Our Community, Our Mission
Our Community, Our Mission
Ep #271 – Jesus is the Answer: Meet Emily Monroe
This episode features the powerful story of Emily Monroe, a front desk team member at the Hope Center, who brings a deep sense of empathy to her role after walking through her own struggles with depression and anxiety. Her kindness and understanding help create a place where guests feel seen, valued, and safe—an atmosphere rooted in grace and second chances. “I understand what it’s like to feel like the world is against you and like you don’t have any value,” she shares, reflecting the kind of love that changes lives.
Hope Center Director, Rachel Flenniken, shares how the Hope Center offers more than shelter—it’s a pathway forward. Alongside the Guest Management and Housing teams, the center provides a structured program to help women, children, and families set goals, find employment, and move into stable housing. But the heart of it all is relationship—both with others and with Jesus. This episode challenges listeners to move beyond simply knowing about Christ and to pursue continual communion with Him. You can’t walk with one foot in the world and one with Jesus. True transformation comes when we seek His kingdom first and live out of an ongoing relationship with Him—every day, in every step.
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Dear Heavenly Father. We thank you, lord, for this day and your blessings and provisions. God, thank you for this time, and Lord this podcast and all of the listeners who are listening. Lord, I pray your blessing over them and Lord, just your blessing over this conversation. In your holy name we pray, amen.
Speaker 2:Thank you for joining us for an edition of Our Community, our Mission, a podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission. This is your host today, barry Feaker, here on a Tuesday, june 17th of 2025. And this is episode number 271. Co-host with me today Marion Crable, deputy Director of Supporting Services, topeka.
Speaker 3:Rescue Mission. It's such a long thing to say, isn't it? I know golly.
Speaker 2:I'm not even reading that anymore.
Speaker 3:You know what? I'm actually kind of proud.
Speaker 2:I got it down. Yeah, finally. So anyway, Miriam, we're going to have an update from you before we introduce our guests, but before that, again, the Research and Development Department down here is anxiously awaiting for us to talk about the importance of June the 17th nationally and globally. And so, Miriam, you are a nurse. I was One time I said you were a former nurse and you said once a nurse, always a nurse.
Speaker 3:Always a nurse.
Speaker 2:So you said once a nurse, always a nurse so anyway, being a nurse today is a very important day for health it is, it absolutely is national eat your vegetables day. Yeah, yeah, whoever came up with that sounds?
Speaker 3:like my mom, I know it really does sound like something that somebody who just needed their kids to do something so I gotta plug my kids a little bit.
Speaker 1:My boys love vegetables, they love broccoli, and yeah though. Oh, that's good, that's amazing and I didn't have to push that. They're just like naturally like their vegetables. I'm like all right.
Speaker 3:I know that. See, that's wonderful.
Speaker 2:What's wrong with your kids?
Speaker 1:I'm blessed, I guess.
Speaker 3:I don't know sauces, yeah, all that other stuff that makes it taste good, and bacon, Wash it down with right.
Speaker 2:So anyway, yeah, vegetables are great.
Speaker 3:So, anyway, it's National Vegetable Day, so if you haven't had your, vegetables. Yet this year, today would be a good day to start Well, and this time of year it's really great because you can go to the farmer's market and get them fresh, and so it's always better during the summer.
Speaker 2:But if you don't like the vegetables in your house and you want to get rid of them, this would be a good day to recognize this it's Global Garbage man Day. Yes, so you've got to throw away those old vegetables and you know they don't last forever, right, so you've got to get rid of them.
Speaker 3:If you don't eat them, you'll have to throw them in the garbage, you'll still get Garbage man.
Speaker 2:Global Garbage man Day. Yeah, wow, we got a global thing here. Yeah, so we've gone beyond that. So yeah, this just happens to be in my neighborhood trash day. Oh is it, but it's a day early. Is there a?
Speaker 3:holiday or something, because there's a holiday.
Speaker 2:Yeah, juneteenth is coming up, so everybody's taking off that off.
Speaker 3:It's going to throw me off too.
