Our Community, Our Mission
Our Community, Our Mission
Ep #254 – Faith, Leadership, and Mentorship: A Conversation with Jordan Smith
Have you ever wondered how emerging leaders in rescue ministries are shaping the future? Join us as we welcome Jordan Smith, Chief Development Officer at Tree of Life Ministries, who reveals the transformative mission of supporting the poor and needy in Purcellville, Virginia. Jordan shares powerful, faith-driven stories of how Tree of Life Ministries addresses hidden struggles in one of America’s wealthiest counties.
Our conversation with Jordan highlights the importance of nurturing new leaders as retiring CEOs and directors make way for the next wave of changemakers. We explore the collaborative efforts through Citygate Network, how La Manda and Jordan lead the Emerging Leaders group within the network, and the pivotal role mentorship plays in developing future leaders. The connections formed at conferences and monthly Zoom meetings provide a sense of community among leaders picking up the baton of ministry, fostering a supportive network where personal stories and professional growth are shared and celebrated.
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Heavenly Father. We thank you, lord, for God, your blessings, your provisions and God, just this time to record another podcast. Lord, thank you for good friends that are serving together to serve those in need. Lord, thank you for this time, thank you for our special guest today. Pray blessings over him and this conversation. And, lord, we just invite your spirit here right now. Father, in your holy name, we pray Amen.
Speaker 2:Hello Father, in your holy name we pray Amen. Hello everybody, thank you for listening to Our Community, our Mission. A podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission here on Wednesday, january 29th 2024. This is episode number 254. This is your host, barry Feeker, here with Executive Director Topeka Rescue Mission, lamanda Broyles. Good morning, lamanda.
Speaker 3:That's impressive. You did that all in like one breath. I read it right here Josh writes it down. You follow the directions well, I follow the directions yes.
Speaker 2:Kind of got it down after 253 of these.
Speaker 3:You've done it a couple times 254,.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome, so I had my eyes closed actually.
Speaker 3:But anyway Impressive.
Speaker 2:I'm not awake yet, so how are you?
Speaker 3:That is always a loaded question, that's why, okay, moving on. I know that's right. I mean I probably should be like blessed and highly favored.
Speaker 2:It's been kind of cold, but it's been cold, yeah, and the United States and busy Uh-huh and. But some really good things have been happening. Yes, chiefs won barely again.
Speaker 1:Barely, yeah, barely again, which apparently is incredibly divisive in the rest of the country.
Speaker 2:I know they think they're cheating and the rest are cheating. I don't understand that it's not happening. It's AI.
Speaker 3:Our sweet receptionist here, nancy. She is a diehard Chiefs fan and I saw something yesterday on social media and it made me think of her, but it showed like heartbeats, and so it showed a normal heartbeat and a flatline heartbeat and then it was just squiggles all over the screen and it said watching the Chiefs play. And I sent that to Nancy and I said I think this is you every time and she said it is, I'm going to need oxygen for the next game. And I said I know you are.
Speaker 2:But we are global and are so, yeah, but we are global and so if we are offensive to you, get over it, because the Chiefs are going to be in the Super Bowl again and hopefully going to have their third win, we hope, and so be really disappointed if they don't.
Speaker 3:But anyway, we're talking to the refs now to get them ready, that's right, and please note, the person that said get over it is the former executive director, not the current, and I didn't step down willingly, that's right.
Speaker 2:I'll tell you what. So anyway, well, we're glad you joined us today, lamanda. We last week had a very heavy conversation in regards to the weather and the warming centers and fortunately we're warming up here a little bit for a brief time. Hopefully we're not going to have any more of that. So one of the things we didn't get done last week is talking about the importance of the day, and so this day, on January 29th, is really extremely important for the state of Kansas because it is called drum roll.
Speaker 3:Kansas Day, kansas Day, that's right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you all didn't know, this is Kansas Day and we're the 34th member of the United States formed. In what year? I know you're from Arkansas, which is a foreign country, and you have schools there.
Speaker 3:Listen to that. Yes, but I'll tell you, in Arkansas we didn't study Kansas history, but do you know how I?
Speaker 2:remember this, yes.
Speaker 3:Because it's a hundred years. Oh no, it wasn't.
Speaker 1:So no offense to you all from Arkansas, the public school system.
Speaker 2:Lamanda was there Because I was born in 1987.
Speaker 3:And so yeah. Never mind, but it does mean that we're what? 148?
Speaker 2:1861.
Speaker 3:148. Get the calculator out. I don't know, I don't know, I can't take the pressure.
Speaker 2:Moving on past Kansas Day and the number of years it's been around and those kind of things.
Speaker 3:It's 1877.
Speaker 2:It says right here so that's 148. Celebrated in 1877, yeah, but it became a member of the United States in 1869. Oh shoot, I didn't read well, all right so. But it's also another important day, national Puzzle Day. National Puzzle Day, isn't that very kind of representative of every day?
