March 11, 2025 • 56 mins
In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, we sit down with Lisa Bryant, Assistant Director of the Hope Center, to hear her powerful story of transformation. From battling addiction and experiencing homelessness to becoming a leader in shelter services, Lisa’s journey gives her a deep, personal connection to the guests she serves. She shares how Teen Challenge helped her find freedom and purpose, as well as the rewards and challenges of walking alongside people in crisis. Her past now shapes her present, allowing her to help others recognize their own worth and take steps toward a better future.
Joining Lisa, Rachel Flenniken, Director of the Hope Center, and Christian Stringfellow, Deputy Director of Shelter Services, discuss the realities of running a shelter, the dedication required to provide warmth and stability during the cold months, and the role of case management in guiding guests toward lasting change. This conversation is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the unwavering mission to love people where they are.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gracious Heavenly Father.
We thank you, lord, for thisday and your blessings and your
provisions.
God, we thank you for this timeto record this podcast and,
lord, just all of our listenersthat continue to support and
hear the messages.
Lord, we just thank you forthis time and pray that you
would speak through our gueststoday and, lord, that ears that
would need to hear this messagewould hear it and be encouraged.
(00:20):
Lord, in your holy name, wepray, amen.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hello Lord, in your holy name we pray Amen.
Hello everybody, thank you forjoining us for another edition
of Our Community, our Mission, apodcast of the Topeka Rescue
Mission.
We're on Tuesday, march 11th of2025.
This is episode number 259.
Good morning, marianne Crable.
Good morning, deputy Directorof Supportive Services.
How are you?
I didn't even write any of thatout, isn't that amazing?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
You mean, you're actually getting it right all on
your own Almost.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Almost yes, only took 200 episodes, I know 258.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Exactly, there's a lot to say at the beginning of
this stuff I don't know why wesay all that, but we do.
But anyway, Miriam, we're goingResearch and Development
Department stuff here at the.
Rescue Mission.
About what's special about thisday.
And you know, Josh just beams.
Do we have to?
Yeah, we have to, we have to.
Josh is down here.
He spends hours with his team.
He better not Researching thesethings.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
He really better not.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I don't.
Oh, that's right.
Google spent hours.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
No something in time Ten minutes, tops Ten minutes 10
minutes.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Tops 10 minutes All right?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, it's our best 10 minutes we have of the week,
so anyway.
So we want to get into thatfirst, but then we want some
updates from you, and then wewant to talk about some really
cool people in this room today.
So this is March 11th, and wealways recognize, you know,
what's important about that day,either nationally, or globally,
or universally, or whatever andso today is National Immune
(01:45):
System Day.
Now, you're a former nurse, Iam, and so talk to us about the
importance of a National ImmuneSystem Day.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
You know, there are times of the year, barry, when
it's even more important.
Like did you see what wentthrough this place?
Like right after the warmingcenters, everybody was sick.
We were drinking all kinds ofstuff to try to make sure we
don't get sick, because we haveimportant work to do.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
That's right so.
So why do we have a nationalimmune system day?
Is that where everybody's goingto be immune that day, or does
that mean we need everybody sickthat day and we should have
been immune?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Josh, do you hear like a buzz?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I'm not hearing very right now.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I don't know why they have these national days.
I really, really don't.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I don't either, but we've been told that they're
important, so we need to.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Hey, in the notes, if you read the notes, it says
that we don't recognize itenough because it's kind of the
unsung hero.
So this is the day for it toget the recognition it deserves
the immune system.
So it's just thank you, immunesystem.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, immune system.
So it's just thank you, immunesystem.
Okay, yeah, bless your heart,josh, bless your heart.
So around my house is calledthe national vitamin C taking
day, so, okay, or zinc.
Vitamin.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
D, we could go through the list.
Okay, doctor.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Nurse, don't want to be a doctor.
Same thing Paycheck's different.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
But, anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
The next one is the National Debunking Day.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
You know, this one I could kind of appreciate, though
, Right, and I'm pretty surethat that comment right there
who comes up with these things?
We have said that on thispodcast.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
We have, we may have just recently who?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
comes up with this stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, have you ever heard a story or a news and just
thought who comes up with thiskind of stuff?
So National Debunking Day?
I think more and more that wehave more daily opportunities
for information.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
today, it's good to debunk a lot of what we say.
I think it's a very good ideaSocial media stuff yeah News
station.
You don't even have to go toFacebook or Instagram.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Well, they may be interviewing you later this
afternoon, so be careful whatyou're saying there.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Okay, and you were in the meeting with me yesterday
so.
I'm just going to say bring it.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Bring it yeah.
Burns and mood everybody.
So, buckle your seatbelts,because we're ready for rock and
roll the rest of this year andbeyond.
So, okay, we're recognizingNational Immune System Day, the
debunking day which we don'tdebunk the immune system day.
So National Dream Day, nationalDream Day, you know.
(04:15):
Rachel asked me how everythingwas going and you know, just
terrible.
Except you know, I dream thateverybody would just do what I
think they should do andeverything be fine.
Yes, but they don't.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Did you read the second sentence of this?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
National Dream Day was created to debunk that
belief and encourage whatever.
The belief is that dreams arelike fairy tales, but not always
Not always no, you know, if wedon't dream, then what do we do?
Well, maybe just have peacefulsleep.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, some dreams are good,some not so good, but anyway, we
can dream while we're walkingand talking and we have a dream
of doing something special.
Josh, we had a dream of overfive years ago we'd have a
podcast Over five years ago.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
And we're still here.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And we're still dreaming the dream, baby Living
the dream.
Okay, well, now that we gotthose out of the way and
everybody realized you knowwe've kind of set the pace for
take your vitamin C, don'tbelieve everything you hear and
go ahead and dream, even thoughyou know whatever you're driving
.
So, Marion Crable, Director ofSupportive Services, We'd like
some updates.
One of the updates is theweather is really nice.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Isn't it beautiful.
The weather is really nice,isn't it beautiful?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It is absolutely awesome.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
When I left yesterday , I'm like okay, it is almost
warm.
I know which.
You know what that means, barry, right?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Mo grass.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, there's that, yeah, but what did we just get
finished with?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Finished Like winter.
No, I'm talking yes and warmingcenters, right?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, you know, it just seems like the other day
that warming centers were whatdo we plan Easter?
No how about now, we'll have toworry about people being too
warm.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Well, that's true.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
So now we'll have to have cooling centers, so the
planning will start.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Talk about a pessimist.
I'm telling you, it's not apessimist.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It's looking forward to caring for our neighbors.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I see you can see the look that you're getting.
Oh, I'm not even a director ofshelter, Did you notice?
I didn't even turn my head.
We're going to addresseverybody here gradually, but
that's Christian Stringfellowover there and he's the director
of our shelter services andoutreach.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
But you know, cooling centers are easier than warming
centers.
They could.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
They could be, because it's not like a 24-hour
thing, because it usually coolsdown in the evening when it's
cold.
Because it's not like a 24 hourthing because it usually cools
down in the evening when it'scold.
It's just cold.
So just chill out for a whileand then you can go.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
OK, yeah, I think if I hear the word center again, I
might just have a breakdown.
I'm done with the word center.
Ok, rachel, sorry.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
We're done with the Hope Center.
Then Warming cooling.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I was going to say, on this day of all days, to say
he's done with centers.
It's going to be called the.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Hope Place from now on.
Speaker 6 (06:46):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
After how many years?
Since 2020?
No 2000.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
That's when we opened that joint, so it's high time
for a change.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I will be getting the ladder today and ripping it
down.
Okay, some more updates.
We're already kind of totallydebunking everything we were
going to talk about here.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
So, miriam, get serious.
Come on, miriam, get serious.
There's always special needsthat we have at the mission.
You know, with all of thedonations that we get and all of
our incredible donors, theyrespond so well when we put out
a need, and right now we have aneed for linens, whether that's
sheets, towels, washcloths, allof those things that we need
both here at the mission andalso when we help folks with
(07:25):
completion of programs.
So you know, when people get tomove into housing, we try to
give them what they need to beable to get started Right.
So all of those things arereally important, whether it's
furniture or dishes or whatever.
But right now both in-house, sofor the folks staying with us,
and then then people that weremoving out, were really, really
in need of linen.
(07:46):
So if folks find that they'redoing spring cleaning, since the
weather is beautiful and springcleaning comes, then hopefully
then they'll find some thingsthat they can help us out with
it in that way.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
How can people get those to us?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
They can take them.
They can bring them anytime,monday through Friday, between
8.30 and, I think, 3.30, to thedistribution center at 401
Northwest Norris, where am I 401Northwest.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Norris, you're at Harrison right now.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I am in Harrison right now.
It's over there, across thetracks of.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Norris, exactly At the distribution center.
Yeah so, sheets, linens, butyou also mentioned furniture,
just things to help people getset up in their home, everything
dishes.
So if you've got something,knickknacks not so much anymore.
Right, you used to take a lotof those little things you said
on yourself, not as many.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
We don't have as much of a need for that as we maybe
did in the past, when we stillhad thrift stores.
We had a better way to utilizethose in different kinds of ways
, but some things are still nice.
You know, when we're helpingpeople with completions of
programs, we do want to givethem things that they can put on
the wall.
You know so little things likethat.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
We'll take some of those.
Absolutely.
Yeah, it used to be.
You know, some people don'tthink the rescue mission takes
any items anymore because weshut down thrift stores.
Yeah, that was done sometimeback and yeah, the rescue
mission still takes things, butit's more towards helping people
get set up in their homesrather than a resale shop.
There's a lot of thrift storeoperations in Topeka, kansas,
right now.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yes, absolutely, but it's also the things that we
need here, you know, I mean withall of the people I mean we're
running at about 250 people anight approximately.
That's a lot of clothing,that's needed, lots of things.
So we are always in need offood, clothing, linens,
household items, cleaningsupplies, just about anything
(09:36):
that you could think of we wouldbe able to put to use.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
So people can bring it here.
Also, if they forget what wejust said, they can go to the
website and there's a needs liston the website.
Absolutely, at wwwtrmonlineorg.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Absolutely.
And you know the other thing,they can find.
There is ways that they mightwant to help us out, whether
it's through volunteerism,volunteer opportunities or also
to check out the staff openingsthat we have.
Or also to check out the staffopenings that we have.
We have openings in almostevery area of the ministry right
now in our shelters, the men's,the men's shelter, the women's
(10:11):
shelter, women and familyshelter, the kitchen, the
distribution center,administrative positions.
There's just a lot of openpositions right now.
So if people feel called tocome walk alongside us as we
walk alongside folks that arestruggling and experiencing
difficulties, we would love tohave them apply or come in and
(10:32):
talk to us or just even give ourHR department and Kim Turley a
call to talk about what'savailable.
But there's lots ofopportunities and this is a
really special place to work.
We get to watch some amazingthings Not that they're always
easy, but we get to watch peoplechange their lives and
(10:53):
transform in ways that I thinkmost people would not be able to
imagine.
So it's a special place.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
It really is.
So a lot of opportunities forpeople to get involved,
absolutely, and a lot of peopledo and have been for a very long
time.
But it never stops, it's notdone, it's not finished Right.
Homelessness in our community,like every community, is at an
epic, all-time high, and sowe're taking steps to address
that every way we can.
But we can't live onyesterday's accomplishments.
(11:22):
We have to move forward withwhat we need to do today.
So got some great people herein the room.
Today we have ChristianStringfellow.
