June 3, 2025 • 56 mins
In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, we explore what true transformation looks like through the powerful story of Edward Tucker. Once trapped in 30-years of drug addiction—even while pastoring—Edward longed for freedom but couldn’t break free on his own. Everything changed with a quiet nudge from God on a city bus: “Go to the mission.” That simple act of obedience marked the beginning of a new life. Today, Edward works at the Men’s Side Front Desk, serves in chapel, and offers honest, compassionate support to men walking the same road he once did.
Edward’s authenticity makes his ministry uniquely impactful—he doesn't just speak about recovery; he’s lived it. TRM CEO La Manda Cunningham highlights his ability to see past addiction and connect with the person behind the pain. His favorite verse, Galatians 2:20, captures his new identity: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." This episode is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond redemption—and that surrender is the first step toward true freedom.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this
day and your blessings andprovisions.
God, thank you for this timeand, lord, just that we can
communicate the amazing storiesand work that you're doing here.
Lord, we thank you for theseopportunities and our listeners,
and Lord, just pray yourblessing over them in this time.
In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello everybody, thank you for joining us on Our
Community, our Mission, apodcast of the Topeka Rescue
Mission.
I'm Barry Feeker, your hosttoday, here with Lamanda
Cunningham, ceo of the TopekaRescue Mission.
Marion Crable, deputy Directorof Supportive Services.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Good morning ladies, good morning, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Did you get your boat to come in today here?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
on Tuesday, June the 3rd.
Yeah, and I had to paddle likecrazy.
Yes, my arms are a little sorefrom all of that rowing.
I'm about to sit out the jetski.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Well, the river's up, so you can come right on in and
get around.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yes, we're getting some good rain and it's been
quite a spring, so we want tojump right in.
Today we have a very specialguest I think is going to be
really engaging, so stay tunedwith us.
We have a couple of big updates.
I think A couple of big updates.
I think that one is LaMandaMiriam.
You guys just got back fromArizona from a conference, an
(01:10):
annual conference with theCityGate Network.
We've heard about CityGateNetwork before.
We've actually talked to someCEOs and some different people
from the CityGate here on ourcommunity, our mission, but you
got to see a whole bunch of themtogether there, and so what's
that like?
What happened this time?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Well, you know, barry , each year I think there's just
no way that it's going to be aspowerful as it was last year.
And each year I am dead wrong.
Because it is just amazing whenyou have 1,200 people in the
room that all love Jesus, thatall are focused on helping
(01:51):
people who live on the margins,people who are struggling,
people who others may not see.
Stuff just happens, and it isremarkable.
It is remarkable.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
You get.
You get around people who maybedon't do it exactly like they
do it in Topeka, but there isthis commonality there of
serving the Lord in regards toreaching out to those who suffer
, those who may be homeless,hungry, a lot of different
things.
City years ago, where they werejust graduating their 12th
(02:24):
grade of children K through 12,from their high school or their
school that they started therefor kids who could not afford to
go to private school from theinner city.
And they were having thisgraduating class.
I'm going to say wow that'samazing.
I mean, that's a rescue missiondoing that plus all the other
stuff that they were doing.
Amanda, you've been prettyinvolved with CityGate ever
(02:46):
since you've been the CEO ofTopeka Rescue Mission, to say
the least, an emerging leadersprogram.
Did you see some emergingleaders there this time?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yes, we actually had three different sessions for the
emerging leaders that were setaside in addition to the track
sessions that they do and inaddition to the general sessions
.
We had three different ones andthe lowest amount we had in one
of them was 65.
So between 65 and 85 came toeach of those three sessions.
I believe they said they had200 and something registered as
(03:21):
emerging leaders and I get askedall the time well, what is
emerging leaders?
And I'm like yes, we've beensaying 40 ish or younger, and
yeah, well, I had several cometo me lower.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Now you've bumped it up.
Why have you done that?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Because everybody is looking for a place to belong,
is the true one.
The other one is I keepapproaching 40 closer and closer
and so, yeah, there's a,there's a seriousness to that
and there's a laughter to thatone.
But you know one thing that Inoticed that was different this
year, barry and I'm kind ofexcited, you know, we'll devote
(04:00):
another podcast to unpacking ourtime, and Scott with our
distribution center went, marcuswith our facilities and
maintenance went, and so I'mexcited to hear their
perspectives as well.
But one of the things that Inoticed I can't even remember I
think it was the first night,maybe second night they had
Jordan, my co-leader, and I ofthe emerging leaders come up and
(04:21):
just give this kind of briefoverview.
Jordan's from another city,virginia, yeah, percival and
just kind of talk to the whole1200 crowd about what we're
doing and the importance ofemerging leaders.
And one of the things that Ihad mentioned was and hopefully
I said it more delicately than Ithink it's coming out right now
but basically I spoke to theleaders that are looking at
(04:47):
retiring or are looking attransitioning out of this and I
asked them to be helpful to usand basically said I don't know
about y'all, but I want all ofthis work to continue until
Jesus comes back, and if so,then that means the leaders that
are leaving need to leave well,and part of that is passing the
(05:10):
batons to us.
And then I said but then that,our new leaders, I want us to do
that well and not act like weknow everything, because we
don't, but yet walk in courageand bravery because we are
facing some really, really bighardships right now.
That being said, I had severalpeople and I appreciated it so
(05:34):
much come up to me as I waswalking through the facility.
Some of them even came to theEmerging Leader Sessions and
admitted in a joking way butsaid I'm not your 40-ish, I'm
older, but I'm willing to comein and if I can present.
During one of your sessions Ihad one woman come up and she
said if you know of anybody thatneeds a mentor, I'm willing to
(05:55):
do it.
So technically the group isthis 40 ish or younger, and you
don't necessarily even have tobe in a leadership position.
If you're aspiring to do that,you can.
But this year was my first yearthat I had people that are not
considered in that emergingleaders group come to me and say
I want to be a part of itsomehow, and one of the women.
(06:16):
I'm excited I haven't even beenable to share with Miriam, but
she's done this fun spin onfinance to teach her staff
members the value of a dollar,what that looks like if we put
it in the hands of someoneexperiencing homelessness, but
then also tied to us being wisestewards of resources when we
get them.
So she came to me and she saidyou know I'm kind of like an HR
(06:39):
person, but a fun one forfinance, and she goes and don't
ask me my age because I'm notyounger than 40.
And I just laughed and I said,okay.
So there was this willingnessof the people that are emerging
saying we want to be sponges andwe want to soak in the
knowledge of people that havedone this, and this was the
first year that I saw people whodo have the experience, do have
(07:00):
the knowledge, reallyshowcasing a willingness to say,
yep, we'll take you guys underour wings.
So that's exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
It really is.
I mean, that's how we grow, welearn.
You get a chance to learn fromother rescue ministries around
the North America, the UnitedStates and Canada to be able to
see what they're doing and thenbe able to share.
A number of things havebenefited other rescue
ministries because of what'sgoing on in Topeka, so it's a
back and forth and so thoserelationships you can't beat
(07:27):
them.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
And it's caused us to well, I mean for several months
.
Well, I think leaders ingeneral are reflective, right,
we're always looking at whatwe're doing and if you're in
ministry, making sure it'saligned to what God's asked you
to do, and all of that.
But in the last six months, Iwould say TRM is really
positioning itself to questionwhat is next for TRM.
What are these specificdepartments look like?
(07:52):
What are the things that wehave historically done that we
need to continue because they'rebiblically foundational for us,
and how do we keep that theforefront and the focus?
But I also think we're at anexciting time in all of our
departments to say what do weneed to do different?
Because the definition ofinsanity is doing everything how
(08:14):
you've always done it andexpect a different result.
If we are seeing differentdemographics, different types of
struggles on the streets and inour shelters, different needs
that people are coming to uswith, it might be a time for us
to pivot some things wheredepartments look different than
what it has, and so that I thinkfor some, whether it's
(08:34):
internally or externally, can bescary because not everybody
does well with change, but itcan also be an exciting thing as
long as our hearts are alignedwith the Lord, we're following
him.
Who's better of a guide thanthe Lord?
And so I think TRM haspositioned itself to really be
analyzing what the communityneeds from that 30,000 foot view
(08:54):
, and I think in the next comingmonths we're going to see some
changes coming internally forTRM that we hope will continue
to bring the gospel to thecommunity that so desperately
needs it, but also could maybemeet needs better in a way that
we've not been able to do before.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That's a pretty good drum roll up to something that's
coming, that's right.
But you're not going to talkabout that yet are you Not
coming?
And you know why?
Because we don't know yet we'restill trusting the Lord with it
.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
But we do have a vision casting with leadership
and our board in the next 45days or so, and so we're excited
to really be looking at whatwe're doing well, what we need
to improve on, and doing it fromthe perspective of realizing
our community matters to theLord.
This is not the TRM show and wedon't want to be doing things
(09:43):
just because it's what we do atTRM.
We want to continue to servethe community like we have been,
but also strengthen any areasthat we need to Do you see some
similar conversations going onaround the country with some of
the other rescue ministries,Because things are changing in
different ways, differentcommunities but there's some
(10:14):
commonality.
So are other rescue missionleadership talking about
pivoting, really having somemomentum, moving forward and
working collaboratively, unifiedon some things, and so then
some of the rescue missions areable to not need to do certain
things that they have been,because other partners are now
going to be doing those parts.
So it's kind of that workingsmarter, not harder.
(10:37):
And so I saw some pivots.
For that, uh, I did see somerescue missions needing to pivot
because of the economy, thecost of things increasing, um,
donations kind of being stagnantor decreasing, because
everybody's just feeling itright now Grocery costs, gas
costs, job issues, those kindsof things.
(10:59):
Um, and then we saw, uh, somerescue missions that it's really
not anything to do with theircommunity guiding it, but that
they're just going to take somerisk on things that they think
their community needs.
And really some rescue missionsthat are walking out on faith,
not because of it all being datadriven, not because it's all,
(11:21):
because they feel like the Lordis asking them whether that is
being food rescuers.
That was a topic.
What's a food?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
rescuer.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Some of the rescue missions were talking about how
they have analyzed and began topartner with other groups to see
the amount of food waste thathappens in the United States
particularly.
And so, in a time where foodcosts are increasing, people
that were able to do food drivesor donate food to us is
(11:53):
decreasing because people areneeding to supply their own
homes with foods.
It's caused some of the rescuemissions to say we are going to
be full throttle partnering withrestaurants, businesses,
grocery stores at the locallevel with restaurants,
businesses, grocery stores atthe local level and really
changing their operations, times, staffing, types of box trucks,
(12:15):
all of that to say we're goingto be going all around our
community and any restaurant orstore that would be throwing
anything out or anything, we'rewilling to go grab those and
rescue the food and thendistribute to food banks and
churches and and and right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
The thing is, the Topeka rescue mission is
rescuing people off the streets,having a place for them to go,
those who are hungry rescuingthem.
So they're not hungry, but yousometimes have to rescue the
resource to be able to get ithere, to be able to do the job
Correct, and so if it's gettingthrown away, still good.
Leveraging those escalatingcosts of groceries today, why
(12:54):
should it go in the dumpsterwhen it can actually feed
somebody?
That's a rescue.
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
And you know I spoke with another rescue mission in
Arizona that basically in someof their departments they have
been able to double staff.
And they did that because theyare watching both the national
trends and the state trends forArizona with homelessness and
it's not decreasing.
And so they knew in order tocontinue to serve at the rate
(13:21):
they were, they were going tohave to increase capacity.
And so I said, well, what's thebudget implications on that?
Like, how do you just do that?
In four years, multipledepartments they have doubled,
going from eight staff to 16,going from four staff to eight.
And she said we did itsimultaneously with our donor
relation.
We had to make sure that it wasa robust donor relations and
(13:46):
for the first time they enteredinto fundraising and so getting
sponsorships one of theirbiggest sponsorships, she said,
came from a gas station and theysigned them on and they signed
them as a business partner forthree years.