Speaker 2:Wednesday is the normal day. Put it on Tuesday.
Speaker 3:I hope I got everything out I was supposed to, so does that mean? Mine, is going to be tomorrow.
Speaker 1:Probably, I don't know. Mine's on Monday, so I didn't have to worry. You didn't have to worry.
Speaker 2:Well, that'd be good, here's what I would do.
Speaker 3:I'd run home whenever.
Speaker 2:Well, no, today it would be two days early and I don't want to do it because there's going to be storms and then it'll end up all over your neighbor's house. Okay, national, hate your neighbor. Day One more, miriam, I know this is one that you really enjoy.
Speaker 3:It's national mascot day Rock Chalk baby.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, you're not a K, are you?
Speaker 3:I am not. I am a KU. Well, I did not graduate from KU, but I do appreciate KU basketball Okay.
Speaker 2:Well, it's been nice having you on the podcast today. No, I do some consulting and working with the folks in Lawrence and I really like the folks in Lawrence, except for that thing on the hill over there. Because some of us are Wildcat fans.
Speaker 3:I know. Anyway, you know, I can be a Wildcat fan too. I'm a little bit. It depends on the sport, Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:Yeah Right, who's winning, who's losing right.
Speaker 3:No, is it football or is it basketball?
Speaker 2:Yeah, if it's basketball, it's pretty good. So, yeah, but National Mascot Day it is celebrated on June 17th nationally. There's a lot of different mascots that have just grown over the years. But, miriam, this is really a question for you. Okay, because you're a former Cali? No, not really. Yeah, you were.
Speaker 3:Okay, I did live there, california.
Speaker 2:Yes, so California is known to be the home of several of the quirkiest and most whimsical mascots. Did you know that when you were living out in California, or was it just Californians?
Speaker 3:I think it was maybe just the Californians in general, because I was in okay, okay. For me it's not too much, because when I lived in the LA area it was the USC Trojans. That's not weird. When I was in Bakersfield they were the Oilers, which makes sense because there's a lot of oil, dairy.
Speaker 2:So she's defending California now, I know Well, I kind of have to, because I'm trying to think of which are quirky. Yeah Well, I don't know. Do you know where the word mascot was derived from? I do not. You should read it, it's right here it was derived from. I do not, you should read it, it's right here. It was derived from the French word mascotte. No, that's not that was perfect.
Speaker 3:Is that right? I'm guessing that was not perfect.
Speaker 2:Mascotte, there we go. It means to bring good luck. Oh see, that's right. A mascot runs out on the field to bring good luck.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, that's kind of cool. Anyway, and just so you know, my high school mascot was a wildcat.
Speaker 2:Let's see hey, I got a weird one.
Speaker 1:So my mom grew up in West Plains Missouri. Theirs was the Zizzers, the Zizzers.
Speaker 3:Do you know what a Zizzer is?
Speaker 1:No, it's a lightning bolt A.
Speaker 3:Zizzer.
Speaker 2:But they were the West Plains Zizzlers. I thought that was a sizzler when you get hit by the light, oh my gosh. Yeah, okay, okay. Our guests are going. Why were we?
Speaker 5:invited to this today. What is?
Speaker 3:happening Anyway one more thing, this is very serious stuff One more thing, mary.
Speaker 2:We have an update on some really cool stuff going on with the neighbors called Noto.
Speaker 3:You know, barry, one of the things that we're just so fortunate to have is a really wonderful relationship with our folks, to the north of us with NODO Right. I mean, and it always hasn't been that way, it's been this kind of this journey to build a relationship with the mission that you actually started when they wanted to do some revitalizing of the NODO area and John Hunter and you really worked well together to say this can be a buddy.
