Our Community, Our Mission

In this episode ( https://bit.ly/OCOM_EP317 ), we reflect on insights from the City Gate Network conference, where La Manda Cunningham and Miriam Krehbiel discuss the challenges of serving others and the importance of lasting change rooted in faith, collaboration, and shared purpose. Centered on the theme “All For Love,” the conversation emphasizes that while effective strategies are essential, lo...

In this episode we discuss one of Scripture’s most powerful images of grace, the father who watches in Luke 15, and what it means that he does not simply wait for his son’s return but runs to meet him. Through stories of faith, compassion, and unexpected moments of care, we explore how God calls us to see people beyond labels, beyond assumptions, and beyond their worst decisions. Sometimes the gre...

In this episode we sit down with Barry Feaker to share the remarkable story of how a collapsing shelter in 1989 led to one of the most inspiring community efforts in Topeka Rescue Mission's history. What began as a crisis became a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and the generosity of thousands of people who came together to make the impossible possible. Send us a Message!

 What does it actually take to move someone from homelessness to lasting stability? In this episode, R.E.S.T.O.R.E co-directors Ashley Davis and Crystal Guerrero explain how Topeka Rescue Mission is reshaping homeless services through a relationship-first, trauma-informed approach that focuses on long-term support instead of short-term shelter. They walk through how the R.E.S.T.O.R.E program works...

“Just pray more” can feel like an answer… until you’re the one lying awake with anxiety, carrying grief, or absorbing trauma from the people you serve. In this episode we sit with Mike Schoettle, our Director of Spiritual Wellness and Discipleship, to talk plainly about Mental Health Awareness Month and what mental health support really looks like in a faith-based rescue mission setting. Send us a...

Safety isn’t just a statistic, it’s about trust, relationships, and whether people truly feel secure in their community. In this episode, Chief Chris Vallejo shares how he’s leading in Topeka with transparency and a strong focus on connection, while working to modernize the department and build trust. The conversation also explores how local partners respond to urgent situations affecting those ex...

In this episode we talk with Matt Fessman, Director of Main Shelter Operations at the Topeka Rescue Mission, about what pulled him from military service, banking and an unexpected layoff into faith based non-profit leadership in Topeka, Kansas. Matt shares the moment he stopped chasing the next paycheck and started chasing what God put in front of him, then how volunteering at TRM helped confirm t...

Barry Feaker talks with La Manda Cunningham and Miriam Krehbiel from the Topeka Rescue Mission about their 2025 annual report and what it reveals about homelessness in Topeka. They break down key numbers, like over 1,200 guests, over 81,000 shelter nights, and more than 600,000 meals served, while exploring the human stories behind them. The conversation highlights longer shelter stays, rising dis...

We chat with GiDeanLeigh Ogilvie from Phoenix Rescue Mission to explore how partnerships can turn homelessness response into a shared community effort rather than a siloed one. We see that profit and purpose are able to feed into each other and that businesses can do good, while doing well. The conversation highlights how collaboration with local organizations, churches, and businesses builds trus...

This week we talk with leaders from Astra Mental Health and Recovery about the work they're doing and the strong partnership TRM has with them. Our guests explain why the merger between Valeo and Family Service & Guidance Center to form Astra is more than administrative. It reshapes access to care across the lifespan of individuals. The conversation breaks down what community support real...

On this week's episode, we talk with the key players of the new Compassion Impact Center. The Center is a bold step toward replacing a fragmented system with a single location where people can actually get help. Instead of sending individuals and families through a maze of referrals, the Center brings key services together under one roof at the Topeka Rescue Mission's Children's Pal...

A holiday run turned into a ray of hope. We sat down with Fleet Feet’s Michael Fronsoe and Kirstin Williams to discuss how a simple idea—bring a new Thanksgiving 5K to Topeka—grew into a bigger-than-expected event. It boosted Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries' work, raised food donations, and reignited hope during a tough year. What began as a three-month sprint became a blueprint for how loca...

Jamie Clark of AIM Strategies joins us to share how business, faith, and civic responsibility intersect in practical ways across the community. As controller at AIM Strategies, Jamie has helped shift the conversation from “make it go away” to “what’s really happening and how do we help?” This movement changed how local leaders and storefront owners felt frustration and turned it into coordinated a...

After a heavy 2025 marked by physical pain, budget drain, and the strain of warming centers, we chose not to retreat but to advance—grounded in prayer, transparency, and guest-centered care. 2026 has begun with honest reflection and real work: centering every decision on the dignity of our guests, strengthening trust, and building systems that reflect the values we proclaim. We’re embracing authen...

What if the most powerful prayer you said this week was the messy one you almost didn’t pray? This conversation pulls back the curtain on real-life prayer at the Topeka Rescue Mission—on the streets, in shelters, and in quiet moments when words run out. We name the barriers that keep people silent—unworthiness, doubt, and performance—and reframe prayer as relationship, not ritual. From “pray your...

We’re joined by Jessy Moreno, the Manager of Downtown Topeka, Inc. & River Strategies, who brings a clear-eyed view of what happens when compassion and commerce stop competing and start collaborating. We discuss her ability to connect with others through listening, communication, and above all a kind heart. Her role goes far beyond serving businesses to empowering stakeholders and responding t...

This week we focus on the people who make so much of the work at TRM possible—volunteers. You’ll hear from Team Ringgold, whose journey from real estate to committed partners shows how serving together builds joy, team unity, and meaningful impact. From manning distributions to supporting warehouse operations, their hands-on service meets neighbors with food, shelter, and dignity, while boosting s...

We’re celebrating our 300th episode with Topeka Fire Department Chief Chad Longstaff, who brings 36 years of experience, a brief retirement, and a deeply human approach to modern emergency response. The conversation moves beyond firefighting to the rise of EMS, the power of communication over judgment, and how a culture of dignity helps firefighters manage burnout while serving people at their mos...

We look back on a year of storms and rainbows, where fear pressed hard, but faith proved stronger. From safety concerns, construction, limited access to food, to technology outages, we faced uncertainty on multiple fronts. Our teams navigated trauma in shelters, supported shaken frontline staff, and responded to a SNAP disruption that sent more families searching for groceries—while also managing...

Kelli Howerton’s journey, from serving shifts at our warming center to stepping onto the board, frames this conversation. As a MAP volunteer and TRM Board Member, Kelli shares how slowing down, listening well, and setting healthy boundaries reshaped the way she serves. She reflects on patience in prayer, choosing presence over quick fixes, and the slow, faithful work that truly breaks cycles for f...

The Christmas season can be a hectic time of year, so we slowed down to listen to a leader who has built a life around loving her neighbors. Candace Gregory, CEO of Open Door Mission in Omaha, shares how a one-year commitment turned into three decades of faith-driven service marked by grit, grace, and surprising joy. She opens the curtain on what it means to “serve everyone, stand firm,” a clear g...

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 ri...

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 fo...

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...

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-e...