He's deputy director of shelterservices and outreach.
Christian, good morning, goodmorning, good morning.
You don't like the word centeranymore.
No no, so we'll just leave thatthere.
We'll just leave that there.
Okay, I want to talk to you,but also I have Rachel Flanagan,
who is the director of the HopePlace, former.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Hope Center.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Already changed the name.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And so, Rachel, good morning, Good to see you here
this morning.
So how are you both?
I mean, we've had full shelters, both the Men's Shelter, Hope
Place Center, plus warmingcenters, three of them like the
back-to-back.
It's warm out today.
Well, it seems warmcomparatively.
It just seems like it was theother day that it was
(12:12):
life-threatening weather, I meaneven last week it pretty much
was, it pretty much was Uh-huh,that's Kansas.
We have, yeah, Kansas.
Well, hopefully Kansas has doneme in Kansas for a little bit.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
I hope.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, so.
So talk about just briefly, umwhat it was like to encounter
these warming centers.
Topeka rescue mission.
There were three others in thecommunity um helping coordinate
all that, plus help the peoplewho were coming in the shelter,
which was ranging 240 tosometimes pretty close to 300,
(12:42):
from what I understand how Imean you look back at that that
wasn't very long ago.
How'd you do all that?
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Well, a lot of my involvement was with the warming
centers, particularly withoutreach and going out and
gathering people up off theriver or other encampments and
then bringing them into warmingcenters, transporting people
around to different warmingcenters based on where there was
room, and then managing certainthings inside the warming
center.
So that was my primary focusthroughout that time, which
(13:12):
meant that I had to lean andrely pretty heavily on my my
staff in the shelters, and I'mreally fortunate that I have
some incredible directors in inboth in both of the shelters and
so that's the benefit of havinggood leadership is that when I
get pulled in another direction,I don't have to worry as much
(13:33):
about the day-to-day operationsand the functioning.
For the most part, it was ashift of focus of supporting and
assisting them to where theywere just running with it and,
you know, carrying things on.
So Rachel did an amazing job ofjust carrying a heavy load
there in the Hope Center.
She had some great help toowith with Lisa and then her her
(13:55):
team.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
We do have a mighty team.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Yeah, especially that first warming center when we
had freezing rain and then about14 inches of snow on top of
that, um, nobody was gettinginto work.
It was, uh, quite the challengeof just getting you know
coverage.
It's a 24 seven shelter, itdoesn't close down and you don't
have any off days, and so, um,being able to cover that plan
(14:22):
for that, uh, rachel did a lotas far as coordinating rides for
people, with some four-wheeldrive vehicles going around to
pick up staff members, but therefor the first couple of days
she had a team that wasessentially working around the
clock.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Staying here with the guests who were staying here
the same three staff coveredlike two and a half days of
shifts back to back.
How'd that work, Rachel?
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Well, we created one of our dorm rooms into a staff
room and one would go in andtake a nap, the other one would
clock in, one would clock out,one would clock in, and it was
just back and forth.
With that weather it wasn'tnecessarily safe to get people
home or to get people in, and Iwouldn't have wished for a
better three people to be inthat building when that happened
(15:09):
.
The Lord knows what he's doing,yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
I think a lot too.
You know that flexibility thatthey displayed in that kind of
crisis situation really speaksto the culture that has kind of
grown there in the Hope Centerthe flexibility, the support of
one another, and really a lot ofthat falls on Rachel's
(15:33):
shoulders.
She's done an amazing job overthere.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
God is good.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Rachel, thank you for just the dedication that you
personally have put into thisand then creating this
incredible team.
Rachel, what was it like?
You're director of Hope Center.
We'll still call it centerright, christian.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Just say it really fast and he won't catch it.
Hope Center.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I'll tolerate it.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Describe the Hope Center to people that maybe know
the name generally or maybenothing about it.
What is Hope?
Center of Topeka Rescue?
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Mission.
The Hope Center is a place forpeople to get help and not just
for a place to sleep and a placeto eat and a place to have a
roof over their head.
It's more of a place of.
It almost feels liketogetherness with the guests and
the staff, like therelationships that are being
(16:30):
built and you know you have tohave boundaries because there
are staff and there are guests.
But it's just amazing to beable to be the hands and feet of
Jesus, without having tonecessarily preach the Bible or
verbatim quote scripture, butjust being able to love people,
(16:51):
regardless of where they camefrom or what they're doing or
what they said.
There's a lot more under thesurface than what we know.
So just being able to be thelove of Jesus to people and show
them that there is hope beyondtheir despair.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
So at Hope Center you have women, single women, who
come, and so you have somewomen's norms.
And then you have families.
Sometimes those families aremom and kids, sometimes a mom
and dad and kids, sometimes adad and kids, and so that's
quite a mixture in a two-storyfacility.
How many kids, roughly on anaverage, are there?
(17:30):
And again, the kids are therenot by themselves, they're there
with a parent or guardian.
But the common denominator isthey all don't have a place to
live.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
I would say we've been averaging about 43 to 45 a
night, which is huge.
That's anywhere from zero to 17years of age and it's a full
house and particularly in thiscold weather we have been shut
in and it has been very homey inthe Hope Center and it is I'm
(18:00):
very grateful for this warmweather, that In the Hope Center
, and it is I'm very gratefulfor this warm weather that kids
are able to get out and playoutside in the playground in our
breezeway and it's just beenreally nice.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
It's hard for kids to be inside.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
To be shut in.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know, kids today have a home, they probably have
the Internet, they've got games,they've got movies, they've got
whatever they do Not.
All that happens in a homelessshelter.
And so how do those kids andtheir parents, how do they
navigate through being kind ofconfined?
It's nice facilities, have nicerooms, nice amenities, nice
(18:37):
food, nice, but it's stilllocked in, not locked inside,
but can't go out very far and beout there very long in those
cold, cold temperatures.
How do people do?
It's not like sitting aroundroasting marshmallows over the
fireplace, right.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Right, well, you know they're mom's phones.
That's a big one.
But also we see a lot of kidsinteracting with other kids and
playing with each other, andthere's Barbie dolls.
We do have a playroom insidethe Hope Center and they do like
make-believe stuff and you seedifferent families' kids
(19:12):
interacting with other kids andthere's coloring, there's
artwork.
We have volunteer groups thathave come in and done crocheting
and in some evenings we have achurch group that comes in and
they're doing Bible studies andcrafts with kids.
So there's just a lot ofvarious things.
But technology I think anymoreis is the thing that's keeping
(19:39):
the kids' attention.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Okay, so we still have the ability for that to
occur as well.
Yes.
So, rachel, I want to get toour other guest here today,
which is your new assistantdirector, rockstar, before we
jump there.
So paint a picture for folks,maybe in this, what is the most
enjoyable thing that you, asdirector of Hope Center, find in
(20:03):
what you do and what is themost challenging.
So start it with the mostjoyous thing.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
You know, miriam mentioned earlier when she was
talking about staffing and beingcalled.
I think there's a hugedifference of being called over
just needing a job.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Talk about being called.
What's that mean?
Speaker 4 (20:24):
For me, particularly like I knew what the Topeka
Rescue Mission was.
I knew that this place existed,but never in a million years
did I think that I would beright here right now, and I'm a
crybaby.
So I just I feel the beingcalled is this is where the Lord
wants me.
(20:45):
I've had my share of badchoices.
I've had my share of thingsthat I shouldn't have done, but
I've done and I've learned fromthat.
The Lord has put me in thisplace to show hope that, despite
what you've been through, youcan do big things.
(21:07):
So being called, I think, isthe Lord puts you in a place
where you are able to share hislove and relate to the people
that we're helping, and thenhaving those same people like
everybody comes with differentskills and different talents and
(21:28):
different ways of helpingpeople and showing that love and
our staff right now, I think,is a mix of all of that.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
So your biggest joy, if I'm hearing it correctly, is
the know you're called and to bein that place where God called
you to be.
Yes, what's the biggestchallenge that you face as
director of Hope Center?
Speaker 4 (21:49):
The hurt, the trauma, the stories that you hear.
We all have a past.
Everybody has unique reasonsthat led them to this place.
Everybody has unique reasonsthat led them to this place,
whether it be for shelter or forwork.
It is really challenging tohear those things and it is
(22:10):
heartbreaking to know that.
And just one family and, likeyou said, we're anywhere from
250 to 300 a night.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Just taking the time to talk to one individual and
knowing what led them here isheartbreaking, so it would be
one challenge to have one personwho's gone through
heartbreaking times in theirlife maybe currently are but
when you have a whole lot ofpeople all together, you add on
(22:42):
warming centers at the same time, with people coming off the
streets who you know.
Their life is challenged in adifferent way than people who
are in shelters, challenged in adifferent way from people who
have a home.
We all have challenges, butright in the midst of that, with
a lot of crisis going on allthe time.
So how do you handle it, rachel?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Well, the in and outs , that part is so hard with our
guests.
What do you mean?
Like you have one or two orthree people that they're in for
two days and then they're out,and then they're in and then
they're out and there has to belike it can't.
It's not my choice, it's not mylike.
I can't judge what it is that'shappening.
Each person is worthy,regardless of why they're
(23:24):
leaving or what is causing themto go back out, and that's you
know, I've been cussed out.
I've been called every name inthe book, I've been all the
things, but I can't use that asa reason why I'm saying no, you
can't come in there.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
It it's, they're god's child so you talk about
some boundaries that have to becreated, and so those are the
kind of things.
It's not a drop-in motel, right.
It is a place where, if you'rein a need that you come and then
you also have an opportunity.
But you need to take advantageof the opportunity, because
there's a lot of people needingto get in that can't get in if
you don't want it.
(23:55):
Christian, you're going to saysomething.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Well, you would ask, you're going to say something.
Well, you would ask you knowhow are we able to do this?
And that's a really goodquestion, and it's a really hard
one to really kind ofarticulate or be able to answer,
because there's some prettycomplex factors and so, you know
(24:18):
, one of those being, our psycheis very self-defensive and so
over time, when we're submittedor around kind of a traumatic
environment over and over, itcan be kind of a natural
tendency for us to become jaded,and so there's kind of that
natural tendency to become kindof calloused or jaded.
Why is that?
Because it hurts when you'reconstantly in an environment
(24:39):
that just constantly hurts.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
So it's a defense mechanism from too much empathy
that maybe is going to cause usto lose our perspective, so we
can become defensive in thatregard.
Well, at some point.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
I've seen it happen where people just stop caring.
They've been around it all thetime.
You see so much of it and thenyou just deal with it on such a
regular basis Well, everybody'sgot it, why does it even matter?
And then you're also dealingnot just with the trauma of that
individual but you're alsodealing with, some of the times,
the behaviors that come fromthat.
(25:12):
And then you are the object oftheir release, of that trauma,
and so that can be kind of anatural tendency that makes it
complex in how we handle it.
But on the other side of that,god has incredible plans for
that person, and so if thereever comes a place where we
become that jaded or callousedin this line of work, then we're
(25:35):
in a spot where this isn'twhere we're needing to be.
And so how do we maintain thatsoft heart and, at the same time
, deal with these difficultsituations on a regular basis?
And I think a lot of that comesdown to and this is something
that I've seen Rachel do, I'veseen Lisa do, I've seen all our
staff members do is we have tostay in this place where we're
(25:58):
in a relationship with God andwe're constantly being washed by
the word, and Jesus said thisin John 15, he said, for you are
already washed by the word,I've spoken to you, and so
there's a place where we need tospend time in a relationship
with him.
