Homeless Concierge” while running the registration desk, welcoming, and entertaining the homeless guests for the evening. Additionally, he went into the barracks and provided a makeshift “turn down service” complete with leaving a mint on the pillow, and welcoming them to the homeless hotel. The homeless community in the Midlands anointed him with the nickname “Candyman”. After two years of voluntary service as the homeless concierge, Bubba launched his own Homeless outreach ministry, with a specific concentration on providing for the shelterless homeless population in the Midlands, which he observed to be exponentially growing. His job description mushroomed from being a simple homeless concierge, but he kept the nickname and ultimately named his outreach ministry after it.
A Burgeoning Need
Launching a homeless outreach ministry was a “first rodeo” for Bubba Cromer in the truest sense. This undertaking came with a lot of stress, trepidation, and prayer. Still unsure of his calling, and at the initial stage of trying to secure his footing and comfort level, Bubba met a teenage girl and her boyfriend on the second night of this new endeavor. The couple approached him at a public park and asked him if he was “the Candyman.” When he indicated he was, the young girl handed him a half–empty bottle of vitamins, labeled "women’s hair and nail supplements." She asked Bubba if these were “good vitamins for her to take.” At that moment, he received a clear answer to his prayer. This was a thinly veiled cry for help. He bought the young couple a three-month supply of prenatal vitamins.
Since these humble beginnings, Candyman homeless outreach has expanded exponentially to the point where we now furnish not only over-the-counter medicines, but underwear, socks, T-shirts, winter coats, sweatshirts, shoes, hygiene kits, ponchos, sleeping bags, tote bags, flashlights, lunch bags, freeze pops, and ice water, and even birthday presents and special requests as time and budget allow.
A Novel Approach
Bubba Cromer believes—and feels most will agree—that it is preferable to SEE a Sermon rather than HEAR one. From this conviction sprang Candyman Homeless Outreach’s mission statement : “preach the Gospel daily, use words ONLY when necessary,” quoting Saint Francis of Assisi in 1200 AD. Moreover, by virtue of his limited two-year observation of the homeless situation in the Midlands, Bubba was frustrated by the lack of influence the HISTORICAL APOSTOLIC Christian Church had on certain aspects of the established “players” in the field.
A self-described “Bible Geek”, Bubba had immersed himself in various curricula for Doctorate of Divinity Degrees before ever launching any homeless efforts. (In fact, he actually lectures on certain subjects across various venues to this day.) This academic background influenced his ministry to provide for everyone, regardless of their social status, sex, (or sexual orientation), religious affiliation, denomination or religion (or lack thereof)— with a special emphasis on people trapped on the fringes of society. In his humble opinion, Bubba felt as if this was more in line with the structure and mission of the apostolic Christian Church, and of the personal instruction of Jesus Christ himself.
As a result, there are no prerequisites for the homeless to receive our services.
That being said, it is our mission to represent the Gospel and glorify God every day, just a bit differently. Bubba is always ready to pray with anyone who requests it, and is equally enthusiastic to discuss the Gospel with anyone showing an interest. But the entire effort usually resorts back to those immortal words of Saint Francis of Assisi.
