Our Community, Our Mission
Our Community, Our Mission
Ep #267 – Qualified by Calling: Lauren Clouse & the Winchester Rescue Mission
From a simple lunch invitation to leading a life-changing organization, Lauren Clouse’s story is one of calling, courage, and deep faith. As CEO of Winchester Rescue Mission, Lauren never imagined she’d be running a growing nonprofit, expanding programs, and building partnerships across the Shenandoah Valley. But with a heart for people and a belief that “God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called,” she stepped forward. Today, she leads with honesty and heart, guiding her team through difficult work while holding onto the joy that makes it sustainable.
In this episode, Lauren opens up about what it’s like to feel unqualified yet called, and how those two truths can coexist. She shares how finding moments of laughter, maintaining authentic relationships, and leaning on God’s provision allow her to keep going when the work is heavy. Her story is a moving reminder that saying yes to something bigger than yourself doesn’t require perfection—only a willingness to show up with grace, grit, and joy.
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Dear my father. We thank you, lord, for this day and your blessings and provisions. God, thank you for Lord. Just all the humble servants who work across this country and the globe, lord, serving you and serving Lord, just those in need, lord, those experiencing homelessness and hunger. God, we thank you for each and every one of them. Thank you for our special guests today and, lord, just pray your blessing over her, her ministry and, lord, every listener who hears this podcast. Father, in your holy and wonderful name, we pray, amen.
Speaker 2:Hello everybody, thank you for joining us for another episode of our Community, our Mission, a podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission here on Tuesday, may 13th of 2025, episode number 267. On this beautiful spring day in the, Amanda Cunningham.
Speaker 4:Hello, how are you? I'm good, I'm good.
Speaker 2:We've got a really cool special guest, we're going to talk about today.
Speaker 4:Yes, I'm excited about it.
Speaker 2:But what we like to do is we like to honor our research and development department, which is sitting down at the other end, and if we don't do this, he won't turn on the record button. Hey, I got the mute button, that's right. So part of that is, if you've joined us before with our community, our mission, we like to recognize the importance of the day, and so there are three main important parts of today and LaManda, I know one that most of us like is this is National Apple Pie.
Speaker 4:Day. I do love apple pie.
Speaker 2:So how long have you liked apple pie?
Speaker 4:Well, not quite as long as you, but we won't go there.
Speaker 2:Actually I'm a peach pie guy, Are you? I didn't know that about you. I know Hot dogs and baseball and peach pie and peach pie. That's where I go with it.
Speaker 4:One of my favorite little treats and there's no telling what's in it, but we won't talk about that is to get one of those what is it? Apple turnovers or whatever from McDonald's.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 4:Every now and then. It's deep fried and all of that, and cheap, and you can buy a bunch of them. Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:And then you wonder what you did that for? Yep, yeah, so I bet you're a former educator. Well, you're still educating. You're teaching people. Apple pie was first identified as apple pie.
Speaker 4:No, I did not you didn't know that. No, I'll take my walk of shame.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it came out of a Dutch cookbook in 1514. 1514. Really Okay yeah, major day.
Speaker 4:Were you three Dun dun dun.
Speaker 2:Got him. I was only one, okay. So a lot of things that we know around Topeka is about tulips, and so this is National Tulip Day. We a lot of things that we know around Topeka is about tulips, and so this is National Tulip Day. We have tulip time here in Topeka. It's a really big deal. I bet you don't know when that first started. I don't, okay.
Speaker 4:I was talking, I didn't get to read my cheat sheet.
Speaker 2:So this was before I was one. It was around 1000 AD, in Turkey, turkey of all places. So and then, okay, this is more contemporary, this day is known as Tom Cruise Day. No, no, it's not. No, it's Tom Cruise Day, it's Top Gun Day Never watched it.
Speaker 1:You never watched it, never watched it. No, oh, that's a shame. I know I wanted to play Danger Zone, but I didn't want to get like copyright infringement or something.
Speaker 2:So you're probably more on the Top Gun Maverick movie, right? No, okay.
Speaker 4:All right, I don't know, I sleep during movies.
Speaker 2:You're okay. So apparently they celebrate May 13th every year now to celebrate and honor their memory of the iconic movie Top Gun. It was released in 1986. Remember that.
Speaker 4:Nope, I wasn't born.
Speaker 2:Okay, so, yeah. So the year I started working the rescue mission, top Gun came out and they just got the wrong actor, that's right, that was what it was.
Speaker 4:You were supposed to be the star.
Speaker 2:We were flying through the air Yep.