Speaker 3:Yeah, this can be a partnership. This doesn't have to be adversarial, and ever since then it's just been on kind of this journey for growth. Well, trm is in need of food, right? So especially shelf stable foods, whether it's canned goods or pastas or canned proteins all of those things we just have a very significant need. There's a lot of need in our community, and so Noto, as well as others around the community but I'm going to talk about Noto right now is doing some amazing food drives. So we just went and thought that maybe they would do one for us, right, just do a food drive, maybe at one of your art exhibits, kind of thing. Oh no, they went far beyond that. They are doing food drives at every first Friday and they are also doing it during their concert series, which is every third Friday through September. So they're and not only just like the art center and Noto in that way, but there's also seven businesses. Josh, give me the names of those.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so there's barrels at the Noto Art Center, the Wheel Barrel, artismo Gallery and Bistro, bradley's Corner Cafe, kaw Valley Bank the one in Noto and Habitat Restore.
Speaker 3:And isn't that amazing that all of those They've got a lot to do on those days.
Speaker 2:on the concert time Absolutely. They've got a lot to do on those days, on the concert time and those first Fridays, to add that in also means they really, really care.
Speaker 3:And they're so excited about it too. You know wanting to set goals on how much food they're going to be able to raise, and so we're just so honored. So watch our Facebook pages, watch the Noto Facebook pages, because we'll be doing a lot of promotion, but we hope people will come down and support Noto and while they do, it brings some food that will benefit TRM, the people that stay with us, as well as the community that we serve every Tuesday and Thursday with food bags.
Speaker 2:So if you don't know about First Friday, it's the first Friday of every month in Noto, rain or shine, yes, cold or hot.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:And a lot of people come to it, and there's a lot of people come to it and there's a lot of activities going on. I think it starts in mid afternoon and goes into the evening and it's come early, yeah, cause you'll be walking to the event to go to the different shops and different things and bring some food.
Speaker 3:Absolutely Well and then the concert series which is on third Fridays through September is free and it's in red bud park, and so you just have this opportunity to have family time together, enjoy NODO. There's food down there, there's all different kinds of things that can just make it a wonderful, not expensive right, a way to spend time outdoors and support small businesses.
Speaker 2:Support the small businesses.
Speaker 3:Because NODO is just, it's a really unique and special place.
Speaker 2:It really is. It was a good vision that was cast maybe 15 years ago, I'm guessing and people worked hard to make it happen. And here it is today and it's really on the map.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's a good place to go. It's good for the community of Topeka and the surrounding areas and if you're going to bring a non-perishable, it's National Eat your Vegetables Day, so go ahead and bring your vegetables, but make sure they're in a can.
Speaker 3:Exactly Okay, all right so very good.
Speaker 1:And especially canned protein.
Speaker 2:Canned protein is very important.
Speaker 3:That's a big one that they're needing at the DC which? Is anything from canned tuna, canned salmon, canned chicken, peanut butter.
Speaker 1:Beans, chilies.
Speaker 3:Yeah, beans.
Speaker 1:Another good canned protein.
Speaker 3:Right, absolutely Okay so.
Speaker 2:National Protein Day. We'll mix it in. Maybe we'll see when that is On the first.
Speaker 3:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Very good. Well, thank you, miriam. We've had a our guest today is very special to us, but has been on the podcast today. It's not her first time. She loves podcasts, she just looks forward to these. I remember the very first time she was shaking a little bit, and then the second time she was shaking a little bit. I don't see her shaking much right now, but anyway Getting kind of used to this.
Speaker 5:She's getting used to it, she loves it, rachel.
Speaker 2:Flanagan, who is the director of Hope Center for Women and Families. Welcome to our community, our mission.
Speaker 5:Hey, hey yeah.
Speaker 2:So tell us about what it's been like here so far this spring, maybe this year, in regards to a picture of the Hope Center. Describe the Hope Center for people who may be your first-time listeners. People may know a little bit about the rescue mission, but not everything. So what is the Hope Center and what's it like?
Speaker 5:So the Hope Center. We serve single women, women with children, single fathers with children and married couples with children. I mean basic needs food, water, shelter. We also try to be very encouraging, be very positive. The guests are in a tough spot. I tell them all the time and sometimes I feel like a broken record, like we all have a common reason that we're here, but very different and unique paths and journeys that led us to this place. So there's a lot of personalities, a lot of characteristics, a lot of just a lot.