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's a puzzle. Trying to put the pieces together, trying to put the pieces together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, but one last thing, and then we're going to move on to some more important things. It's National Corn Chip Day. I thought that was on Super Bowl Corn chip like Fritos. Well, that's nachos day, that's right.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So anyway, nachos and jalapenos and pizza, yeah.
Speaker 3:Do you eat Fritos with your chili?
Speaker 2:Yes, have to yes.
Speaker 3:I'm more of a cracker and ketchup girl yeah me too. You are too. You just like chili. Anything with it.
Speaker 2:Anything with chili, yeah. So I like the crackers over here over here. I like the cheese over here. I like the you know corn chips over here. I like the onions over here and all those kind of things. Yeah, I like a little bit of chili with my Fritos. So, anyway, we'll have a special guest today that is not with us here in.
Speaker 1:Topeka.
Speaker 2:right now he's actually being interneted in here, interneted into our space here in Topeka, kansas. We're going to introduce him in a minute. But LaManda, there is a very important organization that brings rescue ministries together. That's been around over 100 years and so it's a very important ministry. When I came on back in, you know, when the park doors opened and the animals got off and I got off and no one was family, it was called the International Union of Gospel Missions in 1986.
Speaker 2:International Union of Gospel Missions. It had been around for a long time, started in New York City, eventually became this very important organization where we could get in a car and go visit people at other missions once a year, keeping in mind and this is how tough it was for us back in the old days there was no cell phones, there was no internet, there was no email, there was nothing you'd carry around in your pocket that told you what you were supposed to do. You had to remember, and so once a year we had a meeting that we could go to somewhere and a couple of district meetings and so forth, and so then it changed its name to the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and about 2018, 2019, it changed its name again for rebranding called the CityGate Network Same organization just moving and improving technology and so forth, and so part of that, you've been able to really get to meet a lot of really cool people from around the country and because of technology, you guys can stay in real-time connection with each other all the time.
Speaker 2:What's that like as executive director? How's it helped you? I know it helped me to know that I wasn't the only one. There were some others around the country, around the world, that were doing this kind of work with homeless and hunger and so forth and the gospel, but how has it affected you? Coming into the position almost three years? Well, no, you're here longer than that. Three years as executive director come April. How has it helped you to really expand your thoughts?
Speaker 3:I think you know, citygate Network is more than just the yearly, and when we come for the conference it's incredible, from the general sessions to the independent sessions that we get to learn from, and the one that I'm heavily involved in is the Emerging Leaders.
Speaker 3:And what I love about Emerging Leaders is the level of support that's there, not just professionally but personally, because we're also connected many of us on social media, and we connect through email text each other on our birthdays, just things like that, where it's just we're doing life together as much as we can, sometimes being on opposite sides of the United States, and so there's this layer of support that, just to me as a person, is fun because I'm I'm a social person, I love people, but that's also how I learn. And so, professionally, what's incredible is oftentimes we all go to this conference, we meet each other, but it doesn't stop there. Phone numbers are exchanged and um, you can get involved in different ways, and so that's what we've done with the emerging leaders is there's monthly meetings, but there's also a Facebook page, and then it's just all that virtually yes, yes.
Speaker 3:And the other thing that I think is incredible about that is what we do.
Speaker 3:None of it builds upon each other. So if someone has to miss a month or two months or three months, when they are able to come in, they don't feel like, oh, I can't join now because I haven't been there the last two months. And we, jordan and I, have kind of done that intentionally because we know people's busy schedules and we really just want to be that group that people can land on monthly, regardless of what they haven't been able to do the month before and things. So it's just, it's been such a fun opportunity. It's been also very important.
Speaker 3:You know, as the ED, I even personally have gone through some pretty rough challenges, and so it's not just been about how I can help lead or supporting those that are in the group. They also have been so kind to me and such an encouragement when they see things on our Facebook page at the rescue mission or they know we're going through the warming centers and such, I have people reach out saying, hey, just so you know we're we're praying for Topeka, we're praying for your people, and so it's just. When you asked me that question, I think I could just summarize it by saying it's just an added layer of support that is so valuable.
Speaker 2:So over the years there's been different connection groups within the network executive directors, food services case managers, shelter operators, those kind of things. How long is the Emerging Leaders group in play?
Speaker 3:So I think it was in play about four years before. That would have been 2021. So maybe 2018, 2017, they were trying to really form this, but it was kind of formed at the conference time.
Speaker 2:And so people would come together and that about it.
Speaker 3:And Matt from the Milwaukee rescue mission led it.
Speaker 3:Incredible guy, very smart, loves people, and so he really tried to provide support and just this opportunity for people who he knew and the leaders at that time knew were going to be the next generation of rescue mission work.
Speaker 3:And so then our guest in just a minute when he jumps on.