I'm just saying like I couldn'tdo this without that, maintain
a long term perspective throughthe short term struggles without
(26:20):
having that relationship withJesus.
I can't think of another way todo it.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Sounds like there's not only a personal need to do
that, but a corporate need to dothat with the team here,
because one out of, say, 50staff members could be so
challenged by what they see thatthey have a natural reaction to
desensitize themselves to whatthey're seeing around them, and
so we need to help each other tobe able to be in that space, to
(26:44):
be able to center ourselves.
Speaker 6 (26:47):
Well, the hard thing, though, is like we can't
corporately do that.
We can create a culture wherewe encourage people to do that.
But people have to go straightto the source for themselves.
So there's not reallygrandchildren in the kingdom of
heaven, there's not, you know,friends of of friends of God.
There are direct friends of Godor children of God, and so,
(27:08):
like we have this need to gostraight to the source for
ourselves, and so that is justkind of the culture that we try
to create in the shelters,because if we don't do that it
creates there's a secondaryculture.
That's just kind of a naturalthing which we're kind of
constantly fighting that entropyof reverting back to natural
(27:29):
humanistic self-defense tactics.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Maryam.
We talk about the challenge forneed for resources.
We need, we need.
We need sheets for the beds, weneed furniture to help people
set up, we need money to operate, we need volunteers and staff.
Those are challenging to find,but it's probably the biggest
challenge is what we're talkingabout right now Just to really
be able to keep that rightperspective as we're seeing so
(27:51):
much suffering in this arena,and not to desensitize ourselves
, not to be overly empathetic towhere we can't be helpful.
We can be so identifying withpeople suffering that we.
So the biggest balance, thebiggest challenge here, in
addition to these other thingsthat are needed practically, is
(28:11):
this whole area.
How do we ground ourselves withGod?
How do we look at our neighborsourselves?
Speaker 3 (28:17):
And if we are called here, it's really not us Right.
None of this is about us andwhat we are capable or not
capable of doing, because Ithink all of us would probably
agree that in and of ourselveswe are not capable, because it
is a lot Right, and you know,when Christian is talking about
(28:38):
that, I think people build thosewalls because they care, not
because they quit caring,necessarily, but they build that
wall to protect themselves.
Because your heart can onlytake so much on our own Right
and when it's gotten punched afew times, calluses start to
develop Right, just like on anypart of your body.
(28:58):
So to me, if our teams that areworking here and the volunteers
that are working here come ontheir own power, I think they
will probably struggle.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Struggle greatly, because this is a great place to
struggle.
If you're going to find astruggle, Rachel, how many years
have you been at Peak RescueMission now?
Speaker 4 (29:18):
A little over three.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Over three.
Yeah, you still have thatsensitivity.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Yeah Well, you know, when I first came in, I'm like
I'm going to save the world, I'mgoing to take, I'm going to get
everybody.
We're going to get housing andwe're going to until you get
there, and then I mean it's allthat matters, yeah.
And ultimately, we do this workfor the Lord.
(29:43):
It is not us.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
We don't save, we don't change people.
What we do is we help people,as God does all the rest of the
work.
Yes, rachel, it takes a team.
It does, and you have anassistant director that is here
with us today.
She's over here very patientlywaiting for me to ask her a
question, and she can with ustoday.
She's over here very patientlywaiting for me to ask a question
.
She can't wait.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
I can tell.
So, rachel, introduce yourassistant director.
This is Lisa Bryant, my mightyassistant director, and you know
she comes with experience.
She actually started at thefront desk and then was in case
management for a little bit andthen came back, so she has been
a great addition to our team.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Lisa, welcome to the podcast today.
So this is your first timebeing on the podcast, and so
Rachel talked about maybe alittle bit of a journey coming
up to being assistant directorof Hope Center.
How long have you been in thatposition?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Probably, I think like three months, four Okay,
yeah, it was kind of atransition from case management.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Yeah, so you've come in in the last three or four
months in some pretty intensetimes yes, due to Kansas weather
and all these things.
So when did you first come toTopeka Rescue Mission?
Tell us a little bit about yourbeginnings, how you even got
here.
You ended up some differentphysicians.
Now you're director of HopeCenter.
So start us from the beginning,as you would like.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
Well, it's been two years since I came and I don't
even.
The path was crazy.
I came out of like a four-yearstint in Teen Challenge and so I
was in Missouri and I came hereto work for a friend and that
didn't really work out.
So I was kind of wanderingabout doing DoorDash, trying to
(31:26):
find my way, and I just startedapplying and I had no idea what
I was getting myself into.
But it was all God, None of usknew we wouldn't do it.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
So for people who don't know what Teen Challenge
is, talk about Teen Challenge.
You had about a four-year stintin Teen Challenge.
Yes, what was your involvementthere.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
My involvement was I came in off a 25-year stint of
addiction and other problems,and so I did a year of treatment
, which is Bible study.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
With Teen Challenge.
Yes, uh-huh yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
And so it's not just for drug, it's other problems in
life.
So I was there for a year andthen I did an internship for a
year and then I decided to goback to Kansas City and then
life got tough and I was used tobeing in a bubble surrounded by
people who were constantlyencouraging and the whole
(32:30):
atmosphere there, and so I endedup going back and working for
them for a couple of years and Ileft and came to Topekaka,
which I didn't see coming.
I didn't see any any any ofthis coming and um, it's been a
huge blessing and I've learned amass amount here.
(32:53):
I mean, I mean I've grown.
If I want to ruffle my ownfeathers, you know that's an
okay ruffle there.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
So involved from a need standpoint, getting
involved with Tea Challenge,which is a very solid program
for helping people.
I don't know if you know JoshTurley.
His dad works at Tea Challengeand so, yeah, there's a big
connection there and so on theWest Coast and so it's a
powerful, powerful program.
So you ended up coming totopeka.
You were in that kind of uhthat, that that place where you
(33:25):
could heal and then come backand serve.
You end up over here looking atdoor dash different things how
did you find?
out about topeka rescue missionI really honestly didn't.
Speaker 5 (33:34):
I knew, um, the people that I worked for before.
Did you know just some?
I don't know how to put?
They had a food business, sothere was things going on in the
background.
It was a ministry as well, andso it was just kind of I just
heard things and I knew a fewpeople that were always saying
(33:57):
the rescue mission, and I'venever really I've had my own
experience with homelessness inmy time of wandering, and so it
was I went, I knew a little bitabout the mission because I was
in the mission in Kansas Citywith my four children during my,
(34:18):
you know, wandering time.
So I kind of know a little bitabout family centers and things,
and so it was just kind of like, well, let's just see what this
is about.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
So you came here and did you immediately apply?
Did you come here to stay?
Did you come here to work?
A combination thereof?
Speaker 5 (34:41):
I came here with a friend to work for a friend and
her dad and then once I leftthat job, I was kind of very
anxious about what are we doinghere?
I'm stuck over here in TopekaLike I don't even.
I don't know how to get around,I don't know anybody.
It was kind of I was afraid,and but I trusted God and I knew
(35:08):
that, you know, I was near myfamily in Kansas City and so I'm
just like, okay, well, let'sjust get out there and try to
figure it out.
I guess you know, and I had noidea what the plan was.
I was just on for the ride andso I'm just kind of like, okay,
what are we doing?
(35:28):
You know?
Um, you know, so that's, thisis that.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Okay, so you found this place called the Topeka.
Speaker 5 (35:37):
Reservation.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
And what was your first, uh memory of walking
through the doors here?
Speaker 5 (35:43):
My interview.
We were, you know, just sharingwith each other and getting to
know each other.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
And let me say during that interview I knew that I
was going to hire her abouthalfway through, so all the
other questions were necessary.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
But we could have ended it at that point, the
process right.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
There's something about feeling that discernment
and the authenticity.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Okay, describe that for people, rachel.
I think that's worthy ofpausing here.
I didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
That's still small voice that you hear or that you
feel and like you know there's.
There's a way of like you can Idon't know like maybe you can
just tell that people are likepreparing for an interview and
you it just almost sounds likeit's a computer in the interview
, like, and then there's someone, that there's emotion and
there's feelings and you can see, and all interviews are nerve
(36:42):
wracking, but you can just tellwhen someone's heart is in it
and their emotions come out andyou can almost like feel the
pain or feel the hurt or feelwhat it is they're telling you.
And that's what I felt withLisa and I have felt that with
other individuals.
But it is very.
(37:04):
It's like the Lord tapping youon your shoulder, like this is
the one, this is the one I sent.
Speaker 6 (37:11):
It's a very hard thing to articulate.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
And that discernment or kind of hearing.
So we're going to step intosomething that's kind of weird.
But we have a God who's aliveand a God who is breathing.
He rose from the dead and hedidn't stay in that grave.
And it says he talks.
(37:36):
Jesus said I will know my sheepand my sheep will know my voice
talks.
Jesus said I will know my sheepand my sheep will know my voice
.
Um, and so there's there,that's a real thing of getting
to know his voice.
Now I mean, it's important thatwe um, we don't like hear the
(37:59):
audible voice of God.
Thus saith the Lord, but, um,there is a um.
As we read, as we read the word,really we start to pick up on
the nature of God or on histimbre, on.
You know, in the same way, likeyou know as Barry, as you're
talking, there's a timbre toyour voice and in your timbre
there's also kind of a warmnessand there's a safety and
security.
A lot of people here, you know,and there's a safety and
security.
A lot of people feel hearingyour voice.
(38:20):
I'm speaking to a lot oflisteners right now who would
probably agree with me, but aswe read the word of God, there's
a timbre to his nature that westart to get accustomed to, and
then there's also a spirit ofGod outside of that too.
That's still a small voice.
(38:42):
I believe it was Elijah that alot of that was brought out in,
and that's important for usbelievers, I think, probably
more important now than ever.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
A lot of voices out here and what's his voice now
than ever.
A lot of voices out here, andwhat's his voice?
Speaker 6 (39:00):
Yeah, as we were talking about debunking earlier,
we don't know what sources totrust, and so it's important for
us to know that we have a Godwho's on both sides of time, and
he's in all these things.
He knows what the truth is andhe cares about his children and
he leads us and guides us, andso there's that piece, but then
also you were talking about thisin the interview there's a
(39:23):
place where the deep calls outto deep.
The same spirit of God thatcomes and resides with us is the
same spirit of God that resideswith other believers.
We have the same Holy Spiritwith us, and then that Holy
Spirit leaps with joy, you know,with the Holy Spirit inside of
(39:43):
other believers, and so I'mtalking about spirits on a
podcast with a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Well, it's a Topeka rescue mission, a community
mission.
We talk about a lot of things.
By the way, christianStrickfell is a pastor of the
Open Way Center.
I quit of the Open Way Center.
I quit Open Way Church here intown as well, so I've been
waiting to drop that one inthere.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
Way to tee it up.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
Way to go buddy, thank you.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
So, lisa, you're hearing some great affirmations
here.
You were along to say I'm readyto go for the journey, whatever
God says.
You'd had experience in TeenChallenge, so this was not a
foreign area to you, that Godcan take you somewhere.
And so you're hearing Racheltalk about.
She interviewed you and boom,she knew over halfway or less
than halfway through you werethe one how does that?
Speaker 5 (40:35):
make you feel you feel Humble, I like just it was
an amazing interview and I feltreally good when I left, but,
you know, always unsure ofmyself a little, so that's
something you know that I reallystruggled with when I came in.
