September 2, 2025 • 54 mins
What makes Night of Praise more than just another event? In this episode, John Ostenson, TRM Board President; Greg Armbruster, Vice President; and Mike Rinehart, Treasurer, join CEO La Manda Cunningham and Deputy Director of Supportive Services Miriam Krehbiel to share how the heart of Topeka Rescue Mission is rooted in both freedom and faith. From moments of prayer with shelter residents to stories of unexpected gratitude, listeners will hear why TRM is not just “a monument” but “a movement”—living out its mission of Faith With Its Sleeves Rolled Up.
Together, this team reflects on how the theme Loving in the Gap is inspiring unity across churches, volunteers, and the broader community. With worship teams coming together at Fellowship Bible Church on September 12th, Night of Praise offers what La Manda describes as “a glimpse of heaven”—diverse believers worshipping side by side while lifting up those in need. Whether you’ve walked with TRM for years or are just learning about the mission, this conversation invites you to experience the vision, testimonies, and collaborative spirit that make Night of Praise such a transformative annual tradition.
To learn more about Night of Praise, Click Here!
To support TRM, Click Here!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gracious Heavenly Father, we just come humbly
before you today and thank you,lord, for your blessings and
this time to be together torecord this podcast.
Lord, we thank you for all ofour listeners and Lord just
thank you for this upcomingnight of praise that we get to
talk about today.
And, lord just pray that yourwill would be done and, lord,
that listeners today would beblessed and encouraged.
Father, we love you and wepraise your name, Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello everybody, thank you for joining us for our
community, our mission.
A podcast of the Topeka RescueMission.
This is Tuesday, september 2nd2025.
I'm your host today, barryFeeker, with a big crowd of
people here today to talk abouta very special event which Josh
mentioned in his prayer.
So Josh, go ahead and talkabout that.
Then we're going to talk aboutwhat's special about today and
then we're going to introduceour guests.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, so I'm excited to talk about Night of Praise
today.
Night of Praise is coming upFriday, in 10 days, friday
September 12th.
It's the third annual Thirdannual Starts at 6.30, doors
open at six and we wanteverybody to be there.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
So we've been talking about that for a bit, getting
led up to this and so having ourspecial guests here today,
which are three board members inaddition to LaManna Cunningham
and also Marion Crable, so wegot a lot of folks around mics
today.
So we're going to be doing alittle sharing back and forth,
so we're going to talk about theimportance and really try to
help people to understand whythis is a really good thing to
(01:24):
attend.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah.
So, um, I think just to startlike to try and like kick it off
is one thing that's always beenreally important, for night of
praise is like unity and comingtogether as the body of Christ,
and that's one thing I've alwaysloved about it is, um, it's not
like one church like you knowFBC, and then you know they help
(01:46):
it put, help us put it on, andeverything, but there's
different bands from, anddifferent band members, um, from
across different churches, andthere's different people that
come from differentdenominations and it's, you know
, one true body of Christ,glorifying God and the work that
he's doing, and that's like thebig thing that I always love
about it the most.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So we're going to take a deep dive here in a
minute.
So good morning, lamanna,miriam, good morning.
So are you ready for the quizof the day, the research and
development?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
department has done their due diligence again.
Never but sure.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Josh and Alec.
They work really hard on thesethings and so-.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I think they do this to torture us.
I'm just saying.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, that's good.
So you know, I mean it's.
You know, I mean you had a dayoff.
Yesterday it was Memorial Day,right, mm-hmm?
Labor Day.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
It was Labor Day.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Yeah, labor Day, oh yeah, I'm getting ahead of
myself, I'm behind myself.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
No, we still labored on Labor Day and Saturday night
and yesterday after church.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You think I was inintentional about Labor Day or
Memorial Day.
It's always Memorial.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Day it is.
That's right, that's right.
It's all about labor.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So anyway, LeMahon and Miriam, today is National
Live Fearless Day.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Why is there just one day?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Because it's not.
It's dangerous, barry, andyesterday was one of those days.
As I was trying to drive home,I was on roads that have no
business having two-way traffic.
I came around the curve andthere was a massive pickup with
the bull guard with everything,and I'm like, oh, oh, you don't
(03:22):
know what that is well, it'sokay, you're not a rancher.
It's not a problem, it's the bigthing that protects the front
of the truck.
Oh yeah, so I had a closeencounter.
But, barry, you need, and I wasnot fearless.
But the reason she had toscream.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
That's right Well yeah, let's call it that, let's
call it that, but.
But the thing is, the reasonwhy that was a close encounter
is all of us, like myself, thatonly drive the speed limit.
We never have to worry aboutthose things.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
But Miriam, she was probably driving 95 miles an
hour around that curve.
I wasn't, because it was a dirtroad that was this wide, only
this five inches wide.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Because our listeners can see.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
That's why I threw in the five inches.
But today is National LiveFearless Day, not yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Well, that's why I think it's a bad idea.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay, so we don't have to do that anymore.
Well, just somebody came upwith this stuff and Josh found
it, and so basically, justSeptember 2nd urges people to
live fearlessly.
So I think in America you livefearlessly all the time.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So yeah, you know, the nice thing is, you don't
have to participate though.
This is just, they're theretoday and you can pick to not do
it.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
You don't want to.
So if you're not into it, justgo home and lock the door and
try to do it tomorrow.
Okay, so it's also NationalCalendar Adjustment Day.
Lamanda, how many times haveyou adjusted your calendar
already today?
Three, three okay.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Well, that's not bad.
And it's what 9-17?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yes, in the morning.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So, yep, it's one of those days adjusting calendars.
Yeah, we won't get into all thedetails, but also for people
who really aren't quite readyfor NFL season to start, it's
Spalding Baseball Day.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Josh, why did you?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
choose this.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I love baseball.
It's America's pastime.
Also, just to plug my son who'splaying Little League he had a
home run this summer.
Yes, he did.
I was pretty excited about that.
I never had a home run playingbaseball.
You're already beating me,buddy.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Living vicariously through your kid the video was
so cute.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I don't know who was more excited him, dad or mom
Exactly.
I don't know either.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So, anyway, those are the things about today, but
also, again, josh talked about aspecial event coming up, and so
here in the studio of TopekaRescue Mission, which is kind of
a makeshift studio, we have thepresident of the board, john
Ostenson.
Good morning, john.
How are you?
Good morning, I'm doing well.
Good to see you.
Greg.
Armbruster is vice president.
Good to see you again, greg.
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Good morning.
I'm doing well too, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Good, good.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
I didn't ask you that , Mike?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
how are you doing Mike Reinhart, who is the
treasurer of the board?
Speaker 4 (06:04):
I guess I'm living fearlessly.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I came to be part of this party.
That's right, Mike.
We know you love this kind ofstuff.
But anyway, lamanna, whyhaven't three board members here
this morning, about Nine ofPreys?
Board members are important tothe Topeka Rescue Mission to
help give a lot of guidance andaccountability and checks and
(06:28):
balances and those kinds ofthings.
What is it about this group andthe rest of your board that's
important to the special eventcoming up?
Speaker 5 (06:36):
You know, I think one .
I just appreciate our board andI know some people are probably
like, oh, she's saying thatbecause they're sitting right
there.
But even when they're not inthe room, I mean I talk a lot
about what their level ofsupport means to not only just
me as their CEO but ourorganization.
I mean, I think they arebalanced in their approach of
(06:58):
knowing their roles as boardmembers and the responsibility
and they take that seriously andthey take that seriously, Um,
and they humbly serve.
Many of them you will find umdefinitely serving in different
capacities at the rescue missionoutside of the monthly meetings
.
Uh, there are an added level ofsupport to me when we have
challenging days here.
Um, things happen.
(07:19):
I get text messages from thempraying for.
You had a small incidentyesterday or Sunday here had a
board member drive by as I wasstanding outside the building,
he and his wife just to tell methat they loved me and
appreciated what we were doing.
So when you take just theintegrity that they have and
their stance all year long, yearafter year, serving the rescue
(07:43):
mission, To me that carries overinto when we do events like
these and so, again, Iappreciate their vision.
With it.
I appreciate their feedbackthat they give us.
I appreciate that they serveleading up to the event, like
right now doing this podcast topromote it, and then you'll see
all of them the night of nightof praise, as well as greeters
(08:04):
and at different tables andstuff.
And to me, I love that this isnot only an activity and a
fundraiser that we put on.
When Josh mentions the unity ofour community, it's also
incredible to see the unity ofboard leadership here, employees
here, donors here, volunteershere, and we all come together
(08:28):
to make this night happen aswell, and to me that's
incredible.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah, so this is like the third annual.
So where did this start?
What was the reason behind itand why so much involvement with
board and staff and volunteers?
Obviously, any event takes alot of folks to make it happen.
There's a lot of complicationswhen you're a first time doing
something of that nature.
So what was the genesis of this?
Speaker 5 (08:55):
You know, I think it's kind of twofold.
One is, you know, our board andmyself really want to find the
balance of communicating ourneeds to the community so that
we continue to have a healthybudget, a budget that can keep
up with the demands that ourcommunity is facing.
(09:16):
And so, looking at this from afinancial standpoint of we need
to be doing something every yearthat is intentional, to not
only try to secure financialdonations but also try to secure
monthly donors and differenttypes of committed donations so
(09:36):
that we can maintain the budgetthat's needed to serve our
community.
And then the other side of itis, you know, myself, miriam and
several others here we're justseeing the need in our community
of something that brings hope.
And I think that there, you know, at times can be division or
(09:57):
maybe even controversy when wetry to look at all the different
churches and things like that.
And so what could we do as aministry that is not just
associated with one?
How can we bring like-mindedpeople together?
But how can we also be a placethat, if somebody is questioning
that, they can come and hearabout the work of humanity and
(10:20):
what that looks like, but thenalso how it's rooted in the
gospel here.
So that was really two foldedof looking at what we need to do
annually to try to secureadditional funds to maintain our
budget, but then also beingintentional at what type of
event we did that didn't take usaway from a mission drift or
(10:41):
didn't, really wasn't outside ofour scope and sequence, and so
what a better way.
Uh, a team member that used towork here was like hey, what do
you think about a worship night?
And instantly my heart was likeyep, that's what we need to do.
It blesses the community, butit also is an opportunity for us
to educate, um, anybody thatcomes about TRM.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So I'm going to throw this out to any one of the
three board members who are hereto answer this question, but a
lot of fundraisers and this is afundraiser for Topeka Rescue
Mission talk about a particularthing they're trying to raise
funds for.
It could be, in this case, afundraiser for Topeka Rescue
Mission help the homeless, savethe children, save the whales.