So because they could guaranteethat money, then they could
guarantee additional staff andbecause of data, that's how they
then made decisions on wherethey doubled the staff.
(14:08):
So there is a lot of changesand revisions with a lot of
rescue missions right now.
I think historically we'vealways had to be flexible, right
, you can't do any of thiswithout that.
But there is something rightnow where there is a newness and
it's just time to take somerisks A little bit of a newness
(14:28):
and a bit of an urgency withsome of the different needs that
we see.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So, as you pivot and yet to be determined what that's
going to look like, becauseyou're still discerning that,
meeting with the board and thestaff and trying to determine
what that's going to be there'ssome things that won't change
and that is the love for God,the love for the neighbor,
glorifying the Lord, all thosekind of things part of rescue
(14:54):
mission and also financialaccountability.
And so, miriam, you're in a funtime as director of supportive
services, which is over finance,and so talk about what happens
every year and what you'reentering into right now, You're
so good at this.
Miriam.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
You're so good at this.
That's why I'm making her feelreally good about all this.
I'm trying to just rememberthat verse about consider it all
joy, that's right.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
So financial accountability stewardship has
been a non-negotiable for TopekaRescue Mission for a very, very
long time and will always bethat way, so that the donor
knows that they can haveconfidence that every dollar is
going to stretch as far as itcan and there's going to be an
accounting for every dollar.
So, miriam, you get to be incharge of that particular and
(15:38):
there's something called anaudit and it's coming.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Actually it's here, it's, it's not just coming.
It's actually here.
But you know, barry, I thinkthe thing is the thing to
remember too.
It's not just about stretchingdollars.
It's about making sure thatdollars are invested very wisely
, confidence that we are takingcare of the dollars and using
(16:12):
them as best we possibly can tomeet the needs that are coming
at us and need our attention themost right.
They will support us indifferent kind of ways, and the
audit is just one way we do that.
You know, this is a third partythat comes in and looks at
every piece Independent.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Independent, oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yes, this is not staff.
This is an outside organizationthat comes in that looks at
every piece of our accountingprocess.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
They're not your best friends.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
No, they are friendly .
Speaker 2 (16:41):
They're not here to be your best friend.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
They're here to find out.
They're not here to be my bestfriend.
That's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
They're here to see if there's any issues, exactly
my best friend.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
They're here to see if there's any issues, exactly
Any problems, and they willaddress those and it involves
everything from our resourcedevelopment department, because
they look at all of ourdonations, donations that are
designated to specific things.
Are we spending it in thosespecific ways?
Are we making sure that ourboard is aware of everything
that we do?
Are we sure that we'redocumenting each of our grants
(17:10):
in the way that we're supposedto and doing our reporting?
So it is a very in-depth, veryin-depth assessment of how we
handle our financials.
So, yes, it's happening.
She's smiling.
That's because it hasn't quitestarted and we're not two weeks
into it.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Well, if you know, if you know there's, it will
change every year becausethey're going to look for
something different every year.
And um, and so the the point ofall of it is is there any
potholes or landmines in thefinancial stewardship of any
organization?
And Topeka rescue mission hasbeen very blessed for some time
now to have some higher ratingsnationally in regards to its
financial stewardship.
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
And and just you know , the board is really looking
for us and the community and ourdonors are looking for us to
have a clean audit where there'sno findings that would cause
people of any kind of concern.
Sometimes there's processthings that if we can just tweak
this process a little bit more,but, um, we've always had clean
audits, um, so the goal is thatthat happened again as we look
(18:05):
at 2020.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
And they've been very helpful sometimes when people
are questioning, because peopledo question.
There, unfortunately, arebusiness practices that are not
correct in both for-profit andnon-profit, and so we don't want
to be one of those.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
No, we do not.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
We're not going to be one of those or we'll close her
down.
And so when you have a question, because there's reasons to
question, you can say, okay,here's an independent audit,
this is what they say, so that'sgood stuff.
So some things won't change inregards to, maybe, what will
change, but we don't know whatwill change other than what
Amanda said get ready for achange, but we don't know what
that is yet.
But that's okay.
That's part of the privilege ofthe CEO to be able to stir
(18:42):
people up and get them ready forsomething Ready, set hold.
So, in the process of that,still sheltering, still feeding,
still loving on people and ittakes really awesome people to
be able to do that and so wehave a guest today who is one of
those awesome guys.
He is so excited about beinghere today.
I want to tell you, edwardTucker, welcome to our community
(19:04):
, our mission.
You got quite a story and youwork the front desk on the men's
side, and how long have youbeen at Topeka Rescue Mission?
Speaker 5 (19:12):
In three days it'll be two years I've been working
here.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Been working here.
So we all have a story.
We all have a story about ourwhole life, right, and we have a
story.
Those that are Jesus followers.
We have a story about that andhow we came to Christ.
And then we have a story aboutthat and how we came to Christ.
And then we have a story thatintersects with that how we came
to Topeka Rescue Mission.
So you're involved on TopekaRescue Mission hasn't always
(19:35):
been as a staff member, so talkabout whatever you want to talk
about.
So we get to know Edward Tucker, Because what I hear about you
is you're just an awesome guy,it's because you just met me.
Oh, I've seen you around.
I've seen you around.
I've heard about you, so talkabout your journey to where you
(19:57):
are today.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
Okay, Well, first of all, thank y'all for inviting me
and allowing me to come.
I appreciate it.
It is exciting here at themission.
I came here June the 6th of 23.
I was born and raised in PineBluff, Arkansas.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
That's why I love him .
He's from Arkansas.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Well, that disqualifies you now.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Woo pig, woo pig.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
So I moved to Topeka in 2014 after living in Kansas
City, missouri for about 30years.
My pastor came here so I wasgoing through some things there
drug addiction so I came hereand I had to leave and go down
to see my mom and when I cameback, the Lord had already spoke
to my heart.
When I was coming back On thatbus was go to the mission.
(20:43):
And this is where my whole lifechanged.
My whole life changed.
My whole life changed and itchanged because I obeyed what I
heard.
I got off that bus up on 6thStreet about 5 something in the
evening Brett and Ricky wasworking the front desk.
I got off the bus and I didn'tmake no U-turn to go to no dope
(21:07):
house no, nothing.
And I have a make no U-turn togo to nowhere no dope house, no,
nothing.
And I have a wife here now,okay, and I wasn't even going
home.
God was ready for me to changeand I got off that bus and I
started walking and I knew wherethe mission was because we used
to come here and hand out foodon the side.
With your church?
Yes, okay, back in the day.
(21:27):
And so I just came on down andI got food on the side With your
church yes, okay, back in theday.
And so I just came on down andI got here on the 6th of June.
I was going out every daylooking for work and about two
weeks Krishna seen me in thehallway and said have John
Roberts talk to you?
And I said no, sir, and I saidwhat did I do?
Because I, you know, hey, thatdoesn't.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
And you and I said no sir.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
And I said what'd I do?
Cause I?
And he was like no, it's allgood, we just wanted to ask you
a few questions.
So uh, john caught up with melate on that day and uh asked me
would I be interested inworking at the front desk?
And I was like yeah, because Iwas tired of running out in that
hot sun every day and lookingfor some work.
(22:08):
So yeah, I can sleep here andwork here.
Okay, so at that point I musthave started probably about the
25th of June, started working,so that was a blessing and I've
been here ever since.
But 30 years, right at 30 yearsof smoking crack was my
addiction crack, cocaine, andbecause I was obedient to God.
(22:29):
Man, I thank God for that.
It's not like I didn't know God, I knew God, but I didn't know
God, you know, because I wasraised up in church, so I had an
understanding a bit of who Godwas.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
So you were involved with the church.
You were actually doing someoutreach through your church,
but you at the same time had acocaine addiction.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
Had a cocaine addiction.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I think that's pretty important for people to
understand that just becauseyou're in a church doesn't mean
that everything's working outperfect in your life.
It doesn't mean that there aregoing to be problems Right.
It doesn't mean that you won'thave an addiction.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
So before you go on, what kind of a conflict was that
for you to hear the word of God, to know that there's maybe a
better way, but you couldn'tquite get there.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
I couldn't and it would tear me up and what it did
?
It put me in that position towant to.
I wanted to stop, but I didn'thave the power or the ability to
stop.
And one was because of thepeople that I was still hanging
out with.
Even though I was hanging outwith church folks, I was kind of
like the parable of the lostcoin I was in the house but I
(23:36):
was lost.
But then I was like the sheep.
I was out of the house too andI was lost.
But God came and rescued me atTRM.
So and and and, the mostimportant part of this to me was
because I heard his voice and Ifollowed his voice and I did
what he said.
And because of that obedience,my life, my life, actually
(24:00):
changed.
And you know how.
I know that I've been deliveredBecause I can handle my money, I
can handle I got a vehicle.
I don't run all over town.
I only do what I gotta do go tochurch, go to the store, go to
the doctor, come to work.
And it was back in the day whenI had all those things, I could
not stay sober, I couldn't stayoff that dope.
As soon as I got a car I washeading to the dope man.
Now I look and do those thingsI wrote right by the dope house
(24:30):
all the time, I'm sure somewhereright I don't know what it is
now because I don't look forthat kind of stuff but I don't
have that desire to want to doany of that stuff anymore and
that's why I said I know I'vebeen crucified with Christ.
I know Christ has delivered me.
I know he has set me free.
Can't, nobody changed that?
And people will still try tohold you in the same position
that they used to know you asand they still want you to act.
(24:52):
And they do that because theyhate that you've been delivered,
because they like being yourcaretaker, they like feeling
like they was above you, theylike feeling like they better
than you.
But now I got some hatersbehind this.
I got some haters behind this,but I got Jesus on my side, yeah
, so no weapon formed against mecan prosper.
Are you sure about this?
Oh, I'm positive.
I'm positive.
I walk in the light and youknow what's good about it.
(25:15):
I seek him every single day.
You know, since I've been well,watch this.
Let me share something y'allmight not know.
Even when I was in my addiction.
I was pastoring the church.
I know even when.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
I was in my addiction .
I was pastoring the church.
Okay, so you were pastoring,Crazy.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Crazy, Absolutely crazy.
Some folks say God's going tostrike you down.
You know why he didn't?
Because he loved me and he hada plan for my life.
So that's why.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
How could you pastor and also be addicted?
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Oh my God, it was toe up from the flow up, talk about
it.
But it was his grace that keptme because I still studied and
prepared for Sundays and I thinkduring that time the addiction
was really fading away.
But I still had issues going onin the marriage and with
(26:07):
finances that you know.
I still wanted that crutch.
It was still depressing times.
I'd be like I'm going to go getme one.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You know, was there conflict at that time in your
between?
Here I'm in the pulpit talkingto people how to be free in
Jesus, and yet I'm not free inJesus.
Speaker 5 (26:24):
Right.
So, and I can't really justifythat, because what really I say,
uh, my life was changing atthat time and I didn't really
realize it because I wasn'tgetting high that much no, no,
what I mean I wasn't using likeI was using, uh, maybe every
three or four months I mightsneak out.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Okay, so it was kind of fading away, it sneak out.
Okay, so it was kind of fadingaway.
It was, it was, yes, it wasvanishing, and I didn't even
realize it, I wasn't having thatstrong desire, but I was still
stuck.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Okay, you weren't having the same desire, but you
were still stuck.
Yes, stuck, how stuck in.
Just cause I became.
That addiction is so crazy.
I looked at a book.
I was, uh, one time I was intreatment and they had this book
about the love affair betweendrugs.
But this particular book wasthe love affair between crack
and the user and how.
In every part of this book andI hate I lost that book but
(27:20):
every part of that book had justlike when you're in a
relationship with someone else,that's how they framed it and
wrote this book out.
So it was like different phasesin a relationship.
You would have that same phasein with this drug, but as I got,
god was drawing me all the timeand I really didn't see it or
recognize it, but I knew Iwanted to stop.
(27:43):
All those years I wanted tostop and never had the power to
stop.
