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© 2025 Our Community, Our Mission
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Weekly updates and conversations from Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries!
296 Episodes
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The holidays can feel magical—but not for some choosing between rent and a gift to their child. We pull back the curtain on how our community makes Christmas possible for 1,100 to 1,200 neighbors, puts on shelter parties, and delivers gifts to homes, all while continuing to provide food bags that turn a quiet kitchen into a holiday table. Along the way, we talk candidly about spending money the right way, the impact of possible funding cuts, and the practical steps that keep people housed, fe...
Winter arrived early, bringing urgent questions about how and when we activate cold-weather exceptions and, in extreme cases, warming centers. We unpack the temperature and wind-chill thresholds that guide each step, our coordination with National Weather Service briefings, and why just opening everything is far more complex than it sounds when you’re feeding hundreds and staffing 24/7. We also focus on Giving Tuesday, known as Transformation Tuesday at TRM, the need for donors, address risin...
The holidays tend to magnify whatever we’re already carrying—joy, stress, or grief—so we open with light, honest moments before leaning into a deeper question: how do we practice gratitude when life is complicated? Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, we explore a three-part rhythm of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks that turns Thanksgiving from a single day into a durable way of living. TRM Director of Strategic Development Josh Turley talks with Mike Schoettle, Director of Spiritual W...
When costs rise and the holidays draw near, one question always leads the way: who will stand in the gap? As needs increase across our city, the TRM team and our incredible volunteers continue to show up, expanding meals, strengthening distributions, and keeping dignity at the center for families navigating SNAP gaps, new work rules, and rising expenses. In this episode, we walk through our year-end realities, including unexpected building and appliance repairs, added meal services, and the g...
What if partnership is the most practical form of love? In this episode, we sit down with GiDeanLeigh Ogilvie, Organizational Partnerships Officer at Phoenix Rescue Mission, to explore how relationships with churches, companies, and foundations turn compassion into real, measurable impact. GiDeanLeigh shares her journey from HR into organizational partnerships, why staying close to frontline teams strengthens honest fundraising, and how initiatives like Code Red—mobilizing the community to de...
As the holidays draw near, the Topeka Rescue Mission is facing both celebration and challenge. A critical SNAP suspension has stretched already thin budgets and heightened the need for food, faith, and community support. In this episode, we unpack how a partial return of benefits is impacting families across Topeka and how partners like United Way, Harvesters, and local pantries are working hand in hand with TRM to keep meals moving and hope within reach. Even amid uncertainty, the Mission is...
As our community works to prepare for potential changes to federal benefits and rising costs, local partners are coming together to stay ready and responsive. In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Lehnherr and Brett Martin from United Way of Kaw Valley to talk about how collaboration through efforts like the Tuesday Call helps Shawnee County navigate uncertainty—and how generosity still shines brightest in challenging times. We also look ahead to one of the season’s most meaningful effort...
This week on Our Community, Our Mission, we sit down with Sarah Rieger, Communication Specialist for Citygate Network, for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about the power of storytelling and connection. Sarah shares how Citygate’s small but mighty team supports more than 325 gospel-centered ministries across North America—equipping leaders, offering practical tools, and reminding them they’re not alone in the fight against homelessness, addiction, and poverty. With warmth and candor,...
What if the life God wants from us is simpler—and harder—than our best performances? In this episode, we dive into Micah 6:8 to discover a way of living that trades polished offerings for a posture that changes people: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. From ancient Israel’s fracture and looming empires to Jesus’ challenge to religious leaders, we connect the dots between scripture and street-level compassion at the Topeka Rescue Mission. We explore what it means to act ju...
A quiet prayer and a reminder about peaceful communication open this heartfelt episode of Our Community, Our Mission, leading into a discussion that moves from Christmas logistics to deeper reflections on grace, safety, and change. We share how the Topeka Rescue Mission is preparing for the holiday season, and why October is the critical time to act. From meal staples and new winter clothing to bed sheets, crockpots, socks, and underwear, we highlight the specific items that make Christmas wa...
Headlines may feel heavy, but hope sounds different when a city sings together. At Night of Praise, hundreds gathered as blended worship teams lifted one voice, prayers filled the room, and powerful testimonies of transformation reminded us why this work matters. With open doors and generous hearts, people responded with food donations, sponsorships, and support that will help meet real needs and extend love in the gap for those experiencing hunger and homelessness. In this episode, we reflec...
Rediscover the freedom of childlike faith in a world that often pushes us toward skepticism and guardedness. Drawing from the beloved film Hook, Mike Schoettle, TRM’s Director of Spiritual Wellness & Discipleship, reflects on how we, like Peter Pan, can forget who we truly are as we grow older—losing our innocence, trust, and openness to God’s wonder. Jesus’ words remind us that unless we receive the kingdom of God like a child, we cannot enter it at all. The very qualities we tend to dis...
Matt Dildine, CEO of the Fresno Rescue Mission, shows what happens when holy discontent collides with bold innovation. Leaving behind a successful law career, he stepped into leadership with a vision to reimagine how communities respond to homelessness. Out of that vision came City Center—a collaborative campus in the heart of Fresno that houses more than 20 service providers under one roof, and creates spaces that uplift and inspire the surrounding community. At the center of this mode...
What does it truly mean to love someone through their darkest moments? In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, Mike Schoettle, TRM’s Director of Spiritual Wellness and Discipleship, explores the transformative idea of “Loving in the Gap.” The gap is the space where people find themselves trapped in homelessness, addiction, or trauma. Instead of offering help from a distance, true ministry means stepping into that space, walking alongside others with patience, dignity, and compassion. G...
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”...
When a child shows up ready for the first day of school, the impact lasts far beyond the classroom. In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, we sit down with Hope Bency, Distribution Center Administrative Assistant, to talk about TRM’s recent Back-to-School event that equipped over 300 students with backpacks, clothing, and essential supplies. Behind the numbers are powerful stories: parents moved to tears by unexpected generosity, children eager to win prizes for their siblings, and vo...
What inspires someone to devote their career to serving people experiencing homelessness? In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, we sit down with TRM’s HR Director, Kim Turley, to explore the unique challenges and deep rewards of staffing an organization committed to life-changing ministry. With years of connection to TRM and a passion for helping people, Kim shares what it takes to balance professional HR practices with the deeper calling that draws people to this work. Joining the ...
Thomas Hall’s unexpected path from applying for what he thought was a janitor position to leading as Director of Emergency Shelter and Outreach at Turlock Gospel Mission is a testament to the power of purpose-driven work. In California’s Central Valley, homelessness is fueled by mental health struggles and skyrocketing housing costs. Thomas and his team respond to urgent needs by offering more than beds. They provide food boxes, clothing, hygiene facilities, and storage, all while fostering a...
In this inspiring episode of Our Community, Our Mission, hosts Barry Feaker and La Manda Cunningham sit down with Officer Robert Razo of the Topeka Police Department and Daniel Dobson from TRM’s Outreach Team to explore the power of collaboration in serving Topeka’s unsheltered neighbors. Through heartfelt stories and candid conversations, listeners are taken behind the scenes of innovative efforts like the Co-Responder Program, City ID, and Take Me Home initiatives—programs breaking down bar...
When Nancy Johnson stepped away from her role as CEO of Community Resources Council, she could never have imagined the new chapter God was preparing for her. A season of personal struggle opened the door to an unexpected conversation with Barry Feaker, leading Nancy to Topeka Rescue Mission. What began as casual volunteering soon became a source of deep joy and renewed purpose, as she now spends her days welcoming guests, answering phones, and helping staff create a culture of compassion and ...
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