(11:20):
Whatever the case might be,this is called Night of Praise.
That is a very definitive,different way of identifying a
fundraiser.
I think Amanda addressed it alittle bit.
But from a board member'sperspective, why is it important
to you and, you think, to theTopeka Rescue Mission, to not
specifically run out and sayhelping the homeless or helping
(11:42):
the hungry or whatever?
That's all built into this, aswe've seen before, but why call
it the Night of Praise?
Speaker 6 (11:54):
I'll try to answer that.
I think one of the things we doat the Night of Praise is
provide personal testimoniesfrom people who have been helped
by TRM, and so it gives us achance to praise God for the
healing, the people who havebeen helped, how God has worked
(12:17):
through TRM to provide thishealing, and just give God all
the credit for it.
So I think we're praising Godnot only for who he is, but for
what he's doing with TRM.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
John.
Thanks Greg.
John, as a board president, alot of responsibilities being a
board member, being in thepresident's position.
I've known you for a very longtime when you were Shawnee
County Sheriff's Department,working with us on streets and
different things like that.
And here you are at TopekaRescue Mission being a board
member.
I think I know the answer tothis, but I would like for you
(12:53):
to say what your answer is theemphasis on worship night of
praise God Jesus Christ, topraise God Jesus Christ.
How's that different from whatyou might see in other
nonprofits or organizationsabout the importance of that
aspect of Topeka Rescue Mission?
Freedom.
Speaker 7 (13:14):
Because this TRM is obviously very faith-based, and
so we love God Jesus, and so welove God Jesus, Holy Spirit, and
we worship him, and so thefreedom is that we can outwardly
express that in many, many ways, and this is just one for the
(13:36):
night of praise.
When Josh opened up at thebeginning of this, he alluded to
the just coming together inunity and there's something very
, very powerful about that wherethe different denominations
come in together worshiping nextto somebody that might worship
(14:15):
a little bit differentChrist-awareness and not so much
self-awareness, if that makessense.
We feel that we are commissionedby God to take care of TRM and
do his work, be his hands andhis feet, and I just feel like
that's what we can do withfreedom.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
And God just takes care of us to be able to do that
.
Miriam, you've worked in othernonprofits before Topeka Rescue
Mission.
I think we've talked about thatmany times.
Coming to TRM meant a lot toyou from a spiritual standpoint,
from your relationship withChrist.
Talk about what John just saidand how important that is, do
(15:01):
you think, to yourself, as wellas the ministry of TRM, the
primary, I think that a lot ofpeople don't understand is um,
um, honoring God, um and servingothers as a, as equal part of
that.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
I.
I think it's the game changer,right?
I mean, if that's your focus,then everything you do takes on
a different tone.
You know, because it's somethingbigger than just what we do on
a daily basis.
It has a deeper purpose.
It's um less focused on who weare in terms of an organization
(15:39):
and more focused on why we'rehere and who we actually serve,
and I think that's completelydifferent than other
organizations that don't havethat central focus.
That is Christ right.
That is advancing a kingdombeyond what we do right here.
Right, it's about um LaMandatalks about it all the time.
(16:00):
It's about understanding thateach person we come in contact
with is Imago Dei, even whenthey don't act like we would
like them to act is made in theimage of God, right.
Even when they don't look likethey've got their stuff together
, even when they're not behavingin ways that we think are
(16:22):
appropriate and, frankly, aren'tappropriate, even when they're
not behaving in ways that wethink are appropriate and,
frankly, aren't appropriate,even when they're angry with the
world and with us, all of thosethings, each one of those
people is still made in theimage of God and that brings our
understanding of that and ourstriving to always do that also
brings glory to the Father, andit's just different.
Speaker 7 (16:45):
It's just different.
Trm is unique in the way thatwe're very relationship-oriented
, very relationship and servingothers and servanthood is the
prescription for healthyrelationships.
Prescription for healthyrelationships and LaManda says
(17:10):
it many, many times aboutreaching out to those in need,
the ones that we serve, andhoping that they're ready for
that next step and ourrelationship with them helps
them to get to their next step.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
You know we talk about the importance of God and
being the primary factor hereand reaching out to people and
not judging them but to helpthem right where they are.
But also there is a significant, equally important part of this
and that is good stewardship ofthe resources that you get in
(17:42):
and to have enough resources tobring that in.
And so it's a challengesometimes to be able to balance
between the spiritual and thebusiness side of and, mike, I'm
going to throw you the hardballquestion here as treasurer, mike
, how do you balance thistrusting God aspect that we're
(18:03):
here to serve him and serve thepeople he brings in our path?
And it takes resources, ittakes good management of those
resources and, as the treasurerof the board and your experience
and your expertise inaccounting, how do you balance
that?
Between my gosh we have thisbig, huge need that's come up
(18:24):
and trying to do the businesspart as well as the spiritual
part.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yeah, so it's.
You know, I think when I thinkof the night of praise, that's
one of the biggest things, that,how I think it came apart and
was developed, is that webalance.
At Topeka Rescue Mission we putour faith that God is going to
provide.
Now I call myself a strugglingChristian.
(18:51):
The rest of the board and staffmembers sometimes have to keep
me on track because I get alittle nervous sometimes.
Maybe you're honest as to, hey,we need this or we need that.
But you know, in my time on theboard, I've been continually
amazed at how things Godprovides for us.
(19:16):
And that, to me, is part ofthis night of praise is that God
provides through a outstandingcommunity of Topeka, and Shawnee
.
County in helping provideresources and Shawnee County in
helping provide resources, notonly financial but volunteer
resources and prayer for thepeople that we're serving, and
(19:40):
it's, you know, sometimes for mea difficult balance.
But I go back, barry, I thinkwhen you were leading TRM.
I think you wrote a book at onepoint of all the things that
had been happened, where maybewe didn't know at a certain time
(20:02):
I can't remember what decade itwas or what day Decades but are
we going to have enough foodtonight?
Yes, and there'd be this callthat says, hey, our freezer's
broke and we got all this food.
Can you use it tonight?
I mean just amazing stuff likethat, and to me that's part of
Night of Praise.
We praise every year, but weare very blessed with God's
(20:29):
providence and through thehearts of this community.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
And I think there's such an incredibly important
balance of that between the CEOand the staff and the board to
okay, we've got this need wejust talked about back to school
and the once again miraculousprovision wasn't seeing, it
wasn't happening.
Got the people coming here,they come.
(20:53):
Do we pray and wait or do we goand try to break into reserves
or do we put the peel out formoney and to know the balance
between all that?
And so some people say, well,faith based ministry, to sit
back, kick your heels back, youknow, and bless people and the
money rolls in.
It doesn't happen that way.
You have to have a proactiveapproach to this, but not to
(21:17):
make it become a business.
And, john, that freedom that youtalked about, speaking to that
freedom just a little bit more.
You're free to worship the Lord, you're free to focus on Christ
.
It's a relational ministry.
But as board president, as Mikekind of spoke to this, how do
you view this in regards to thestewardship?
(21:39):
And this is really what NIDA'spraise is about.
It's part about raisingawareness and funds and also
praising God putting the wholepackage together.
How do you balance that in yourown view of leading as board
president?
Speaker 7 (21:51):
Yeah, that is a tough one because it comes down to
faith and trust and sometimesthat can be very challenging.
I often say when I leave ameeting I got a pretty good
pounding headache because theneeds are great.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
Don't say why, and he needs ibuprofen and Tylenol
when he meets with me on ourmonthly meetings.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Yeah, you know, as a believer, sometimes I wish that
I could not not care as much but, I, can't, because life would
be easier if you just didn'thave a deep level of care and I
do and everybody at this tabledoes, and everybody who works
(22:38):
here at TRM and supports TRM arevery caring people and that can
be hard.
But I'm very familiar with 1Peter, 5, 7, because I'm always
casting all my cares over to.
God, because it is hard and youmentioned it.
(22:59):
I mean, how hard do you pushout to say we're in need and we
are.
Prices are up, families arestruggling and people that never
thought they would come to TRMfor help are coming here, and so
how do you balance that out?
But it is faith and trust and,just like Mike mentioned a
(23:22):
moment ago, I mean God providesand he provides in mysterious
ways.
I'm thankful for the listenersright now who are going to
listen to this and feel Godnudging them to help TRM in some
way, if that's volunteer or ifthat's being a reoccurring donor
(23:44):
Ministry or just volunteers andand donating dollars.
Those are all very competitiveand there's a lot of great needs
out there in Topeka and there'sa lot of ministries helping out
.
But I'm speaking for TRM.
We are in need and it's.
(24:06):
It's not.
We're not in crisis, but wealso don't want to be, and
LaManda mentioned earlier justhow many.
You know the people who, thelayers of ministry, and I'm kind
of rambling, but I've got agood thought here.
(24:27):
Every time somebody comes to TRMand wants to help out or you
know, interested in being on theboard and are like me and we
often say I had no idea.
And I've been here for fouryears and I'm still saying that
every once in a while.
I had no idea.
(24:47):
No idea about what that TRM isdoing.
That too, and doing that kindof ministry and reaching out,
and there's just so many layersof TRM and I think many people
experience that.
That's why I love thesepodcasts.
This is number what 280something 282.
282 podcasts and they'rebeautiful because our listeners
(25:10):
can hear exactly what ishappening day, every day, here
and getting the word out.
And that's another thing that Ilike about night of praises.
You can praise God in a lot ofways.
You know we might think, well,it's, it's singing and and that
(25:31):
kind of thing and praying, butit's also.
We praise God by our giving andwe praise God by being together
and being Christlike andthere's a lot of different
things to it.
But TRM is, is God's and we arewe're just taking care of it
(25:52):
for him.
And so an answer to yourquestion faith and trust and
hope.
And that's what we put intothis, our faith in God to supply
all of our needs.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
And that is not common.
It is.
It's a goal, it's talked abouta lot but it actually has to
happen to at Topeka RescueMission.
Greg, you're a business leaderin our community and also you've
been involved in many differentministry activities in the
community and elder in yourchurch.
Just different things thatyou've done over the years
(26:27):
Kansas Prayer Breakfast, thelist goes on and on and on.
Why Topeka Rescue Mission foryou?
There's a lot of things thatyou have done you could do.
Why here?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
Yeah, it's interesting.
I was invited to join the boardby a friend of mine who was on
the board, kevin Swift, and myexperience is I had no idea.
And my experience is I had noidea.
I mean, like John said, I hadno idea what you all did or what
(26:58):
we all do, and I had no idea ofwhat the circumstances are
different circumstances forpeople that are homeless, the
unsheltered homeless, as well asthose that stay at the mission.