Speaker 4:And now we're flying by the seat of our pants.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we sure are. So, anyway, those are the important things for today. May 13th of 2025. And I'm sure you'll remember these next year when we're doing it on a Tuesday Marked it in my brain. Well, amanda, one of the things that we have started on the podcast, our Community, our Mission, is to reach outside and talk to people who are not necessarily part of this community but are part of a greater community of rescue ministries across North America, and that's part of a networking system that's been around for over 100 years called the CityGate Network. Now, we were talking earlier about the Houston Rescue Mission, which is there's more than one but Star of Hope, and that was the first CityGate meeting I ever went to in 1986 was at Star of Hope, and I was sure glad I lived in Topeka, kansas, when I got back from that joint, did you?
Speaker 2:guys see Top Gun when you you know, no, we didn't Shoot. Yeah, wasn't looking for that. Actually, I was walked into a fenced-in area across from a plasma center that there were 2,000 men waiting to get into a shelter with 500 beds, and that was my first experience seeing a rescue mission 500 beds and that was my first experience seeing a rescue mission. And part of that was that in 1986 and that era, there the oil.
Speaker 3:There was an oil crisis in the United.
Speaker 2:States. So Houston being very oil production oriented, they lost about a million people that had to leave the city. There were skyscrapers with cranes that they were building brand new skyscrapers that were just stopped, and there were these cranes on outside and so they had a. And we talked about homeless problems today they had a massive emergency homeless problem in that part of the country and so we got to go down and see that and really saw the value of being ready for what may come. But anyway, so CityGate Network, LaManda, you have gotten pretty involved with this organization that's over around 300 rescue ministries in North America. Talk about what CityGate means to you, what it really is from your lens, and then how you've gotten involved. And then we're going to talk to a CityGate member.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so I think that man CityGate Network is so multifaceted, right, there is everything from communicative platforms that all of us members can be on, where literally with the click of a few buttons, we're able to blast out a question or two or a problem, and it gets sent to dozens upon dozens of people to be able to access this network of possible solutions, possible approaches or people that will be prayer warriors for you, and so that is a huge thing. I utilize that no less than probably 10 to 20 times a year myself, where you're trying to make decisions about things and to be able to seek other wise counsel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm sure they're maybe checking in with you.
Speaker 4:Yes, yes, and our team has responded to several of those threads when people have questions or they're trying to embark on changing program or trying to do physical changes that are a therapeutic approach. So we've been able to do a lot of that. So you've got that kind of facet of CityGate. They also do stuff where they're very big on making sure we all feel connected despite distance, and so they have the investigate magazine that they sent out and I mean just all of these different things that we're able to see the good and the struggles that everyone's facing, from east to west view of them, and it's this communication, this networking, this plethora of support and questions that you can do and all of that.
Speaker 4:But they also are so intentional at relationships and so one of the things they did several years ago was kind of start this emerging leaders group and it was before I came, so I had nothing to do with that and they wanted to really build this because they realized that a lot of the people that were coming year and year to the CityGate conference or the people that were able to do the huddles, a lot of them were from an older generation, that had a lot of history together, and then there was this gap in people who were experienced and were veterans with this to kind of the novice ones of us that were coming into it that are really the next generation of this. And how do we bridge that so that, I'm using my own words, this is not city gate, but so that you don't have a lot of younger kids coming in arrogant, saying we can take on the world? I think it's pretty accurate.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 4:Oh, my other thing I'm going to say is but also so we don't have some older people not ready to let go she was pretty kind.
Speaker 4:Right, she was pretty kind in that at valuing those of you who have been in this and had the experience, but also trying to connect you all to us who are taking on the baton and trying to figure out all the stuff. We don't know, but we have the right heart and the ambition, and so that's where I kind of got plugged in, was kind of revamping this. Emerging leaders and how do we really send off this message to the younger generations of, hey, there is wisdom with those of us who are those that have gone before us? And then how do we also reach out to those of you who have experience, saying we need you to be teaching us, we don't need you to just know it all, we need it. And so that's the other huge thing about City Gates is the relationship piece, but also that they're paying attention to multi generations and the power of unity with those. And that's kind of what has birthed a lot of my not just networking, not just colleagues like Lauren, our guests that we're going to talk to.
Speaker 4:I call her a friend, I care about her. We're connected on social media. I'm connected to her rescue Missions Facebook page. It just is ongoing outside of a conference or outside of a platform. That's all technology.
Speaker 2:Very few people do this kind of work, even this kind of ministry, and so having people that are like-minded, kindred spirit, similar callings, regardless of where they are, is huge. Like-minded kindred spirit, similar callings, regardless of where they are, is huge. Many, many, many, many years ago, from my understanding, the Salvation Army, back in the telegraph days, they were sending out information to the people at the different places that Salvation Army was stationed, but they had very little money to be able to afford a telegraph, so they would send it to what they would call a core, with one word others. You're not alone, there are others. And so, as people were working at that level, they didn't have telephones yet it was a telegraph, and so they set out the word others. And I think that's what CityGate really is helping to help leaders is to know that they're not alone. There are others, not just your community, but also a larger network, and that's why it's called the City Gate Network to be able to do that, and technology has helped that greatly.