(40:58):
Luckily, I, you know, have aleaders that kind of nudge me
forward to kind of agree withthem that I'm capable and it's
yeah, it's, it's, I know I'mcapable.
It's just like very difficultwhen you're in a situation to
(41:22):
tell people things that are hardand it's, or listen to things
that are hard and know that youknow the Lord is there to help
us through that and it's justlike Constant, every time we
have a meeting we're prayingtogether.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
And it's just amazing , it's amazing.
So you came in working frontdesk, if I understand correctly,
at the Hope Center.
Speaker 5 (41:53):
Yeah, I thought it was just going to be like you
know typing and you know justsitting there answering
questions, and I thought I wasgoing to.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
You know it's a good place to start.
Yeah Right.
Speaker 4 (42:07):
Answering phones and pushing.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
You were not very good.
Speaker 6 (42:09):
Answering phones, I can do this.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Is this false advertising.
I think so.
We need to have a conversationwith Rachel.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
They should be posted .
Yeah, that is not what happened?
That's not what happened.
So then you moved from frontdesk into case management, guest
management, working directlywith the guests.
How long did you do that?
What was that experience likefor you?
Speaker 5 (42:28):
I'm going to say it was about seven or eight months
and it was, oh man, what alearning experience, just kind
of switching gears and gettingin there and kind of finding out
.
You know it may seem like dothis, do this, do this, do this,
(42:51):
do this, and it's not.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
I mean, you really get to sit down and get in depth
with them and kind of learnwhat's the purpose of guest
management at Topeka RescueMission.
Speaker 5 (42:56):
The purpose of guest management is to prepare the
person and help them and guidethem into setting goals to get
housing and pay off things thatthey need to pay and just kind
of help them.
Just see the big picture ofwhat.
(43:17):
This is what we need and wewant to get you.
You know, the help that youneed if they have some issues
with mental health.
Just set them up with resourcesto kind of envelop them with
love and help to get stable.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Christian Rachel.
How valuable is guestmanagement to what we're doing
at Topeka Rescue Mission?
Speaker 6 (43:45):
It's crucial so much in what shelters do, for the
most part is we're just managingpeople, sometimes in a confined
space.
But if you just have peoplethere but no direction, if you
just have people there but nodirection, um, you know, without
direction people suffer.
And so there is really a kindof a place where we do provide
(44:10):
the shelter, but then casemanagement comes alongside and
they kind of provide them withthe tools and then the roadmap
of the next steps that they canbe taking.
And they can't.
They're not going to doeverything for the individual,
um, because that would berobbing the individual for an
opportunity to then grow butwalking alongside the individual
(44:30):
as they navigate challenges andobstacles and then really kind
of assist them, like Lisa said,with the resources to get from
one place to the next.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
If you didn't do that part, probably people would
just stay here and they wouldn'thave any help to assist to move
out.
Speaker 4 (44:47):
Well, and once they understand that the guest
management is there to trulyhelp them be successful, you
know it's hard in the beginning,like why do you need my
paycheck stubs and why do youneed to know this and why do you
have to know all that?
And really it's just to be ableto have a foundation of, like,
what can you afford or what doyou need paid off, or how can we
(45:09):
help you.
And once they see that and that, the goals, realistic goals
once those are accomplished, Imean it's like the light gets
turned on.
And we've seen people that camein with thousands of dollars of
debt and they don't have anyform of identification.
All that debt's paid off,they're moving to housing, they
have all IDs social securitycard, birth certificate and they
(45:32):
I mean their entire demeanorhas changed and they are and
they just want to.
They come in like guess what Ipaid off?
And they're telling all thestaff and they're just so proud
of themselves.
And that's the part that islike you see them at their
lowest and you see theprogression.
And then that's the beautifulpart of this.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
Yeah, it's the tools to be able to take the next step
in life.
It's one thing to even come ina homeless shelter Most people
don't go.
Speaker 4 (46:00):
Wow, I'm so excited to be at the rescue mission and
then, on the flip side, whenpeople aren't making the right
choices and they don't want tofollow the policies and they
don't want to follow those rules, that's when we have to step in
and we're the quote bad guy forjust a moment.
But then once you can reflectback on that and see that this
(46:21):
is really that tough love, thisis what's helping you move
forward.
We all need consequences.
We all need to do what's right.
Speaker 6 (46:31):
I think one of the best analogies for this is
parenting, and so Rachel is aparent to about 117 people last
night and then 43 children, butthey're really like 117 grown
children.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
Yeah, 117 total.
Speaker 6 (46:48):
And of those, 43 were children.
Okay, but a good parentsometimes has to tell their kids
things the kids don't want tohear and sometimes has to have a
vision that the kids don't wantto follow here and sometimes
has to have a vision that thekids don't want to follow.
(47:09):
And a good parent also walks onthat, that line of loving while
also still providing direction.
And Rachel does that fairlygently, gently, of loving the
person that's right in front ofher, and sometimes that's with
really like, sometimes that'swith nurturing and support and
care, and sometimes that's alsowith I really need you to do
(47:31):
this for yourself, um, and ifnot, then we're not going to be
able to support you with thisanymore, and that's a really
kind of hard line to walk.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
I think this would probably be a topic for another
podcast because, uh, the depththat we would need to go into.
But there is a sentiment withsome people that says just give
people a place to stay, don't doanything else, just let them be
there because they're homelessand it's their right to have a
(47:57):
place, and who are you to decidewhat they need?
And so that's a podcast foranother day.
Oh yeah, but answer it brieflyso that we could you know the
value of doing it this wayversus a different way of just
opening up a shelter?
And you know, growing morehomeless shelters, I guess.
Speaker 6 (48:18):
I'll just say it like this, it's probably just a
couple of lines.
People without direction orvision are like water running
downhill they follow the path ofleast resistance.
And so, unless there is supportand direction, unless there is
something, sometimes someonecalling them from staying in the
trauma or the hurt and thenproviding them with a path out
(48:41):
or hope, which is why we call itthe hope Place.
Speaker 5 (48:46):
Center.
Speaker 6 (48:50):
But without that direction we're just often we're
just going to keep on doing thesame things that we've been
doing and when you start lookingat in detail, like in depth,
what we have been doing, unlesswe've been shown another way,
we're going to keep on doing it.
Sometimes those things arereally painful and really just
destructive cycles, and so youknow I can't say that I am
(49:13):
optimistic that just providingsomebody with a place without
any kind of support will work.
I don't think there's evidenceto support that Really across
the board there are places withthe housing first and they
provide a lot of supportalongside, and those events are
going to be successful.
Speaker 3 (49:30):
Well, and I don't think you know, if you don't
feel, if you don't recognizeyour own worth, how do you move
in a different?
Speaker 1 (49:39):
direction.
Speaker 3 (49:41):
And so what our teams do is help them see their own
worth.
Speaker 2 (49:45):
It's huge, Miriam.
Speaker 3 (49:46):
Right and it's like, the rest is just.
I mean, if you're so mired innot believing in yourself or
seeing a different way foryourself, how can you ever
change?
And if you're just, yeah, ifyou're just sitting there and
you get fed and you have a placeto sleep, but that's all you
(50:07):
get, your mind frame will notchange.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
Lisa, I think you kind of mentioned that a little
bit in your own journey is thatyou weren't certain about the
decisions you're going to make.
How important has it been foryou to understand your worth.
Speaker 5 (50:26):
Mountains.
Just I mean, it's just amazingbecause I had been in a very
abusive relationship for such along time and so coming out of
that is very difficult.
But I've grown so much sinceI've been here and I'm just so
delighted in seeing other peoplewhere they're at and then just
(50:52):
being able to say, hey, you knowJesus loves you and you're
worthy and we can do this.
You know, together, and I'vebeen there and done that and you
can get out, you can get out.
Speaker 2 (51:07):
So you've gone from front desk yes, just typing, and
then bait and switch and thenmoving into guest management,
which you're really intenselyworking with people to try to
help them get to that next level.
Now you're in shelter management, which is basically just
managing people coming rightthrough that front door and
(51:27):
whatever crisis situation thatthey're in.
To do what?
What is that most importantthing that you've learned?
That somebody walking throughthe front door of Topeka Rescue
Mission Hope Center needs toknow it's not a scary place,
it's not needs to know it's nota scary place.
Speaker 5 (51:42):
It's not.
You don't have to um feel sobad about it.
You know things happen and andand we love you and we care
about what happens and we wantto help guide you.
Speaker 2 (51:57):
How, um, how do you do that?
How do you do that?
Speaker 5 (51:59):
Cause?
Speaker 2 (52:00):
you don't know what somebody is thinking when they
walk through the door.
You don't know if they've justcome out of this domestic
situation.
You don't know if they've been,you know, got frostbite.
You don't know anything untilyou know.
So what's the important thingfor you personally and the team
that your assistant directorover of the shelter services
(52:22):
managing the shelter to makesure that those folks get what
they need.
Speaker 5 (52:27):
Just the fruit of gentleness, I think, and caring,
and just listening and justwanting to know and showing them
that I want to know you.
It's not just get them in andget them in the room.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
It's not a business.
It's not just about them in andget them in the room and you
know it's not a business.
Yeah, it's not just about theorder.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (52:50):
We meet practical needs for people, to show them
they have eternal value.
And so you know, like in whatyou do, a lot of things that
you're saying there, lisa.
So when you're talking aboutsomeone coming in, the things
that you want them to know likein what you do, a lot of things
that you're saying there, lisa,when you're talking about
someone coming in, the thingsthat you want them to know is
that they're valuable.
You know, just treat themgently and welcoming them in and
(53:12):
giving them a place andtreating them with importance.
You know it shouldn't reallymake a difference if it's, you
know someone that's coming inoff the street struggling with
addictions.
Or you know Barry Feakerhimself.
You know the dignitary himselfwalking through the door.
I'm getting a look.
I've been here a long timestill working on it.
(53:33):
But you know, everything we do.
Jesus said it like this.
Jesus said it like thiswhatever you do, do it as unto
me, or whatever you do unto theleast of these, do it unto me.
(53:53):
And so we don't know the person.
But a lot of times we know,actually all the time, I know
their value Because it's thesame value that was paid for me,
and you know, really, the valueof something is what someone's
willing to pay.
Jesus paid it all for us, andso the person that's in front of
(54:14):
me.
No matter what theircircumstances or what they look
like, they have eternal valuebecause of the price that was
paid to set them free, andthat's the value I want to treat
that person with and that's the.
I guess the the name I want totreat them by is the name that
laid his life down for theirs.
Speaker 2 (54:34):
Well said.
Speaker 4 (54:36):
And regardless, no matter if you're a guest or a
staff, or a director or anassistant, we are all the same.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Yeah, we're a listener to this podcast, right.
Speaker 6 (54:45):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (54:46):
Yeah Well, lisa, rachel, christian, thank you,
miriam, always.
Thank you.
Thank you for listening to thispodcast today.
You yourself may have heardsomething here today that's made
you think, not only aboutTopeka Rescue Mission and what
it's about and some of thethings that we have covered here
(55:06):
today, but also you may havebeen wondering about your own
value and your own worth.
You don't have to be homeless,you don't have to be in Teen
Challenge, you don't have to beat Topeka Rescue Mission to
struggle with those particularthings in life.
We all struggle I think it waswell said in so many different
ways.
God loves you just the way youare.
He loves you too much to leaveyou there, and so he has a plan
(55:29):
for everybody.