So, you know, I guess it justhad to be the Lord led me here,
because maybe he wanted me tofind out.
I don't know, but yeah, I hadno idea and I'm learning
(27:22):
something new every time.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
What and this is thrown out to the three of you,
LaManda we'll get back to you.
Okay, this one here from theboard.
What do you look forward toeach month when you come to a
regular scheduled board meeting?
What is that thing you reallylook forward to?
Speaker 5 (27:44):
They might not have anything.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
No, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
They keep showing up and have been for a long time.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
They just also have a lot of responsibility.
I mean, they get to see thebeauty, but they also get to see
the beastie parts too.
That's right.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
But there still is something that you're looking
forward to, because there areenough complications, enough
reasons to not want to assumethese responsibilities.
We're talking about life anddeath here.
We're talking about anorganization that is standing in
the gap for people who can liveor they can die, and that's a
huge responsibility, not justfor the CEO, not just for the
staff, but also the board ofdirectors, and you never know
(28:26):
where your next dime's comingfrom.
You don't.
There's no guarantees here.
There's no set governmentgrants, there's no donor that's
signed up that's going to giveyou perpetually a million
dollars every year for the restof your lives, or whatever.
None of that.
So what do you look forward towhen you come with the enormous
responsibilities?
What fuels your jet to keepcoming?
Speaker 7 (28:47):
Well, for me, it's relationships Again.
Well, for me, it'srelationships again.
Trm is so connected to so manyfacets of Topeka and from city
government and other ministriesand so, and so the success with
relationships is so critical tothe mission of TRM, and I love
(29:09):
to hear that breakthroughs,relationships have gotten better
, or we've developed a new onewith somebody else, some other
(29:30):
ministry, because it takes allof us to get this work done, and
so I love relationship buildingand I don't really look forward
to the financial report.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Sorry Mike, so much it.
Sorry Mike, so much.
It's all on Mike, okay.
So kind of what I'm hearing inthere, john, is there's always
something to look forward to asthe next thing.
There's kind of an expectationhere of something is happening,
moving in the right direction,besides Mike's reports.
Speaker 7 (29:51):
Because the better we are at that, the better the end
user is, or the end person whoneeds.
Because it just works that wayIf we have the funds, we have
the relationships, then thatperson in front of us, whoever
that is, their needs can be metand they can go to their next
(30:12):
step.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Mike, I would think that there are some times you
really look forward to coming toa board meeting because you got
a good financial report, andthen other times not so much.
But why do you keep coming?
You've been doing this for anumber of years now.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
Well, I think I probably mentioned this before
with other people and stuff, butTRM, it's faith with its
sleeves rolled up.
What I like to hear, obviouslyand we have to hear the bad
things as well as the goodthings but what's always good
(30:46):
when we're in a group with theboard members is one we have a
broad representation of peoplethat have different experiences
but we get to hear from lamandaand miriam and they bring staff,
other staff and leadershippeople in occasionally, but it
is always good to hear theimpacts that we have had.
(31:10):
And it's not us, it's God, butGod working through us, and it's
with our faith, with oursleeves rolled up.
That is such a key thing for mewith Topeka Rescue Mission and
I just you know it's veryhumbling to see what God has
done through our employees andour volunteers and everything.
(31:33):
And if I had to say what I wascoming back for, that's probably
what it is, it's just.
Trm makes me a better person,in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
So I think that would go with any of us.
Mike, Really do.
Greg, I want to give you anopportunity.
What do you look forward toonce a month?
Speaker 6 (31:54):
Yeah, I think mine's similar to what Mike just said
learning and hearing about thedifferent things that we have
happened that have an impact onpeople's lives and changes their
lives, and I like to tell thestories to my friends, my inner
circle.
So when I hear something Ithink is really cool or really a
(32:16):
great thing, I always make sureeverybody I know knows about it
.
So I kind of look for thoseopportunities to when I can
spread the word on what TRM isdoing.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
John, it said it had no idea there are so many
different moving parts to thisand it never is doing.
John had said it had no ideathere are so many different
moving parts to this and itnever is static.
It just keeps evolving andgrowing and changing based upon
needs.
And also there are the bigchallenges that we've talked
about in many different ways,whether it be with decisions
made outside of the auspice ofTRM, decisions made at the
(32:49):
government level, decisions madein people's lives, the
suffering, the hurt that weencounter every day.
Yet you keep coming back.
It's kind of like back to thatNational Live Fearless Day.
When you come to Topeka RescueMission every day as a staff
member or a volunteer, you'reliving fearlessly.
But also, john, what you'd saidyou live in freedom.
You live in freedom to knowthat you're not the only one
(33:12):
that's working this show, tohave that freedom to be able to
step into this.
Amanda's over here grinning.
Yeah, she didn't know three anda half years ago she was going
to step into this livefearlessly role.
But, amanda, I want to diveinto a night of praise here in
just a second.
But you're hearing your boardmembers talk.
(33:34):
You're hearing the why.
As they see it, what are youhearing?
Speaker 5 (33:42):
So I think I'm supposed to share Saturday night
.
It was pretty late, I think,1030 or so, maybe a little bit
later, and I get a call that wehave a technology technology
issue at the shelters and youknow, of course we have plan B
and C.
Always we try to be.
I think that helps us livefearlessly better when we know
(34:06):
we have a couple of plans.
But anyway, so that's right.
So I get in the car and I'mheaded to the mission and called
in a couple of other peoplejust so that we could navigate,
uh, josh being one of them.
So I appreciate him spendingsome time with me on Saturday
night.
But on the way down here, um,you know, I was trying to figure
out if this is not an easy fix,what can we do, this, that and
(34:29):
the other.
And I'm praying, of course I'mpraying for just safety.
I'm praying for us to havewisdom.
I'm praying for the bill thatwe might be having to pay when
it's triple.
It feels like on weekends andholiday weekend, all of this.
Get to the shelter and I walkin and, um, my hair's on top of
(34:55):
my head, glasses on Right, andthere's probably 10 to 12 men in
the front lobby and I comethrough and I greet the front
desk people and then I walk intothe shelter and they turn
around.
They're like and then I walkinto the shelter and they turn
around, they're like hey.
And I said, hey, guys, how areyou?
Happy Saturday?
And they're like boss, lady.
(35:16):
And then they all like 10 ofthem boss, lady, boss, lady.
And I had this moment and I'mthankful for it and it was part
conviction and then, I think,part encouragement.
But I thought I don't know whatthis is going to cost.
I don't know if this is goingto be an easy fix.
(35:36):
Oh, we probably should have hadfive other computers on backup
instead of just three and andand and.
In that moment all I couldthink about is those 12 men that
I had in front of me that weresafe, those 12 men who had
community, these 12 men who hadeaten, and the 12 men who were
(36:03):
waiting up there to make sureeverything was going to be okay
with the technology, becausethey were willing to help and so
fast forward.
It was actually an easier fixthan we thought, but it was a
good learning opportunity,because we need to put probably
three or four more things inplace.
And so we're strategizing andthen I find out that one of my
staff members that's working.
(36:24):
It's his birthday, so I bust usall out Some of the guests that
were still up there, six orseven staff member we all bust
out and singing him happybirthday.
I know that staff member'sstory and I just think it's so
incredible that he has walkedthe journey he has and that then
we're celebrating his birthday,right.
And then, to top it off, anhour passes, an hour and a half
(36:50):
passes, and a gentleman comes upto the front desk and he says
are you all like the big leadershere?
And I looked at him and I saidwell, we're just part of the
team.
And he looked at me and he saidI'm pretty sure you're the top
leader.
And I laughed and I said if youhave a compliment, yes, and if
it's a complaint.
And I pointed at Christian, andChristian, I laughed and I said
if you have a compliment yes,and if it's a complaint and I
(37:12):
pointed at Christian andChristian was laughing and I
said I'm just kidding.
And this guest kind of unfoldedsome things and he had been
talking to a front desk workerand then he looked at the front
desk worker and he said should Itell her about my struggle?
And the front desk worker goesman, that's your business, she
(37:32):
cares, but you decide what youtell us.
So he does and he unpacks thisstuff.
And one of the things that heshared is that it's so hard to
fight the demons and I won'tshare much more than that.
(37:57):
But he said something about hedoesn't want to fall backwards,
but the other side is, sometimesit's just easier to not fight
the demons.
And so I gave him somepractical advice, as much as I
could, right, and then sharedwith him.
You realize that you do havethe power.
I don't know if it's a realdemon or not, but when you walk
with Christ you do have thepower to tell that demon or that
(38:20):
struggle, that that thatthere's no place in you with
that.
And he was like well, how do Ido that, you know?
And so we walked through thisand then finished the
conversation and I said can Ipray with you?
And he said, yeah, yeah, andthis big guy a lot bigger than
me, and I said can I put my handon your shoulder?
And he said, yep, and so we did.
And whoever was standing thereI'm not even sure goes into
(38:42):
prayer of praying for him andwhat his next steps are, and
that I knew he had alreadyovercome a lot of challenges for
him to even be willing to stayin a homeless shelter, and I
prayed that I would justcontinue to try to understand
what these people face, evenwhen maybe I haven't walked
through the same thing, prayedall that, and so walked away
(39:08):
from him.
To then, the cherry on the cakeright was a gentleman and I've
talked about him on this podcastan unsheltered neighbor who I
have a great relationship withand not because it's always been
pretty, there's been a lot ofbumps in mine and his
relationship.
But he walked through and I sawhim and I said, hey, I'm glad
(39:34):
that you're still in here.
And I walked up to him and as Iwas walking up, he pointed at
all of us and he said I justwant you all to know that it's
11 o'clock at night and I can'tbelieve all of you are here for
us, and I'll remember that andthat might just sound like any
(39:59):
old, like, oh, that's just aform of appreciation, but coming
from someone who often distrustus and just distrust people
because of struggles and all ofthat, that is probably a bigger
compliment to me than Noah Fritz, tom with CityGate CEO.
I love him.
(40:19):
But if Tom would have given mea compliment and so I got in my
car after all of this andthere's a component of me that's
still like what is this goingto cost?
We've got to reconfigure somethings on Tuesday morning, like
the practicality, theresponsible part of me as a CEO.
But then I was reminded that Icannot put financial, financial
(40:44):
strains, I cannot put theweariness, I cannot put the
challenges of relapse, I can'tput all of that in front of what
God is doing when none of usare here.
And so I got in my car and I waslike, lord, I give you right
now the finances, I give you thecost of what this is going to
(41:08):
be, because you're reallyrunning this place.