Speaker 2:Back in my day, when I first started out, you had a meeting in person or a telephone call and those were really precious to be able to have these meetings and you still have those but also like we're doing today with Lauren. We can actually visit and she's in Virginia and we're here.
Speaker 4:The one other thing I wanted to say about whether we're talking CityGate Network or emerging leaders, it just expands farther than a conference. And I'd say that because you know there's probably going to be a podcast coming up in the next several weeks where, um, we touch a little bit about, um, a pretty big tragedy that we walked through, um here with the Topeka rescue mission staff, um with an assault that, uh, that was brutal Um. But also we've seen a miracle in that.
Speaker 4:Um so more to come on on that when the timing is appropriate. But the thing I wanted to mention was I personally, but also our team. We have heard from city gate staff every week since that happened and we are um about, um, probably six weeks out from from that event. And so I have heard from the CEO, tom DeVries. I have heard from multiple staff members. I've heard from them in the form of phone calls, text messages, emails and a card every week. So then that trickled down.
Speaker 4:I didn't just take that, as they're supporting me, like they're praying for our team. So last week, during the deputies meeting, I was able to hand them a card. Of course I've been telling the team hey, I heard from so-and-so today or I got this text message and then their entire staff, after their prayer meeting, signed a card specifically for our team and I gave that to deputies and then this week we'll be taking a picture to send it to all staff, an all staff email. So it's not just when things are successful or like showy or anything like that. They've been in the trench with us.
Speaker 2:Not just informational, but relational.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 2:And that's a great value. Well, we have Lauren Klaus with us today. She's from Winchester, virginia with the Winchester Rescue Mission. See, I can do that, and so, lauren, thanks for joining us today on our community, our mission.
Speaker 3:Yeah, thank you all so much for having me. I'm excited to be with you guys.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Lauren, you and I got a chance to catch up just a little bit this first time we've met each other and we're actually, for those who are listening we're actually able to see Lauren via a little iPad here and she can see us, so that's kind of cool. So, Lauren, talk about your position there. Are you the director? Ceo, executive director.
Speaker 3:What are you called there? Yeah, so my official title is CEO and I've had the great honor of being in this role since December of 23. So this is a relatively newer position to me, but I'm not new to the organization. Just in February, I celebrated a seven-year work anniversary, so I really love this ministry, love this organization, love the people who we have the privilege of serving. So yeah, officially CEO.
Speaker 2:Talk about how you came to Winchester Rescue Mission. Now you're the CEO, seven years now, but what was your journey coming? And then, of course, we want to find out more about the ministry itself, but talk to us about your journey to get here and why you accepted that assignment of CEO.
Speaker 3:Yeah, this is probably one of my absolute favorite kind of favorite stories of sorts to tell. So my predecessor, brandon Thomas, who's currently the CEO down at Opendoor Mission in Houston, was my pastor at the time. So I'm not originally from the Winchester Virginia area. I grew up in central Virginia and right outside of Richmond. I came up here to go to school at Shenandoah University. Brandon was my pastor, and so I got to know him and his wife, casey, and their kids for a good bit.
Speaker 3:And then I started volunteering at the rescue mission. In fact, I helped out with our women's shelter first fundraiser. Our women's shelter opened in 2018. And at the time, I was just helping volunteers serving in the kitchen and I helped out with this fundraiser and I can distinctly remember Brandon taking me out to lunch at Chipotle with his eldest son, xander, at the time. At the time, and he sat me down for lunch and he's like Lauren, I think you should be our women's shelter director. And I kind of chuckled and I said Brandon, I'm you know, I'm going back to nursing school.
Speaker 3:I want to do international medical missionary work. This is what I'm doing. And he spoke something to me that I still very much remember and I had another mentor and friend of mine speak to me and he said, lauren, frequently God doesn't call those whom are qualified, but he will qualify those whom are called, and that has just been spoken into me time and time again and I've seen that, you know, here at the work of our rescue mission here, and so I started off as our women's shelter director in February of 2018. And then I've worn, I feel like a lot of different CEOs, executive directors, leaders of different rescue missions One they never thought that they would actually end up in this kind of ministry.
Speaker 4:And two they never thought that they would be leading it.
Speaker 3:But again we just like, we're like, okay, we'll take this on and we'll take on this project. So I've worn lots of different hats. I was our women's shelter director for a time, so I got to oversee a little bit of case management, working, you know, hands-on with our clients and our guests, and then I oversaw coordinating our volunteers. I had the opportunity to oversee our community engagement and some kind of more development-like opportunities. And then, when Brandon ended up taking a job with CityGate, I was encouraged to apply to the position again. I wasn't totally sure that I would end up getting it, but I just knew that I had a heart and a love for the people that we serve, the team, this incredible team here at Winchester Rescue Mission.