Speaker 2:Like every neighborhood yeah, just happens to be, they're under one roof, right?
Speaker 5:So there and there's a lot of children and it's, you know, some days it's crazy, some days it's quiet. You really just kind of never know. Now that it's summer, honestly, I thought that we would have a lot more and we've been averaging in the 130. And now we're under 100. So it's people are finding their forever homes, people are, you know, just life is happening. But it has just been very purposeful, very rewarding, and you can't just have any average individual working at that front desk.
Speaker 2:No, you cannot. That's right, I'm going to get that in a second. Rachel, you mentioned there were 130 or so now or 100, population total people. How many are children of that, would you guess?
Speaker 5:I would say about 35 to 40.
Speaker 2:Okay, and they all have a parent or guardian that they're here with, and so that reduction of maybe 30 people at this time of year, which isn't always common, how much does that have to do with the guest management program and the rehousing program?
Speaker 5:I would say a lot of it, and here recently we have had quite a few people moving on to their forever homes. I'm sorry that question that you asked about, how many of them are going into housing, because it's just not a place to stay.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is not forever Shelter management is important to make sure everybody's got a good, safe place to be, has all the supplies, information they need, has a bed to sleep in, clean sheets and those kind of things. Then there is guest management that then kind of manages their time at the Topeka Rescue Mission. And then there's the housing program as part of that.
Speaker 5:Yes, so it's not a place that you can just be there to be there forever, not a place that you can just be there to be there forever.
Speaker 5:Like you mentioned, it is a temporary and the guest management team is in place to guide you along the way, whether that's gaining all of your identification or going through guest classes or getting employment. There are different steps that everybody is involved in and they have weekly, bi-weekly check-ins to make sure that the guests are going through the goals that they have put in place. The ultimate goal is housing for every family and every single individual in the building. So the success of that is that they are following the programming and then get to housing and then housing is very close with them and looking for an apartment or a home or whatever it is that they are qualified for, and then they move on and get to their home and then the housing department actually follows this guest for I believe it's up to 12 months after they've moved out, on monthly check-ins. How are you doing? Is there anything that you need help with, or do you need food, or just making sure that they're still taken care of?
Speaker 2:That's kind of the secret sauce of all this, isn't it Miriam To have that follow-up to make sure people are stabilized and okay.
Speaker 3:It's absolutely the secret sauce and it works because in the last year we've placed probably 90 households and we've had zero evictions.
Speaker 2:That's amazing, it's remarkable. It's not normal.
Speaker 3:It's really not and it really has to do with this follow through, this helping people until they've been able to establish a new community, that we are still that connection in there to be their community, to be their, that kind of thing.
Speaker 5:And it's amazing, like the accountability they're expecting, like I know they're going to come and check on me and I don't want to let them down.
Speaker 2:Like I need to keep going strong. Because there's a relationship that's been developed right. Yeah, well, it starts at the front desk, yes, when people first come in the front lines. And so how important is that to you as director, to have your people that you really know, because you're on call 24-7, basically?
Speaker 5:right. When I'm not physically there, I am plugged in in every other aspect. How important is it to you to have quality people working front lines? It's huge. They are the first face that our guests are seeing walking in the doors and you have to have someone that is positive, someone that is encouraging and someone that gets it. Like I said, everybody has different, unique things that led them here and we have to meet them where they're at, despite what they've done, despite what they're saying. Some of them can be rather challenging, but it's. Who are we to judge what they've been through or how they're acting? There's a lot more under the surface than maybe what they're really sharing. So having someone that can accept them for them is huge.
Speaker 2:Yeah and so, and they don't always come in like, wow, I get to be at the rescue mission you know I'm homeless. I have nowhere to go. Oh, this is a great day, and so you come in with that kind of like whoa and then you have to be ready to help them right where they're at Right. So, rachel, you mentioned a number of qualities. You brought somebody here with you today on the podcast to talk to us First time podcaster, from what I understand and so introduce our guest.
Speaker 5:We have our wonderful and amazing encouraging Emily Monroe.
Speaker 2:That's pretty good, so, emily.