But, god, thank you that I hadthe opportunity to be welcomed
by 12 men who really don't knowme, yelling boss lady eager to
see me.
Thank you that I had theprivilege that someone trusted
me enough to pray with him andto pray over something so deep
(41:28):
and then to receive gratitudefrom someone who has been hurt,
by people saying they're goingto help him.
And I got in my car and Ithought that, as the CEO, that
work has got to remain my focusand I just prayed to the Lord
all the way as I was drivingdown Topeka Boulevard.
(41:49):
God, please, let me always havethe balance of the financial
responsibility, the stewardshipto do things right, the business
aspects of ministry, but, lord,always keep me so connected to
the work that you think isimportant.
And that's the transformationthat happens.
(42:12):
And that convicted me, becausesometimes I think I focus too
much on paying the bills or toomuch on do we continue with this
program or too much on this.
But all of that seems so minutewhen you look at the fact that
that night we had 267 people inthese buildings with needs met
(42:32):
on a practical level andspiritual, and so I just want to
continue to try to trust theLord for his provisions, and
that trust needs to be greaterthan my fears of the failures
that could come.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
Tons of stories like that and how sometimes God will
allow a problem to occur yeah.
Not at the most convenienttimes.
Speaker 6 (42:55):
No.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
To be able to have that encounter with that
particular individual at thetime.
Well, I think we've heard someof the why here.
We've heard about freedom,we've heard about the challenge,
the burden, but also theexpectation of God doing
something, and something beingvastly different in regards to
an opportunity, through aministry like Topeka Rescue
(43:18):
Mission, to make all that happen.
And so, whether it's the guestor the CEO, or the board member,
the volunteer, the communityperson, the person listening to
the podcast, we're all lookingfor something that shows us that
we're not alone.
And we know at Topeka RescueMission we're not alone because
the Lord established this and hesustains it, but he also gives
(43:40):
us opportunity to get up at 10o'clock at night and go try to
fix the cameras that are all outat Topeka Rescue Mission safety
issue in all the buildings.
So, fortunately, it got fixed,and so, john.
Speaker 7 (43:53):
I feel like you're going to conclude soon and I got
to make sure I say something,cause how do you know?
Speaker 2 (43:59):
I know you talk a little bit more about night of
praise before we conclude.
John's listened to everypodcast he knows your tone.
Speaker 7 (44:06):
Yeah, I actually have .
So I just feel heavy on myheart to really express to all
of the podcast listeners outthere.
You just heard LaManda's heartand we see it.
I speak on behalf of the entireboard.
(44:26):
We love LaManda, we support her100%.
You know, as I was listening toher just then, it just kept
coming back to me that she's notgoing to allow just TRM to be a
monument.
(44:47):
It's a movement.
We're continually moving andthere is no complacency in her
and so no cruise control notgoing in neutral.
We're always moving forward and, uh, lamanda does that and she
(45:09):
does it, I know, because she'sso deep in her faith and that
drives her.
It's not LaManda, it's LaMandathrough her faith in God, um,
and so I want her to to justknow um and and all the
listeners to know how much thatwe love her and support her.
She makes a lot of sacrificesto be our CEO and um, and she is
(45:31):
amazing.
And so if you're out there, uh,listening to us and you want to
go to the night of praise, uh,please, please, show up and um,
and introduce yourself to us andto the Amanda.
If you've never done it before,we'd love to see you come out
to us and to LaManda.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
If you've never done it before, we'd love to see you
come out.
Well said, thank you, john.
So let's talk real briefly.
Uh, what, uh can we expect atNight of Praise?
Um, josh, again, it's about 10days from now Um, we've got uh
the 12th coming up.
Let's talk about that.
I want to hear from some boardmembers what they um, what they
think people can expect as well.
Speaker 1 (46:06):
Yeah, so you want me to go through the program?
Yeah, I mean we'll leave somestuff.
I mean we've got stories, We'vegot some amazing bands coming
to do worship, Like I talkedabout.
This year we're doing a littledifferent.
We've got members fromdifferent churches making I
don't like using the wordconglomerate.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
They're collaborating , collaborating.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
There you go.
That's a lot better, uh,collaborative bands, um, and so
we've got a gospel band andwe've got a kind of contemporary
Christian band and, um, butagain it's that unity in in in
the church, and so you know,we've got stories, we've got
great worship and, uh, we justneed you the listener.
Speaker 5 (46:41):
Yeah, the theme is loving in the gap so we can
share that.
We've been focused on that allyear with our newsletters, which
I just wanted to say thank youto Mike Schottel and Josh, and
we do that together.
Those meetings are prettyhumorous, those are fun they
consist of.
(47:01):
We know this is what we need tocommunicate.
We know this one needs to beabout night of praise.
We know two guys like I've notheard the Lord say anything.
So we're going to pray andwe're going to talk, and it's so
incredible to see the messageof this loving in the gap come
out in each newsletter, and sowe are taking really kind of the
(47:24):
heart that we've talked aboutall year in the newsletter the
different ways our donors lovein the gap, the different ways
our staff love in the gap.
You're going to hear a heartwrenching one about loving in
the gap, and so we do hope thatthis is a mixture of definitely
educating the community aboutwhat all God does at the rescue
(47:48):
mission, but also the verypractical ways that people can
get involved with us to love inthe gap.
But I also think that it isneat to kind of see this year
long theme come together in somepretty cool ways with
decorations and such.
Speaker 2 (48:05):
Greg, real quick.
From your perspective, what doyou expect I?
Speaker 6 (48:07):
think the personal stories, personal testimonies,
that's where we really learn theeffect we're having on people's
lives.
And you can publish statisticsand numbers how many people
we've housed or how many peoplewe've fed but when you hear
personal testimonies of how TRMhas helped them, that's just so
(48:30):
much more effective.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yes, john.
Speaker 7 (48:32):
Oh same, I love to see transformation in people's
lives and those next steps.
Yeah, I mean really, it justcomes down to that and I love to
(48:54):
see people show up and see whatTRM is doing and sort of remove
some of the.
I had no ideas.
Speaker 4 (48:58):
Good Mike.
Yeah, I think for me.
I put out I think I said thisbefore as well Ultimately
probably won't ever happen, butultimately we'd like to be out
of the business at TRM and nothave to serve any homeless or
other Got a plan.
(49:19):
Yeah, it's a goal that I thinkwe should have as a society
society.
But again, just the Night ofPraise is an opportunity to see
all the good things that haveoccurred, to hopefully help some
people that maybe haven't beeninvolved with TRM or know as
(49:44):
much about get a littleinformation on what we do do and
how we do impact and how Godhelps us do that, you know what
I didn't hear from any of you.
Speaker 2 (49:55):
It's going to be a hard sell to bring money.
It's going to be a hard driveras a fundraiser.
Didn't hear any of that.
It is still that I talked aboutthe financial needs of the
rescue mission, but I heard it'sabout story and testimony and
relationship and opportunity tothank God, and I think if you've
been there to a night of praise, you know what we're talking
about.
(50:15):
If you haven't, you might wantto come this time, because it's
going to be a time that is goingto inspire you.
It's going to maybe challengeyou a little bit, but you're
going to be able to see.
Well, I didn't know that.
Like, we've heard that beforehere and there will be things
that you will learn that won'tjust be about Topeka Rescue
Mission.
It'll be about you.
Everybody who comes, it's aboutyou and it's about this God who
(50:37):
is just crazy about you and hewants to invite you to be a part
of this.
Josh, one more time, tell uswhen, where and how.
Speaker 1 (50:48):
Yes, so a night of praise uh loving in the gap is
going to be Friday, september12th.
In 10 days days, a second uhdoors open at six.
Uh event starts at six 30.
Um, there's going to be somecool stuff.
So come early, come at six,come look around the fellowship
Bible, cause that's where it'sgoing to be.
Speaker 2 (51:00):
And you can bring a non-perishable food item um to
that um, if you can, andthere'll be a truck to put it on
, and also you can also bringyour checkbook and there'll be a
QR code that you can helpparticipate in this, as you are
invited to be a part of someamazing Ask people to love in
the gap with us.
Speaker 5 (51:16):
Yes, and I just yeah, I just wanted to end also with
some gratitude of people whohave worked really hard I would
say months, but really we startworking on it the night of
praise, that night for the nextyear.
So I think it's just like anongoing yearly effort of love.
But I really want people tocome because there's a lot of
(51:40):
God led hard work that's beenput in it from.
We appreciate man, all of ourpartners, uh, bill and Brody,
and every the team at fellowshipBible church.
Speaker 1 (51:49):
Huge shout out to them.
I mean those guys put in a tonof work behind the scenes for us
and and have a huge heart.
So yeah, big shout out to yeah,Brody, Bill Dalton, all those
amazing guys there.
Speaker 5 (51:59):
On top of everything else that they're doing, Um, but
I also know, you know, we'vegot people working on the tables
that we're setting up right nowand just the vision of it and,
uh, there's just a lot ofgratitude.
But I also want to thank Joshbecause, um, he does not like
being in the limelight and, um,he got pretty used to being only
(52:19):
behind the mic and the camera.
Uh, but through this, um, hehas really embraced the talents
that God has given him to beable to tell God's story and
this is a whole differentplatform for him.
He's doing red couch visits andhe's doing the KSNT morning
show and he's doing interviews,the night of night of praise,
(52:40):
which, yes, you will do thatagain this year.
But, yeah, I just appreciateMiriam's vision on this.
Josh's Kim's done it becauseshe was instrumental a couple of
years ago as we were forming it.
I appreciate the board'ssupport in it.
So, you know, we've heard theheart, We've heard the why and I
just want people to know thatyou are welcomed.
(53:01):
And, lastly, I did a personalinvite that has hit social media
at the end of last week and Isaid in that personal invite
regardless, if you are in themiddle of a very successful time
and you're on the mountaintopand you want to just come give
God glory.
Come do that.
But I also said you know,regardless of position and job
or no job, if you're reallystruggling, we've got a seat for
(53:24):
you.
This is a time where you'regoing to be around other people
who probably relate more thanyou think and you're not
isolated.
So a lot of hard work has comeinto it.
I'm thankful for everyone who'spoured into it, Thankful for
the musicians that are comingtogether in a very
unconventional way to, I don'tknow, show us what I personally
(53:45):
think a glimpse of heaven isgoing to look like.
So hope you all there.
Speaker 2 (53:49):
Excellent, it's good.
There's nothing to be expectedof you other than to come and
just join with everybody elsewho is there.
I'd like to thank our boardmembers for being here.
Greg, john, mike, if you guyswant to come back anytime, mike,
I know you love this, so comeon back anytime.