Speaker 3:We made the mistake right of asking some questions and saying, hey, we think we might need this. And what we didn't know was Matt had kind of been praying for the next level that the emerging leaders needed to go to, and he didn't think that that was him leading it with his personal life, professional life, was him leading it with his personal life, professional life. But he believed in it so much and so he and CityGate Network's CEO, john Ashman, did a couple of Zooms with Jordan and I and said what do you feel like emerging leaders need? Because we have a lot of CEOs and executive directors retiring and there is this gap in generations. And so we know this work is important, we know it's what God's called us to do, and so that's how it kind of revised, so in a very healthy place before Jordan and I. But just times changed and we've just tried to kind of take it to this next level that's matches and is appropriate for the needs of the next generation of leaders.
Speaker 2:I think that's very helpful. It's not taking people who are not in leadership necessarily. They're in leadership in different positions within rescue ministries and cultivating relationships for furthering that leadership development. So any organization, if it's going to work well, needs good leadership that is emerging itself. Well, needs good leadership that is emerging itself, and so we have Jordan Smith here with us today and we're looking. Jordan, we can see you here via the internet, which is awesome. This is our first time we've done anything like this, and so you are from Tree of Life Ministries in. Where did I get that? Percival, percival yeah, percival, west Virginia. I was looking at my notes. It's all over Percival, west Virginia. I was looking at my notes. It's all over Percival, west Virginia. And so welcome to our community, our mission, and you're part of the leadership. I understand in regards to the emerging leaders.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so good to be with you. Just a quick correction there, it's Percival Virginia, oh, not quite West Virginia. Shoot West Virginia.
Speaker 3:Shoot, that was me I was right.
Speaker 2:That's all right. Is there any problem with that? I know I'm saying West Virginia.
Speaker 4:Oh is there? Is there West Virginia?
Speaker 3:is quite different to Virginia. That's kind of like K-State KU here, apparently yes or Kansas City.
Speaker 2:She's sort of the other guys. That's right. So, anyway, thanks for that clarification. Yeah, so you're in Virginia, in Percival, right now. Yeah, so talk about first of all what you do there, what the Tree of Life is, and then we're going to talk about the Emerging Leaders and your role in that and Amanda's role and what that's all about.
Speaker 4:We'd be happy to. Well, first of all, thank you for having me on this podcast. So grateful to be here, Really appreciate you guys and honored to be a part of this conversation. So Tree of Life Ministries in short, our mission is to reach out to the poor and needy in the community with the love of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, it's now going on 17 years this year.
Speaker 4:So 17 years ago my dad founded this organization, ultimately prompted by the Holy Spirit and born out of a church trying to assist the needs locally with the love of Christ. And so five primary focus areas, five branches if you will food, life skills, health care, shelter and relief are the focuses. And that's taken straight out of the gospel of Matthew and how Jesus addressed the needs in the community. And we've ultimately led with those five areas of need. And then out of that has come currently 23 ministries in the community, spread out all over our county. So it's a joy and pleasure to be a part of this and I get the opportunity to be the chief development officer, which simply means I get to help with the fundraising efforts and get to see, ultimately, God's glory in all of it. So it's truly a pleasure to be a part of it.
Speaker 2:So Jordan, you grew up in this ministry. This started 17 years ago and you look just a slight bit older than 17. And so your dad founded this, and you've been through this, through seeing the development from very beginnings to where it is now.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and that's been pretty powerful because what started ultimately in a conversation between a group of leaders in a church, some deacons got together and said how do we address this? And if you recall, this was around 2008, when it was some financial hardship times, and they responded and then ultimately that came home and it was living room conversation between family members to say there are needs in this community and we are privileged, in a way, to live in one of the wealthiest counties in America. Believe it or not, loudoun County is currently one of the wealthiest counties in America and so you might think there are no needs here, but that's not the case and when you actually go out into the community, you meet these individuals, oftentimes living in between these larger homes or just trying to make it by. You realize there are needs and God has placed each and every one of us right where he has us.
Speaker 2:Jordan describe to us the population maybe of Percival and being one of the wealthiest counties in the United States. Why is there an issue? Why are you guys needed there? What do you find are the reasons for that?
Speaker 4:Yeah, good question. Well, percival is just a small town. Loudoun County itself, where we serve holistically, is a larger population. I should probably know the numbers a bit better to reel those off to you. But it's not terribly too big. It's still a small town feel, but Loudoun County is certainly a growing population. I think the connection there is.
Speaker 4:We're only about an hour from Washington DC, so oftentimes you have those that work in DC come out to what we might classify as the more countryside of things. You tend to go west, enjoy life that way, but you will see a discrepancy and you will see a gap ultimately. And so, um, it's easy enough to to live in this area and and perhaps make the, the funds to get by, but then that creates a larger gap for those that are in this area and are trying to keep up with, uh, expenses and inflation, and that gap only gets bigger and bigger. So oftentimes, even in the wealthiest of places, you see, sometimes the poorest of people are the ones that are struggling the most to keep up with times and to be able to stay in this town or this county, which perhaps their families have grown up in, which used to be a place of farmers. Ultimately, um, they're really struggling and so that's a huge piece of it. Is that gap and just the difference between rich and poor?