Because he loves us all, hesent his only son, only begotten
son, that whoever wouldbelieveth on him would not
perish but have everlasting life.
It's not just good enough tobelieve in something.
It's better and eternallyvaluable to believe on him.
So think about that today, andif you'd like more information
(55:49):
about Topeka Rescue Mission, youcan go to the website at
trmonlineorg.
Trmonlineorg.
Thank you for being a part ofour community, our mission.
Gracious Heavenly Father.
We thank you, lord, for thisday and your blessings and your
provisions.
God, we thank you for this timeto record this podcast and,
lord, just all of our listenersthat continue to support and
hear the messages.
Lord, we just thank you forthis time and pray that you
would speak through our gueststoday and, lord, that ears that
would need to hear this messagewould hear it and be encouraged.
(00:20):
Lord, in your holy name, wepray, amen.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hello Lord, in your holy name we pray Amen.
Hello everybody, thank you forjoining us for another edition
of Our Community, our Mission, apodcast of the Topeka Rescue
Mission.
We're on Tuesday, march 11th of2025.
This is episode number 259.
Good morning, marianne Crable.
Good morning, deputy Directorof Supportive Services.
How are you?
I didn't even write any of thatout, isn't that amazing?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
You mean, you're actually getting it right all on
your own Almost.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Almost yes, only took 200 episodes, I know 258.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Exactly, there's a lot to say at the beginning of
this stuff I don't know why wesay all that, but we do.
But anyway, Miriam, we're goingResearch and Development
Department stuff here at the.
Rescue Mission.
About what's special about thisday.
And you know, Josh just beams.
Do we have to?
Yeah, we have to, we have to.
Josh is down here.
He spends hours with his team.
He better not Researching thesethings.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
He really better not.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I don't.
Oh, that's right.
Google spent hours.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
No something in time Ten minutes, tops Ten minutes 10
minutes.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Tops 10 minutes All right?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, it's our best 10 minutes we have of the week,
so anyway.
So we want to get into thatfirst, but then we want some
updates from you, and then wewant to talk about some really
cool people in this room today.
So this is March 11th, and wealways recognize, you know,
what's important about that day,either nationally, or globally,
or universally, or whatever andso today is National Immune
(01:45):
System Day.
Now, you're a former nurse, Iam, and so talk to us about the
importance of a National ImmuneSystem Day.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
You know, there are times of the year, barry, when
it's even more important.
Like did you see what wentthrough this place?
Like right after the warmingcenters, everybody was sick.
We were drinking all kinds ofstuff to try to make sure we
don't get sick, because we haveimportant work to do.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
That's right so.
So why do we have a nationalimmune system day?
Is that where everybody's goingto be immune that day, or does
that mean we need everybody sickthat day and we should have
been immune?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Josh, do you hear like a buzz?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I'm not hearing very right now.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I don't know why they have these national days.
I really, really don't.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I don't either, but we've been told that they're
important, so we need to.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Hey, in the notes, if you read the notes, it says
that we don't recognize itenough because it's kind of the
unsung hero.
So this is the day for it toget the recognition it deserves
the immune system.
So it's just thank you, immunesystem.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, immune system.
So it's just thank you, immunesystem.
Okay, yeah, bless your heart,josh, bless your heart.
So around my house is calledthe national vitamin C taking
day, so, okay, or zinc.
Vitamin.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
D, we could go through the list.
Okay, doctor.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Nurse, don't want to be a doctor.
Same thing Paycheck's different.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
But, anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
The next one is the National Debunking Day.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
You know, this one I could kind of appreciate, though
, Right, and I'm pretty surethat that comment right there
who comes up with these things?
We have said that on thispodcast.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
We have, we may have just recently who?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
comes up with this stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, have you ever heard a story or a news and just
thought who comes up with thiskind of stuff?
So National Debunking Day?
I think more and more that wehave more daily opportunities
for information.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
today, it's good to debunk a lot of what we say.
I think it's a very good ideaSocial media stuff yeah News
station.
You don't even have to go toFacebook or Instagram.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Well, they may be interviewing you later this
afternoon, so be careful whatyou're saying there.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Okay, and you were in the meeting with me yesterday
so.
I'm just going to say bring it.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Bring it yeah.
Burns and mood everybody.
So, buckle your seatbelts,because we're ready for rock and
roll the rest of this year andbeyond.
So, okay, we're recognizingNational Immune System Day, the
debunking day which we don'tdebunk the immune system day.
So National Dream Day, nationalDream Day, you know.
(04:15):
Rachel asked me how everythingwas going and you know, just
terrible.
Except you know, I dream thateverybody would just do what I
think they should do andeverything be fine.
Yes, but they don't.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Did you read the second sentence of this?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
National Dream Day was created to debunk that
belief and encourage whatever.
The belief is that dreams arelike fairy tales, but not always
Not always no, you know, if wedon't dream, then what do we do?
Well, maybe just have peacefulsleep.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, some dreams are good,some not so good, but anyway, we
can dream while we're walkingand talking and we have a dream
of doing something special.
Josh, we had a dream of overfive years ago we'd have a
podcast Over five years ago.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
And we're still here.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And we're still dreaming the dream, baby Living
the dream.
Okay, well, now that we gotthose out of the way and
everybody realized you knowwe've kind of set the pace for
take your vitamin C, don'tbelieve everything you hear and
go ahead and dream, even thoughyou know whatever you're driving
.
So, Marion Crable, Director ofSupportive Services, We'd like
some updates.
One of the updates is theweather is really nice.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Isn't it beautiful.
The weather is really nice,isn't it beautiful?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It is absolutely awesome.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
When I left yesterday , I'm like okay, it is almost
warm.
I know which.
You know what that means, barry, right?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Mo grass.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, there's that, yeah, but what did we just get
finished with?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Finished Like winter.
No, I'm talking yes and warmingcenters, right?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, you know, it just seems like the other day
that warming centers were whatdo we plan Easter?
No how about now, we'll have toworry about people being too
warm.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Well, that's true.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
So now we'll have to have cooling centers, so the
planning will start.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Talk about a pessimist.
I'm telling you, it's not apessimist.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It's looking forward to caring for our neighbors.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I see you can see the look that you're getting.
Oh, I'm not even a director ofshelter, Did you notice?
I didn't even turn my head.
We're going to addresseverybody here gradually, but
that's Christian Stringfellowover there and he's the director
of our shelter services andoutreach.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
But you know, cooling centers are easier than warming
centers.
They could.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
They could be, because it's not like a 24-hour
thing, because it usually coolsdown in the evening when it's
cold.
Because it's not like a 24 hourthing because it usually cools
down in the evening when it'scold.
It's just cold.
So just chill out for a whileand then you can go.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
OK, yeah, I think if I hear the word center again, I
might just have a breakdown.
I'm done with the word center.
Ok, rachel, sorry.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
We're done with the Hope Center.
Then Warming cooling.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I was going to say, on this day of all days, to say
he's done with centers.
It's going to be called the.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Hope Place from now on.
Speaker 6 (06:46):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
After how many years?
Since 2020?
No 2000.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
That's when we opened that joint, so it's high time
for a change.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I will be getting the ladder today and ripping it
down.
Okay, some more updates.
We're already kind of totallydebunking everything we were
going to talk about here.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
So, miriam, get serious.
Come on, miriam, get serious.
There's always special needsthat we have at the mission.
You know, with all of thedonations that we get and all of
our incredible donors, theyrespond so well when we put out
a need, and right now we have aneed for linens, whether that's
sheets, towels, washcloths, allof those things that we need
both here at the mission andalso when we help folks with
(07:25):
completion of programs.
So you know, when people get tomove into housing, we try to
give them what they need to beable to get started Right.
So all of those things arereally important, whether it's
furniture or dishes or whatever.
But right now both in-house, sofor the folks staying with us,
and then then people that weremoving out, were really, really
in need of linen.
(07:46):
So if folks find that they'redoing spring cleaning, since the
weather is beautiful and springcleaning comes, then hopefully
then they'll find some thingsthat they can help us out with
it in that way.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
How can people get those to us?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
They can take them.
They can bring them anytime,monday through Friday, between
8.30 and, I think, 3.30, to thedistribution center at 401
Northwest Norris, where am I 401Northwest.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Norris, you're at Harrison right now.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I am in Harrison right now.
It's over there, across thetracks of.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Norris, exactly At the distribution center.
Yeah so, sheets, linens, butyou also mentioned furniture,
just things to help people getset up in their home, everything
dishes.
So if you've got something,knickknacks not so much anymore.
Right, you used to take a lotof those little things you said
on yourself, not as many.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
We don't have as much of a need for that as we maybe
did in the past, when we stillhad thrift stores.
We had a better way to utilizethose in different kinds of ways
, but some things are still nice.
You know, when we're helpingpeople with completions of
programs, we do want to givethem things that they can put on
the wall.
You know so little things likethat.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
We'll take some of those.
Absolutely.
Yeah, it used to be.
You know, some people don'tthink the rescue mission takes
any items anymore because weshut down thrift stores.
Yeah, that was done sometimeback and yeah, the rescue
mission still takes things, butit's more towards helping people
get set up in their homesrather than a resale shop.
There's a lot of thrift storeoperations in Topeka, kansas,
right now.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yes, absolutely, but it's also the things that we
need here, you know, I mean withall of the people I mean we're
running at about 250 people anight approximately.
That's a lot of clothing,that's needed, lots of things.
So we are always in need offood, clothing, linens,
household items, cleaningsupplies, just about anything
(09:36):
that you could think of we wouldbe able to put to use.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
So people can bring it here.
Also, if they forget what wejust said, they can go to the
website and there's a needs liston the website.
Absolutely, at wwwtrmonlineorg.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Absolutely.
And you know the other thing,they can find.
There is ways that they mightwant to help us out, whether
it's through volunteerism,volunteer opportunities or also
to check out the staff openingsthat we have.
Or also to check out the staffopenings that we have.
We have openings in almostevery area of the ministry right
now in our shelters, the men's,the men's shelter, the women's
(10:11):
shelter, women and familyshelter, the kitchen, the
distribution center,administrative positions.
There's just a lot of openpositions right now.
So if people feel called tocome walk alongside us as we
walk alongside folks that arestruggling and experiencing
difficulties, we would love tohave them apply or come in and
(10:32):
talk to us or just even give ourHR department and Kim Turley a
call to talk about what'savailable.
But there's lots ofopportunities and this is a
really special place to work.
We get to watch some amazingthings Not that they're always
easy, but we get to watch peoplechange their lives and
(10:53):
transform in ways that I thinkmost people would not be able to
imagine.
So it's a special place.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
It really is.
So a lot of opportunities forpeople to get involved,
absolutely, and a lot of peopledo and have been for a very long
time.
But it never stops, it's notdone, it's not finished Right.
Homelessness in our community,like every community, is at an
epic, all-time high, and sowe're taking steps to address
that every way we can.
But we can't live onyesterday's accomplishments.
(11:22):
We have to move forward withwhat we need to do today.
So got some great people herein the room.
Today we have ChristianStringfellow.
He's deputy director of shelterservices and outreach.
Christian, good morning, goodmorning, good morning.
You don't like the word centeranymore.
No no, so we'll just leave thatthere.
We'll just leave that there.
Okay, I want to talk to you,but also I have Rachel Flanagan,
who is the director of the HopePlace, former.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Hope Center.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Already changed the name.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And so, Rachel, good morning, Good to see you here
this morning.
So how are you both?