I love hearing your perspectives, really do.
I think it's very valuable.
But again, thanks for joiningus here today and thank you for
(54:10):
listening to our community, ourmission.
You've heard a lot about thewhy of the night of praise
that's coming up on the 12th ofSeptember.
Doors open at 6 pm atFellowship Bible.
The program starts at 6.30 pm.
It'll be a night that you willnot regret coming, and if you'd
like more information about thisor about Topeka Rescue Mission,
you can go to trmonlineorg.
(54:30):
That's trmonlineorg.
Thanks for listening to ourcommunity, our mission.
Gracious Heavenly Father, we just come humbly
before you today and thank you,lord, for your blessings and
this time to be together torecord this podcast.
Lord, we thank you for all ofour listeners and Lord just
thank you for this upcomingnight of praise that we get to
talk about today.
And, lord just pray that yourwill would be done and, lord,
that listeners today would beblessed and encouraged.
Father, we love you and wepraise your name, Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello everybody, thank you for joining us for our
community, our mission.
A podcast of the Topeka RescueMission.
This is Tuesday, september 2nd2025.
I'm your host today, barryFeeker, with a big crowd of
people here today to talk abouta very special event which Josh
mentioned in his prayer.
So Josh, go ahead and talkabout that.
Then we're going to talk aboutwhat's special about today and
then we're going to introduceour guests.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, so I'm excited to talk about Night of Praise
today.
Night of Praise is coming upFriday, in 10 days, friday
September 12th.
It's the third annual Thirdannual Starts at 6.30, doors
open at six and we wanteverybody to be there.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
So we've been talking about that for a bit, getting
led up to this and so having ourspecial guests here today,
which are three board members inaddition to LaManna Cunningham
and also Marion Crable, so wegot a lot of folks around mics
today.
So we're going to be doing alittle sharing back and forth,
so we're going to talk about theimportance and really try to
help people to understand whythis is a really good thing to
(01:24):
attend.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah.
So, um, I think just to startlike to try and like kick it off
is one thing that's always beenreally important, for night of
praise is like unity and comingtogether as the body of Christ,
and that's one thing I've alwaysloved about it is, um, it's not
like one church like you knowFBC, and then you know they help
(01:46):
it put, help us put it on, andeverything, but there's
different bands from, anddifferent band members, um, from
across different churches, andthere's different people that
come from differentdenominations and it's, you know
, one true body of Christ,glorifying God and the work that
he's doing, and that's like thebig thing that I always love
about it the most.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So we're going to take a deep dive here in a
minute.
So good morning, lamanna,miriam, good morning.
So are you ready for the quizof the day, the research and
development?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
department has done their due diligence again.
Never but sure.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Josh and Alec.
They work really hard on thesethings and so-.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I think they do this to torture us.
I'm just saying.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, that's good.
So you know, I mean it's.
You know, I mean you had a dayoff.
Yesterday it was Memorial Day,right, mm-hmm?
Labor Day.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
It was Labor Day.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Yeah, labor Day, oh yeah, I'm getting ahead of
myself, I'm behind myself.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
No, we still labored on Labor Day and Saturday night
and yesterday after church.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You think I was inintentional about Labor Day or
Memorial Day.
It's always Memorial.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Day it is.
That's right, that's right.
It's all about labor.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So anyway, LeMahon and Miriam, today is National
Live Fearless Day.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Why is there just one day?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Because it's not.
It's dangerous, barry, andyesterday was one of those days.
As I was trying to drive home,I was on roads that have no
business having two-way traffic.
I came around the curve andthere was a massive pickup with
the bull guard with everything,and I'm like, oh, oh, you don't
(03:22):
know what that is well, it'sokay, you're not a rancher.
It's not a problem, it's the bigthing that protects the front
of the truck.
Oh yeah, so I had a closeencounter.
But, barry, you need, and I wasnot fearless.
But the reason she had toscream.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
That's right Well yeah, let's call it that, let's
call it that, but.
But the thing is, the reasonwhy that was a close encounter
is all of us, like myself, thatonly drive the speed limit.
We never have to worry aboutthose things.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
But Miriam, she was probably driving 95 miles an
hour around that curve.
I wasn't, because it was a dirtroad that was this wide, only
this five inches wide.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Because our listeners can see.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
That's why I threw in the five inches.
But today is National LiveFearless Day, not yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Well, that's why I think it's a bad idea.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay, so we don't have to do that anymore.
Well, just somebody came upwith this stuff and Josh found
it, and so basically, justSeptember 2nd urges people to
live fearlessly.
So I think in America you livefearlessly all the time.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So yeah, you know, the nice thing is, you don't
have to participate though.
This is just, they're theretoday and you can pick to not do
it.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
You don't want to.
So if you're not into it, justgo home and lock the door and
try to do it tomorrow.
Okay, so it's also NationalCalendar Adjustment Day.
Lamanda, how many times haveyou adjusted your calendar
already today?
Three, three okay.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Well, that's not bad.
And it's what 9-17?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yes, in the morning.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So, yep, it's one of those days adjusting calendars.
Yeah, we won't get into all thedetails, but also for people
who really aren't quite readyfor NFL season to start, it's
Spalding Baseball Day.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Josh, why did you?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
choose this.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I love baseball.
It's America's pastime.
Also, just to plug my son who'splaying Little League he had a
home run this summer.
Yes, he did.
I was pretty excited about that.
I never had a home run playingbaseball.
You're already beating me,buddy.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Living vicariously through your kid the video was
so cute.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I don't know who was more excited him, dad or mom
Exactly.
I don't know either.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So, anyway, those are the things about today, but
also, again, josh talked about aspecial event coming up, and so
here in the studio of TopekaRescue Mission, which is kind of
a makeshift studio, we have thepresident of the board, john
Ostenson.
Good morning, john.
How are you?
Good morning, I'm doing well.
Good to see you.
Greg.
Armbruster is vice president.
Good to see you again, greg.
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Good morning.
I'm doing well too, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Good, good.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
I didn't ask you that , Mike?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
how are you doing Mike Reinhart, who is the
treasurer of the board?
Speaker 4 (06:04):
I guess I'm living fearlessly.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I came to be part of this party.
That's right, Mike.
We know you love this kind ofstuff.
But anyway, lamanna, whyhaven't three board members here
this morning, about Nine ofPreys?
Board members are important tothe Topeka Rescue Mission to
help give a lot of guidance andaccountability and checks and
(06:28):
balances and those kinds ofthings.
What is it about this group andthe rest of your board that's
important to the special eventcoming up?
Speaker 5 (06:36):
You know, I think one .
I just appreciate our board andI know some people are probably
like, oh, she's saying thatbecause they're sitting right
there.
But even when they're not inthe room, I mean I talk a lot
about what their level ofsupport means to not only just
me as their CEO but ourorganization.
I mean, I think they arebalanced in their approach of
(06:58):
knowing their roles as boardmembers and the responsibility
and they take that seriously andthey take that seriously, Um,
and they humbly serve.
Many of them you will find umdefinitely serving in different
capacities at the rescue missionoutside of the monthly meetings
.
Uh, there are an added level ofsupport to me when we have
challenging days here.
Um, things happen.
(07:19):
I get text messages from thempraying for.
You had a small incidentyesterday or Sunday here had a
board member drive by as I wasstanding outside the building,
he and his wife just to tell methat they loved me and
appreciated what we were doing.
So when you take just theintegrity that they have and
their stance all year long, yearafter year, serving the rescue
(07:43):
mission, To me that carries overinto when we do events like
these and so, again, Iappreciate their vision.
With it.
I appreciate their feedbackthat they give us.
I appreciate that they serveleading up to the event, like
right now doing this podcast topromote it, and then you'll see
all of them the night of nightof praise, as well as greeters
(08:04):
and at different tables andstuff.
And to me, I love that this isnot only an activity and a
fundraiser that we put on.
When Josh mentions the unity ofour community, it's also
incredible to see the unity ofboard leadership here, employees
here, donors here, volunteershere, and we all come together
(08:28):
to make this night happen aswell, and to me that's
incredible.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah, so this is like the third annual.
So where did this start?
What was the reason behind itand why so much involvement with
board and staff and volunteers?
Obviously, any event takes alot of folks to make it happen.
There's a lot of complicationswhen you're a first time doing
something of that nature.
So what was the genesis of this?
Speaker 5 (08:55):
You know, I think it's kind of twofold.
One is, you know, our board andmyself really want to find the
balance of communicating ourneeds to the community so that
we continue to have a healthybudget, a budget that can keep
up with the demands that ourcommunity is facing.
(09:16):
And so, looking at this from afinancial standpoint of we need
to be doing something every yearthat is intentional, to not
only try to secure financialdonations but also try to secure
monthly donors and differenttypes of committed donations so
(09:36):
that we can maintain the budgetthat's needed to serve our
community.
And then the other side of itis, you know, myself, miriam and
several others here we're justseeing the need in our community
of something that brings hope.
And I think that there, you know, at times can be division or
(09:57):
maybe even controversy when wetry to look at all the different
churches and things like that.
And so what could we do as aministry that is not just
associated with one?
How can we bring like-mindedpeople together?
But how can we also be a placethat, if somebody is questioning
that, they can come and hearabout the work of humanity and
(10:20):
what that looks like, but thenalso how it's rooted in the
gospel here.
So that was really two foldedof looking at what we need to do
annually to try to secureadditional funds to maintain our
budget, but then also beingintentional at what type of
event we did that didn't take usaway from a mission drift or
(10:41):
didn't, really wasn't outside ofour scope and sequence, and so
what a better way.
Uh, a team member that used towork here was like hey, what do
you think about a worship night?
And instantly my heart was likeyep, that's what we need to do.
It blesses the community, butit also is an opportunity for us
to educate, um, anybody thatcomes about TRM.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So I'm going to throw this out to any one of the
three board members who are hereto answer this question, but a
lot of fundraisers and this is afundraiser for Topeka Rescue
Mission talk about a particularthing they're trying to raise
funds for.
It could be, in this case, afundraiser for Topeka Rescue
Mission help the homeless, savethe children, save the whales.
(11:20):
Whatever the case might be,this is called Night of Praise.
That is a very definitive,different way of identifying a
fundraiser.
I think Amanda addressed it alittle bit.
But from a board member'sperspective, why is it important
to you and, you think, to theTopeka Rescue Mission, to not
specifically run out and sayhelping the homeless or helping
(11:42):
the hungry or whatever?
That's all built into this, aswe've seen before, but why call
it the Night of Praise?
Speaker 6 (11:54):
I'll try to answer that.