Speaker 5:No, she really just real quick. She is the one that keeps me kind of in line. You know, when you have 100 guests and six or seven or 10 staff and there's a lot going on in one day, you never really know what you're going to face. She kind of hey, did you talk to so-and-so? Or hey, did you make sure you got this done? Or hey, there she goes. Do you want me to have her sit down and wait? Like she just, and I love it because she makes sure that nothing falls between the cracks and it is really. It's just really nice.
Speaker 2:So, Emily, how's that working for you? Really well, so Rachel's got a big job and apparently you do as well keeping track of Rachel.
Speaker 3:Keeping track of Rachel Right.
Speaker 2:But yeah, so welcome to the podcast today. Thank you for having me. Yeah, so Emily, you're front lines. You were working on the front desk about two years now. Topeka Rescue Mission what brought you to the Topeka Rescue Mission? I know that you were involved in your church. You lead in worship there so how did you find out about TRM and why now, two years?
Speaker 4:So I had previously worked at Vallejo and so I kind of knew about TRM from that, just from taking people here. I didn't know much about TRM. I didn't even know that TRM was faith-based.
Speaker 2:Jesus saves. Signs on top of the building Right, yeah, and.
Speaker 4:I missed it. I don't know if you know how tall I am. I'm not very tall.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'll give you a pass.
Speaker 4:But a good friend of mine, michael Union, was working for TRM and he was just sharing with me about how much he loved it and he loved serving. And even he didn't even share it was faith based with me. But I had just applied and I came for the interview and I didn't know then until the interview that that you guys serve and just how how much you guys implement faith and pursuing the Lord and serving and all that you do. And so I was called before I really realized what TRM was.
Speaker 2:And yeah, so you stayed two years now? Yes, what have you learned? Besides, there's a Jesus save sign on top of the building. You've seen it now, right?
Speaker 4:Yes, I'm aware.
Speaker 2:What have you learned? In addition to, it's a faith-based ministry and I want to ask you a few questions about that. But what have you learned? Just uh, hope Center, managing people coming through that front door, like Rachel said, any kind of situation, probably not their best day, yeah, um, and then, um, you know to help them to be safe and move on to their forever home. Yeah, and then you know to help them to be safe and move on to their forever home. Yeah, what's that. What's that? What have you learned?
Speaker 4:So I think, from just working with Rachel and all my other coworkers and just other TRM staff in general, of TRM loves to give people second chances, chances. Trm loves to show people mercy Because, like you said, when people come to the Hope Center or to the men's side, this is likely their worst day of their lives. And so to be able to be a part of when someone is coming in in a terrible situation and that can just look like so many different things and just to be a part of watching someone grow you build relationships with people because likely they're here for a while you know they could be here for several months and so you really get to see someone from where they were and just be a part of the process, of how they're growing. And then get to see them move and accomplish their goals is incredible.
Speaker 2:What's it make you feel like hearing that, Rachel?
Speaker 5:It's awesome and that's the part is the success. You know, I came into the Hope Center like I'm going to save everybody, I'm going to get this. We're going to have these conversations, they're going to move out and we're never going to see them again. And until you get in the Hope Center, but one person's success journey is awesome and we've seen handfuls and handfuls of success journeys. People are very down and they get so excited to tell you I got a job, I got a car, I got a house or whatever have you. It's just amazing the excitement that they want to share with staff or myself, like they can't wait to tell you I got approved for SSI or just whatever it is that they're in.
Speaker 2:Cheering them on to that.
Speaker 5:Yes, how cool is that? Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's kind of so people. People may come in, emily, to you. You may be the first one they see when they come through those front doors, maybe not in the best of place in life, but it sounds like many, as they're leaving, would look back and not only say thank you, but want you to be a part of their journey going forward. Because of what do you think that is Obviously a smile and you're nice and those kind of things. Why do you think people would want to share, as Rachel said, hey, I just got this or I got this done. Why do you think that?