You know, and, and, and now Istill think about it I'd be like
Lord, forgive me for you know,trying to teach and preaching,
and still caught up in the world.
You know, even though and thisis how we people try to justify
we feel like, well, I don't doit that much, no more.
(28:03):
No, I shouldn't be doing thisat all.
I know we don't get perfect,but I know we should be maturing
, because that's what that wordmeant there be perfect as a
father's perfect.
But I need to be maturing.
And I was maturing but I didn'trealize it.
God was really pulling me outand the final act and stage of
that was when I had went home.
I was in in time bluff for likethree months and then I came on
(28:29):
back because my mama got betterand I know I could have went
home.
But God, I mean, this is likewhen I got on that bus, it was
like the whole ride back forthose 9, 10, 12 hours, whatever
it was.
It was like go to the mission,go to the mission, go to the
mission, go to the mission.
Why do you think the mission.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
What else were you hearing from the Lord in regards
to go to the mission?
Was there something that youthought might be here, knew, was
here heard about here?
Any of that, or just go to themission, just go to the mission.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
I can't recall nothing else.
And when I got off that bus myfeet turned this way, turned
north, and I headed on down herewith one backpack, yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
So you're standing at the front door?
Yeah, you've been riding ninehours.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
You have 30 years.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Or longer.
Okay, 30 years in addiction?
Yes, you've been in conflict,to say the least.
Yes, with this, maybe it wasn'tas bad, but it ain't over yet,
right, so go to the mission.
Did you get a fullness ofunderstanding when you're
standing at that front door?
When I go through there, arethings going to be okay or not?
Speaker 5 (29:30):
No, I didn't.
I thought you know, with allthe conflict going on at home,
just go somewhere where you cantry to get it together without
the extra pressure, without allthat anxiety, Because when
you're in a relationship andyou're married like that, they
know your behaviors andsometimes they don't be willing
(29:51):
to let those behaviors go.
You know even right now, butlife's still lifin'.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
But I got a new life.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
So you stepped through the front door.
You knew you were supposed togo to the mission.
Any music start playing in theair.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
No music, no music.
It was crowded.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Did you wonder, did I really hear?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
When you walked in that door.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Like, okay, wait a minute, Hold on, you're going to
be in a room with a whole bunchof other smelly feet and all
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
There it is.
You said it.
You said it.
That's it God did.
I really hear you say that.
I know right.
I'm like but I found myselfokay with that.
I just it was.
I can't explain it, I just knowit wasn't me.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
I know it wasn't me.
Were you tempted to say I gotto get out of here and go get
that fix?
Nope, it was one step ofobedience to the next step, to
the next step.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
And immediately I started, I got a Bible and I
started.
Matter of fact, I came backwith a Bible.
So I just kind of startedtrying to rededicate my life.
You know whatever that meant atthe time.
I know it meant not gettinghigh.
I know it meant not going tothose places seeking those
things out that I used to do.
I knew that and I had a senseof comfort and peace.
The challenge was going out inthe heat every day, dark as I am
(31:24):
, that sun was kicking.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Yes, you better hear me.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
I've been looking for shade Out on that bus stop.
It take a whole hour for thebus to come back.
I'm like what in the world?
This is crazy.
And then I got Mick as acounselor.
You got to go look for a job.
Man, I'm trying to get a job.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
You're motivated to get a job.
But there were some barriersand I think you know, just to
pause on that a minute.
A lot of people don'tunderstand, just because you are
looking for a job, that you'regoing to be able to get a job if
you don't have a place to be,if you don't have a phone that
people can call you at, if youdo not have shade when you're in
the sun, regardless of whatyour skin color is, you can get
really hot out there and some ofus burn.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Or if you're already burning, you burn more.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
So there's a lot of obstacles to getting back on
your feet.
So the mission came in and hereyou are, but it was okay.
Was there something at theTopeka Rescue Mission that you
saw as a tool or just obeyingand being here?
Was there a class or was there?
Speaker 5 (32:32):
something I did, some classes and life skills but I
think it was just more aboutjust obeying.
You know, those things helpedme because I knew those things
actually I might not have beendoing them.
I'm 59 years old, so it ain mebecause I knew those things.
Actually I might not been doingthem.
I'm 59 years old, so it ain'tlike I don't know.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
But comes that point of the old song trust and obey,
because there ain't no other way.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
I like that.
I'm all on to that.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
I inserted the word ain't in there.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
And that's true.
So my motivation was just, youknow, one foot in front of the
other, doing what I had to doeach and every day.
And even during that time, Iwas seeing people that was
drinking and out on the sidedoing what they do, but it
didn't bother me about that, I'mjust here, to try to see what
(33:28):
God's to get me out of, and hebrought me out clean.
How long now?
Uh, almost two years straight.
I mean no drink, no, nothing,and and, and here's the thing.
Um, uh, in my household theseissues are going on, but I don't
participate you know, why not?
(33:55):
Because that's not me.
Again, I've been delivered, soI had to move out, just because
the unnecessariness of that lifeain't for me.
So, yeah, and I've been man.
It's probably the first time inprobably 30-some years that
(34:18):
I've lived by myself, you see,and I'm managing it.
It was scary, it was fearful,because I've been with somebody
for you know, not the sameperson, but just I've been with
somebody for life like that.
Now I'm on my own by myself,and that was the fearful part,
(34:39):
because I should have been gone,but fear was like.
But when I look at that manversus that narcissist behavior
and who I am, no, I can't do it.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
So you live on your own?
Yes, you come back to therescue mission.
What does it feel like?
You're out living on your own,but you come into the rescue
mission to work.
What makes this place?
Speaker 5 (34:59):
to you.
That helps me, because when Italk to these guys and sometimes
they think I'm being hard, butI give them the truth, because
you can't live on a lie and Ican't pacify you because you're
grown, I'm going to love you,but we're not going to pacify
you and you need to know thetruth, because what is happening
is we don't tell them the truthand we want to act like, well,
(35:22):
we love you, we go no, no, holdon.
Give them the truth, becausewhat you're doing right now is
going to kill you if you don'thear the truth, and the truth
will set you free.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
So was your story part of helping that person to
maybe see that?
Oh, yes, so you're going to sayI didn't just read about this,
right?
Speaker 5 (35:39):
I lived it.
Yeah, I live it and I get to dothis every other Friday because
I do chapel there every otherFriday and, thanks be to God,
nothing I do.
But I mean they be lookingforward to that.
Get a little crowd up in there.
If I ain't careful, I have towatch myself.
I ain't all that.
Okay, I'm country boy, I ain'tall that, but I get to share
(36:00):
that and I get to share it withthe word of God and show them
what God can do.
So my main things that I talkabout on those nights when I do
it, is salvation prayer and thenjust learning to have
fellowship with Christ on aday-to-day basis.
I try to give them things thatthey can hold on through the
(36:23):
week and those tools that willhelp them, and I let them know
all the time your life ain'tover because you're a TRM.
It's just getting started andGod got you here for a purpose
and for a reason.
You're not just here on yourown.
Whatever you was doing got youhere, but it was all in God's
plan.
Now you just got to let himwork, get your hand off the
(36:45):
wheel and just sit back and dowhat you're supposed to do.
Just that simple.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
What kind of feedback do you get for some of these
guys when they hear that?
Speaker 5 (36:57):
Man, you always getting on me about something,
well, stop doing it.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
You're here because you was doing that there.
Anybody come up to you and saidthanks, yet oh, yeah, yeah,
yeah, here's the good part,though, they're coming to your
chapel service.
That's the one thing.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
Yeah, you know, some of them will be like man or
they'll go tell me man, he saidthis, he said that and Mick said
well, what did you do?
But I don't want to go withfear in that because it's
cameras all over the place orwhatever I said.
They probably can hear itanyway.
But I'm going to give you thetruth, where you like that or
not.
They gave me the truth andfinally I got through and it got
(37:31):
through me.
Yeah, it'll set you free everytime.
But the problem is, we don'tlike the truth, because the
truth hurts, and we'd ratherstay in that denial and continue
to do what we're doing, andthat's what got you here.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
I asked you before we started what your favorite
scripture was, and you popped itright off.
Speaker 5 (37:50):
So tell us about your favorite scripture Galatians 2
and 20.
For I've been crucified withChrist.
It's no longer I that live, butChrist that lives in me, the
Christ that I live in.
And I paraphrased that lastpart, but that first part is my
favorite part I live in the bodyby faith.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Yeah, so what does that mean to you?
I've been crucified with Christ.
I no longer live, but Christlives in me.
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 5 (38:10):
That means to me.
I walk on it now and maybe notin.
There are areas I'm stillworking on.
I get a little attitudesometimes but I'm not perfect.
I do that.
(38:30):
I tell them, like they tell me.
Well, god knows my heart and Itell them, and your heart gonna
sing you to hell too.
He sure do know your heart.
He gonna judge you according toyour heart, because it's wicked
.
He's working on me.
But I do know I've beencrucified.
I know that I'm dying daily.
I'm dying daily and once I'mwilling to die in those areas
(38:54):
that's still trying to controlme the closer I get to him.
So what drives out that fleshis fellowship with him every
single day, being intentionalabout spending time with Christ.
That's in prayer, that's beingquiet.
Stop begging and talking aboutthis and that.
Ask him to deliver me.
Keep me delivered, heal my mind.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
So where you were before, it was at a distance.
This Christ, I mean, you werepreaching in the pulpit and you
were talking about him.
But talking about him andwalking with him, two different
things.
Two different things, andthat's hard for a lot of people
because that only comes by faith.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
That's right, because we can talk that noise all day.
But people are looking at youractions, looking at your moves,
you know, yeah, and that's theproblem with the church.
Now A lot of folks say, well,yeah, I've seen them doing this,
I've seen them doing that, andthey probably did.
But the church is a hospitaltoo, and it's for sick folks,
and I was sick, you know, likeall us.
(40:01):
And so, uh, you know, today Iwant to walk the same, the same
talk that I talk.
Yes, I don't let them lookdifferent, I try to keep them in
line.
And that, and and and, and.
That's the same thing I do atwork, I do at home, I, I, I try
to live with integrity, I livewith it.
I actually do.
(40:22):
And here's the kicker If Ithink I want to do something
wrong, the Holy Spirit will belike don't do that, you know
better.
So that kind of helps him bagdown and say okay.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
You know, yeah, because you're going to get
tempted.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
Yeah, you're right, the battle just started.
Yeah, because?
Speaker 2 (40:39):
you're right, right, right, the battle just started.
Yeah, yeah, because you'regonna remember, maybe, that good
feel yeah, cocaine addiction of30 years and uh, man, just one
more time.
Yeah, and you know, but there'sa war there, but you know where
to take the war yeah, that'sright.
Speaker 5 (40:48):
And you know, uh, that's what paul talks about in
in roman seven.
You know that that constantconflict between good and evil,
and and I'm thankful because godhas so much mercy and grace on
me that I don't have to strugglein that area, with that
addiction no more.
I mean, it's like he just justboosh.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
So there's going to be people listening to this
either today, on June the 3rd,or maybe a year from now or
sometime, and they're going tohear your story and they're
going to say I need that kind ofhelp Now.
We could have a whole lot ofpeople come to the rescue
mission because of this.
What would you say?
Where they are right now?
The rescue mission wasn'tnecessarily the magic bullet
(41:31):
that got you on the right path.
Right your obedience to comingto the rescue mission with what
the Lord told you, the rest ofthe mission with what the Lord
told you.
But what would you say tosomebody who's struggling right
now in whatever addiction ordoubt or suffering that they are
going through right now?
What would you say to somebodynot knowing their story Because
we all got a story what wouldyou say to them that might
(41:52):
encourage them?
Trust God.
Speaker 5 (41:59):
Trust God.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
How do I trust God?
Trust God, how do I?
Speaker 5 (42:01):
trust God, surrender.
Here we go back to surrenderingand obedience.
That's the only way.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
What if I don't know if I believe in God?