Speaker 3:And yeah, one thing led to another and I got a call from my board president saying I'd like to set up a meeting with you, and that was on Monday and I've been in it for 18 months now and it's been absolutely a blessing and every role that I have had I have come to, I think, really just appreciate the ministry overall because I've gotten to see a little, you know different aspects of what goes into rescue mission work and I've come to appreciate kind of every aspect that it takes to make you know these organizations and this kind of service happen. So it's been a fun ride but grateful for it.
Speaker 2:There's a lot of complications to working in this type of ministry a lot of heartache, a lot of challenges just to help people to know that they matter, working with communities to help people know they matter. And there's the practicality of a growing population of homeless around the country and how people feel about that. And you're kind of right in the middle of all of that, which you're maybe trying to convince a city leader or the importance of this or a church, and then you have that person that walks through the front door that says I just need help, and so the complications and the balance of all that. You seem like you're full of joy about all this. A lot of people say I don't want all that. What gives you the joy of doing the job that you're doing?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I would agree with you. It is incredibly, I think, challenging work and I feel so frequently that it is fighting kind of an uphill battle, practically speaking. I think my team I mentioned that we've got a phenomenal team. Our staff are absolute rock stars. So I find a great deal of encouragement from our staff. Our staff is fun. A great deal of encouragement from our staff. Our staff is fun. I mean, I can remember LaManda and I joking about you know the team there at Topeka like kind of being a team of jokers and things like that, and that exists here as well. So you know the day-to-day kind of operational side of things. The team is definitely a great bit, a great bit of encouragement as well, and I think more kind of deeper than that is is at the core, I think.
Speaker 3:Again, I go back to like I feel so much that I have a calling towards this.
Speaker 3:I feel that you know God has, has placed that God places certain callings on us, um and so when things get really difficult, when things get defeating, um, you know, when you're working through something really heavy, um, I have found in time and time again when I feel like I had nothing left to give, there is something that is spoken into my life that says, no, like, you can continue doing this, your team can continue doing this.
Speaker 3:And while I I I have not heard God's voice, I am confident that it is God speaking into other people to speak into me. To do that I, I have a personal mission statement and so every time where I'm, you know where I am, where I step into a space of a difficult decision or difficult or defeating heavy circumstances, I go back and I read my personal mission statement and then so much of that is really grounded in my faith and who I know I'm called to be, and being reminded of the fact that all of us are created in the image of God. Just consistently going, going back to that and finding some, knowing when to rest in that and knowing when to get up, and you know kind of kind of charge ahead and take it, you know, make, make the most of it. So it's a balancing act, but but certainly at the core of it is being reminded of who I am and whose I am.
Speaker 2:And your purpose in this. I think that without that grounding, without that fallback to the why, this would be the kind of work that you just have to say what's wrong with me to do this. But you have that why it's going into these hard places. Lauren, describe to us the Winchester Rescue Mission and also the community of Winchester. We're quite a ways from you here. I know that you're about maybe an hour, hour and a half outside of Washington DC. You would possibly travel through Fairfax, virginia, where I have family and so I know that area, but I've never seen Winchester. So paint a picture for us here. Winchester, it sounds like there's some really progressive things happening in that community. You can talk about that as well, but just help us to see through your words, winchester, virginia and also the rescue mission.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so Winchester is, like you said, about an hour, hour and a half outside of Washington DC. We are part of the northern Shenandoah Valley and it is, I must say, I've had the great privilege of traveling and seeing a good bit of the country, and the northern Shenandoah Valley is some of the absolute most gorgeous parts of the country. So Winchester I mentioned earlier to you, prior to the recording, that Winchester is actually the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state of Virginia, and it has been for the last four years. So we're seeing a tremendous amount of people moving to the area and that provides us a lot of opportunities for growth and development. However, we have so much history here in Winchester, and so one of the things that I see, you know, in both in the city of Winchester and the surrounding area, is opportunities and really a need for some sustainable growth, and so that's one of the things that you know our community leaders are looking at is how do we, you know, grow and encourage people to come, visit and move to Winchester and the surrounding area, while also understanding and putting up some infrastructure to help, to help support that, support that growth? So that's that's the area again, so beautiful, so many great aspects and our organization, winchester Rescue Mission, has been in existence since 1973. So we just recently celebrated our 50-year anniversary of being in operation. We currently run a men's and women's kind of rehabilitative program, so we have capacity for up to 30 men uh in our facility and up to 10 women Um, we also have and this is probably my favorite part of our ministry and absolutely incredible food ministry um, with what we call cafe on Cameron and then Cameron market, and our facility itself currently is on Cameron street.