Speaker 4:I really just think it's just building relationship. It's, I mean, they're sharing something that's happening to them that's so vulnerable. They're sharing, you know, something that's happened in their lives and they're opening up to you and to be able to just minister to them, to encourage them just throughout the whole time. You just build a relationship with someone you know and just seeing you know them through the hard times and the good times.
Speaker 2:So the second chances being there, hard times, good times being on the journey with them. Many people come into a homeless shelter and they feel pretty isolated, pretty alone, pretty like nobody cares. And then it doesn't happen overnight though, does it, Rachel? No, it takes time. What's the secret sauce in that whole thing?
Speaker 5:Consistency and conversation. And the second chances is huge because you know sometimes it's hard being the in quotations bad guy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so explain why we would even need a second chance.
Speaker 5:Well, we have to be accountable. So we are a drug and alcohol free environment. We have to be respectful and there are certain rules and policies that we have to have. In one building with so many people, so having to implement, like, if there's any suspicion or behavior or anything about drug use, we have to make sure that that's not the case. So if this individual tests dirty, unfortunately they're not able to stay, but we're not judging you for that. That doesn't make me look at you any different.
Speaker 2:You just can't be here right now, right.
Speaker 5:But that's not no forever. You can come back, and I think that is huge because they're already down. We don't know what they've gone through. We don't know why they're turning to the drugs or the alcohol or whatever it is.
Speaker 2:It doesn't make them a bad person, correct? It means that right now, this is not good for this environment.
Speaker 5:Right and oftentimes when those do go overlooked, it is a disgrace because the next time it could get bigger and bigger and bigger. So holding you accountable is helping you move forward. You accountable is helping you move forward. And then seeing them come back clean and sometimes they have the conversation of thank you so much. That helped me realize or that helped me understand I had nowhere to go and I didn't know what to do, and it made me really respect and be appreciative of this place.
Speaker 2:So you talk about second chances. Is there ever a third one?
Speaker 5:Yes, and there's 10 or 20 or 30. Okay, all right. So we talked about second chances. It's never, ever, ever a hard no.
Speaker 2:So people sometimes have a journey that may last several years back and forth.
Speaker 5:Yes.
Speaker 2:Streets and drug houses and this, that and the other thing to take a rescue mission. But there's that, there's that um, that lighthouse for them that they know here's what they can receive, here's what's expected and opportunities to to move forward in that Emily you talked about. Uh, you didn't know it was faith-based until you applied and you started learning more about that. How have you seen that be important to you personally work in a ministry like this one and what have you learned in that arena?
Speaker 4:So I really understand the power of prayer, and so one thing that I just love that we do is before every shift, every shift change, we pray together, the coworkers, we pray for each other, we pray for our guests, we pray for our leaders. We just pray that God's will be done, and then we are encouraged to pray with our guests. So if someone comes and they're telling about something they're struggling with and I just ask them hey, can I pray with you? That goes a long way. People care about that. I mean to be seen, to be noticed, to be heard. They really care about that. I mean to be seen, to be noticed, to be heard.
Speaker 2:They really care about. So you got 10 people that you meet within a day. It's probably a lot more than that, but you have 10 people interactions. If you offered prayer to 10 people, how many of the 10 would say yes?
Speaker 4:I've never had anyone turn me down so far. What do you think that is? I think people love to be cared about. I mean to see that you know someone here cares about them and wants you know. I don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well.
Speaker 4:I think it's hard.
Speaker 2:They say it's kind of a post-Christian era and then faith has kind of gone by the wayside and you know, science has stepped in and we need to be very careful. I remember, I know, when we were doing Operation Food Secure we started passing out food boxes, food boxes, food boxes, and somebody had an idea.
Speaker 3:Maybe we could offer prayer to people Not required of course.
Speaker 2:it's not required at the rescue mission or anything else, but it was like people got in line to get prayed for didn't they?
Speaker 3:They did, they absolutely did All over the 10 counties to get prayed for.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they did, they absolutely did All over the 10 counties. And you know, I think I think what Emily said is so true. It it helps people feel like people care about them. Whether they believe the same things. That we might or not becomes irrelevant, because they know we believe Right and so when we're then so, in some ways, we're giving part of ourself and our love to them, because we care enough to pray for them. So I think what Emily said is just spot on it makes people feel like we care about them, and that's so important.