I think one of the things we doat the Night of Praise is
provide personal testimoniesfrom people who have been helped
by TRM, and so it gives us achance to praise God for the
healing, the people who havebeen helped, how God has worked
(12:17):
through TRM to provide thishealing, and just give God all
the credit for it.
So I think we're praising Godnot only for who he is, but for
what he's doing with TRM.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
John.
Thanks Greg.
John, as a board president, alot of responsibilities being a
board member, being in thepresident's position.
I've known you for a very longtime when you were Shawnee
County Sheriff's Department,working with us on streets and
different things like that.
And here you are at TopekaRescue Mission being a board
member.
I think I know the answer tothis, but I would like for you
(12:53):
to say what your answer is theemphasis on worship night of
praise God Jesus Christ, topraise God Jesus Christ.
How's that different from whatyou might see in other
nonprofits or organizationsabout the importance of that
aspect of Topeka Rescue Mission?
Freedom.
Speaker 7 (13:14):
Because this TRM is obviously very faith-based, and
so we love God Jesus, and so welove God Jesus, Holy Spirit, and
we worship him, and so thefreedom is that we can outwardly
express that in many, many ways, and this is just one for the
(13:36):
night of praise.
When Josh opened up at thebeginning of this, he alluded to
the just coming together inunity and there's something very
, very powerful about that wherethe different denominations
come in together worshiping nextto somebody that might worship
(14:15):
a little bit differentChrist-awareness and not so much
self-awareness, if that makessense.
We feel that we are commissionedby God to take care of TRM and
do his work, be his hands andhis feet, and I just feel like
that's what we can do withfreedom.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
And God just takes care of us to be able to do that
.
Miriam, you've worked in othernonprofits before Topeka Rescue
Mission.
I think we've talked about thatmany times.
Coming to TRM meant a lot toyou from a spiritual standpoint,
from your relationship withChrist.
Talk about what John just saidand how important that is, do
(15:01):
you think, to yourself, as wellas the ministry of TRM, the
primary, I think that a lot ofpeople don't understand is um,
um, honoring God, um and servingothers as a, as equal part of
that.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
I.
I think it's the game changer,right?
I mean, if that's your focus,then everything you do takes on
a different tone.
You know, because it's somethingbigger than just what we do on
a daily basis.
It has a deeper purpose.
It's um less focused on who weare in terms of an organization
(15:39):
and more focused on why we'rehere and who we actually serve,
and I think that's completelydifferent than other
organizations that don't havethat central focus.
That is Christ right.
That is advancing a kingdombeyond what we do right here.
Right, it's about um LaMandatalks about it all the time.
(16:00):
It's about understanding thateach person we come in contact
with is Imago Dei, even whenthey don't act like we would
like them to act is made in theimage of God, right.
Even when they don't look likethey've got their stuff together
, even when they're not behavingin ways that we think are
(16:22):
appropriate and, frankly, aren'tappropriate, even when they're
not behaving in ways that wethink are appropriate and,
frankly, aren't appropriate,even when they're angry with the
world and with us, all of thosethings, each one of those
people is still made in theimage of God and that brings our
understanding of that and ourstriving to always do that also
brings glory to the Father, andit's just different.
Speaker 7 (16:45):
It's just different.
Trm is unique in the way thatwe're very relationship-oriented
, very relationship and servingothers and servanthood is the
prescription for healthyrelationships.
Prescription for healthyrelationships and LaManda says
(17:10):
it many, many times aboutreaching out to those in need,
the ones that we serve, andhoping that they're ready for
that next step and ourrelationship with them helps
them to get to their next step.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
You know we talk about the importance of God and
being the primary factor hereand reaching out to people and
not judging them but to helpthem right where they are.
But also there is a significant, equally important part of this
and that is good stewardship ofthe resources that you get in
(17:42):
and to have enough resources tobring that in.
And so it's a challengesometimes to be able to balance
between the spiritual and thebusiness side of and, mike, I'm
going to throw you the hardballquestion here as treasurer, mike
, how do you balance thistrusting God aspect that we're
(18:03):
here to serve him and serve thepeople he brings in our path?
And it takes resources, ittakes good management of those
resources and, as the treasurerof the board and your experience
and your expertise inaccounting, how do you balance
that?
Between my gosh we have thisbig, huge need that's come up
(18:24):
and trying to do the businesspart as well as the spiritual
part.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yeah, so it's.
You know, I think when I thinkof the night of praise, that's
one of the biggest things, that,how I think it came apart and
was developed, is that webalance.
At Topeka Rescue Mission we putour faith that God is going to
provide.
Now I call myself a strugglingChristian.
(18:51):
The rest of the board and staffmembers sometimes have to keep
me on track because I get alittle nervous sometimes.
Maybe you're honest as to, hey,we need this or we need that.
But you know, in my time on theboard, I've been continually
amazed at how things Godprovides for us.
(19:16):
And that, to me, is part ofthis night of praise is that God
provides through a outstandingcommunity of Topeka, and Shawnee
.
County in helping provideresources and Shawnee County in
helping provide resources, notonly financial but volunteer
resources and prayer for thepeople that we're serving, and
(19:40):
it's, you know, sometimes for mea difficult balance.
But I go back, barry, I thinkwhen you were leading TRM.
I think you wrote a book at onepoint of all the things that
had been happened, where maybewe didn't know at a certain time
(20:02):
I can't remember what decade itwas or what day Decades but are
we going to have enough foodtonight?
Yes, and there'd be this callthat says, hey, our freezer's
broke and we got all this food.
Can you use it tonight?
I mean just amazing stuff likethat, and to me that's part of
Night of Praise.
We praise every year, but weare very blessed with God's
(20:29):
providence and through thehearts of this community.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
And I think there's such an incredibly important
balance of that between the CEOand the staff and the board to
okay, we've got this need wejust talked about back to school
and the once again miraculousprovision wasn't seeing, it
wasn't happening.
Got the people coming here,they come.
(20:53):
Do we pray and wait or do we goand try to break into reserves
or do we put the peel out formoney and to know the balance
between all that?
And so some people say, well,faith based ministry, to sit
back, kick your heels back, youknow, and bless people and the
money rolls in.
It doesn't happen that way.
You have to have a proactiveapproach to this, but not to
(21:17):
make it become a business.
And, john, that freedom that youtalked about, speaking to that
freedom just a little bit more.
You're free to worship the Lord, you're free to focus on Christ
.
It's a relational ministry.
But as board president, as Mikekind of spoke to this, how do
you view this in regards to thestewardship?
(21:39):
And this is really what NIDA'spraise is about.
It's part about raisingawareness and funds and also
praising God putting the wholepackage together.
How do you balance that in yourown view of leading as board
president?
Speaker 7 (21:51):
Yeah, that is a tough one because it comes down to
faith and trust and sometimesthat can be very challenging.
I often say when I leave ameeting I got a pretty good
pounding headache because theneeds are great.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
Don't say why, and he needs ibuprofen and Tylenol
when he meets with me on ourmonthly meetings.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Yeah, you know, as a believer, sometimes I wish that
I could not not care as much but, I, can't, because life would
be easier if you just didn'thave a deep level of care and I
do and everybody at this tabledoes, and everybody who works
(22:38):
here at TRM and supports TRM arevery caring people and that can
be hard.
But I'm very familiar with 1Peter, 5, 7, because I'm always
casting all my cares over to.
God, because it is hard and youmentioned it.
(22:59):
I mean, how hard do you pushout to say we're in need and we
are.
Prices are up, families arestruggling and people that never
thought they would come to TRMfor help are coming here, and so
how do you balance that out?
But it is faith and trust and,just like Mike mentioned a
(23:22):
moment ago, I mean God providesand he provides in mysterious
ways.
I'm thankful for the listenersright now who are going to
listen to this and feel Godnudging them to help TRM in some
way, if that's volunteer or ifthat's being a reoccurring donor
(23:44):
Ministry or just volunteers andand donating dollars.
Those are all very competitiveand there's a lot of great needs
out there in Topeka and there'sa lot of ministries helping out
.
But I'm speaking for TRM.
We are in need and it's.
(24:06):
It's not.
We're not in crisis, but wealso don't want to be, and
LaManda mentioned earlier justhow many.
You know the people who, thelayers of ministry, and I'm kind
of rambling, but I've got agood thought here.
(24:27):
Every time somebody comes to TRMand wants to help out or you
know, interested in being on theboard and are like me and we
often say I had no idea.
And I've been here for fouryears and I'm still saying that
every once in a while.
I had no idea.
(24:47):
No idea about what that TRM isdoing.
That too, and doing that kindof ministry and reaching out,
and there's just so many layersof TRM and I think many people
experience that.
That's why I love thesepodcasts.
This is number what 280something 282.
282 podcasts and they'rebeautiful because our listeners
(25:10):
can hear exactly what ishappening day, every day, here
and getting the word out.
And that's another thing that Ilike about night of praises.
You can praise God in a lot ofways.
You know we might think, well,it's, it's singing and and that
(25:31):
kind of thing and praying, butit's also.
We praise God by our giving andwe praise God by being together
and being Christlike andthere's a lot of different
things to it.
But TRM is, is God's and we arewe're just taking care of it
(25:52):
for him.
And so an answer to yourquestion faith and trust and
hope.
And that's what we put intothis, our faith in God to supply
all of our needs.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
And that is not common.
It is.
It's a goal, it's talked abouta lot but it actually has to
happen to at Topeka RescueMission.
Greg, you're a business leaderin our community and also you've
been involved in many differentministry activities in the
community and elder in yourchurch.
Just different things thatyou've done over the years
(26:27):
Kansas Prayer Breakfast, thelist goes on and on and on.
Why Topeka Rescue Mission foryou?
There's a lot of things thatyou have done you could do.
Why here?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
Yeah, it's interesting.
I was invited to join the boardby a friend of mine who was on
the board, kevin Swift, and myexperience is I had no idea.
And my experience is I had noidea.
I mean, like John said, I hadno idea what you all did or what
(26:58):
we all do, and I had no idea ofwhat the circumstances are
different circumstances forpeople that are homeless, the
unsheltered homeless, as well asthose that stay at the mission.
So, you know, I guess it justhad to be the Lord led me here,
because maybe he wanted me tofind out.
I don't know, but yeah, I hadno idea and I'm learning
(27:22):
something new every time.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
What and this is thrown out to the three of you,
LaManda we'll get back to you.
Okay, this one here from theboard.
What do you look forward toeach month when you come to a
regular scheduled board meeting?
What is that thing you reallylook forward to?
Speaker 5 (27:44):
They might not have anything.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
No, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
They keep showing up and have been for a long time.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
They just also have a lot of responsibility.