Speaker 2:I think we've all realized post-pandemic about the cost of goods and services and housing. And so in a prosperous area, like we've seen around a number of other prosperous communities like Seattle, washington, where the housing costs outpriced the people to be able to afford a place to live, and it sounds like that may be part of what's going on when the prosperity of Percival is that as you do better, then the supply and demand is a big challenge, and then of course, that affects your everything food and utilities and so forth.
Speaker 4:Well, and to touch on that, to give you an idea we're looking at, I believe the average home in this area most recently has been three quarters of a million dollars. I mean that is a ridiculous amount of money, and it's hard to purchase a home if you have money right, just because of supply and demand, but if you're without, I mean there are so many challenges. Housing is probably the number one need right now in this area, and so it's a real challenge.
Speaker 2:I have family in Virginia as well, in Fairfax, and so just outside of DC, my daughter and family are there and they have an apartment and I don't remember what the square footage of it is, but it's not very big, but it's nearly three times what the cost of buying a house in Topeka, kansas, would be just to rent. And of course, in Fairfax it's a million people plus or whatever in that community just outside of DC. So I have a visual of what that could be like in Percival and how hard that is for people that are so far away from being able to get there. And so who stands in the gap for these folks? And so 17 years ago your dad and others felt the call of the Lord to stand in the gap, and so it sounds like it's been pretty successful. And you're in this place of development of resources to come in Talk about that.
Speaker 2:I mean that's in fundraising. A lot of people call it development fundraising. There are techniques in gospel ministries. There are some techniques but a whole lot more reliance upon the Lord. How do you balance those?
Speaker 4:Great question. Yeah, we've seen a lot of growth in development specifically. Just to give you an idea of things, when I joined the team officially as an employee, if you will, staff member in 2019, we were looking at a budget of just over half a million dollars operating budget in order to complete the ministry work in the local community In just the short amount of time in the last few years. We're now looking at two and a half million as an operating budget, which just goes to show big growth.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and that that's the lord ultimately. I mean, with all funding right, it's all the lords we get to be stewards of those funds and use them as he sees fit. But ultimately that's that's sharing the love of christ in so many different ways and and that's just profound impact over just a short amount of time. But we've seen an immense amount of growth and just goes to show that the need is here and that the Lord is wanting us to be in this community and he's showing his ways to find his glory, to give us the opportunity to give him glory in many different ways of need. So it's an honor.
Speaker 2:Yeah well, sounds like God is honored what you're doing there in a pretty substantial way. That plus the growth of the ministry itself. So CityGate Network I'm sure a number of years you've been familiar with it and you're a part of it. It's a membership organization of different rescue ministries and they're not all doing the same thing the same way. There's very unique ways of doing things. If people went to your website, tree of Life there in Virginia, in Percival, and went to Pika Rescue Missions, you'd see some similarities and some differences. But CityGate brings it all together. What's been the value of CityGate Network to you personally?
Speaker 4:You hit it on the head there, bringing it together. What's been the value of CityGate Network to you personally? You hit it on the head there, bringing it together. I think relationship is so, so key. I mean to know that there are others across state lines, across the other side of the coast, doing something similar, to ultimately be in the trenches and fighting for those that are less fortunate and for those that need a hand up.
Speaker 4:It's just so amazing to be a part of that kind of group and be aware of the needs across the nation and then relate it to your own ministry and your own work, to ultimately come together and learn from one another, develop together, grow together, and so it's been really amazing for me. And sometimes we do get caught having our blinders on and just seeing what's right in front of us and just focusing on tasks at hand or what we see in our own communities. But when you take those blinders off and you realize ultimately what God's doing across the nation, across the world, it's powerful. I mean, I've got tingles thinking about it now and it's just.
Speaker 2:God is at work in so many different ways, in so many different areas, and sometimes you just need to be reminded of that and connect with someone else to know you're not alone and god is doing some amazing things across this nation we can take our um history back to before there was even telephones, um, which is before all of us, lamanda, even before me, I know so.
Speaker 2:But the Salvation Army was out in the field and dispersing, or deploying, I should say, different individuals in the army, different officers that would go to share the gospel in various places, and a lot of those officers were having a significant challenge because they felt very alone. And so back in the day, according to history that I've learned about is that the headquarters in the United States sent telegrams to all of the outposts where the Salvation Army was, but they didn't have much money, so they just put one word in the telegram others, just others To let people know there were others, not them alone. Today the Salvation Army has one of the most prestigious awards today, called the Others Award, and if you get the Others Award, yeah, you've kind of moved up the ladder of importance to the Salvation Army today. And so that's what CityGate is it's reminding each person that's involved that they're not alone.
Speaker 2:That there are others, but you don't have to have a telegram with one word. Today you have much more sophisticated opportunities to get together in person, as well as what we're doing right now. So in this emerging leaders, I think it's awesome because it cultivates the next level. I mean, lamandu, you're an executive director, jordan, you're the development officer in the shelter there, so it's not just for one particular part of ministry work, it takes that leadership, and so you guys are leading this. From what I understand, you kind of were voluntold or volunteered or coerced defrauded, whatever the case might be.