Speaker 2:And one guy one time said if you think I'm worthy enough to go to your boss to talk about me, then that's pretty good. Go to your boss, yeah. Got me in the boss, yeah. And so that's how he kind of interpreted that. You know was um. You know he didn't necessarily have a belief, but if you want to go to your boss on my behalf.
Speaker 2:Go for it. So so, emily? Uh, two years now into it, you've um been able to see the value of prayer, and and so what else about the-based piece of this appeals to you.
Speaker 4:Well, jesus is everything in my life. I came to the Lord in 2020. I'd grown up in church but I kind of fell away from the Lord and it fell into a lot of depression and darkness. And when I came to the Lord and he just opened my eyes to who he is, it changed everything. So, in my opinion, I have to implement Jesus into everything that I do.
Speaker 2:When you say it changed everything. You were in this period of darkness, You'd walked away from the church, and the church is a building in some people's minds and it's bigger than that and the Lord has in mind. It's his people. And so when you say changed everything, what does that mean?
Speaker 4:So before this, I was having an identity issue of I didn't understand who I was. I didn't like the person who I was. For several years, throughout high school and then starting college, I wrestled with depression and anxiety and suicidal ideation and self-harm. I was in and out of the psychiatric hospitals for it. I just had this heaviness on me that just wouldn't leave and I would briefly kind of come to the Lord, but I wouldn't be all in because I had like one foot in with Jesus and one foot in in the world. I wasn't willing at the time to give up things that brought me like temporary comfort. And so then when I had this encounter, it was June 20th of 2020. I had this encounter. It was June 20th of 2020.
Speaker 4:My pastors I'd met with them and I just remember them asking me do you know what's on you? And I knew and they said do you want it gone? And I said yes, and they prayed with me for over an hour and when I stood up, it was like I was 50 pounds lighter. I'm not kidding. It really felt like colors were brighter. It just changed my whole perspective and outlook on life. I began to understand who Jesus created me to be and actually like that person and just finding my value comes from him. It's not coming from what the world says that I am, and so it just changed everything. I was delivered from depression and anxiety. That heaviness that I'd had for years had left, and I was also healed of a thyroid disorder. I'd had to take medication for years. Anytime I tried to come off, I had to get right back on it, and he healed me from that.
Speaker 2:Well, that's powerful. So this is a very real to you, and so you see people that maybe walk through the front doors that are kind of where you used to be.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so what do you do with your experience that you've had with Christ, and how does that then translate to how you help people here?
Speaker 4:So I'll be honest in saying like when I first started I was kind of worried that seeing people in that space and that mentality would bring me back to a place where I was. But I've found the complete opposite. I found that Jesus completely works all things together for good and so I've been able to have compassion for people and I mean I understand what that's like to feel like the world is against you and like you don't have any value. So I know that Jesus is helping me to be able to minister, to encourage and uplift those people.
Speaker 2:Have you found people that kind of gravitate to you because maybe they don't know, you don't know your story, but there's a bond there of some kind. They understand that you understand.
Speaker 4:I would say so.
Speaker 2:That's that spiritual empathy that comes out of things that we can't even define, that people go no, this person's okay because they get it, or maybe somebody that doesn't get it. You know, in helping people who are in need, there is relational and there's clinical, and clinical is important to have some tools and look at things as they are and have the right kind of understanding of things. But sometimes it stops there and it's not relational and people need the clinical help but they need the relational help and so, yeah, so that's a powerful story that you know some listeners out here right now would be saying, oh my gosh, I'm where she used to be.
Speaker 2:What would you say to them?
Speaker 4:I would say Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the answer. There's no other way. There's no other thing that's going to help you. True peace is found in who Jesus is. True healing is found in Jesus. You can't live your life knowing just about him. That was my problem. I grew up in church knowing a lot about Jesus. I didn't have a relationship, and he wants a relationship with you. He loves you. He created you, he designed you for such a time as this. He wants a relationship with you.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you know about Jesus, but then Jesus is the answer. What does that mean? He is the answer.