Speaker 5 (42:10):
Ooh, okay, well, oh, wow, that's a good one.
What if I don't know?
If I believe in God?
Speaker 2 (42:20):
There's some people that just absolutely don't
believe in God.
Don't believe, right, they'regoing to be agnostic, atheist or
whatever they label themselves.
There's some people that maybeI don't know if I believe in God
.
What would you say?
Because here you are in apulpit.
Yeah, here you are addicted.
Did you ever question if Godwas real during that time?
Speaker 5 (42:39):
No, during that time.
No, you didn't, I didn't, Ididn't, I just probably because
I was raised in church and justso that was already breaded in
me.
Okay, there's something greaterthan me is out there, okay.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
And it's God.
Maybe you don't have an answerfor this.
Yeah, somebody, who I mean,because this has been your
experience.
Speaker 5 (42:59):
God's always been there, way some form.
I just didn't quite know how toconnect Right.
Okay, but I will say this ifyou don't believe in God and
you're an atheist or of thatnature, then give it a try.
Give it a try.
How would you give it a try?
Just by surrendering?
Speaker 2 (43:10):
say okay, lord, I don't see you, just in case
you're there.
Speaker 5 (43:12):
Yeah, just in case you're there.
I don't see you.
I never heard from you, butmanifest yourself in my life.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
And you know, barry, I think sometimes it isn't about
what we tell people.
It's about what we show them,you know, and how we share our
lives, and the miserable thingsthat we've done and what, how
our lives have changed and thatI couldn't have done it on my
(43:39):
own.
So there must be and, and Ithink showing people the Lord
sometimes is better than tellingthem.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
Probably most of the time.
Speaker 4 (43:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
A little hard on a podcast to show it is.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
It is a little bit hard on the podcast to show it,
but still, you know, you people,I think, and you are so spot on
when you say people watch us.
You know, I think, ed, you areso spot on when you say people
watch us when we claim to knowJesus, then they watch, Okay.
So what is different?
And I think we've talked aboutit so many times here that
people walk into the mission andthey feel something different.
Speaker 5 (44:16):
They may not recognize it as the Lord, but
that's what they see.
Let me say this too is the Lord, but that's what they see.
Let me say this too.
So it was like that my firstSaturday, or my second Saturday
there.
Speaker 4 (44:25):
I met LaManda and you stayed.
Speaker 5 (44:29):
She was with the motorcycle gang.
Oh, okay, Hi.
I'm Miramit.
She didn't know me, I didn'tknow her and I did not know she
ran this place.
So I was coming out the doorand she stopped me and asked me.
I didn't know her and I did notknow she ran this place.
So I was coming out the doorand she stopped me and asked me
was I going to ride?
And I was like no, black folksdon't do much of that, Don't do
them two wheels, hey.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
I'm with you there.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Keep me off that.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
I was like no, I'll stay with the four wheels.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (44:53):
She was like no no, no, we ain't doing that.
That ain't for us, no.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
And I said oh, come on, don't be a scaredy cat, Just
get on one.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Did she think you were the gang at that time?
Speaker 5 (45:06):
Motorcycle gang, hey.
And so I think I shared withher why I don't.
Because I had a friend one timewhen we was younger that had a
ninja when they first came outand he tried to get me on the
back end.
So God was in my life, been inmy life all the time, because we
was at a party and he hoppedoff and he was like, hey, man,
(45:27):
hop on, come on.
And we went to the partydrinking and I almost got on
that motorcycle with him and Ididn't.
I was heading to it and Ididn't.
So I said no, no man, go ahead.
He took off down the street andran smack into the back of this
truck, threw him about 50 yardsdown, get down there, his bone
hanging out of his leg, and I'mlike, oh my God, I had a guy on
(45:50):
there that would have killed me,you know, and man, so I see
evidence in my life comingthrough in my life that show me
that God has been there all thetime.
Some things that could havehappened didn't happen.
She'd been here a couple ofdays.
You met LaManda, yeah, and onlybeen here a couple of days and
met LaManda and the love thatshe had for somebody she didn't
(46:10):
even know and ever since then.
And then she saw me, like uh, aweek or so later I came down
for the life skill class and shecame out having to see me.
Hey, how you doing, edward, sheremember my name.
She show is nice.
Speaker 2 (46:26):
And then I found out she run the place.
That's the show that you'retalking about.
Yeah, that's the love, yeahthat's the love.
Speaker 5 (46:32):
So when you see that, you know you don't never know
who people are, but you'relooking at their actions and
their behavior more than what'scoming out of their mouth.
She never introduced herself tothe CO or none of that stuff.
It was just hey, how you doing?
And it was just that friendlylove and I've been friends with
her ever since.
Every time she sees me shegives me a big old hug.
I love her.
(46:53):
She is so sweet, she really is,and we're blessed to have her
here running this.
Okay, she really is and we'reblessed to have her he'll run in
this game.
Don't ask me to talk.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
I like to wait until she grabs the Kleenex and wiping
her eyes, your turn well,amanda.
Before we conclude today as theleader of Topeka Rescue Mission
, what's it like to have a teammember like Edward?
Sigh sigh, what's it like tohave a team member like Edward,
(47:25):
and that was before he said heloved it.
Speaker 3 (47:27):
I know I'm just trying to.
I've been Miriam and I havebeen texting, telling each other
don't look at each otherBecause she starts to cry.
Then I start to cry.
So well, a couple of things,you know.
I think everything we should doand I'm not saying that I always
get it right, but everything weshould do should have such a
(47:47):
kingdom focus and perspective.
It just really puts life inperspective because one day this
is not going to be the lifethat we have and the decisions
(48:07):
people make now in this lifedetermine their eternity.
And when you phrase that andhave to rephrase that every day
right, because I can get caughtup in meetings or get caught up
in schedules or audits orwhatever, none of that should
overshadow and when we put it tothe perspective of what we do
(48:30):
in that eight hours, 10 hours,24 hours for some of us that are
24-7, that what we do could beimpacting someone's eternity
Just makes everything else seemso insignificant.
And so having someone likeEdward on the team, knowing that
(48:52):
he recognizes from the time hewalks into that place to the
time he leaves, and his prayerlife when he's at home by
himself, and making sure that heis healthy.
All of these different things hegets it.
He looks at that person anddoes not see them as an addict.
He sees them as a name.
(49:13):
Who has an addiction.
It's very different.
And then he strives to relateto that person, hold that person
accountable, love them, laughwith them, put them out when
they need to.
All of these things.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (49:28):
With a kingdom focus, because it's not about this
earth, and so it just means alot to me because that is stuff
that I can model, but I can'tteach.
I can't teach Edward to havehis heart for the Lord and his
heart for people the way that hedoes.
That is ingrained in himbecause of his walk with the
(49:51):
Lord.
I can give Edward tools fromcommunications, de-escalations,
all of these things, which iswhat we should, but when we
remove all of that to be able toidentify someone as they are
walking a life right now, thatwill not continue to be their
life and that when they get tothe end of this life, they're
faced with a different eternity,heaven or hell.
(50:12):
He has that perspective andthat means a lot to me.
And that means a lot to me.
There is something so specialabout Edward that not even just
me as the CEO, but just me assomeone who got to know him.
(50:33):
We were going in the door atthe same time that first day to
meet and I just said well, hey,I don't think I've met you.
And he looked at me and he goeswell, no, I don't think you
have.
So he puts his hand out, I putmy hand out.
And then I said well, tell mesomething about you.
He goes well, what do you wantto know?
(50:55):
And I said were you going to goride that motorcycle?
No, I'm not.
And I he said, are you?
And I said no, I'm not, Um.
But then that quickly turnedinto an Arkansas connection and
all of these things and I foundmyself in that 10 minutes of
talking to him, so rejuvenatedand joyful, Um, and I needed
that, and he has no idea what Iwas walking through during that
(51:18):
time and needed that laughterand all that in that moment.
A couple of weeks later, when hesaid, I met him again, I went
past him, talked to him andeverything went past him.
And then it was over at themen's shelter and he told me he
was coming over here for classes.
I go to leave him and veryclearly I hear the Lord tell me
(51:42):
it's time for you to hear all ofhis story.
And so I stop and I'm like inmy car and I'm like, okay, well,
what am I supposed to do?
Go get him, Put him in your car, Bring him over to the
children's palace and hear hisstory.
So I go back into the men'sside and hear his story.
So I'll go back into the men'sside.
And I said you got plans fortoday.
(52:02):
He said, well, I always havesome plan, why?
And I said I feel like I'msupposed to hear your whole life
story.
And he said, well, I'll shareit.
And I said, well, we're settingup right now audio to do videos
and photographs of people.
And I said I know you don'treally know me, but I really
(52:23):
think the Lord has chosen youright now to share your story.
And he said, um, I care for youalready, so whatever you need
me to do.
And this crazy man got in my carand he has no idea that was
that, yeah, I'm not the bestdriver, and I did look at him
and I said just so, and he hasno idea how crazy that was yeah,
I'm not the best driver.
And I did look at him and I saidjust so you know everybody
(52:43):
warns people that get in my car.
So I'm just giving you thewarning that apparently other
people think I'm not the bestdriver.
But then I said, second of all,I put my hands up and I said I
promise I really am safe and helooks at me and goes well, I am
too, and I said, I said okay,then let's go for a ride.
Because I thought, how crazy isit that this woman?
(53:04):
Because he didn't know, hedidn't know what I did here,
he's just seen me twice, youknow.
And then I'm like, well, get inmy car, come with me, you know,
um.
And so we get in and he startsto just unpack on video and
multiple times, as Edward wastalking, the Lord just continued
(53:27):
to tell me I love this man andmy prayer, as I was standing
behind the people doing theinterviews and stuff, was then
Lord, show that to him over andover and over, show that to him.
And so I hope you know, being astaff member and all of that,
(53:47):
like I hope we do that as wellas we humanly can, to show our
staff like the Lord loves you,just how you're pursuing other
people and serving other people.
You're loved and valued by theLord too and us.
So I hope we've done that.
But the other side of it is Ijust know God is going to
continue to be faithful toEdward, just like he is of any
(54:08):
of us, of his pursuant of us, tosay I sent my son to die for
you.
I made you in my image, I wantfellowship with you.
It's just a matter of who hearsthat and who receives that.
And so now, moving in this newseason with Edward, my prayer, I
think, has shifted from theLord reminding Edward of how
(54:30):
much he's loved by the Lord toEdward continually walking and
receiving that, and that is mynew prayer for him.
And he doesn't know it, but hereally signed a contract with us
until like 2077.
But you know, yeah that's right.
Speaker 2 (54:46):
It seems to be fine with that.
Yeah, edward, you've showed tous today how much you love the
Lord and how grateful you are tohim for sending you here, and
but you've also heard howgrateful everybody else is that
you said yes, and so thank youfor obeying, thank you for
walking through those doors,thank you for the commitment,
(55:08):
thank you for recognizing thatyou have been crucified with
Christ and you don't live anylonger, but he lives in you, and
that's a profound doctrinalthing that we can unpack someday
.
It might take a couple hours,but thank you for being a truth
teller, thank you for joiningthis team, thank you for being a
light of not only truth, butalso with humility and love for
(55:33):
the neighbors, and so thank you,thank you, thanks for being
with us today.
Speaker 5 (55:37):
I was thankful to be here.
Speaker 2 (55:39):
Well, thank you all for listening to us today.
You've heard from Edward Tucker,who has quite a story, and if
you are an investor in TopekaRescue Mission, this is what you
invest in.
This is one of many things, butthis is a person, individual,
who not too long ago walkedthrough those front doors and
his life has changed.
Not too long ago walked throughthose front doors and his life
(56:00):
has changed, and there's beenmany people throughout the
history of Topeka Rescue Missionthat that's happened as well in
one shape, fashion or another,and you are a part of that, and
we hope that your life has beenchanged.
Just because you get a chanceto be a part of this ministry,
wherever you are, whatever yourjourney is in life, just to know
that maybe you're on that fencewith God.