Speaker 3:So, um, with uh market, we um it's a food distribution. We partner with our local food bank, part of Feeding America, and we invite our community to come in shop for groceries free of charge, and we've seen an increasing number of people coming to us for that. And then we serve lunch and dinner every day of the week, every week of the year, to anyone who, to both our clients and to our community, and that, I think, is really some of the most important work that we do, you know, in collaboration with our programs. But I think, when you think about some of the most impactful conversations that you've had, so many of those in any of our lifetimes, so many of those conversations happen around the dinner table, or they happen in a kitchen or at a coffee shop, and so we serve here at the rescue mission.
Speaker 3:Here at Winchester rescue mission, we serve food in a very intentional and a very dignifying way, because we see homelessness and poverty such a need for mending and encouraging relationships, and so we see the table and breaking bread as such a natural way to create opportunities to do that. So so we, yeah, in conjunction with our programs and our food ministry, we're also in the middle of a really incredible expansion project. So we, yeah, in conjunction with our programs and our food ministry, we're also in the middle of a really incredible expansion project. So we're under construction for a new or new to us facility, such a major renovation. We're actually looking to be done with construction on that in the next 60 days or so. So lots of, lots of really exciting things and we're seeing just an increasing need for, um, all of those, all of those services.
Speaker 2:It sounds like, uh, you're uh moving forward, uh, there at the rescue mission as well as the community of it's about 30,000 people at this point, Um and so um, with prosperity also comes along, um, things of uh situations that don't work out in people's lives, and so sometimes that results in people having nowhere to go. We've seen that happen in Kansas and some different communities that especially post-pandemic, that things were moving in a certain direction in a prosperous way and then they broke or whatever, and now we have people without a place to go. So you know we're from the Topeka area, it's not that huge, but it's bigger than Winchester and um, so people see a lot of homeless here. Do you are you seeing an increase in the time that you've been with the rescue mission there, of people that are unsheltered? Um, or you haven't any kind of uh concerns about, in spite of prosperity coming your way, that there could be more people in need?
Speaker 3:Yeah, we definitely have. I would say publicly, to the public eye, homelessness is becoming more. The public is becoming more aware of it. They're seeing it more. They're seeing individuals on on sidewalks, on the side of the road, panhandling. You're seeing. We mentioned earlier we have an incredible walking mall that was actually just voted, I think, number eight in the United States for, like top, you know, pedestrian malls.
Speaker 2:I think we're going to Winchester and just kind of chill out for a while. I know, I know.
Speaker 3:And you guys were talking. I did my homework. I listened to a couple of the podcasts earlier and when it said, I did see that it was National Apple Pie Day and we just Winchester. We have the fourth largest parade, I think, in the US, and it's Apple Blossom and so we have a whole apple pie baking contest.
Speaker 2:You need to start a podcast.
Speaker 3:I'm coming, I think, in the U S and it's apple blossom, and so do we have a whole apple pie contest.
Speaker 4:So I'm coming.
Speaker 2:You need to start your own podcast now. So you've got the, you've got the main thing down. You know the importance of the day, so between great apple pies and parades and walking malls and a really cool rescue mission.
Speaker 3:You guys should definitely come out. So, yeah, we've definitely seen I think publicly an increasing in homelessness and it has become more of our local city council, have had increasing conversations around, increasing concern around, and we've seen the city step in and try to create some pretty innovative solutions, trying to play a role in that, for sure. And we've seen an increasing number of people coming to us in need of services and I mean on top of the you know just abundant needs. One of the and kind of defeating things of of this job is having to turn somebody away saying unfortunately, we are capacity so. So we've seen that time, time and time again where it's where it's increasing and that's really one of the disheartening aspects of the job and, I would say, in the same time, more encouraging because we have to do something, something needs to be done in order, in order to meet a rising need. So, yeah, we have seen a significant amount of shift in increasing homelessness.
Speaker 2:Sounds like the community has been standing with the rescue mission there 50 plus years now and then this expansion project that you're moving into. So a lot of times people get involved in the issue of homelessness at one level or another because it takes a lot of people. But in many situations, like in Topeka and it sounds like probably there in Winchester, you're kind of the voice for the people experiencing homelessness and the issue, and so are you connected pretty well with different organizations there, also government that obviously has to deal with this in one way or another. Is there good connections there?
Speaker 3:Yeah, one of the things that you will hear if you talk to a handful of individuals in this area is we say Winchester is one of the most generous communities and I could not agree more with that. I mean from volunteers and donors and I think just community support overall. We see that. I mean from volunteers and donors and I think just community support overall. We see that and, yeah, just very, very blessed, very grateful for that. We have great partnerships with other nonprofits. In fact, just yesterday I was in a room, a two-hour meeting, with some other nonprofits and local officials talking about how do we better address homelessness and the nonprofit providers who were in the room. They weren't homeless, you know specifically homeless services providers, but they were kind of fringe providers, so they provided services for individuals who might be experiencing food insecurity. Or we have a great partnership with a local organization that provides services and housing and advocacy for individuals fleeing domestic or sexual violence, and so there's a lot of kind of cross collaboration with those organizations the food bank, for example. So we have to partner with those organizations because it's a heavy load to carry and we cannot be the only organization that carries that. We are the experts in certain things. But we cannot be the experts in financial literacy, in overseeing malnutrition and food access. We can't be the experts in providing resources like health resources, for example.