I mean, we've had full shelters, both the Men's Shelter, Hope
Place Center, plus warmingcenters, three of them like the
back-to-back.
It's warm out today.
Well, it seems warmcomparatively.
It just seems like it was theother day that it was
(12:12):
life-threatening weather, I meaneven last week it pretty much
was, it pretty much was Uh-huh,that's Kansas.
We have, yeah, Kansas.
Well, hopefully Kansas has doneme in Kansas for a little bit.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
I hope.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, so.
So talk about just briefly, umwhat it was like to encounter
these warming centers.
Topeka rescue mission.
There were three others in thecommunity um helping coordinate
all that, plus help the peoplewho were coming in the shelter,
which was ranging 240 tosometimes pretty close to 300,
(12:42):
from what I understand how Imean you look back at that that
wasn't very long ago.
How'd you do all that?
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Well, a lot of my involvement was with the warming
centers, particularly withoutreach and going out and
gathering people up off theriver or other encampments and
then bringing them into warmingcenters, transporting people
around to different warmingcenters based on where there was
room, and then managing certainthings inside the warming
center.
So that was my primary focusthroughout that time, which
(13:12):
meant that I had to lean andrely pretty heavily on my my
staff in the shelters, and I'mreally fortunate that I have
some incredible directors in inboth in both of the shelters and
so that's the benefit of havinggood leadership is that when I
get pulled in another direction,I don't have to worry as much
(13:33):
about the day-to-day operationsand the functioning.
For the most part, it was ashift of focus of supporting and
assisting them to where theywere just running with it and,
you know, carrying things on.
So Rachel did an amazing job ofjust carrying a heavy load
there in the Hope Center.
She had some great help toowith with Lisa and then her her
(13:55):
team.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
We do have a mighty team.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Yeah, especially that first warming center when we
had freezing rain and then about14 inches of snow on top of
that, um, nobody was gettinginto work.
It was, uh, quite the challengeof just getting you know
coverage.
It's a 24 seven shelter, itdoesn't close down and you don't
have any off days, and so, um,being able to cover that plan
(14:22):
for that, uh, rachel did a lotas far as coordinating rides for
people, with some four-wheeldrive vehicles going around to
pick up staff members, but therefor the first couple of days
she had a team that wasessentially working around the
clock.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Staying here with the guests who were staying here
the same three staff coveredlike two and a half days of
shifts back to back.
How'd that work, Rachel?
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Well, we created one of our dorm rooms into a staff
room and one would go in andtake a nap, the other one would
clock in, one would clock out,one would clock in, and it was
just back and forth.
With that weather it wasn'tnecessarily safe to get people
home or to get people in, and Iwouldn't have wished for a
better three people to be inthat building when that happened
(15:09):
.
The Lord knows what he's doing,yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
I think a lot too.
You know that flexibility thatthey displayed in that kind of
crisis situation really speaksto the culture that has kind of
grown there in the Hope Centerthe flexibility, the support of
one another, and really a lot ofthat falls on Rachel's
(15:33):
shoulders.
She's done an amazing job overthere.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
God is good.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Rachel, thank you for just the dedication that you
personally have put into thisand then creating this
incredible team.
Rachel, what was it like?
You're director of Hope Center.
We'll still call it centerright, christian.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Just say it really fast and he won't catch it.
Hope Center.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I'll tolerate it.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Describe the Hope Center to people that maybe know
the name generally or maybenothing about it.
What is Hope?
Center of Topeka Rescue?
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Mission.
The Hope Center is a place forpeople to get help and not just
for a place to sleep and a placeto eat and a place to have a
roof over their head.
It's more of a place of.
It almost feels liketogetherness with the guests and
the staff, like therelationships that are being
(16:30):
built and you know you have tohave boundaries because there
are staff and there are guests.
But it's just amazing to beable to be the hands and feet of
Jesus, without having tonecessarily preach the Bible or
verbatim quote scripture, butjust being able to love people,
(16:51):
regardless of where they camefrom or what they're doing or
what they said.
There's a lot more under thesurface than what we know.
So just being able to be thelove of Jesus to people and show
them that there is hope beyondtheir despair.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
So at Hope Center you have women, single women, who
come, and so you have somewomen's norms.
And then you have families.
Sometimes those families aremom and kids, sometimes a mom
and dad and kids, sometimes adad and kids, and so that's
quite a mixture in a two-storyfacility.
How many kids, roughly on anaverage, are there?
(17:30):
And again, the kids are therenot by themselves, they're there
with a parent or guardian.
But the common denominator isthey all don't have a place to
live.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
I would say we've been averaging about 43 to 45 a
night, which is huge.
That's anywhere from zero to 17years of age and it's a full
house and particularly in thiscold weather we have been shut
in and it has been very homey inthe Hope Center and it is I'm
(18:00):
very grateful for this warmweather, that In the Hope Center
, and it is I'm very gratefulfor this warm weather that kids
are able to get out and playoutside in the playground in our
breezeway and it's just beenreally nice.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
It's hard for kids to be inside.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
To be shut in.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know, kids today have a home, they probably have
the Internet, they've got games,they've got movies, they've got
whatever they do Not.
All that happens in a homelessshelter.
And so how do those kids andtheir parents, how do they
navigate through being kind ofconfined?
It's nice facilities, have nicerooms, nice amenities, nice
(18:37):
food, nice, but it's stilllocked in, not locked inside,
but can't go out very far and beout there very long in those
cold, cold temperatures.
How do people do?
It's not like sitting aroundroasting marshmallows over the
fireplace, right.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Right, well, you know they're mom's phones.
That's a big one.
But also we see a lot of kidsinteracting with other kids and
playing with each other, andthere's Barbie dolls.
We do have a playroom insidethe Hope Center and they do like
make-believe stuff and you seedifferent families' kids
(19:12):
interacting with other kids andthere's coloring, there's
artwork.
We have volunteer groups thathave come in and done crocheting
and in some evenings we have achurch group that comes in and
they're doing Bible studies andcrafts with kids.
So there's just a lot ofvarious things.
But technology I think anymoreis is the thing that's keeping
(19:39):
the kids' attention.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Okay, so we still have the ability for that to
occur as well.
Yes.
So, rachel, I want to get toour other guest here today,
which is your new assistantdirector, rockstar, before we
jump there.
So paint a picture for folks,maybe in this, what is the most
enjoyable thing that you, asdirector of Hope Center, find in
(20:03):
what you do and what is themost challenging.
So start it with the mostjoyous thing.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
You know, miriam mentioned earlier when she was
talking about staffing and beingcalled.
I think there's a hugedifference of being called over
just needing a job.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Talk about being called.
What's that mean?
Speaker 4 (20:24):
For me, particularly like I knew what the Topeka
Rescue Mission was.
I knew that this place existed,but never in a million years
did I think that I would beright here right now, and I'm a
crybaby.
So I just I feel the beingcalled is this is where the Lord
wants me.
(20:45):
I've had my share of badchoices.
I've had my share of thingsthat I shouldn't have done, but
I've done and I've learned fromthat.
The Lord has put me in thisplace to show hope that, despite
what you've been through, youcan do big things.
(21:07):
So being called, I think, isthe Lord puts you in a place
where you are able to share hislove and relate to the people
that we're helping, and thenhaving those same people like
everybody comes with differentskills and different talents and
(21:28):
different ways of helpingpeople and showing that love and
our staff right now, I think,is a mix of all of that.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
So your biggest joy, if I'm hearing it correctly, is
the know you're called and to bein that place where God called
you to be.
Yes, what's the biggestchallenge that you face as
director of Hope Center?
Speaker 4 (21:49):
The hurt, the trauma, the stories that you hear.
We all have a past.
Everybody has unique reasonsthat led them to this place.
Everybody has unique reasonsthat led them to this place,
whether it be for shelter or forwork.
It is really challenging tohear those things and it is
(22:10):
heartbreaking to know that.
And just one family and, likeyou said, we're anywhere from
250 to 300 a night.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Just taking the time to talk to one individual and
knowing what led them here isheartbreaking, so it would be
one challenge to have one personwho's gone through
heartbreaking times in theirlife maybe currently are but
when you have a whole lot ofpeople all together, you add on
(22:42):
warming centers at the same time, with people coming off the
streets who you know.
Their life is challenged in adifferent way than people who
are in shelters, challenged in adifferent way from people who
have a home.
We all have challenges, butright in the midst of that, with
a lot of crisis going on allthe time.
So how do you handle it, rachel?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Well, the in and outs , that part is so hard with our
guests.
What do you mean?
Like you have one or two orthree people that they're in for
two days and then they're out,and then they're in and then
they're out and there has to belike it can't.
It's not my choice, it's not mylike.
I can't judge what it is that'shappening.
Each person is worthy,regardless of why they're
(23:24):
leaving or what is causing themto go back out, and that's you
know, I've been cussed out.
I've been called every name inthe book, I've been all the
things, but I can't use that asa reason why I'm saying no, you
can't come in there.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
It it's, they're god's child so you talk about
some boundaries that have to becreated, and so those are the
kind of things.
It's not a drop-in motel, right.
It is a place where, if you'rein a need that you come and then
you also have an opportunity.
But you need to take advantageof the opportunity, because
there's a lot of people needingto get in that can't get in if
you don't want it.
(23:55):
Christian, you're going to saysomething.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Well, you would ask, you're going to say something.
Well, you would ask you knowhow are we able to do this?
And that's a really goodquestion, and it's a really hard
one to really kind ofarticulate or be able to answer,
because there's some prettycomplex factors and so, you know
(24:18):
, one of those being, our psycheis very self-defensive and so
over time, when we're submittedor around kind of a traumatic
environment over and over, itcan be kind of a natural
tendency for us to become jaded,and so there's kind of that
natural tendency to become kindof calloused or jaded.
Why is that?
Because it hurts when you'reconstantly in an environment
(24:39):
that just constantly hurts.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
So it's a defense mechanism from too much empathy
that maybe is going to cause usto lose our perspective, so we
can become defensive in thatregard.
Well, at some point.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
I've seen it happen where people just stop caring.
They've been around it all thetime.
You see so much of it and thenyou just deal with it on such a
regular basis Well, everybody'sgot it, why does it even matter?
And then you're also dealingnot just with the trauma of that
individual but you're alsodealing with, some of the times,
the behaviors that come fromthat.
(25:12):
And then you are the object oftheir release, of that trauma,
and so that can be kind of anatural tendency that makes it
complex in how we handle it.
But on the other side of that,god has incredible plans for
that person, and so if thereever comes a place where we
become that jaded or callousedin this line of work, then we're
(25:35):
in a spot where this isn'twhere we're needing to be.
And so how do we maintain thatsoft heart and, at the same time
, deal with these difficultsituations on a regular basis?
And I think a lot of that comesdown to and this is something
that I've seen Rachel do, I'veseen Lisa do, I've seen all our
staff members do is we have tostay in this place where we're
(25:58):
in a relationship with God andwe're constantly being washed by
the word, and Jesus said thisin John 15, he said, for you are
already washed by the word,I've spoken to you, and so
there's a place where we need tospend time in a relationship
with him.
I'm just saying like I couldn'tdo this without that, maintain
a long term perspective throughthe short term struggles without
(26:20):
having that relationship withJesus.
I can't think of another way todo it.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Sounds like there's not only a personal need to do
that, but a corporate need to dothat with the team here,
because one out of, say, 50staff members could be so
challenged by what they see thatthey have a natural reaction to
desensitize themselves to whatthey're seeing around them, and
so we need to help each other tobe able to be in that space, to
(26:44):
be able to center ourselves.