Speaker 2:Talk about your relationship in Virginia and you've learned something, LeMann it's not West Virginia.
Speaker 1:I know it's Virginia that George had.
Speaker 2:And I bet he knows where Kansas is because he watches the Kansas City Chiefs and he goes after the Chiefs. He was on the Missouri team.
Speaker 3:Well, and then Lauren. She is CEO of Winchester, west Virginia, I believe.
Speaker 4:Is it still Virginia? No, no, virginia. Do I know?
Speaker 3:anybody in West Virginia. Can we just have them on? I think there was nearly a war.
Speaker 2:Maybe there was a war around that kind of stuff years ago. So be very careful the lines are drawn, and I think Candace was blamed for some of that, which was maybe a good thing.
Speaker 3:Then you know what? There's someone in West Virginia we need to friend, and then we'll just have them on here and we'll have it right.
Speaker 1:Anyway, she's time too. All right, everybody, she's from.
Speaker 2:Arkansas. We've established that. So, anyway, what's it like? I mean, you guys, if you're going to lead this thing and again, you don't see each other, but maybe once or twice a year in person, what does that mean? What do you do, how do you lead it, how do you co-lead this thing, and why?
Speaker 4:You want me to go first? You want to go first, you go first.
Speaker 3:You're so kind, you're so kind. So I met Jordan a couple of years ago and I think both of us were just so appreciative when we walked into um. So when we go to these conferences there'll, there will either be a room available for all of us emerging leaders to meet, or sometimes they will have um like a suite that they're that they reserve for us, and it just kind of depends. And so it was super late one night because the conference was jam packed.
Speaker 2:So everybody, over a thousand people. Yes, yes, fifteen hundred Yep.
Speaker 3:And so it was really late and I think we were all just super tired. It's so good, it's good stuff, but it's also late, and even though we're emerging leaders, what I've learned is all of us actually have like early bedtimes, and so we were cracking up at that because all of us were like, man, we're the latest group meeting and we're all ready for bed. So it's kind of comical. But what was incredible about that was there was just this synergy around the room where I think we all just looked at each other and we're like there's other people like us. There's other people that have no clue what they're doing but are so willing to do it. So many of us are sponges and we're trying to learn from other incredible people that are our mentors.
Speaker 3:There were people in that room that and I don't want to talk about too much because then I'll cry and I have a busy day but even that first night that I met Jordan, people were astonished at what I was learning from you as your ministry operations director, because that's what I was the first year I went. And so there were some people in that room that were like, oh, I don't have that and I'm thinking well, doesn't everybody have a Barry Like. Isn't everybody learning this work like I'm learning? And that was my first real time that I realized that you and I had something special, because it was my first time that I realized that there are truly and particularly in our age the 20 year olds, 30 year olds, 40 year olds that are doing this work and really without mentorship, that have been called to it and are being obedient and really feel alone. And so, all that being said, I think there was just this beautiful connection of all of us of what was similar and then what was different. We all just kind of had this hungry to learn it and to keep going, had this hungry to learn it and to keep going.
Speaker 3:And so Jordan and I and one of the times we're kind of standing in the corner by this table and I don't remember which one of us said something, but it was like we've got to keep this going. And so then I think it was Jordan, I'm going to blame it on him, he may blame it on me. One of us raised our hands and we said what does emerging leaders do after this? And Matt was like good question, um. And then it just kind of evolved from that.
Speaker 3:And so Jordan and I, I would say it was just this instant connection, um, and an instant trust. And then I think, now that you know three plus years have passed, I would say it's a calling like God. Yeah, knew that he could use us, maybe because of ignorance or just willingness, but I think that's why we were instantly bonded, almost as brother and sister, and then it was just like we don't know what this is going to look like. We want to hear what the others need and we want to just pivot and be flexible with it, and that's what happened.
Speaker 2:So, jordan, what is you guys? Do you guys do a zoom um once a month with the leaders? You and LaManda then work together to kind of maybe talk about what that's going to look like, I guess, and uh, so what's? The whole outcome of that was obviously having a time when you can just kind of talk about rescue mission work, but is it more than that? Is it learning from each other? Is it encouraging each other? Is it getting to know each other's personal story? Um, as as as um, people that um are all over the place, but yet, uh, there's a network here. What? What do you look forward to and what's your why of saying yes to this?
Speaker 4:Yeah, great question. Uh, it's a couple of things and first of all, amanda, you've said it well there and just goes to show be careful what you raise your hand for. But I'm so grateful I did and I'm so grateful I met you and I'm so grateful that that room came together and there was so much energy and excitement and it's just been really cool to see God continue that. And so what do these monthly meetings look like? And the gatherings and the continued conversations is carrying on that relationship and it is, first and foremost, it's checking in. It's like how are you doing? I mean, how many times do we literally ask someone across state lines how are you doing?
Speaker 1:How is?