Speaker 3:I mentioned earlier that Winchester's got a major hospital system, valley Health, here. So we have very intentional partnerships with those organizations to make sure that the guests that we're serving have access to the things that we're not able to directly provide them access for, so we can get them connected to local banking institutions who can lead classes in financial literacy. Same thing with our hospital system. Same thing with if we have an individual who's come in and has marks and or has a conversation with us that they have a history of DV or SV, we're able to connect them with those local experts, either in-house or can send them to that organization, that organization's location specifically.
Speaker 3:And if it weren't for that, yeah, we'd be in a really tough spot. So the support that we receive for the community, um, and really at it, it goes back. I think our community wants to help and they want to um, they want to help the individuals that that walk through our doors. So if it, um, I'm just, I see again, just time and time again of uh, an outp, an outpouring of support in many different ways.
Speaker 2:Sounds like, yeah, you've stepped outside of the walls of the Winchester Rescue Mission and been embraced, and you're embracing others, Amanda, I know that's an extremely important part of what goes on here in Topeka and always has been, always will be going to be more so in the future. So when you hear Lauren talk about what they're doing there, what does that say to you in regards to knowing again, there's another person out here that is doing this too. What does it mean to have this connection with Lauren?
Speaker 4:You know, I think my connection with Lauren is important on on several different levels. Um, I kind of watch her from afar and, um, and just so proud to call her friend, Uh. But it's not just because of what you've heard today, Like, I love her joy, I love her enthusiasm, I love her devotion to people, right, Regardless if it's that donor in front of her, someone who's coming to be served. I love those things. But what you're not hearing probably for the sake of time and because there's so many other things we try to fit in is she's also faced a lot of challenges. It's not like she walked into that role and all partnerships are established and they never have any budget concerns and they never have any staffing issues and every partner is just lined up ready to do exactly what Lauren's asked to do.
Speaker 2:I'm just getting ready to book a flight to Winchester but now I'm kind of backing off now because it's like real stuff.
Speaker 4:It's real stuff, yeah. And so what I love about Lauren is that same, you know, that same joy and that same like hey, we're going to look at this half full instead of half empty. That's what she does when there's difficult things and all of that. And so to me, when I hear her reflect on things, it's encouraging to me that we're all kind of in this fight together and that the fight isn't against people. The fight is either, you know, against injustices or things that this world that's just broken, and so it's so incredible to see someone like her and hear about her team, because it shows us that we're part of this bigger team doing the kingdom work on earth, because it shows us that we're part of this bigger team doing the kingdom work on earth. It's also encouraging to me because we have incredible partnerships here and again, a generous community and so many people willing to help not just physically but also financially and all of that.
Speaker 4:But we also have some work to do in this community. We have some disconnects and we have some deficits, and you know that's not always easy for me to talk about. But I'm going to in hopes that more people will join the fight, more people will stop creating the fight and that we can really. You know, like Lauren talking about hey, we just got together with government leaders and nonprofits in a room. Sometimes that takes an act of Congress to get going in places, and so I look at that and I'm encouraged and it makes you feel like you're a part of this bigger scene and you see it. But then I'm also challenged because while we are blessed here, we also have some work that can be done. And that's part of why I'm called to this, because while we are blessed here, we also have some work that can be done.
Speaker 2:And that's part of why I'm called to this. I'm sure it's encouraging, as you're in the weeds here in Kansas and also hearing the weeds that are going on in Virginia, to be able to share weeds and chop them down together in some way with some ideas and so forth. Lauren, you've talked about your personal mission statement. You talked about kind of the thing that really keeps you in the game. What does it mean to you to, in view of light of scripture, to know that you have been called to something that is so important to the heart of God? We're talking about the creator of the universe, who, of course, loves all people, but the special assignment that has been given to you to lead, to be there for the ones that are very clearly on his heart, to have somebody be there for them.
Speaker 3:What does that mean to you? In full transparency. I feel highly unqualified. Still, I feel sometimes I have a conversation with God and like, why me, God, why Like, why this should be somebody else, Somebody smarter, Somebody knows finances better, somebody's you know more adequate of having somebody has more time on their hands, which I would probably argue to say, no executive director ever has enough enough time. That is, again, in full transparency, like that's something that I continue to struggle with. But I find encouragement in others and Amanda and in other executive directors that I have spoken with is they also struggle with that and I know it's very intentionally put on our website.