Speaker 6 (26:47):
Well, the hard thing, though, is like we can't
corporately do that.
We can create a culture wherewe encourage people to do that.
But people have to go straightto the source for themselves.
So there's not reallygrandchildren in the kingdom of
heaven, there's not, you know,friends of of friends of God.
There are direct friends of Godor children of God, and so,
(27:08):
like we have this need to gostraight to the source for
ourselves, and so that is justkind of the culture that we try
to create in the shelters,because if we don't do that it
creates there's a secondaryculture.
That's just kind of a naturalthing which we're kind of
constantly fighting that entropyof reverting back to natural
(27:29):
humanistic self-defense tactics.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Maryam.
We talk about the challenge forneed for resources.
We need, we need.
We need sheets for the beds, weneed furniture to help people
set up, we need money to operate, we need volunteers and staff.
Those are challenging to find,but it's probably the biggest
challenge is what we're talkingabout right now Just to really
be able to keep that rightperspective as we're seeing so
(27:51):
much suffering in this arena,and not to desensitize ourselves
, not to be overly empathetic towhere we can't be helpful.
We can be so identifying withpeople suffering that we.
So the biggest balance, thebiggest challenge here, in
addition to these other thingsthat are needed practically, is
(28:11):
this whole area.
How do we ground ourselves withGod?
How do we look at our neighborsourselves?
Speaker 3 (28:17):
And if we are called here, it's really not us Right.
None of this is about us andwhat we are capable or not
capable of doing, because Ithink all of us would probably
agree that in and of ourselveswe are not capable, because it
is a lot Right, and you know,when Christian is talking about
(28:38):
that, I think people build thosewalls because they care, not
because they quit caring,necessarily, but they build that
wall to protect themselves.
Because your heart can onlytake so much on our own Right
and when it's gotten punched afew times, calluses start to
develop Right, just like on anypart of your body.
(28:58):
So to me, if our teams that areworking here and the volunteers
that are working here come ontheir own power, I think they
will probably struggle.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Struggle greatly, because this is a great place to
struggle.
If you're going to find astruggle, Rachel, how many years
have you been at Peak RescueMission now?
Speaker 4 (29:18):
A little over three.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Over three.
Yeah, you still have thatsensitivity.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Yeah Well, you know, when I first came in, I'm like
I'm going to save the world, I'mgoing to take, I'm going to get
everybody.
We're going to get housing andwe're going to until you get
there, and then I mean it's allthat matters, yeah.
And ultimately, we do this workfor the Lord.
(29:43):
It is not us.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
We don't save, we don't change people.
What we do is we help people,as God does all the rest of the
work.
Yes, rachel, it takes a team.
It does, and you have anassistant director that is here
with us today.
She's over here very patientlywaiting for me to ask her a
question, and she can with ustoday.
She's over here very patientlywaiting for me to ask a question
.
She can't wait.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
I can tell.
So, rachel, introduce yourassistant director.
This is Lisa Bryant, my mightyassistant director, and you know
she comes with experience.
She actually started at thefront desk and then was in case
management for a little bit andthen came back, so she has been
a great addition to our team.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Lisa, welcome to the podcast today.
So this is your first timebeing on the podcast, and so
Rachel talked about maybe alittle bit of a journey coming
up to being assistant directorof Hope Center.
How long have you been in thatposition?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Probably, I think like three months, four Okay,
yeah, it was kind of atransition from case management.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Yeah, so you've come in in the last three or four
months in some pretty intensetimes yes, due to Kansas weather
and all these things.
So when did you first come toTopeka Rescue Mission?
Tell us a little bit about yourbeginnings, how you even got
here.
You ended up some differentphysicians.
Now you're director of HopeCenter.
So start us from the beginning,as you would like.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
Well, it's been two years since I came and I don't
even.
The path was crazy.
I came out of like a four-yearstint in Teen Challenge and so I
was in Missouri and I came hereto work for a friend and that
didn't really work out.
So I was kind of wanderingabout doing DoorDash, trying to
(31:26):
find my way, and I just startedapplying and I had no idea what
I was getting myself into.
But it was all God, None of usknew we wouldn't do it.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
So for people who don't know what Teen Challenge
is, talk about Teen Challenge.
You had about a four-year stintin Teen Challenge.
Yes, what was your involvementthere.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
My involvement was I came in off a 25-year stint of
addiction and other problems,and so I did a year of treatment
, which is Bible study.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
With Teen Challenge.
Yes, uh-huh yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
And so it's not just for drug, it's other problems in
life.
So I was there for a year andthen I did an internship for a
year and then I decided to goback to Kansas City and then
life got tough and I was used tobeing in a bubble surrounded by
people who were constantlyencouraging and the whole
(32:30):
atmosphere there, and so I endedup going back and working for
them for a couple of years and Ileft and came to Topekaka,
which I didn't see coming.
I didn't see any any any ofthis coming and um, it's been a
huge blessing and I've learned amass amount here.
(32:53):
I mean, I mean I've grown.
If I want to ruffle my ownfeathers, you know that's an
okay ruffle there.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
So involved from a need standpoint, getting
involved with Tea Challenge,which is a very solid program
for helping people.
I don't know if you know JoshTurley.
His dad works at Tea Challengeand so, yeah, there's a big
connection there and so on theWest Coast and so it's a
powerful, powerful program.
So you ended up coming totopeka.
You were in that kind of uhthat, that that place where you
(33:25):
could heal and then come backand serve.
You end up over here looking atdoor dash different things how
did you find?
out about topeka rescue missionI really honestly didn't.
Speaker 5 (33:34):
I knew, um, the people that I worked for before.
Did you know just some?
I don't know how to put?
They had a food business, sothere was things going on in the
background.
It was a ministry as well, andso it was just kind of I just
heard things and I knew a fewpeople that were always saying
(33:57):
the rescue mission, and I'venever really I've had my own
experience with homelessness inmy time of wandering, and so it
was I went, I knew a little bitabout the mission because I was
in the mission in Kansas Citywith my four children during my,
(34:18):
you know, wandering time.
So I kind of know a little bitabout family centers and things,
and so it was just kind of like, well, let's just see what this
is about.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
So you came here and did you immediately apply?
Did you come here to stay?
Did you come here to work?
A combination thereof?
Speaker 5 (34:41):
I came here with a friend to work for a friend and
her dad and then once I leftthat job, I was kind of very
anxious about what are we doinghere?
I'm stuck over here in TopekaLike I don't even.
I don't know how to get around,I don't know anybody.
It was kind of I was afraid,and but I trusted God and I knew
(35:08):
that, you know, I was near myfamily in Kansas City and so I'm
just like, okay, well, let'sjust get out there and try to
figure it out.
I guess you know, and I had noidea what the plan was.
I was just on for the ride andso I'm just kind of like, okay,
what are we doing?
(35:28):
You know?
Um, you know, so that's, thisis that.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Okay, so you found this place called the Topeka.
Speaker 5 (35:37):
Reservation.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
And what was your first, uh memory of walking
through the doors here?
Speaker 5 (35:43):
My interview.
We were, you know, just sharingwith each other and getting to
know each other.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
And let me say during that interview I knew that I
was going to hire her abouthalfway through, so all the
other questions were necessary.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
But we could have ended it at that point, the
process right.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
There's something about feeling that discernment
and the authenticity.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Okay, describe that for people, rachel.
I think that's worthy ofpausing here.
I didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
That's still small voice that you hear or that you
feel and like you know there's.
There's a way of like you can Idon't know like maybe you can
just tell that people are likepreparing for an interview and
you it just almost sounds likeit's a computer in the interview
, like, and then there's someone, that there's emotion and
there's feelings and you can see, and all interviews are nerve
(36:42):
wracking, but you can just tellwhen someone's heart is in it
and their emotions come out andyou can almost like feel the
pain or feel the hurt or feelwhat it is they're telling you.
And that's what I felt withLisa and I have felt that with
other individuals.
But it is very.
(37:04):
It's like the Lord tapping youon your shoulder, like this is
the one, this is the one I sent.
Speaker 6 (37:11):
It's a very hard thing to articulate.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
And that discernment or kind of hearing.
So we're going to step intosomething that's kind of weird.
But we have a God who's aliveand a God who is breathing.
He rose from the dead and hedidn't stay in that grave.
And it says he talks.
(37:36):
Jesus said I will know my sheepand my sheep will know my voice
talks.
Jesus said I will know my sheepand my sheep will know my voice
.
Um, and so there's there,that's a real thing of getting
to know his voice.
Now I mean, it's important thatwe um, we don't like hear the
(37:59):
audible voice of God.
Thus saith the Lord, but, um,there is a um.
As we read, as we read the word,really we start to pick up on
the nature of God or on histimbre, on.
You know, in the same way, likeyou know as Barry, as you're
talking, there's a timbre toyour voice and in your timbre
there's also kind of a warmnessand there's a safety and
security.
A lot of people here, you know,and there's a safety and
security.
A lot of people feel hearingyour voice.
(38:20):
I'm speaking to a lot oflisteners right now who would
probably agree with me, but aswe read the word of God, there's
a timbre to his nature that westart to get accustomed to, and
then there's also a spirit ofGod outside of that too.
That's still a small voice.
(38:42):
I believe it was Elijah that alot of that was brought out in,
and that's important for usbelievers, I think, probably
more important now than ever.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
A lot of voices out here and what's his voice now
than ever.
A lot of voices out here, andwhat's his voice?
Speaker 6 (39:00):
Yeah, as we were talking about debunking earlier,
we don't know what sources totrust, and so it's important for
us to know that we have a Godwho's on both sides of time, and
he's in all these things.
He knows what the truth is andhe cares about his children and
he leads us and guides us, andso there's that piece, but then
also you were talking about thisin the interview there's a
(39:23):
place where the deep calls outto deep.
The same spirit of God thatcomes and resides with us is the
same spirit of God that resideswith other believers.
We have the same Holy Spiritwith us, and then that Holy
Spirit leaps with joy, you know,with the Holy Spirit inside of
(39:43):
other believers, and so I'mtalking about spirits on a
podcast with a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Well, it's a Topeka rescue mission, a community
mission.
We talk about a lot of things.
By the way, christianStrickfell is a pastor of the
Open Way Center.
I quit of the Open Way Center.
I quit Open Way Church here intown as well, so I've been
waiting to drop that one inthere.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
Way to tee it up.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
Way to go buddy, thank you.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
So, lisa, you're hearing some great affirmations
here.
You were along to say I'm readyto go for the journey, whatever
God says.
You'd had experience in TeenChallenge, so this was not a
foreign area to you, that Godcan take you somewhere.
And so you're hearing Racheltalk about.
She interviewed you and boom,she knew over halfway or less
than halfway through you werethe one how does that?
Speaker 5 (40:35):
make you feel you feel Humble, I like just it was
an amazing interview and I feltreally good when I left, but,
you know, always unsure ofmyself a little, so that's
something you know that I reallystruggled with when I came in.
(40:58):
Luckily, I, you know, have aleaders that kind of nudge me
forward to kind of agree withthem that I'm capable and it's
yeah, it's, it's, I know I'mcapable.
It's just like very difficultwhen you're in a situation to
(41:22):
tell people things that are hardand it's, or listen to things
that are hard and know that youknow the Lord is there to help
us through that and it's justlike Constant, every time we
have a meeting we're prayingtogether.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
And it's just amazing , it's amazing.