Speaker 4:it out there, how are you on this topic or in this weather, because it different, right, and so um. But it's checking in with them personally as well and just saying are you okay, how can I be praying for you? And there's power in that, so that that, so I would say, is priority. Step one is just checking in with one another and continuing that relationship, not just once a year, but throughout the year, and then it's hearing from them. It's hearing from everyone involved, hearing what the needs are across the nation, what are some challenges, what are some areas of growth that we can talk about, or how can we learn from one another.
Speaker 4:And so what we try and capture and understand is okay, is this mission doing this well and would you be willing to share that with other missions or ministries, to say, hey, they're doing it really well and we could learn from them? Or someone has some questions on a particular topic? Can we address this together and have a conversation? So it's connecting and understanding, ultimately, how we can assist one another, how we can pray for one another, how we can support each other and, ultimately, to praise God. I mean again, just take a step back and say, okay, god's doing this here? What's God doing there?
Speaker 4:And when you hear all these different praise reports, it's awesome. So we get to pray for each other, we get to support each other, we get to grow together, develop, learn and praise God together, and there's power in that.
Speaker 2:I can imagine sometimes, when maybe things aren't going so well in your ministry or personal life or whatever, and somebody that you can talk to, that you can trust and maybe get encouraged by that. Hey man, I was going through that same thing and here's what God did in my situation or came through. I'm sure that, with the success of development that you have achieved there in a very short amount of time through prayer and through connections in your community, is very encouraging to others that that can be done. When you're not sure that it can be, just to know that this is what we experienced, this is how we did it, that can be very, very encouraging. So what are the qualifications of being involved in becoming emerging leaders? So is there obviously part of CityGate, I'm assuming a staff member? Maybe not. Maybe it's volunteers. What are the qualifications for a person to be considered a member of the Emerging Leaders Group?
Speaker 3:You would not be eligible. He gets jabs in on me all the time, so when I can get him, I better get him, josh.
Speaker 2:Do you know my attorney's number? Go ahead and get him on the line. We got a little discrimination going on here. I think it's called age discrimination.
Speaker 3:Yes, so what we say is I brought this up.
Speaker 3:I know, I know I walked right into that one. What we say is we don't exclude anybody, but our target is 40. That's right, 40 or younger, but positions don't matter. You know we have some that some of the ministries are heavy with sheltering, some aren't, some are heavy with food service and there's some that's more work, training and all of that. So it doesn't matter what type.
Speaker 3:Where your ministry fits in with the rescue mission work Doesn't matter what your title is, it is staff members. So right now it's not volunteers that are staff members of ministries and rescue missions, but really the thought behind it is we want our group to help individuals grow, and sometimes that doesn't mean just professionally, because, personally, if support is needed and the right support isn't given, just as us as people, then your professional life takes a hit. And so I love how Jordan mentioned that. Like every call that we're on, that's the first way that we start. We're like, hey, what's new with everybody? How are you doing? And not so much this year, but last year we had a couple of meetings where we didn't even get to the topic.
Speaker 2:The topics could be what?
Speaker 3:They're a wide range. For instance, in January we had to cancel it because of the warming center and I couldn't be on, but that was going to be like volunteer services, and so we've had everything from specific fundraising ideas. We've had talks on there about communication strategies, social media. We've had things on there about how to handle believe it or not even though we're ministries, we have personnel issues. Can you believe it?
Speaker 2:No, never happened on my watch oh okay. More than every day.
Speaker 3:Okay, I guess I didn't inherit that, I created it, no, so we've talked about personnel matters and loved that one. I mean, we were really talking about when you have to run things like a business with HR and policies and procedures, but yet that doesn't trump the gospel, and so also, you know, praying for those situations and having the crucial conversations. So we've had topics about that. We've had when things bubbled up and we were all watching it. You know cases that might happen and ordinance changes things like that. So it kind of just depends.
Speaker 3:But what we do is at the conference we have a link, and the link we send it out and it's kind of like a survey where people can give their input on what they would like to see, and then we try to map it out and then we look at who are the speakers and that kind of thing. So sometimes, though, that gets thwarted because of either busyness or we change the course because what we thought might need to be that need for that month isn't, and so we really try to be flexible with that. Also, in the holidays, sometimes we choose not to meet because we recognize we really need to just be lifting each other up in prayer, but people cannot give one more hour and so we just try to really do it based on needs. So I love how Jordan mentioned that as the focus. It really is from the content to just the check-ins.
Speaker 2:I think one of the things that's become more apparent and it's safer to talk about it in regards to the kind of work that rescue ministries do is that it's not just done out of the goodness of your heart or your relationship with God. It's hard work and many people, if they don't have the support just like we all need in everything that's difficult in life, if we don't have the support, we may not stay.
Speaker 2:We may not last, and I think that's one of the real big challenges there. Well, this sounds like how many people are involved currently in the Pur out of the city gate network?