Speaker 3:When you look on on our leadership, my first statement is how incredible is it that you and I are created in the image of God? And I have a journal that my sister made for me when I first had this, when I first accepted this position, and on the front of it she said how incredible is it that you and I are created in the image of God? And I think that's the thing that grounds me and encourages me, and I say that this is a that grounds me and encourages me, and I say that this is a hill that I will live and die on is just that is that I feel like when I hear other people speak you know, community members, no matter where I go the way that we talk about people who are experiencing homelessness or who are in poverty or who are substance addicted, who are in poverty or who are substance addicted I think back to that of you and I and all of us. We are all created in the image of God and there's no distinction Like that's end of sentence, and so I think that's one of the things that I really cling to is that we are all created in the image of God, beautifully and with different callings and different talents and qualities, but at the end of the day, we're all created in the image of God and I have to be.
Speaker 3:I feel like I'm called to step into spaces where, when that is fought or when and Lamanda, you mentioned injustice and that part of my mission statement states I will confidently pursue justice. Justice that's something that I feel like I'm called to step into a space for I will live with joy, grace and grit, and grace and grit is one of those things that I think necessary to kind of strike a balance of. So I cling to that I cling to. We are all created in the image of God and I'm not perfect and I feel very unqualifiedqualified and I will never be perfect in pursuing that. But I know that I'm covered with a level of grace that still calls me back towards this work every morning, every day, so I cling to that.
Speaker 2:So you know, if you were applying for the job, you probably wouldn't get it. Based on what you just said, you're not qualified and so uh, but that's who we are. And, uh, I know LaManda has felt that way. I mean, when I had the conversation with her a few years ago about, uh, this calling, I know myself and you in that position, which makes you, lauren, the perfect person to be the leader?
Speaker 2:Yes, because you know this is way beyond you. You know that you're not capable of doing what God's asked you to do, so you can't do it. But he can do it through you, and I know when I asked you that question you started to get a little emotional there, in that this is really deep to you, this is really personal to you. I think sometimes we need to reflect back on oh, my goodness, this creator is so amazing. They would call somebody like me, like you, to be able to be in this place and you love it as hard as it is.
Speaker 2:You absolutely love it because you know it's his heart. And you know love it because you know it's his heart and you know. I just think you know that people know you in this community. Now they got to know me for a while and to know that there are other Lamandas out here, like Lauren in Virginia, that aren't better than anybody. They're just people who have said yes to a very special assignment, a lot of people are really glad you do it there, Lauren. I mean, there's probably a lot of people sure, glad we got a Lauren here.
Speaker 2:But the joy that is in your words, the joy that's on your face, that nobody can see Amanda and me right now. What a blessing it is for Winchester to have somebody like you leading. What a blessing it is for Winchester to have somebody like you leading Lamanda. Other thoughts today with Lauren.
Speaker 4:Well, you know, I'd really miss an opportunity if I didn't share that. Lauren and I were able to be really close. You know, we can talk budgets and we can talk staffing, but Lauren and I also did an adventure with CityGate where we helped with what's called Hope in the Gate and they were partnering and it was out at Amy Grant's farm and it was just beautiful where rescue missions come.
Speaker 2:And I didn't get an autographed T-shirt or nothing. I know, I'm so sorry. I showed you the piece of paper that she autographed for me.
Speaker 4:Does that count?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I swear to God for me Does that count.
Speaker 4:But you know, lauren and I spent several days walking around Beautiful right.
Speaker 2:The scenery is beautiful, but also some heat and we only got one shower in like four days that we were there.
Speaker 4:So anyways, and she and I were well, yes, all natural, lauren and LaManda. But you know, I think I love that Lauren brought up the humor. That was one of the things that we connected on when we were first getting to know each other. One, she and I have senses of humor, but two, our teams do, and that's one thing that I wanted to just make sure I pointed out with Lauren. You know, when she talks about the love of her team and all of that, it's not to dismiss or minimize, like the heartache that they see every day. Same thing here at the rescue mission. I mean, there's stuff that we can't turn our brains off of right, but I think there is the stigma that if you're faith-based or rescue mission work or all of this, that it's all you know serious.
Speaker 2:Heaven on earth?
Speaker 4:Yes, and hell's going to break open. You know, there's just all this like seriousness to it and, yes, our calling is serious, but that also means we can have joy and fun and all of that with it, and so I think that's one thing. That's important is, whether we're talking about the complexities of homelessness or rescue mission work or food insecurity, it's not always what we do, it's also how we do it, doing it with whether you call it a joy or a happiness, however you believe, we do it because we know that this world we're living in is not our home, and we have a hope and we have a joy that we can not only do the work but we can do it a certain way, and I love that. About the rescue mission, you know, I just played a joke, maybe this morning on Marcus it's Marcus's birthday and I hadn't seen him yeah.
Speaker 4:I wanted to see him and I wanted to tell him happy birthday and he didn't answer my text. He didn't answer my call, which is a no-no. So I finally called him again. He answered because he knew it was something serious and I told him that I got a baby raccoon in my office for him to come and he goes Elsie, are you serious? And I said yeah, and I go, it's in my, I've got it cornered. And I hear him get in his truck and his keys and stuff.