You know he's not on the fencewith you and so he loves you
right where you are and he justwants to invite you on the other
(56:22):
side of the fence.
So, just as Edward said, goahead, give him a try, trust him
and see what happens.
Thank you for listening to ourcommunity, our mission.
If you'd like more informationabout the Topeka Rescue Mission,
you can go to trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg.
Thank you for joining us today.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this
day and your blessings andprovisions.
God, thank you for this timeand, lord, just that we can
communicate the amazing storiesand work that you're doing here.
Lord, we thank you for theseopportunities and our listeners,
and Lord, just pray yourblessing over them in this time.
In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello everybody, thank you for joining us on Our
Community, our Mission, apodcast of the Topeka Rescue
Mission.
I'm Barry Feeker, your hosttoday, here with Lamanda
Cunningham, ceo of the TopekaRescue Mission.
Marion Crable, deputy Directorof Supportive Services.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Good morning ladies, good morning, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Did you get your boat to come in today here?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
on Tuesday, June the 3rd.
Yeah, and I had to paddle likecrazy.
Yes, my arms are a little sorefrom all of that rowing.
I'm about to sit out the jetski.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Well, the river's up, so you can come right on in and
get around.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yes, we're getting some good rain and it's been
quite a spring, so we want tojump right in.
Today we have a very specialguest I think is going to be
really engaging, so stay tunedwith us.
We have a couple of big updates.
I think A couple of big updates.
I think that one is LaMandaMiriam.
You guys just got back fromArizona from a conference, an
(01:10):
annual conference with theCityGate Network.
We've heard about CityGateNetwork before.
We've actually talked to someCEOs and some different people
from the CityGate here on ourcommunity, our mission, but you
got to see a whole bunch of themtogether there, and so what's
that like?
What happened this time?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Well, you know, barry , each year I think there's just
no way that it's going to be aspowerful as it was last year.
And each year I am dead wrong.
Because it is just amazing whenyou have 1,200 people in the
room that all love Jesus, thatall are focused on helping
(01:51):
people who live on the margins,people who are struggling,
people who others may not see.
Stuff just happens, and it isremarkable.
It is remarkable.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
You get.
You get around people who maybedon't do it exactly like they
do it in Topeka, but there isthis commonality there of
serving the Lord in regards toreaching out to those who suffer
, those who may be homeless,hungry, a lot of different
things.
City years ago, where they werejust graduating their 12th
(02:24):
grade of children K through 12,from their high school or their
school that they started therefor kids who could not afford to
go to private school from theinner city.
And they were having thisgraduating class.
I'm going to say wow that'samazing.
I mean, that's a rescue missiondoing that plus all the other
stuff that they were doing.
Amanda, you've been prettyinvolved with CityGate ever
(02:46):
since you've been the CEO ofTopeka Rescue Mission, to say
the least, an emerging leadersprogram.
Did you see some emergingleaders there this time?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yes, we actually had three different sessions for the
emerging leaders that were setaside in addition to the track
sessions that they do and inaddition to the general sessions
.
We had three different ones andthe lowest amount we had in one
of them was 65.
So between 65 and 85 came toeach of those three sessions.
I believe they said they had200 and something registered as
(03:21):
emerging leaders and I get askedall the time well, what is
emerging leaders?
And I'm like yes, we've beensaying 40 ish or younger, and
yeah, well, I had several cometo me lower.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Now you've bumped it up.
Why have you done that?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Because everybody is looking for a place to belong,
is the true one.
The other one is I keepapproaching 40 closer and closer
and so, yeah, there's a,there's a seriousness to that
and there's a laughter to thatone.
But you know one thing that Inoticed that was different this
year, barry and I'm kind ofexcited, you know, we'll devote
(04:00):
another podcast to unpacking ourtime, and Scott with our
distribution center went, marcuswith our facilities and
maintenance went, and so I'mexcited to hear their
perspectives as well.
But one of the things that Inoticed I can't even remember I
think it was the first night,maybe second night they had
Jordan, my co-leader, and I ofthe emerging leaders come up and
(04:21):
just give this kind of briefoverview.
Jordan's from another city,virginia, yeah, percival and
just kind of talk to the whole1200 crowd about what we're
doing and the importance ofemerging leaders.
And one of the things that Ihad mentioned was and hopefully
I said it more delicately than Ithink it's coming out right now
but basically I spoke to theleaders that are looking at
(04:47):
retiring or are looking attransitioning out of this and I
asked them to be helpful to usand basically said I don't know
about y'all, but I want all ofthis work to continue until
Jesus comes back, and if so,then that means the leaders that
are leaving need to leave well,and part of that is passing the
(05:10):
batons to us.
And then I said but then that,our new leaders, I want us to do
that well and not act like weknow everything, because we
don't, but yet walk in courageand bravery because we are
facing some really, really bighardships right now.
That being said, I had severalpeople and I appreciated it so
(05:34):
much come up to me as I waswalking through the facility.
Some of them even came to theEmerging Leader Sessions and
admitted in a joking way butsaid I'm not your 40-ish, I'm
older, but I'm willing to comein and if I can present.
During one of your sessions Ihad one woman come up and she
said if you know of anybody thatneeds a mentor, I'm willing to
(05:55):
do it.
So technically the group isthis 40 ish or younger, and you
don't necessarily even have tobe in a leadership position.
If you're aspiring to do that,you can.
But this year was my first yearthat I had people that are not
considered in that emergingleaders group come to me and say
I want to be a part of itsomehow, and one of the women.
(06:16):
I'm excited I haven't even beenable to share with Miriam, but
she's done this fun spin onfinance to teach her staff
members the value of a dollar,what that looks like if we put
it in the hands of someoneexperiencing homelessness, but
then also tied to us being wisestewards of resources when we
get them.
So she came to me and she saidyou know I'm kind of like an HR
(06:39):
person, but a fun one forfinance, and she goes and don't
ask me my age because I'm notyounger than 40.
And I just laughed and I said,okay.
So there was this willingnessof the people that are emerging
saying we want to be sponges andwe want to soak in the
knowledge of people that havedone this, and this was the
first year that I saw people whodo have the experience, do have
(07:00):
the knowledge, reallyshowcasing a willingness to say,
yep, we'll take you guys underour wings.
So that's exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
It really is.
I mean, that's how we grow, welearn.
You get a chance to learn fromother rescue ministries around
the North America, the UnitedStates and Canada to be able to
see what they're doing and thenbe able to share.
A number of things havebenefited other rescue
ministries because of what'sgoing on in Topeka, so it's a
back and forth and so thoserelationships you can't beat
(07:27):
them.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
And it's caused us to well, I mean for several months
.
Well, I think leaders ingeneral are reflective, right,
we're always looking at whatwe're doing and if you're in
ministry, making sure it'saligned to what God's asked you
to do, and all of that.
But in the last six months, Iwould say TRM is really
positioning itself to questionwhat is next for TRM.
What are these specificdepartments look like?
(07:52):
What are the things that wehave historically done that we
need to continue because they'rebiblically foundational for us,
and how do we keep that theforefront and the focus?
But I also think we're at anexciting time in all of our
departments to say what do weneed to do different?
Because the definition ofinsanity is doing everything how
(08:14):
you've always done it andexpect a different result.
If we are seeing differentdemographics, different types of
struggles on the streets and inour shelters, different needs
that people are coming to uswith, it might be a time for us
to pivot some things wheredepartments look different than
what it has, and so that I thinkfor some, whether it's
(08:34):
internally or externally, can bescary because not everybody
does well with change, but itcan also be an exciting thing as
long as our hearts are alignedwith the Lord, we're following
him.
Who's better of a guide thanthe Lord?
And so I think TRM haspositioned itself to really be
analyzing what the communityneeds from that 30,000 foot view
(08:54):
, and I think in the next comingmonths we're going to see some
changes coming internally forTRM that we hope will continue
to bring the gospel to thecommunity that so desperately
needs it, but also could maybemeet needs better in a way that
we've not been able to do before.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That's a pretty good drum roll up to something that's
coming, that's right.
But you're not going to talkabout that yet are you Not
coming?
And you know why?
Because we don't know yet we'restill trusting the Lord with it
.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
But we do have a vision casting with leadership
and our board in the next 45days or so, and so we're excited
to really be looking at whatwe're doing well, what we need
to improve on, and doing it fromthe perspective of realizing
our community matters to theLord.
This is not the TRM show and wedon't want to be doing things
(09:43):
just because it's what we do atTRM.
We want to continue to servethe community like we have been,
but also strengthen any areasthat we need to Do you see some
similar conversations going onaround the country with some of
the other rescue ministries,Because things are changing in
different ways, differentcommunities but there's some
(10:14):
commonality.
So are other rescue missionleadership talking about
pivoting, really having somemomentum, moving forward and
working collaboratively, unifiedon some things, and so then
some of the rescue missions areable to not need to do certain
things that they have been,because other partners are now
going to be doing those parts.
So it's kind of that workingsmarter, not harder.
(10:37):
And so I saw some pivots.
For that, uh, I did see somerescue missions needing to pivot
because of the economy, thecost of things increasing, um,
donations kind of being stagnantor decreasing, because
everybody's just feeling itright now Grocery costs, gas
costs, job issues, those kindsof things.
(10:59):
Um, and then we saw, uh, somerescue missions that it's really
not anything to do with theircommunity guiding it, but that
they're just going to take somerisk on things that they think
their community needs.
And really some rescue missionsthat are walking out on faith,
not because of it all being datadriven, not because it's all,
(11:21):
because they feel like the Lordis asking them whether that is
being food rescuers.
That was a topic.
What's a food?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
rescuer.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Some of the rescue missions were talking about how
they have analyzed and began topartner with other groups to see
the amount of food waste thathappens in the United States
particularly.
And so, in a time where foodcosts are increasing, people
that were able to do food drivesor donate food to us is
(11:53):
decreasing because people areneeding to supply their own
homes with foods.
It's caused some of the rescuemissions to say we are going to
be full throttle partnering withrestaurants, businesses,
grocery stores at the locallevel with restaurants,
businesses, grocery stores atthe local level and really
changing their operations, times, staffing, types of box trucks,
(12:15):
all of that to say we're goingto be going all around our
community and any restaurant orstore that would be throwing
anything out or anything, we'rewilling to go grab those and
rescue the food and thendistribute to food banks and
churches and and and right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
The thing is, the Topeka rescue mission is
rescuing people off the streets,having a place for them to go,
those who are hungry rescuingthem.
So they're not hungry, but yousometimes have to rescue the
resource to be able to get ithere, to be able to do the job
Correct, and so if it's gettingthrown away, still good.
Leveraging those escalatingcosts of groceries today, why
(12:54):
should it go in the dumpsterwhen it can actually feed
somebody?
That's a rescue.
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
And you know I spoke with another rescue mission in
Arizona that basically in someof their departments they have
been able to double staff.
And they did that because theyare watching both the national
trends and the state trends forArizona with homelessness and
it's not decreasing.
And so they knew in order tocontinue to serve at the rate
(13:21):
they were, they were going tohave to increase capacity.
And so I said, well, what's thebudget implications on that?
Like, how do you just do that?
In four years, multipledepartments they have doubled,
going from eight staff to 16,going from four staff to eight.
And she said we did itsimultaneously with our donor
relation.
We had to make sure that it wasa robust donor relations and
(13:46):
for the first time they enteredinto fundraising and so getting
sponsorships one of theirbiggest sponsorships, she said,
came from a gas station and theysigned them on and they signed
them as a business partner forthree years.
So because they could guaranteethat money, then they could
guarantee additional staff andbecause of data, that's how they
then made decisions on wherethey doubled the staff.
(14:08):
So there is a lot of changesand revisions with a lot of
rescue missions right now.
I think historically we'vealways had to be flexible, right
, you can't do any of thiswithout that.