Speaker 3:I don't even know what we're up to on Facebook now. I believe it's 50 something on the Facebook page, um, and we can have anywhere between meetings of five to 10 people on the call to two dozen. It just kind of depends, um, and that's why we try to keep it fluid, um, because we recognize people's loads. We're also working on time changes, so we're not all in the same time zone, um, so that can be a challenge, um, but what's needed?
Speaker 1:currently. Sorry. I just looked it up real quick. Currently there's 114 members on the Facebook.
Speaker 3:Okay, so we tried it on the Facebook page. Uh, when we started out, we started out with not even a Facebook page. And so then Jordan and I had a Zoom conference with the at that time the CEO, john Ashman, and his team. And it's kind of comical now I think we all laugh, but I think the team was like what is Jordan and LaManda wanting to do? Because, rightfully so CityGate has very strict parameters of their social media and their website because they're orderly and they have to be because they're dealing with 300 of us rescue missions that need them. Um, but I do think that Jordan and I kind of threw this like curve ball of yeah, the conference is great, but ongoing is better. And well then, it was well, how are you going to do this? And we're like oh, we're going to do Zooms. Well, who's going to own the Zoom link? Topeka, will you know? I mean, it was just all of these different things.
Speaker 3:So we got on this zoom and we were like okay, we want to have a monthly zoom, we want to have a Facebook page, we want to create an emerging leaders within the city gate network website so that we can email each other. I mean, we had this whole list of things and the team were so nice, but I think they were trying to wrap their brain around. Basically, this is a whole nother cohort, and how much did they involve themselves and how much did they let us run with it? And John just kind of listened, the at that time that the CEO, and then finally he just said this is the direction we need to go. And we all just kind of sat there and looking at each other and we're like, ok, now what are we going to do?
Speaker 3:So we got off that Zoom and then Jordan and I stayed on and it was one of those things. We weren't sure what to do next, but we knew we had permission. And so we looked at each other and we were like, well, we're celebrating. Now what? Because we both have our own positions, our own jobs, and now we've just accepted taking on however many. So what was the first year? You and I had like a small goal on the Facebook page.
Speaker 4:It was like well, it was over 50 active and now it's over a hundred, so it's continuing to grow.
Speaker 3:But at first, I think Jordan and I were like you know, if we get get 20 people on this Facebook page the first year, it's going to prove that it's OK, it's going to prove that this is important. And so we did that. We got the 20. And then we had the next conference and they put two or three emerging leaders sessions within the conference and so, jordan, I planned out these getting to know you activities. We did some leadership activities, all of this stuff, and I was greeting.
Speaker 3:Jordan was in the room talking to people and people just kept coming through the door and coming through the door, and I looked at Jordan at one point going we have no other room and everybody's still coming, and we ended up packing. I think it was like 50 something people in that room, yes, and we were like, yep, this is what we need to do. That's 50. And it's the same way, even if it was 10. No-transcript, and we were all just so eager to teach and learn, um, and so it was incredible, and so we're going in the right direction. Um, it's.
Speaker 3:It is a lot to juggle sometimes, I think, because, jordan, this is above and beyond what we do daily, and so sometimes there are texts where it's like you're going to be on the call, right, okay, good Cause, I can't be, and vice versa. And what I love about that is that Jordan and I can trust each other so much with that that we do all of this planning, we do the surveys, we do all of that for people, but there's still a level of understanding where I recognize he's a person and he has his own job and all of that. He does that with me and we just always have each other's back as we are entrusted with these incredible people all over.
Speaker 2:I just want to say thank you to both of you for doing this, because of having been in that space before, knowing that the lack of that or the need for that or whatever is a game changer, is a game changer. We have Virginia and Kansas coming together here to help cultivate relationship with a whole lot of other people, to help them to not only just stay in the game, so to speak, but to be able to flourish in the game. Jordan, before we end here today, there's going to be people listening here, going where's he from? So we've established it's not West Virginia. We've established it is Virginia, but there's an accent. Established it's not West Virginia. We've established it is Virginia, but there's an accent that's not either West Virginia or Virginia. Could you give us a little background about the Scottish accent that you have?
Speaker 4:Barry, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm from.
Speaker 2:West Virginia through and through.
Speaker 4:That's good. I've been putting on an accent this whole time, but it's doing my head so definitely.
Speaker 2:You've been in Virginia for a while.
Speaker 3:That better not be, your Arkansas accent.
Speaker 4:I'm in the heart of West Virginia. I tell you that's good.
Speaker 2:Well, there was another accent we detected here. But there's, a connection to even Kansas in this. So, for our listeners, catch us up this lineage that you have here.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's a funny story. So originally I'm born in England, manchester. England, is my hometown and the connection here between Kansas and my family is my mom is actually from Kansas and my grandfather actually answered the call to be a missionary and start a church in England, in Manchester, and boldly went across, honored and obeyed the Lord and in this community where there was not much God, not much church, started a church, started a Bible study group, moved into a home and right opposite that home was my dad and his family and so this American couple moved in and there was this Bible study and my dad and his family were like this American couple moved in and there was this Bible study. My dad and his family were like, what's this all about? So they went over and, believe it or not.