I mean, they get to see thebeauty, but they also get to see
the beastie parts too.
That's right.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
But there still is something that you're looking
forward to, because there areenough complications, enough
reasons to not want to assumethese responsibilities.
We're talking about life anddeath here.
We're talking about anorganization that is standing in
the gap for people who can liveor they can die, and that's a
huge responsibility, not justfor the CEO, not just for the
staff, but also the board ofdirectors, and you never know
(28:26):
where your next dime's comingfrom.
You don't.
There's no guarantees here.
There's no set governmentgrants, there's no donor that's
signed up that's going to giveyou perpetually a million
dollars every year for the restof your lives, or whatever.
None of that.
So what do you look forward towhen you come with the enormous
responsibilities?
What fuels your jet to keepcoming?
Speaker 7 (28:47):
Well, for me, it's relationships Again.
Well, for me, it'srelationships again.
Trm is so connected to so manyfacets of Topeka and from city
government and other ministriesand so, and so the success with
relationships is so critical tothe mission of TRM, and I love
(29:09):
to hear that breakthroughs,relationships have gotten better
, or we've developed a new onewith somebody else, some other
(29:30):
ministry, because it takes allof us to get this work done, and
so I love relationship buildingand I don't really look forward
to the financial report.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Sorry Mike, so much it.
Sorry Mike, so much.
It's all on Mike, okay.
So kind of what I'm hearing inthere, john, is there's always
something to look forward to asthe next thing.
There's kind of an expectationhere of something is happening,
moving in the right direction,besides Mike's reports.
Speaker 7 (29:51):
Because the better we are at that, the better the end
user is, or the end person whoneeds.
Because it just works that wayIf we have the funds, we have
the relationships, then thatperson in front of us, whoever
that is, their needs can be metand they can go to their next
(30:12):
step.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Mike, I would think that there are some times you
really look forward to coming toa board meeting because you got
a good financial report, andthen other times not so much.
But why do you keep coming?
You've been doing this for anumber of years now.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
Well, I think I probably mentioned this before
with other people and stuff, butTRM, it's faith with its
sleeves rolled up.
What I like to hear, obviouslyand we have to hear the bad
things as well as the goodthings but what's always good
(30:46):
when we're in a group with theboard members is one we have a
broad representation of peoplethat have different experiences
but we get to hear from lamandaand miriam and they bring staff,
other staff and leadershippeople in occasionally, but it
is always good to hear theimpacts that we have had.
(31:10):
And it's not us, it's God, butGod working through us, and it's
with our faith, with oursleeves rolled up.
That is such a key thing for mewith Topeka Rescue Mission and
I just you know it's veryhumbling to see what God has
done through our employees andour volunteers and everything.
(31:33):
And if I had to say what I wascoming back for, that's probably
what it is, it's just.
Trm makes me a better person,in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
So I think that would go with any of us.
Mike, Really do.
Greg, I want to give you anopportunity.
What do you look forward toonce a month?
Speaker 6 (31:54):
Yeah, I think mine's similar to what Mike just said
learning and hearing about thedifferent things that we have
happened that have an impact onpeople's lives and changes their
lives, and I like to tell thestories to my friends, my inner
circle.
So when I hear something Ithink is really cool or really a
(32:16):
great thing, I always make sureeverybody I know knows about it
.
So I kind of look for thoseopportunities to when I can
spread the word on what TRM isdoing.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
John, it said it had no idea there are so many
different moving parts to thisand it never is doing.
John had said it had no ideathere are so many different
moving parts to this and itnever is static.
It just keeps evolving andgrowing and changing based upon
needs.
And also there are the bigchallenges that we've talked
about in many different ways,whether it be with decisions
made outside of the auspice ofTRM, decisions made at the
(32:49):
government level, decisions madein people's lives, the
suffering, the hurt that weencounter every day.
Yet you keep coming back.
It's kind of like back to thatNational Live Fearless Day.
When you come to Topeka RescueMission every day as a staff
member or a volunteer, you'reliving fearlessly.
But also, john, what you'd saidyou live in freedom.
You live in freedom to knowthat you're not the only one
(33:12):
that's working this show, tohave that freedom to be able to
step into this.
Amanda's over here grinning.
Yeah, she didn't know three anda half years ago she was going
to step into this livefearlessly role.
But, amanda, I want to diveinto a night of praise here in
just a second.
But you're hearing your boardmembers talk.
(33:34):
You're hearing the why.
As they see it, what are youhearing?
Speaker 5 (33:42):
So I think I'm supposed to share Saturday night
.
It was pretty late, I think,1030 or so, maybe a little bit
later, and I get a call that wehave a technology technology
issue at the shelters and youknow, of course we have plan B
and C.
Always we try to be.
I think that helps us livefearlessly better when we know
(34:06):
we have a couple of plans.
But anyway, so that's right.
So I get in the car and I'mheaded to the mission and called
in a couple of other peoplejust so that we could navigate,
uh, josh being one of them.
So I appreciate him spendingsome time with me on Saturday
night.
But on the way down here, um,you know, I was trying to figure
out if this is not an easy fix,what can we do, this, that and
(34:29):
the other.
And I'm praying, of course I'mpraying for just safety.
I'm praying for us to havewisdom.
I'm praying for the bill thatwe might be having to pay when
it's triple.
It feels like on weekends andholiday weekend, all of this.
Get to the shelter and I walkin and, um, my hair's on top of
(34:55):
my head, glasses on Right, andthere's probably 10 to 12 men in
the front lobby and I comethrough and I greet the front
desk people and then I walk intothe shelter and they turn
around.
They're like and then I walkinto the shelter and they turn
around, they're like hey.
And I said, hey, guys, how areyou?
Happy Saturday?
And they're like boss, lady.
(35:16):
And then they all like 10 ofthem boss, lady, boss, lady.
And I had this moment and I'mthankful for it and it was part
conviction and then, I think,part encouragement.
But I thought I don't know whatthis is going to cost.
I don't know if this is goingto be an easy fix.
(35:36):
Oh, we probably should have hadfive other computers on backup
instead of just three and andand and.
In that moment all I couldthink about is those 12 men that
I had in front of me that weresafe, those 12 men who had
community, these 12 men who hadeaten, and the 12 men who were
(36:03):
waiting up there to make sureeverything was going to be okay
with the technology, becausethey were willing to help and so
fast forward.
It was actually an easier fixthan we thought, but it was a
good learning opportunity,because we need to put probably
three or four more things inplace.
And so we're strategizing andthen I find out that one of my
staff members that's working.
(36:24):
It's his birthday, so I bust usall out Some of the guests that
were still up there, six orseven staff member we all bust
out and singing him happybirthday.
I know that staff member'sstory and I just think it's so
incredible that he has walkedthe journey he has and that then
we're celebrating his birthday,right.
And then, to top it off, anhour passes, an hour and a half
(36:50):
passes, and a gentleman comes upto the front desk and he says
are you all like the big leadershere?
And I looked at him and I saidwell, we're just part of the
team.
And he looked at me and he saidI'm pretty sure you're the top
leader.
And I laughed and I said if youhave a compliment, yes, and if
it's a complaint.
And I pointed at Christian, andChristian, I laughed and I said
if you have a compliment yes,and if it's a complaint and I
(37:12):
pointed at Christian andChristian was laughing and I
said I'm just kidding.
And this guest kind of unfoldedsome things and he had been
talking to a front desk workerand then he looked at the front
desk worker and he said should Itell her about my struggle?
And the front desk worker goesman, that's your business, she
(37:32):
cares, but you decide what youtell us.
So he does and he unpacks thisstuff.
And one of the things that heshared is that it's so hard to
fight the demons and I won'tshare much more than that.
(37:57):
But he said something about hedoesn't want to fall backwards,
but the other side is, sometimesit's just easier to not fight
the demons.
And so I gave him somepractical advice, as much as I
could, right, and then sharedwith him.
You realize that you do havethe power.
I don't know if it's a realdemon or not, but when you walk
with Christ you do have thepower to tell that demon or that
(38:20):
struggle, that that thatthere's no place in you with
that.
And he was like well, how do Ido that, you know?
And so we walked through thisand then finished the
conversation and I said can Ipray with you?
And he said, yeah, yeah, andthis big guy a lot bigger than
me, and I said can I put my handon your shoulder?
And he said, yep, and so we did.
And whoever was standing thereI'm not even sure goes into
(38:42):
prayer of praying for him andwhat his next steps are, and
that I knew he had alreadyovercome a lot of challenges for
him to even be willing to stayin a homeless shelter, and I
prayed that I would justcontinue to try to understand
what these people face, evenwhen maybe I haven't walked
through the same thing, prayedall that, and so walked away
(39:08):
from him.
To then, the cherry on the cakeright was a gentleman and I've
talked about him on this podcastan unsheltered neighbor who I
have a great relationship withand not because it's always been
pretty, there's been a lot ofbumps in mine and his
relationship.
But he walked through and I sawhim and I said, hey, I'm glad
(39:34):
that you're still in here.
And I walked up to him and as Iwas walking up, he pointed at
all of us and he said I justwant you all to know that it's
11 o'clock at night and I can'tbelieve all of you are here for
us, and I'll remember that andthat might just sound like any
(39:59):
old, like, oh, that's just aform of appreciation, but coming
from someone who often distrustus and just distrust people
because of struggles and all ofthat, that is probably a bigger
compliment to me than Noah Fritz, tom with CityGate CEO.
I love him.
(40:19):
But if Tom would have given mea compliment and so I got in my
car after all of this andthere's a component of me that's
still like what is this goingto cost?
We've got to reconfigure somethings on Tuesday morning, like
the practicality, theresponsible part of me as a CEO.
But then I was reminded that Icannot put financial, financial
(40:44):
strains, I cannot put theweariness, I cannot put the
challenges of relapse, I can'tput all of that in front of what
God is doing when none of usare here.
And so I got in my car and I waslike, lord, I give you right
now the finances, I give you thecost of what this is going to
(41:08):
be, because you're reallyrunning this place.
But, god, thank you that I hadthe opportunity to be welcomed
by 12 men who really don't knowme, yelling boss lady eager to
see me.
Thank you that I had theprivilege that someone trusted
me enough to pray with him andto pray over something so deep
(41:28):
and then to receive gratitudefrom someone who has been hurt,
by people saying they're goingto help him.
And I got in my car and Ithought that, as the CEO, that
work has got to remain my focusand I just prayed to the Lord
all the way as I was drivingdown Topeka Boulevard.
(41:49):
God, please, let me always havethe balance of the financial
responsibility, the stewardshipto do things right, the business
aspects of ministry, but, lord,always keep me so connected to
the work that you think isimportant.