But there is something rightnow where there is a newness and
it's just time to take somerisks A little bit of a newness
(14:28):
and a bit of an urgency withsome of the different needs that
we see.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So, as you pivot and yet to be determined what that's
going to look like, becauseyou're still discerning that,
meeting with the board and thestaff and trying to determine
what that's going to be there'ssome things that won't change
and that is the love for God,the love for the neighbor,
glorifying the Lord, all thosekind of things part of rescue
(14:54):
mission and also financialaccountability.
And so, miriam, you're in a funtime as director of supportive
services, which is over finance,and so talk about what happens
every year and what you'reentering into right now, You're
so good at this.
Miriam.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
You're so good at this.
That's why I'm making her feelreally good about all this.
I'm trying to just rememberthat verse about consider it all
joy, that's right.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
So financial accountability stewardship has
been a non-negotiable for TopekaRescue Mission for a very, very
long time and will always bethat way, so that the donor
knows that they can haveconfidence that every dollar is
going to stretch as far as itcan and there's going to be an
accounting for every dollar.
So, miriam, you get to be incharge of that particular and
(15:38):
there's something called anaudit and it's coming.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Actually it's here, it's, it's not just coming.
It's actually here.
But you know, barry, I thinkthe thing is the thing to
remember too.
It's not just about stretchingdollars.
It's about making sure thatdollars are invested very wisely
, confidence that we are takingcare of the dollars and using
(16:12):
them as best we possibly can tomeet the needs that are coming
at us and need our attention themost right.
They will support us indifferent kind of ways, and the
audit is just one way we do that.
You know, this is a third partythat comes in and looks at
every piece Independent.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Independent, oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yes, this is not staff.
This is an outside organizationthat comes in that looks at
every piece of our accountingprocess.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
They're not your best friends.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
No, they are friendly .
Speaker 2 (16:41):
They're not here to be your best friend.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
They're here to find out.
They're not here to be my bestfriend.
That's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
They're here to see if there's any issues, exactly
my best friend.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
They're here to see if there's any issues, exactly
Any problems, and they willaddress those and it involves
everything from our resourcedevelopment department, because
they look at all of ourdonations, donations that are
designated to specific things.
Are we spending it in thosespecific ways?
Are we making sure that ourboard is aware of everything
that we do?
Are we sure that we'redocumenting each of our grants
(17:10):
in the way that we're supposedto and doing our reporting?
So it is a very in-depth, veryin-depth assessment of how we
handle our financials.
So, yes, it's happening.
She's smiling.
That's because it hasn't quitestarted and we're not two weeks
into it.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Well, if you know, if you know there's, it will
change every year becausethey're going to look for
something different every year.
And um, and so the the point ofall of it is is there any
potholes or landmines in thefinancial stewardship of any
organization?
And Topeka rescue mission hasbeen very blessed for some time
now to have some higher ratingsnationally in regards to its
financial stewardship.
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
And and just you know , the board is really looking
for us and the community and ourdonors are looking for us to
have a clean audit where there'sno findings that would cause
people of any kind of concern.
Sometimes there's processthings that if we can just tweak
this process a little bit more,but, um, we've always had clean
audits, um, so the goal is thatthat happened again as we look
(18:05):
at 2020.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
And they've been very helpful sometimes when people
are questioning, because peopledo question.
There, unfortunately, arebusiness practices that are not
correct in both for-profit andnon-profit, and so we don't want
to be one of those.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
No, we do not.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
We're not going to be one of those or we'll close her
down.
And so when you have a question, because there's reasons to
question, you can say, okay,here's an independent audit,
this is what they say, so that'sgood stuff.
So some things won't change inregards to, maybe, what will
change, but we don't know whatwill change other than what
Amanda said get ready for achange, but we don't know what
that is yet.
But that's okay.
That's part of the privilege ofthe CEO to be able to stir
(18:42):
people up and get them ready forsomething Ready, set hold.
So, in the process of that,still sheltering, still feeding,
still loving on people and ittakes really awesome people to
be able to do that and so wehave a guest today who is one of
those awesome guys.
He is so excited about beinghere today.
I want to tell you, edwardTucker, welcome to our community
(19:04):
, our mission.
You got quite a story and youwork the front desk on the men's
side, and how long have youbeen at Topeka Rescue Mission?
Speaker 5 (19:12):
In three days it'll be two years I've been working
here.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Been working here.
So we all have a story.
We all have a story about ourwhole life, right, and we have a
story.
Those that are Jesus followers.
We have a story about that andhow we came to Christ.
And then we have a story aboutthat and how we came to Christ.
And then we have a story thatintersects with that how we came
to Topeka Rescue Mission.
So you're involved on TopekaRescue Mission hasn't always
(19:35):
been as a staff member, so talkabout whatever you want to talk
about.
So we get to know Edward Tucker, Because what I hear about you
is you're just an awesome guy,it's because you just met me.
Oh, I've seen you around.
I've seen you around.
I've heard about you, so talkabout your journey to where you
(19:57):
are today.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
Okay, Well, first of all, thank y'all for inviting me
and allowing me to come.
I appreciate it.
It is exciting here at themission.
I came here June the 6th of 23.
I was born and raised in PineBluff, Arkansas.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
That's why I love him .
He's from Arkansas.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Well, that disqualifies you now.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Woo pig, woo pig.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
So I moved to Topeka in 2014 after living in Kansas
City, missouri for about 30years.
My pastor came here so I wasgoing through some things there
drug addiction so I came hereand I had to leave and go down
to see my mom and when I cameback, the Lord had already spoke
to my heart.
When I was coming back On thatbus was go to the mission.
(20:43):
And this is where my whole lifechanged.
My whole life changed.
My whole life changed and itchanged because I obeyed what I
heard.
I got off that bus up on 6thStreet about 5 something in the
evening Brett and Ricky wasworking the front desk.
I got off the bus and I didn'tmake no U-turn to go to no dope
(21:07):
house no, nothing.
And I have a make no U-turn togo to nowhere no dope house, no,
nothing.
And I have a wife here now,okay, and I wasn't even going
home.
God was ready for me to changeand I got off that bus and I
started walking and I knew wherethe mission was because we used
to come here and hand out foodon the side.
With your church?
Yes, okay, back in the day.
(21:27):
And so I just came on down andI got food on the side With your
church yes, okay, back in theday.
And so I just came on down andI got here on the 6th of June.
I was going out every daylooking for work and about two
weeks Krishna seen me in thehallway and said have John
Roberts talk to you?
And I said no, sir, and I saidwhat did I do?
Because I, you know, hey, thatdoesn't.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
And you and I said no sir.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
And I said what'd I do?
Cause I?
And he was like no, it's allgood, we just wanted to ask you
a few questions.
So uh, john caught up with melate on that day and uh asked me
would I be interested inworking at the front desk?
And I was like yeah, because Iwas tired of running out in that
hot sun every day and lookingfor some work.
(22:08):
So yeah, I can sleep here andwork here.
Okay, so at that point I musthave started probably about the
25th of June, started working,so that was a blessing and I've
been here ever since.
But 30 years, right at 30 yearsof smoking crack was my
addiction crack, cocaine, andbecause I was obedient to God.
(22:29):
Man, I thank God for that.
It's not like I didn't know God, I knew God, but I didn't know
God, you know, because I wasraised up in church, so I had an
understanding a bit of who Godwas.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
So you were involved with the church.
You were actually doing someoutreach through your church,
but you at the same time had acocaine addiction.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
Had a cocaine addiction.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I think that's pretty important for people to
understand that just becauseyou're in a church doesn't mean
that everything's working outperfect in your life.
It doesn't mean that there aregoing to be problems Right.
It doesn't mean that you won'thave an addiction.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
So before you go on, what kind of a conflict was that
for you to hear the word of God, to know that there's maybe a
better way, but you couldn'tquite get there.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
I couldn't and it would tear me up and what it did
?
It put me in that position towant to.
I wanted to stop, but I didn'thave the power or the ability to
stop.
And one was because of thepeople that I was still hanging
out with.
Even though I was hanging outwith church folks, I was kind of
like the parable of the lostcoin I was in the house but I
(23:36):
was lost.
But then I was like the sheep.
I was out of the house too andI was lost.
But God came and rescued me atTRM.
So and and and, the mostimportant part of this to me was
because I heard his voice and Ifollowed his voice and I did
what he said.
And because of that obedience,my life, my life, actually
(24:00):
changed.
And you know how.
I know that I've been deliveredBecause I can handle my money, I
can handle I got a vehicle.
I don't run all over town.
I only do what I gotta do go tochurch, go to the store, go to
the doctor, come to work.
And it was back in the day whenI had all those things, I could
not stay sober, I couldn't stayoff that dope.
As soon as I got a car I washeading to the dope man.
Now I look and do those thingsI wrote right by the dope house
(24:30):
all the time, I'm sure somewhereright I don't know what it is
now because I don't look forthat kind of stuff but I don't
have that desire to want to doany of that stuff anymore and
that's why I said I know I'vebeen crucified with Christ.
I know Christ has delivered me.
I know he has set me free.
Can't, nobody changed that?
And people will still try tohold you in the same position
that they used to know you asand they still want you to act.
(24:52):
And they do that because theyhate that you've been delivered,
because they like being yourcaretaker, they like feeling
like they was above you, theylike feeling like they better
than you.
But now I got some hatersbehind this.
I got some haters behind this,but I got Jesus on my side, yeah
, so no weapon formed against mecan prosper.
Are you sure about this?
Oh, I'm positive.
I'm positive.
I walk in the light and youknow what's good about it.
(25:15):
I seek him every single day.
You know, since I've been well,watch this.
Let me share something y'allmight not know.
Even when I was in my addiction.
I was pastoring the church.
I know even when.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
I was in my addiction .
I was pastoring the church.
Okay, so you were pastoring,Crazy.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Crazy, Absolutely crazy.
Some folks say God's going tostrike you down.
You know why he didn't?
Because he loved me and he hada plan for my life.
So that's why.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
How could you pastor and also be addicted?
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Oh my God, it was toe up from the flow up, talk about
it.
But it was his grace that keptme because I still studied and
prepared for Sundays and I thinkduring that time the addiction
was really fading away.
But I still had issues going onin the marriage and with
(26:07):
finances that you know.
I still wanted that crutch.
It was still depressing times.
I'd be like I'm going to go getme one.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You know, was there conflict at that time in your
between?
Here I'm in the pulpit talkingto people how to be free in
Jesus, and yet I'm not free inJesus.
Speaker 5 (26:24):
Right.
So, and I can't really justifythat, because what really I say,
uh, my life was changing atthat time and I didn't really
realize it because I wasn'tgetting high that much no, no,
what I mean I wasn't using likeI was using, uh, maybe every
three or four months I mightsneak out.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Okay, so it was kind of fading away, it sneak out.
Okay, so it was kind of fadingaway.
It was, it was, yes, it wasvanishing, and I didn't even
realize it, I wasn't having thatstrong desire, but I was still
stuck.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Okay, you weren't having the same desire, but you
were still stuck.
Yes, stuck, how stuck in.
Just cause I became.
That addiction is so crazy.
I looked at a book.
I was, uh, one time I was intreatment and they had this book
about the love affair betweendrugs.
But this particular book wasthe love affair between crack
and the user and how.
In every part of this book andI hate I lost that book but
(27:20):
every part of that book had justlike when you're in a
relationship with someone else,that's how they framed it and
wrote this book out.
So it was like different phasesin a relationship.
You would have that same phasein with this drug, but as I got,
god was drawing me all the timeand I really didn't see it or
recognize it, but I knew Iwanted to stop.
(27:43):
All those years I wanted tostop and never had the power to
stop.
You know, and, and, and now Istill think about it I'd be like
Lord, forgive me for you know,trying to teach and preaching,
and still caught up in the world.
You know, even though and thisis how we people try to justify
we feel like, well, I don't doit that much, no more.
(28:03):
No, I shouldn't be doing thisat all.
I know we don't get perfect,but I know we should be maturing
, because that's what that wordmeant there be perfect as a
father's perfect.