Speaker 4:My English side of the family came to know the Lord through this Bible study and through my grandfather, who honored and obeyed the Lord, to move from Kansas to Manchester not knowing anything or understanding why he would place in there. But this church grew. They had a school bus that would go out and collect kids and there's individuals that have come to Christ through this opportunity and through this church gathering, and my families have been connected and my mom and dad were connected, started dating at an early age I believe they were 12 and holding hands at the back of the church. Just a profound story, profound impact of how the Lord brings these different cultures together, families together, in his timing, for his purpose. And so now you have me.
Speaker 1:So God was doing some emerging leadership stuff a long time ago.
Speaker 3:That's right.
Speaker 2:Well, jordan, thank you for joining us and thank you for what you're doing, you and LaManda, partnering with this, this emerging leader. It's very important. Lamanda, I have some bad news for you. You're getting close to aging out, I know. So I'm going to start a group called Emerging Old and Forgotten Leader. So, lamanda, I will consider you being a part of that.
Speaker 3:You know, I, on a serious note, even though you're just being a meanie I have been telling them that I said just so. Y'all know, every year I'm like when we meet at the conference, I'm like, and then I'm just reminding you all I'm about to age out, or I'll say I'm about to get kicked out. And a couple of them have teased me and they're like oh no, we're always going to keep you in. You know, um, but I think that is something that has been neat, um, probably for me and Jordan, but particularly me because of this position. It's been neat to be the new kid under you and to learn it and then to have and to learn how to take on things. But then, with this Emerging Leaders, I mean I love it, I'm invested in it, the people are amazing and we have so much fun and they're just authentic. But I have been looking at this whole time going and I don't know if it's the age limit thing or if it's just God changing me as a leader, but we should always be looking at who is going to carry this on and it is a reminder, and Jordan and I I've heard Jordan say this so many times and I love it and I think it shows his, um, his humbleness, and that's one of the things I love it, and I think it shows his, his humbleness and that's one of the things I love about him too.
Speaker 3:But we've both said this isn't the LaManda and Jordan show. We just saw the need and saw people want it and were willing to do it. But at any time other people feel like God's calling them to lead it, we will step aside if people have better ideas or they feel like God is calling them to lead something or whatever. We want to be obedient to that and so I joke all the time that I'm approaching the 40. But on a serious note, it has been neat to be the new kid taking on things but then also looking at something that in my opinion, is so precious, so important, so valuable, but to know it's not about me or Jordan and that both of us are ready to pivot at any time, to hand this over to someone else that God sees fit for it. We want to do that because we care about the cause more than our careers or our leadership in this, more than our careers or our leadership in this, and I just appreciate God's work. You know personally on my own heart to learn that skill, I guess.
Speaker 4:So you're equipping emerging leaders, If I can just add to that as well. I mean, I would challenge all listeners to this podcast. Think about who those emerging leaders are, Think about the next generation and maybe challenge yourself and ask yourself are you investing in them? Are you investing your time how the Lord's blessed you and used you in your testimony? Are you sharing that to others? Are you allowing there to be a transition, a healthy transition, in organizations and families? All sorts of personal, professional ways?
Speaker 4:But, there's so much power again in the older generation, if you will talking to the younger generation and helping with that transition. So I challenge anyone listening to this are you investing into an emerging leader and are you assisting and supporting each other? It goes both directions. Make sure that the Lord's work continues and he continues to be glorified in all ways.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's really well said. Well, jordan, thank you for being kind of. In our experimental, we're crossing on our podcast, our community, our mission to be able to talk with people around the country, and so, and Josh Turley, thank you for studying. I don't know how to do this.
Speaker 2:I know, not everybody can do this and making it work and we're able to see Jordan right here on a screen, and people on podcasts don't see that normally unless it's a video podcast, but thank you for what you're doing in Virginia. If people would like more information about the Percival Tree of Life Ministries in Virginia Percival Virginia Tree of Life Ministries they've got a website. Can you tell us what that is?
Speaker 4:Of course, tolministriesorg and we'd be happy to. Of course, you can reach out to me anytime and be happy to share more information or answer any questions.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you never know who's going to end up in Virginia, like a kid of mine. So.
Speaker 2:I'm going to be talking to her about this here real soon about you guys, because she was raised in rescue ministries as well. To her about this here real soon about you guys, because she was raised in rescue ministries as well. So she loves them and so, anyway, well, we have Jordan Smith, part of the CityGate Network emerging leaders from Virginia, that's joined us today with Amanda Broyles of talking about passing the baton, getting people equipped to move forward to really honor the Lord, meet the needs of people right where they are, all over this nation and, obviously, all over this world. Thank you for listening today. If you'd like more information about the Topeka Rescue Mission, you can go to trmonlineorg. That's trmonlineorg, and thank you for being a part of what's happening here in Topeka, kansas, through being a part of a community that's on a mission.