Speaker 4:Jennifer. So Jesus is the answer and he has the answer I've found for every problem I face. Before making any big decision, or really any decision, I come to the Lord and I spend time in prayer and I don't just make a decision and ask the Lord to bless it. I come to him before making a decision and asking what is his will, and I've found that has led to life.
Speaker 2:He's not somebody just written about in some pages to you, right. He's somebody that you can actually talk to.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 2:When you say he's everything. You check in with him about everything, right? Yes, that's pretty cool. Yeah, and that's made the biggest difference. And I think that's where we oftentimes stop. Sometimes we check in and we don't want the answer.
Speaker 4:Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because it may not be the answer, and I think you said that's kind of where you were for a while. Yeah, yeah, I'm part way in, but all the way in, and so this is one last question. Last question on that for me is what caused you to? You mentioned the prayer and people praying over you and you felt much lighter, lifted colors were brighter, those kind of things. What has kept you focused on Jesus being the answer and not slip back into some of the problems you've had before?
Speaker 2:Well, I think it's a tough world out here. Still, yeah, it is, you're in heaven.
Speaker 4:Yet so before this and, like I said, I'd grown up in church and I'd been to church Christian summer camp what I found was I was living from encounter to encounter with the Lord, with no communion in between, and I think for me that has been key of living in communion with the Lord, with no communion in between, and I think for me that has been key of living in communion with the Lord and being consistent in seeking him.
Speaker 4:My favorite verse that I've just found to be so true is Matthew 6, 33, seek first the kingdom and live righteously, and all these things will be added to you. And what I love about these scriptures is that some translations even title these scriptures the cure for anxiety. And it's talking about you know well, what will I eat, what will I drink, what will I wear. And Jesus is saying if you just seek him first, all these other things will fall into place. And I've just found that to be so true. When I've sought the Lord, when I've given him my time, my resources, and I just lay that on the altar and I say Jesus, have it all, have your way in my life, you are the Lord of my life. I've just found that every other thing in my life has just lined up.
Speaker 2:I guess that's really the key. Jesus is your everything and not just part of your thing. He's your everything and so many of us we make Jesus part of our thing and want him to bless everything. It don't work that way and so, but he's patient, he's a second chance, kind of God right, and the third chance and a hundred chances and so forth, just like you all give to the guests of Topeka Rescue.
Speaker 5:Mission and just like we've been given and we've been given, yeah exactly Exactly.
Speaker 2:Well, emily, it's good to have you on the team of Topeka Rescue Mission and loving hearing your story here today. It's been absolutely uplifting. I'm sure other people out there have heard this today or will hear it down the road, and it's going to cause them to say, hmm, I need to think about that more and maybe even take that make Jesus everything. Anything else you'd like to share today?
Speaker 4:I think that's pretty much it.
Speaker 2:Okay, rachel, nope, thanks for being here. Okay, thank you both for being here. Miriam, thank you, thank you. People get ready for First Friday of no Toe coming up and we're almost out of June and headed to July.
Speaker 3:Actually the concert is this Friday.
Speaker 2:Oh, this Friday.
Speaker 3:So there's a concert series, one too, right? Okay, we've got those too, all right, so we're talking on.
Speaker 2:June 17th this Friday yes, this is a Tuesday. This Friday is the concert. Yes, then first Friday.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Then the first Friday of July. Exactly Okay, Thanks for keeping me straight. I need an Emily too.
Speaker 3:I know.
Speaker 2:I know you do, from Emily Monroe, who is a frontline worker at the Hope Center at Topeka Rescue Mission. You've heard from her supervisor, the director Rachel, who is doing an amazing job working with women and families and children, and pray for Topeka Rescue Mission, pray for the workers, pray for the guests who come through here and just remember Jesus wants to be your everything, because he is everything to you and you're his everything as well. If you'd like more information about Topeka Rescue Mission, you can go to trmonlineorg. That's trmonlineorg. Have a blessed day.