But I need to be maturing.
And I was maturing but I didn'trealize it.
God was really pulling me outand the final act and stage of
that was when I had went home.
I was in in time bluff for likethree months and then I came on
(28:29):
back because my mama got betterand I know I could have went
home.
But God, I mean, this is likewhen I got on that bus, it was
like the whole ride back forthose 9, 10, 12 hours, whatever
it was.
It was like go to the mission,go to the mission, go to the
mission, go to the mission.
Why do you think the mission.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
What else were you hearing from the Lord in regards
to go to the mission?
Was there something that youthought might be here, knew, was
here heard about here?
Any of that, or just go to themission, just go to the mission.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
I can't recall nothing else.
And when I got off that bus myfeet turned this way, turned
north, and I headed on down herewith one backpack, yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
So you're standing at the front door?
Yeah, you've been riding ninehours.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
You have 30 years.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Or longer.
Okay, 30 years in addiction?
Yes, you've been in conflict,to say the least.
Yes, with this, maybe it wasn'tas bad, but it ain't over yet,
right, so go to the mission.
Did you get a fullness ofunderstanding when you're
standing at that front door?
When I go through there, arethings going to be okay or not?
Speaker 5 (29:30):
No, I didn't.
I thought you know, with allthe conflict going on at home,
just go somewhere where you cantry to get it together without
the extra pressure, without allthat anxiety, Because when
you're in a relationship andyou're married like that, they
know your behaviors andsometimes they don't be willing
(29:51):
to let those behaviors go.
You know even right now, butlife's still lifin'.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
But I got a new life.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
So you stepped through the front door.
You knew you were supposed togo to the mission.
Any music start playing in theair.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
No music, no music.
It was crowded.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Did you wonder, did I really hear?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
When you walked in that door.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Like, okay, wait a minute, Hold on, you're going to
be in a room with a whole bunchof other smelly feet and all
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
There it is.
You said it.
You said it.
That's it God did.
I really hear you say that.
I know right.
I'm like but I found myselfokay with that.
I just it was.
I can't explain it, I just knowit wasn't me.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
I know it wasn't me.
Were you tempted to say I gotto get out of here and go get
that fix?
Nope, it was one step ofobedience to the next step, to
the next step.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
And immediately I started, I got a Bible and I
started.
Matter of fact, I came backwith a Bible.
So I just kind of startedtrying to rededicate my life.
You know whatever that meant atthe time.
I know it meant not gettinghigh.
I know it meant not going tothose places seeking those
things out that I used to do.
I knew that and I had a senseof comfort and peace.
The challenge was going out inthe heat every day, dark as I am
(31:24):
, that sun was kicking.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Yes, you better hear me.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
I've been looking for shade Out on that bus stop.
It take a whole hour for thebus to come back.
I'm like what in the world?
This is crazy.
And then I got Mick as acounselor.
You got to go look for a job.
Man, I'm trying to get a job.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
You're motivated to get a job.
But there were some barriersand I think you know, just to
pause on that a minute.
A lot of people don'tunderstand, just because you are
looking for a job, that you'regoing to be able to get a job if
you don't have a place to be,if you don't have a phone that
people can call you at, if youdo not have shade when you're in
the sun, regardless of whatyour skin color is, you can get
really hot out there and some ofus burn.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Or if you're already burning, you burn more.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
So there's a lot of obstacles to getting back on
your feet.
So the mission came in and hereyou are, but it was okay.
Was there something at theTopeka Rescue Mission that you
saw as a tool or just obeyingand being here?
Was there a class or was there?
Speaker 5 (32:32):
something I did, some classes and life skills but I
think it was just more aboutjust obeying.
You know, those things helpedme because I knew those things
actually I might not have beendoing them.
I'm 59 years old, so it ain mebecause I knew those things.
Actually I might not been doingthem.
I'm 59 years old, so it ain'tlike I don't know.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
But comes that point of the old song trust and obey,
because there ain't no other way.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
I like that.
I'm all on to that.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
I inserted the word ain't in there.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
And that's true.
So my motivation was just, youknow, one foot in front of the
other, doing what I had to doeach and every day.
And even during that time, Iwas seeing people that was
drinking and out on the sidedoing what they do, but it
didn't bother me about that, I'mjust here, to try to see what
(33:28):
God's to get me out of, and hebrought me out clean.
How long now?
Uh, almost two years straight.
I mean no drink, no, nothing,and and, and here's the thing.
Um, uh, in my household theseissues are going on, but I don't
participate you know, why not?
(33:55):
Because that's not me.
Again, I've been delivered, soI had to move out, just because
the unnecessariness of that lifeain't for me.
So, yeah, and I've been man.
It's probably the first time inprobably 30-some years that
(34:18):
I've lived by myself, you see,and I'm managing it.
It was scary, it was fearful,because I've been with somebody
for you know, not the sameperson, but just I've been with
somebody for life like that.
Now I'm on my own by myself,and that was the fearful part,
(34:39):
because I should have been gone,but fear was like.
But when I look at that manversus that narcissist behavior
and who I am, no, I can't do it.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
So you live on your own?
Yes, you come back to therescue mission.
What does it feel like?
You're out living on your own,but you come into the rescue
mission to work.
What makes this place?
Speaker 5 (34:59):
to you.
That helps me, because when Italk to these guys and sometimes
they think I'm being hard, butI give them the truth, because
you can't live on a lie and Ican't pacify you because you're
grown, I'm going to love you,but we're not going to pacify
you and you need to know thetruth, because what is happening
is we don't tell them the truthand we want to act like, well,
(35:22):
we love you, we go no, no, holdon.
Give them the truth, becausewhat you're doing right now is
going to kill you if you don'thear the truth, and the truth
will set you free.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
So was your story part of helping that person to
maybe see that?
Oh, yes, so you're going to sayI didn't just read about this,
right?
Speaker 5 (35:39):
I lived it.
Yeah, I live it and I get to dothis every other Friday because
I do chapel there every otherFriday and, thanks be to God,
nothing I do.
But I mean they be lookingforward to that.
Get a little crowd up in there.
If I ain't careful, I have towatch myself.
I ain't all that.
Okay, I'm country boy, I ain'tall that, but I get to share
(36:00):
that and I get to share it withthe word of God and show them
what God can do.
So my main things that I talkabout on those nights when I do
it, is salvation prayer and thenjust learning to have
fellowship with Christ on aday-to-day basis.
I try to give them things thatthey can hold on through the
(36:23):
week and those tools that willhelp them, and I let them know
all the time your life ain'tover because you're a TRM.
It's just getting started andGod got you here for a purpose
and for a reason.
You're not just here on yourown.
Whatever you was doing got youhere, but it was all in God's
plan.
Now you just got to let himwork, get your hand off the
(36:45):
wheel and just sit back and dowhat you're supposed to do.
Just that simple.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
What kind of feedback do you get for some of these
guys when they hear that?
Speaker 5 (36:57):
Man, you always getting on me about something,
well, stop doing it.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
You're here because you was doing that there.
Anybody come up to you and saidthanks, yet oh, yeah, yeah,
yeah, here's the good part,though, they're coming to your
chapel service.
That's the one thing.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
Yeah, you know, some of them will be like man or
they'll go tell me man, he saidthis, he said that and Mick said
well, what did you do?
But I don't want to go withfear in that because it's
cameras all over the place orwhatever I said.
They probably can hear itanyway.
But I'm going to give you thetruth, where you like that or
not.
They gave me the truth andfinally I got through and it got
(37:31):
through me.
Yeah, it'll set you free everytime.
But the problem is, we don'tlike the truth, because the
truth hurts, and we'd ratherstay in that denial and continue
to do what we're doing, andthat's what got you here.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
I asked you before we started what your favorite
scripture was, and you popped itright off.
Speaker 5 (37:50):
So tell us about your favorite scripture Galatians 2
and 20.
For I've been crucified withChrist.
It's no longer I that live, butChrist that lives in me, the
Christ that I live in.
And I paraphrased that lastpart, but that first part is my
favorite part I live in the bodyby faith.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Yeah, so what does that mean to you?
I've been crucified with Christ.
I no longer live, but Christlives in me.
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 5 (38:10):
That means to me.
I walk on it now and maybe notin.
There are areas I'm stillworking on.
I get a little attitudesometimes but I'm not perfect.
I do that.
(38:30):
I tell them, like they tell me.
Well, god knows my heart and Itell them, and your heart gonna
sing you to hell too.
He sure do know your heart.
He gonna judge you according toyour heart, because it's wicked
.
He's working on me.
But I do know I've beencrucified.
I know that I'm dying daily.
I'm dying daily and once I'mwilling to die in those areas
(38:54):
that's still trying to controlme the closer I get to him.
So what drives out that fleshis fellowship with him every
single day, being intentionalabout spending time with Christ.
That's in prayer, that's beingquiet.
Stop begging and talking aboutthis and that.
Ask him to deliver me.
Keep me delivered, heal my mind.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
So where you were before, it was at a distance.
This Christ, I mean, you werepreaching in the pulpit and you
were talking about him.
But talking about him andwalking with him, two different
things.
Two different things, andthat's hard for a lot of people
because that only comes by faith.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
That's right, because we can talk that noise all day.
But people are looking at youractions, looking at your moves,
you know, yeah, and that's theproblem with the church.
Now A lot of folks say, well,yeah, I've seen them doing this,
I've seen them doing that, andthey probably did.
But the church is a hospitaltoo, and it's for sick folks,
and I was sick, you know, likeall us.
(40:01):
And so, uh, you know, today Iwant to walk the same, the same
talk that I talk.
Yes, I don't let them lookdifferent, I try to keep them in
line.
And that, and and and, and.
That's the same thing I do atwork, I do at home, I, I, I try
to live with integrity, I livewith it.
I actually do.
(40:22):
And here's the kicker If Ithink I want to do something
wrong, the Holy Spirit will belike don't do that, you know
better.
So that kind of helps him bagdown and say okay.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
You know, yeah, because you're going to get
tempted.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
Yeah, you're right, the battle just started.
Yeah, because?
Speaker 2 (40:39):
you're right, right, right, the battle just started.
Yeah, yeah, because you'regonna remember, maybe, that good
feel yeah, cocaine addiction of30 years and uh, man, just one
more time.
Yeah, and you know, but there'sa war there, but you know where
to take the war yeah, that'sright.
Speaker 5 (40:48):
And you know, uh, that's what paul talks about in
in roman seven.
You know that that constantconflict between good and evil,
and and I'm thankful because godhas so much mercy and grace on
me that I don't have to strugglein that area, with that
addiction no more.
I mean, it's like he just justboosh.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
So there's going to be people listening to this
either today, on June the 3rd,or maybe a year from now or
sometime, and they're going tohear your story and they're
going to say I need that kind ofhelp Now.
We could have a whole lot ofpeople come to the rescue
mission because of this.
What would you say?
Where they are right now?
The rescue mission wasn'tnecessarily the magic bullet
(41:31):
that got you on the right path.
Right your obedience to comingto the rescue mission with what
the Lord told you, the rest ofthe mission with what the Lord
told you.
But what would you say tosomebody who's struggling right
now in whatever addiction ordoubt or suffering that they are
going through right now?
What would you say to somebodynot knowing their story Because
we all got a story what wouldyou say to them that might
(41:52):
encourage them?
Trust God.
Speaker 5 (41:59):
Trust God.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
How do I trust God?
Trust God, how do I?
Speaker 5 (42:01):
trust God, surrender.
Here we go back to surrenderingand obedience.
That's the only way.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
What if I don't know if I believe in God?
Speaker 5 (42:10):
Ooh, okay, well, oh, wow, that's a good one.
What if I don't know?
If I believe in God?
Speaker 2 (42:20):
There's some people that just absolutely don't
believe in God.
Don't believe, right, they'regoing to be agnostic, atheist or
whatever they label themselves.
There's some people that maybeI don't know if I believe in God
.
What would you say?
Because here you are in apulpit.