So you came in working frontdesk, if I understand correctly,
at the Hope Center.
Speaker 5 (41:53):
Yeah, I thought it was just going to be like you
know typing and you know justsitting there answering
questions, and I thought I wasgoing to.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
You know it's a good place to start.
Yeah Right.
Speaker 4 (42:07):
Answering phones and pushing.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
You were not very good.
Speaker 6 (42:09):
Answering phones, I can do this.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Is this false advertising.
I think so.
We need to have a conversationwith Rachel.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
They should be posted .
Yeah, that is not what happened?
That's not what happened.
So then you moved from frontdesk into case management, guest
management, working directlywith the guests.
How long did you do that?
What was that experience likefor you?
Speaker 5 (42:28):
I'm going to say it was about seven or eight months
and it was, oh man, what alearning experience, just kind
of switching gears and gettingin there and kind of finding out
.
You know it may seem like dothis, do this, do this, do this,
(42:51):
do this, and it's not.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
I mean, you really get to sit down and get in depth
with them and kind of learnwhat's the purpose of guest
management at Topeka RescueMission.
Speaker 5 (42:56):
The purpose of guest management is to prepare the
person and help them and guidethem into setting goals to get
housing and pay off things thatthey need to pay and just kind
of help them.
Just see the big picture ofwhat.
(43:17):
This is what we need and wewant to get you.
You know, the help that youneed if they have some issues
with mental health.
Just set them up with resourcesto kind of envelop them with
love and help to get stable.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Christian Rachel.
How valuable is guestmanagement to what we're doing
at Topeka Rescue Mission?
Speaker 6 (43:45):
It's crucial so much in what shelters do, for the
most part is we're just managingpeople, sometimes in a confined
space.
But if you just have peoplethere but no direction, if you
just have people there but nodirection, um, you know, without
direction people suffer.
And so there is really a kindof a place where we do provide
(44:10):
the shelter, but then casemanagement comes alongside and
they kind of provide them withthe tools and then the roadmap
of the next steps that they canbe taking.
And they can't.
They're not going to doeverything for the individual,
um, because that would berobbing the individual for an
opportunity to then grow butwalking alongside the individual
(44:30):
as they navigate challenges andobstacles and then really kind
of assist them, like Lisa said,with the resources to get from
one place to the next.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
If you didn't do that part, probably people would
just stay here and they wouldn'thave any help to assist to move
out.
Speaker 4 (44:47):
Well, and once they understand that the guest
management is there to trulyhelp them be successful, you
know it's hard in the beginning,like why do you need my
paycheck stubs and why do youneed to know this and why do you
have to know all that?
And really it's just to be ableto have a foundation of, like,
what can you afford or what doyou need paid off, or how can we
(45:09):
help you.
And once they see that and that, the goals, realistic goals
once those are accomplished, Imean it's like the light gets
turned on.
And we've seen people that camein with thousands of dollars of
debt and they don't have anyform of identification.
All that debt's paid off,they're moving to housing, they
have all IDs social securitycard, birth certificate and they
(45:32):
I mean their entire demeanorhas changed and they are and
they just want to.
They come in like guess what Ipaid off?
And they're telling all thestaff and they're just so proud
of themselves.
And that's the part that islike you see them at their
lowest and you see theprogression.
And then that's the beautifulpart of this.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
Yeah, it's the tools to be able to take the next step
in life.
It's one thing to even come ina homeless shelter Most people
don't go.
Speaker 4 (46:00):
Wow, I'm so excited to be at the rescue mission and
then, on the flip side, whenpeople aren't making the right
choices and they don't want tofollow the policies and they
don't want to follow those rules, that's when we have to step in
and we're the quote bad guy forjust a moment.
But then once you can reflectback on that and see that this
(46:21):
is really that tough love, thisis what's helping you move
forward.
We all need consequences.
We all need to do what's right.
Speaker 6 (46:31):
I think one of the best analogies for this is
parenting, and so Rachel is aparent to about 117 people last
night and then 43 children, butthey're really like 117 grown
children.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
Yeah, 117 total.
Speaker 6 (46:48):
And of those, 43 were children.
Okay, but a good parentsometimes has to tell their kids
things the kids don't want tohear and sometimes has to have a
vision that the kids don't wantto follow here and sometimes
has to have a vision that thekids don't want to follow.
(47:09):
And a good parent also walks onthat, that line of loving while
also still providing direction.
And Rachel does that fairlygently, gently, of loving the
person that's right in front ofher, and sometimes that's with
really like, sometimes that'swith nurturing and support and
care, and sometimes that's alsowith I really need you to do
(47:31):
this for yourself, um, and ifnot, then we're not going to be
able to support you with thisanymore, and that's a really
kind of hard line to walk.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
I think this would probably be a topic for another
podcast because, uh, the depththat we would need to go into.
But there is a sentiment withsome people that says just give
people a place to stay, don't doanything else, just let them be
there because they're homelessand it's their right to have a
(47:57):
place, and who are you to decidewhat they need?
And so that's a podcast foranother day.
Oh yeah, but answer it brieflyso that we could you know the
value of doing it this wayversus a different way of just
opening up a shelter?
And you know, growing morehomeless shelters, I guess.
Speaker 6 (48:18):
I'll just say it like this, it's probably just a
couple of lines.
People without direction orvision are like water running
downhill they follow the path ofleast resistance.
And so, unless there is supportand direction, unless there is
something, sometimes someonecalling them from staying in the
trauma or the hurt and thenproviding them with a path out
(48:41):
or hope, which is why we call itthe hope Place.
Speaker 5 (48:46):
Center.
Speaker 6 (48:50):
But without that direction we're just often we're
just going to keep on doing thesame things that we've been
doing and when you start lookingat in detail, like in depth,
what we have been doing, unlesswe've been shown another way,
we're going to keep on doing it.
Sometimes those things arereally painful and really just
destructive cycles, and so youknow I can't say that I am
(49:13):
optimistic that just providingsomebody with a place without
any kind of support will work.
I don't think there's evidenceto support that Really across
the board there are places withthe housing first and they
provide a lot of supportalongside, and those events are
going to be successful.
Speaker 3 (49:30):
Well, and I don't think you know, if you don't
feel, if you don't recognizeyour own worth, how do you move
in a different?
Speaker 1 (49:39):
direction.
Speaker 3 (49:41):
And so what our teams do is help them see their own
worth.
Speaker 2 (49:45):
It's huge, Miriam.
Speaker 3 (49:46):
Right and it's like, the rest is just.
I mean, if you're so mired innot believing in yourself or
seeing a different way foryourself, how can you ever
change?
And if you're just, yeah, ifyou're just sitting there and
you get fed and you have a placeto sleep, but that's all you
(50:07):
get, your mind frame will notchange.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
Lisa, I think you kind of mentioned that a little
bit in your own journey is thatyou weren't certain about the
decisions you're going to make.
How important has it been foryou to understand your worth.
Speaker 5 (50:26):
Mountains.
Just I mean, it's just amazingbecause I had been in a very
abusive relationship for such along time and so coming out of
that is very difficult.
But I've grown so much sinceI've been here and I'm just so
delighted in seeing other peoplewhere they're at and then just
(50:52):
being able to say, hey, you knowJesus loves you and you're
worthy and we can do this.
You know, together, and I'vebeen there and done that and you
can get out, you can get out.
Speaker 2 (51:07):
So you've gone from front desk yes, just typing, and
then bait and switch and thenmoving into guest management,
which you're really intenselyworking with people to try to
help them get to that next level.
Now you're in shelter management, which is basically just
managing people coming rightthrough that front door and
(51:27):
whatever crisis situation thatthey're in.
To do what?
What is that most importantthing that you've learned?
That somebody walking throughthe front door of Topeka Rescue
Mission Hope Center needs toknow it's not a scary place,
it's not needs to know it's nota scary place.
Speaker 5 (51:42):
It's not.
You don't have to um feel sobad about it.
You know things happen and andand we love you and we care
about what happens and we wantto help guide you.
Speaker 2 (51:57):
How, um, how do you do that?
How do you do that?
Speaker 5 (51:59):
Cause?
Speaker 2 (52:00):
you don't know what somebody is thinking when they
walk through the door.
You don't know if they've justcome out of this domestic
situation.
You don't know if they've been,you know, got frostbite.
You don't know anything untilyou know.
So what's the important thingfor you personally and the team
that your assistant directorover of the shelter services
(52:22):
managing the shelter to makesure that those folks get what
they need.
Speaker 5 (52:27):
Just the fruit of gentleness, I think, and caring,
and just listening and justwanting to know and showing them
that I want to know you.
It's not just get them in andget them in the room.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
It's not a business.
It's not just about them in andget them in the room and you
know it's not a business.
Yeah, it's not just about theorder.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (52:50):
We meet practical needs for people, to show them
they have eternal value.
And so you know, like in whatyou do, a lot of things that
you're saying there, lisa.
So when you're talking aboutsomeone coming in, the things
that you want them to know likein what you do, a lot of things
that you're saying there, lisa,when you're talking about
someone coming in, the thingsthat you want them to know is
that they're valuable.
You know, just treat themgently and welcoming them in and
(53:12):
giving them a place andtreating them with importance.
You know it shouldn't reallymake a difference if it's, you
know someone that's coming inoff the street struggling with
addictions.
Or you know Barry Feakerhimself.
You know the dignitary himselfwalking through the door.
I'm getting a look.
I've been here a long timestill working on it.
(53:33):
But you know, everything we do.
Jesus said it like this.
Jesus said it like thiswhatever you do, do it as unto
me, or whatever you do unto theleast of these, do it unto me.
(53:53):
And so we don't know the person.
But a lot of times we know,actually all the time, I know
their value Because it's thesame value that was paid for me,
and you know, really, the valueof something is what someone's
willing to pay.
Jesus paid it all for us, andso the person that's in front of
(54:14):
me.
No matter what theircircumstances or what they look
like, they have eternal valuebecause of the price that was
paid to set them free, andthat's the value I want to treat
that person with and that's the.
I guess the the name I want totreat them by is the name that
laid his life down for theirs.
Speaker 2 (54:34):
Well said.
Speaker 4 (54:36):
And regardless, no matter if you're a guest or a
staff, or a director or anassistant, we are all the same.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Yeah, we're a listener to this podcast, right.
Speaker 6 (54:45):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (54:46):
Yeah Well, lisa, rachel, christian, thank you,
miriam, always.
Thank you.
Thank you for listening to thispodcast today.
You yourself may have heardsomething here today that's made
you think, not only aboutTopeka Rescue Mission and what
it's about and some of thethings that we have covered here
(55:06):
today, but also you may havebeen wondering about your own
value and your own worth.
You don't have to be homeless,you don't have to be in Teen
Challenge, you don't have to beat Topeka Rescue Mission to
struggle with those particularthings in life.
We all struggle I think it waswell said in so many different
ways.
God loves you just the way youare.
He loves you too much to leaveyou there, and so he has a plan
(55:29):
for everybody.
Because he loves us all, hesent his only son, only begotten
son, that whoever wouldbelieveth on him would not
perish but have everlasting life.
It's not just good enough tobelieve in something.
It's better and eternallyvaluable to believe on him.
So think about that today, andif you'd like more information
(55:49):
about Topeka Rescue Mission, youcan go to the website at
trmonlineorg.
Trmonlineorg.
Thank you for being a part ofour community, our mission.
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