And that's the transformationthat happens.
(42:12):
And that convicted me, becausesometimes I think I focus too
much on paying the bills or toomuch on do we continue with this
program or too much on this.
But all of that seems so minutewhen you look at the fact that
that night we had 267 people inthese buildings with needs met
(42:32):
on a practical level andspiritual, and so I just want to
continue to try to trust theLord for his provisions, and
that trust needs to be greaterthan my fears of the failures
that could come.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
Tons of stories like that and how sometimes God will
allow a problem to occur yeah.
Not at the most convenienttimes.
Speaker 6 (42:55):
No.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
To be able to have that encounter with that
particular individual at thetime.
Well, I think we've heard someof the why here.
We've heard about freedom,we've heard about the challenge,
the burden, but also theexpectation of God doing
something, and something beingvastly different in regards to
an opportunity, through aministry like Topeka Rescue
(43:18):
Mission, to make all that happen.
And so, whether it's the guestor the CEO, or the board member,
the volunteer, the communityperson, the person listening to
the podcast, we're all lookingfor something that shows us that
we're not alone.
And we know at Topeka RescueMission we're not alone because
the Lord established this and hesustains it, but he also gives
(43:40):
us opportunity to get up at 10o'clock at night and go try to
fix the cameras that are all outat Topeka Rescue Mission safety
issue in all the buildings.
So, fortunately, it got fixed,and so, john.
Speaker 7 (43:53):
I feel like you're going to conclude soon and I got
to make sure I say something,cause how do you know?
Speaker 2 (43:59):
I know you talk a little bit more about night of
praise before we conclude.
John's listened to everypodcast he knows your tone.
Speaker 7 (44:06):
Yeah, I actually have .
So I just feel heavy on myheart to really express to all
of the podcast listeners outthere.
You just heard LaManda's heartand we see it.
I speak on behalf of the entireboard.
(44:26):
We love LaManda, we support her100%.
You know, as I was listening toher just then, it just kept
coming back to me that she's notgoing to allow just TRM to be a
monument.
(44:47):
It's a movement.
We're continually moving andthere is no complacency in her
and so no cruise control notgoing in neutral.
We're always moving forward and, uh, lamanda does that and she
(45:09):
does it, I know, because she'sso deep in her faith and that
drives her.
It's not LaManda, it's LaMandathrough her faith in God, um,
and so I want her to to justknow um and and all the
listeners to know how much thatwe love her and support her.
She makes a lot of sacrificesto be our CEO and um, and she is
(45:31):
amazing.
And so if you're out there, uh,listening to us and you want to
go to the night of praise, uh,please, please, show up and um,
and introduce yourself to us andto the Amanda.
If you've never done it before,we'd love to see you come out
to us and to LaManda.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
If you've never done it before, we'd love to see you
come out.
Well said, thank you, john.
So let's talk real briefly.
Uh, what, uh can we expect atNight of Praise?
Um, josh, again, it's about 10days from now Um, we've got uh
the 12th coming up.
Let's talk about that.
I want to hear from some boardmembers what they um, what they
think people can expect as well.
Speaker 1 (46:06):
Yeah, so you want me to go through the program?
Yeah, I mean we'll leave somestuff.
I mean we've got stories, We'vegot some amazing bands coming
to do worship, Like I talkedabout.
This year we're doing a littledifferent.
We've got members fromdifferent churches making I
don't like using the wordconglomerate.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
They're collaborating , collaborating.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
There you go.
That's a lot better, uh,collaborative bands, um, and so
we've got a gospel band andwe've got a kind of contemporary
Christian band and, um, butagain it's that unity in in in
the church, and so you know,we've got stories, we've got
great worship and, uh, we justneed you the listener.
Speaker 5 (46:41):
Yeah, the theme is loving in the gap so we can
share that.
We've been focused on that allyear with our newsletters, which
I just wanted to say thank youto Mike Schottel and Josh, and
we do that together.
Those meetings are prettyhumorous, those are fun they
consist of.
(47:01):
We know this is what we need tocommunicate.
We know this one needs to beabout night of praise.
We know two guys like I've notheard the Lord say anything.
So we're going to pray andwe're going to talk, and it's so
incredible to see the messageof this loving in the gap come
out in each newsletter, and sowe are taking really kind of the
(47:24):
heart that we've talked aboutall year in the newsletter the
different ways our donors lovein the gap, the different ways
our staff love in the gap.
You're going to hear a heartwrenching one about loving in
the gap, and so we do hope thatthis is a mixture of definitely
educating the community aboutwhat all God does at the rescue
(47:48):
mission, but also the verypractical ways that people can
get involved with us to love inthe gap.
But I also think that it isneat to kind of see this year
long theme come together in somepretty cool ways with
decorations and such.
Speaker 2 (48:05):
Greg, real quick.
From your perspective, what doyou expect I?
Speaker 6 (48:07):
think the personal stories, personal testimonies,
that's where we really learn theeffect we're having on people's
lives.
And you can publish statisticsand numbers how many people
we've housed or how many peoplewe've fed but when you hear
personal testimonies of how TRMhas helped them, that's just so
(48:30):
much more effective.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yes, john.
Speaker 7 (48:32):
Oh same, I love to see transformation in people's
lives and those next steps.
Yeah, I mean really, it justcomes down to that and I love to
(48:54):
see people show up and see whatTRM is doing and sort of remove
some of the.
I had no ideas.
Speaker 4 (48:58):
Good Mike.
Yeah, I think for me.
I put out I think I said thisbefore as well Ultimately
probably won't ever happen, butultimately we'd like to be out
of the business at TRM and nothave to serve any homeless or
other Got a plan.
(49:19):
Yeah, it's a goal that I thinkwe should have as a society
society.
But again, just the Night ofPraise is an opportunity to see
all the good things that haveoccurred, to hopefully help some
people that maybe haven't beeninvolved with TRM or know as
(49:44):
much about get a littleinformation on what we do do and
how we do impact and how Godhelps us do that, you know what
I didn't hear from any of you.
Speaker 2 (49:55):
It's going to be a hard sell to bring money.
It's going to be a hard driveras a fundraiser.
Didn't hear any of that.
It is still that I talked aboutthe financial needs of the
rescue mission, but I heard it'sabout story and testimony and
relationship and opportunity tothank God, and I think if you've
been there to a night of praise, you know what we're talking
about.
(50:15):
If you haven't, you might wantto come this time, because it's
going to be a time that is goingto inspire you.
It's going to maybe challengeyou a little bit, but you're
going to be able to see.
Well, I didn't know that.
Like, we've heard that beforehere and there will be things
that you will learn that won'tjust be about Topeka Rescue
Mission.
It'll be about you.
Everybody who comes, it's aboutyou and it's about this God who
(50:37):
is just crazy about you and hewants to invite you to be a part
of this.
Josh, one more time, tell uswhen, where and how.
Speaker 1 (50:48):
Yes, so a night of praise uh loving in the gap is
going to be Friday, september12th.
In 10 days days, a second uhdoors open at six.
Uh event starts at six 30.
Um, there's going to be somecool stuff.
So come early, come at six,come look around the fellowship
Bible, cause that's where it'sgoing to be.
Speaker 2 (51:00):
And you can bring a non-perishable food item um to
that um, if you can, andthere'll be a truck to put it on
, and also you can also bringyour checkbook and there'll be a
QR code that you can helpparticipate in this, as you are
invited to be a part of someamazing Ask people to love in
the gap with us.
Speaker 5 (51:16):
Yes, and I just yeah, I just wanted to end also with
some gratitude of people whohave worked really hard I would
say months, but really we startworking on it the night of
praise, that night for the nextyear.
So I think it's just like anongoing yearly effort of love.
But I really want people tocome because there's a lot of
(51:40):
God led hard work that's beenput in it from.
We appreciate man, all of ourpartners, uh, bill and Brody,
and every the team at fellowshipBible church.
Speaker 1 (51:49):
Huge shout out to them.
I mean those guys put in a tonof work behind the scenes for us
and and have a huge heart.
So yeah, big shout out to yeah,Brody, Bill Dalton, all those
amazing guys there.
Speaker 5 (51:59):
On top of everything else that they're doing, Um, but
I also know, you know, we'vegot people working on the tables
that we're setting up right nowand just the vision of it and,
uh, there's just a lot ofgratitude.
But I also want to thank Joshbecause, um, he does not like
being in the limelight and, um,he got pretty used to being only
(52:19):
behind the mic and the camera.
Uh, but through this, um, hehas really embraced the talents
that God has given him to beable to tell God's story and
this is a whole differentplatform for him.
He's doing red couch visits andhe's doing the KSNT morning
show and he's doing interviews,the night of night of praise,
(52:40):
which, yes, you will do thatagain this year.
But, yeah, I just appreciateMiriam's vision on this.
Josh's Kim's done it becauseshe was instrumental a couple of
years ago as we were forming it.
I appreciate the board'ssupport in it.
So, you know, we've heard theheart, We've heard the why and I
just want people to know thatyou are welcomed.
(53:01):
And, lastly, I did a personalinvite that has hit social media
at the end of last week and Isaid in that personal invite
regardless, if you are in themiddle of a very successful time
and you're on the mountaintopand you want to just come give
God glory.
Come do that.
But I also said you know,regardless of position and job
or no job, if you're reallystruggling, we've got a seat for
(53:24):
you.
This is a time where you'regoing to be around other people
who probably relate more thanyou think and you're not
isolated.
So a lot of hard work has comeinto it.
I'm thankful for everyone who'spoured into it, Thankful for
the musicians that are comingtogether in a very
unconventional way to, I don'tknow, show us what I personally
(53:45):
think a glimpse of heaven isgoing to look like.
So hope you all there.
Speaker 2 (53:49):
Excellent, it's good.
There's nothing to be expectedof you other than to come and
just join with everybody elsewho is there.
I'd like to thank our boardmembers for being here.
Greg, john, mike, if you guyswant to come back anytime, mike,
I know you love this, so comeon back anytime.
I love hearing your perspectives, really do.
I think it's very valuable.
But again, thanks for joiningus here today and thank you for
(54:10):
listening to our community, ourmission.
You've heard a lot about thewhy of the night of praise
that's coming up on the 12th ofSeptember.
Doors open at 6 pm atFellowship Bible.
The program starts at 6.30 pm.
It'll be a night that you willnot regret coming, and if you'd
like more information about thisor about Topeka Rescue Mission,
you can go to trmonlineorg.
(54:30):
That's trmonlineorg.
Thanks for listening to ourcommunity, our mission.
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.