Speaker 4:And then I had to yes, I said I'm just kidding, I just wanted to see you for your birthday. But why do I share that story? Because there is so much. We see brokenness, we see addiction, we see people that are other people are seeing them but they don't want to see them and there is a seriousness because of eternity with the work we do and it's also challenging. But it also is family away from family oftentimes within these rescue missions. And I know Lauren. One of the reasons why her staff feel safe, uh, to to be humorous and to do it with a joy, is that's the example she says, and I think there's power in that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely Well, shame on you for getting Marcus out of bed.
Speaker 4:I got to tell one more part to that story. So he gets um, he is not happy that I got him. So he tells one of his guys that work for him Marvin, hey, you got to get over there to LaManda cause she has a raccoon in her office. And he doesn't tell him that I was joking. So I'm in my office and here comes Marvin, like sweating, like running in Where's the raccoon? And I looked at him and I said Marvin Marcus got you.
Speaker 4:I said I played that joke on him and now he's doing you, and so then Marvin's like he's going to get it.
Speaker 2:So if you think everything's, if you're listening and think everything's just really dark and dreary and serious and we can't wait till Jesus comes back. There's a lot of fun things that happen with the team and, lauren, that's where we're hearing you, as well as Virginia. You got to have the lighthearted moments sometimes to be able to make it through Not laughing at the pain but in the midst of the pain, enjoying life with each other.
Speaker 2:Well, lauren, is there anything else you'd like to share with the folks here in Topeka? Actually, we don't say just Topeka anymore, because we've been doing this for over five years. And, josh, have you found out if we're at the space station yet to international?
Speaker 1:Still working on the space station. Oh, come on, man Get with the program here.
Speaker 2:We're going to be at Mars before you know it. So, anyway, we do have a pretty good broad listening base here. But, lauren, what would you like anything else today to share with the listeners of our community? Our mission?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I just you all were speaking about CityGate Network and the importance of it there and you know, just a couple of minutes ago I was sharing about how I feel very unqualified or how I can struggle with feeling very unqualified or inadequate, and I think CityGate Network is a reminder and they equip you with things, with relationships and with trainings and certifications that you know that can definitely help you in that and I think that's been a great bit of encouragement for me. You know, as a young professional coming into a really challenging kind of exhaustive field of ministry is, I've found encouragement in that and really just in surrounding myself with people who are 5, 10, 15 years kind of ahead of me and who are the experts in their own field who I need to glean things from. Were the experts in their own field who I need to glean things from?
Speaker 3:And so, um, you know, finding LaManda and, uh, you know, um, and gleaning things from her and, uh, bob and uh a bit, uh, helping up over in uh Baltimore mission and and um in that team, and so, yeah, just definitely surrounding yourself with um good people, um, I think is one of the things that I have found to be the most helpful, the most encouraging. Who you can be really vulnerable with and say I'm really struggling with this. Romanta and I had a couple of conversations in that stinky trailer or while we were thinking the trailer was impeccable.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that was beautiful. We were stinky, we were not.
Speaker 3:And yeah, and just being really vulnerable in that and also finding people who will say, all right, you know it's time to get up and we're going to go and we're going to equip you with the things that you need to be equipped with, and yeah, I just, I'm just I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for a great circle of community around me and and other leaders who are, who are in this, because I see this not just in me but in other leaders who have great circles around them of vulnerability and encouragement, and I'm just I'm grateful for it. So I appreciate you guys having me on and welcome or yeah, you guys are certainly welcome to Winchester, would love to have y'all.
Speaker 2:Well, and you're welcome to the Pika too, and I'm sure that some way, somehow, you guys are going to connect.
Speaker 3:Maybe next time I'll shower it up and everything.
Speaker 4:That's right.
Speaker 2:That's great, lauren.
Speaker 2:Thanks for joining us today, helping us to, as we call it, our community, our mission, to think outside the box of it's a bigger community and it's a mission that we all enjoy to do together, and so thank you for what you're doing.
Speaker 2:This is Lauren Klaus in Winchester Rescue Mission, winchester, virginia, that we've heard from today, and if you are a volunteer at Topeka Rescue Mission, a supporter or whatever, this is a bigger adventure than maybe you knew about before you listened to today. We have people like you in different parts of the country, different parts of the world, who come along, teams that work at the rescue missions around to make a difference in people's lives, to be there for them, to be in the gap, so to speak, to bring hope and help and justice when necessary, and so we're part of a bigger assignment that God has created here, and we're so grateful for it. If you'd like more information about the Topeka Rescue Mission, you can go to the website at trmonlineorg, and you might want to look up Winchester Rescue Mission when you get a chance out there in Virginia and go visit, but do come back. Thank you for listening to Our Community, our Mission.