Yeah, here you are addicted.
Did you ever question if Godwas real during that time?
Speaker 5 (42:39):
No, during that time.
No, you didn't, I didn't, Ididn't, I just probably because
I was raised in church and justso that was already breaded in
me.
Okay, there's something greaterthan me is out there, okay.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
And it's God.
Maybe you don't have an answerfor this.
Yeah, somebody, who I mean,because this has been your
experience.
Speaker 5 (42:59):
God's always been there, way some form.
I just didn't quite know how toconnect Right.
Okay, but I will say this ifyou don't believe in God and
you're an atheist or of thatnature, then give it a try.
Give it a try.
How would you give it a try?
Just by surrendering?
Speaker 2 (43:10):
say okay, lord, I don't see you, just in case
you're there.
Speaker 5 (43:12):
Yeah, just in case you're there.
I don't see you.
I never heard from you, butmanifest yourself in my life.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
And you know, barry, I think sometimes it isn't about
what we tell people.
It's about what we show them,you know, and how we share our
lives, and the miserable thingsthat we've done and what, how
our lives have changed and thatI couldn't have done it on my
(43:39):
own.
So there must be and, and Ithink showing people the Lord
sometimes is better than tellingthem.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
Probably most of the time.
Speaker 4 (43:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
A little hard on a podcast to show it is.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
It is a little bit hard on the podcast to show it,
but still, you know, you people,I think, and you are so spot on
when you say people watch us.
You know, I think, ed, you areso spot on when you say people
watch us when we claim to knowJesus, then they watch, Okay.
So what is different?
And I think we've talked aboutit so many times here that
people walk into the mission andthey feel something different.
Speaker 5 (44:16):
They may not recognize it as the Lord, but
that's what they see.
Let me say this too is the Lord, but that's what they see.
Let me say this too.
So it was like that my firstSaturday, or my second Saturday
there.
Speaker 4 (44:25):
I met LaManda and you stayed.
Speaker 5 (44:29):
She was with the motorcycle gang.
Oh, okay, Hi.
I'm Miramit.
She didn't know me, I didn'tknow her and I did not know she
ran this place.
So I was coming out the doorand she stopped me and asked me.
I didn't know her and I did notknow she ran this place.
So I was coming out the doorand she stopped me and asked me
was I going to ride?
And I was like no, black folksdon't do much of that, Don't do
them two wheels, hey.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
I'm with you there.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Keep me off that.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
I was like no, I'll stay with the four wheels.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (44:53):
She was like no no, no, we ain't doing that.
That ain't for us, no.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
And I said oh, come on, don't be a scaredy cat, Just
get on one.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Did she think you were the gang at that time?
Speaker 5 (45:06):
Motorcycle gang, hey.
And so I think I shared withher why I don't.
Because I had a friend one timewhen we was younger that had a
ninja when they first came outand he tried to get me on the
back end.
So God was in my life, been inmy life all the time, because we
was at a party and he hoppedoff and he was like, hey, man,
(45:27):
hop on, come on.
And we went to the partydrinking and I almost got on
that motorcycle with him and Ididn't.
I was heading to it and Ididn't.
So I said no, no man, go ahead.
He took off down the street andran smack into the back of this
truck, threw him about 50 yardsdown, get down there, his bone
hanging out of his leg, and I'mlike, oh my God, I had a guy on
(45:50):
there that would have killed me,you know, and man, so I see
evidence in my life comingthrough in my life that show me
that God has been there all thetime.
Some things that could havehappened didn't happen.
She'd been here a couple ofdays.
You met LaManda, yeah, and onlybeen here a couple of days and
met LaManda and the love thatshe had for somebody she didn't
(46:10):
even know and ever since then.
And then she saw me, like uh, aweek or so later I came down
for the life skill class and shecame out having to see me.
Hey, how you doing, edward, sheremember my name.
She show is nice.
Speaker 2 (46:26):
And then I found out she run the place.
That's the show that you'retalking about.
Yeah, that's the love, yeahthat's the love.
Speaker 5 (46:32):
So when you see that, you know you don't never know
who people are, but you'relooking at their actions and
their behavior more than what'scoming out of their mouth.
She never introduced herself tothe CO or none of that stuff.
It was just hey, how you doing?
And it was just that friendlylove and I've been friends with
her ever since.
Every time she sees me shegives me a big old hug.
I love her.
(46:53):
She is so sweet, she really is,and we're blessed to have her
here running this.
Okay, she really is and we'reblessed to have her he'll run in
this game.
Don't ask me to talk.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
I like to wait until she grabs the Kleenex and wiping
her eyes, your turn well,amanda.
Before we conclude today as theleader of Topeka Rescue Mission
, what's it like to have a teammember like Edward?
Sigh sigh, what's it like tohave a team member like Edward,
(47:25):
and that was before he said heloved it.
Speaker 3 (47:27):
I know I'm just trying to.
I've been Miriam and I havebeen texting, telling each other
don't look at each otherBecause she starts to cry.
Then I start to cry.
So well, a couple of things,you know.
I think everything we should doand I'm not saying that I always
get it right, but everything weshould do should have such a
(47:47):
kingdom focus and perspective.
It just really puts life inperspective because one day this
is not going to be the lifethat we have and the decisions
(48:07):
people make now in this lifedetermine their eternity.
And when you phrase that andhave to rephrase that every day
right, because I can get caughtup in meetings or get caught up
in schedules or audits orwhatever, none of that should
overshadow and when we put it tothe perspective of what we do
(48:30):
in that eight hours, 10 hours,24 hours for some of us that are
24-7, that what we do could beimpacting someone's eternity
Just makes everything else seemso insignificant.
And so having someone likeEdward on the team, knowing that
(48:52):
he recognizes from the time hewalks into that place to the
time he leaves, and his prayerlife when he's at home by
himself, and making sure that heis healthy.
All of these different things hegets it.
He looks at that person anddoes not see them as an addict.
He sees them as a name.
(49:13):
Who has an addiction.
It's very different.
And then he strives to relateto that person, hold that person
accountable, love them, laughwith them, put them out when
they need to.
All of these things.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (49:28):
With a kingdom focus, because it's not about this
earth, and so it just means alot to me because that is stuff
that I can model, but I can'tteach.
I can't teach Edward to havehis heart for the Lord and his
heart for people the way that hedoes.
That is ingrained in himbecause of his walk with the
(49:51):
Lord.
I can give Edward tools fromcommunications, de-escalations,
all of these things, which iswhat we should, but when we
remove all of that to be able toidentify someone as they are
walking a life right now, thatwill not continue to be their
life and that when they get tothe end of this life, they're
faced with a different eternity,heaven or hell.
(50:12):
He has that perspective andthat means a lot to me.
And that means a lot to me.
There is something so specialabout Edward that not even just
me as the CEO, but just me assomeone who got to know him.
(50:33):
We were going in the door atthe same time that first day to
meet and I just said well, hey,I don't think I've met you.
And he looked at me and he goeswell, no, I don't think you
have.
So he puts his hand out, I putmy hand out.
And then I said well, tell mesomething about you.
He goes well, what do you wantto know?
(50:55):
And I said were you going to goride that motorcycle?
No, I'm not.
And I he said, are you?
And I said no, I'm not, Um.
But then that quickly turnedinto an Arkansas connection and
all of these things and I foundmyself in that 10 minutes of
talking to him, so rejuvenatedand joyful, Um, and I needed
that, and he has no idea what Iwas walking through during that
(51:18):
time and needed that laughterand all that in that moment.
A couple of weeks later, when hesaid, I met him again, I went
past him, talked to him andeverything went past him.
And then it was over at themen's shelter and he told me he
was coming over here for classes.
I go to leave him and veryclearly I hear the Lord tell me
(51:42):
it's time for you to hear all ofhis story.
And so I stop and I'm like inmy car and I'm like, okay, well,
what am I supposed to do?
Go get him, Put him in your car, Bring him over to the
children's palace and hear hisstory.
So I go back into the men'sside and hear his story.
So I'll go back into the men'sside.
And I said you got plans fortoday.
(52:02):
He said, well, I always havesome plan, why?
And I said I feel like I'msupposed to hear your whole life
story.
And he said, well, I'll shareit.
And I said, well, we're settingup right now audio to do videos
and photographs of people.
And I said I know you don'treally know me, but I really
(52:23):
think the Lord has chosen youright now to share your story.
And he said, um, I care for youalready, so whatever you need
me to do.
And this crazy man got in my carand he has no idea that was
that, yeah, I'm not the bestdriver, and I did look at him
and I said just so, and he hasno idea how crazy that was yeah,
I'm not the best driver.
And I did look at him and I saidjust so you know everybody
(52:43):
warns people that get in my car.
So I'm just giving you thewarning that apparently other
people think I'm not the bestdriver.
But then I said, second of all,I put my hands up and I said I
promise I really am safe and helooks at me and goes well, I am
too, and I said, I said okay,then let's go for a ride.
Because I thought, how crazy isit that this woman?
(53:04):
Because he didn't know, hedidn't know what I did here,
he's just seen me twice, youknow.
And then I'm like, well, get inmy car, come with me, you know,
um.
And so we get in and he startsto just unpack on video and
multiple times, as Edward wastalking, the Lord just continued
(53:27):
to tell me I love this man andmy prayer, as I was standing
behind the people doing theinterviews and stuff, was then
Lord, show that to him over andover and over, show that to him.
And so I hope you know, being astaff member and all of that,
(53:47):
like I hope we do that as wellas we humanly can, to show our
staff like the Lord loves you,just how you're pursuing other
people and serving other people.
You're loved and valued by theLord too and us.
So I hope we've done that.
But the other side of it is Ijust know God is going to
continue to be faithful toEdward, just like he is of any
(54:08):
of us, of his pursuant of us, tosay I sent my son to die for
you.
I made you in my image, I wantfellowship with you.
It's just a matter of who hearsthat and who receives that.
And so now, moving in this newseason with Edward, my prayer, I
think, has shifted from theLord reminding Edward of how
(54:30):
much he's loved by the Lord toEdward continually walking and
receiving that, and that is mynew prayer for him.
And he doesn't know it, but hereally signed a contract with us
until like 2077.
But you know, yeah that's right.
Speaker 2 (54:46):
It seems to be fine with that.
Yeah, edward, you've showed tous today how much you love the
Lord and how grateful you are tohim for sending you here, and
but you've also heard howgrateful everybody else is that
you said yes, and so thank youfor obeying, thank you for
walking through those doors,thank you for the commitment,
(55:08):
thank you for recognizing thatyou have been crucified with
Christ and you don't live anylonger, but he lives in you, and
that's a profound doctrinalthing that we can unpack someday
.
It might take a couple hours,but thank you for being a truth
teller, thank you for joiningthis team, thank you for being a
light of not only truth, butalso with humility and love for
(55:33):
the neighbors, and so thank you,thank you, thanks for being
with us today.
Speaker 5 (55:37):
I was thankful to be here.
Speaker 2 (55:39):
Well, thank you all for listening to us today.
You've heard from Edward Tucker,who has quite a story, and if
you are an investor in TopekaRescue Mission, this is what you
invest in.
This is one of many things, butthis is a person, individual,
who not too long ago walkedthrough those front doors and
his life has changed.
Not too long ago walked throughthose front doors and his life
(56:00):
has changed, and there's beenmany people throughout the
history of Topeka Rescue Missionthat that's happened as well in
one shape, fashion or another,and you are a part of that, and
we hope that your life has beenchanged.
Just because you get a chanceto be a part of this ministry,
wherever you are, whatever yourjourney is in life, just to know
that maybe you're on that fencewith God.
You know he's not on the fencewith you and so he loves you
right where you are and he justwants to invite you on the other
(56:22):
side of the fence.
So, just as Edward said, goahead, give him a try, trust him
and see what happens.
Thank you for listening to ourcommunity, our mission.
If you'd like more informationabout the Topeka Rescue Mission,
you can go to trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg.
Thank you for joining us today.
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