Our Community, Our Mission

TRM Ministries
  • 4.9 (11)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Weekly updates and conversations from Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries!

  1. 5D AGO

    Ep #291 – A Season of Hope: Faith, Food, and Community at TRM

    As the holidays draw near, the Topeka Rescue Mission is facing both celebration and challenge. A critical SNAP suspension has stretched already thin budgets and heightened the need for food, faith, and community support. In this episode, we unpack how a partial return of benefits is impacting families across Topeka and how partners like United Way, Harvesters, and local pantries are working hand in hand with TRM to keep meals moving and hope within reach. Even amid uncertainty, the Mission is expanding daily meal service, all while making sure people can share in the joy of Christmas. From hot lunches and community dinners at Shinkle-Stutzman Park to personalized gifts, festive gatherings, and moments of heartfelt connection, this conversation reminds us what it truly means to care for one another. When we come together in compassion, we do more than fill plates; we help restore peace, joy, and dignity this holiday season. To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    42 min

  2. OCT 28

    Ep #290 – United Community: Preparing for the Season Ahead

    As our community works to prepare for potential changes to federal benefits and rising costs, local partners are coming together to stay ready and responsive. In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Lehnherr and Brett Martin from United Way of Kaw Valley to talk about how collaboration through efforts like the Tuesday Call helps Shawnee County navigate uncertainty—and how generosity still shines brightest in challenging times. We also look ahead to one of the season’s most meaningful efforts: the Christmas Bureau, a United Way initiative that connects families with community members who shop, wrap, and deliver gifts and food directly to their homes. TRM joins in by adopting households while also serving shelter guests and unsheltered neighbors. Hear how generosity across our community keeps the Christmas spirit alive—and learn how you can get involved at uwkawvalley.org. To learn more about TRM and get involved, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    54 min

  3. OCT 21

    Ep #289 – Stories That Connect: A Conversation with Sarah Rieger

    This week on Our Community, Our Mission, we sit down with Sarah Rieger, Communication Specialist for Citygate Network, for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about the power of storytelling and connection. Sarah shares how Citygate’s small but mighty team supports more than 325 gospel-centered ministries across North America—equipping leaders, offering practical tools, and reminding them they’re not alone in the fight against homelessness, addiction, and poverty. With warmth and candor, she opens up about her journey into ministry, the moments that moved her to tears, and how God continues to use stories to reveal His faithfulness and build community across the country. Together, we unpack what authentic leadership looks like, the importance of collaboration through Citygate’s member network, and how initiatives like Conversations on a Bench are changing the dialogue around homelessness. Whether you serve on the frontlines or simply want to understand how faith fuels real change, this conversation will leave you inspired to see how the gospel, and the stories we tell, can transform hearts, leaders, and entire communities. To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    47 min

  4. OCT 14

    Ep #288 – Walking Humbly, Loving Mercy, Acting Justly

    What if the life God wants from us is simpler—and harder—than our best performances? In this episode, we dive into Micah 6:8 to discover a way of living that trades polished offerings for a posture that changes people: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. From ancient Israel’s fracture and looming empires to Jesus’ challenge to religious leaders, we connect the dots between scripture and street-level compassion at the Topeka Rescue Mission. We explore what it means to act justly when someone arrives in crisis, to show mercy that breaks the cycle of hurt, and to walk humbly with a faith that listens and learns. Through real stories—like a simple act of kindness that disarms anger and a mentor’s quiet influence that shaped generations—we see how justice, mercy, and humility transform lives. Grounded in scripture and lived experience, this conversation invites you to a faith that shows up where it matters. How will you live Micah 6:8 this week? To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    47 min

  5. OCT 7

    Ep #287 – Opening the Mailbag: Facing a Hard Question About Love and Limits

    A quiet prayer and a reminder about peaceful communication open this heartfelt episode of Our Community, Our Mission, leading into a discussion that moves from Christmas logistics to deeper reflections on grace, safety, and change. We share how the Topeka Rescue Mission is preparing for the holiday season, and why October is the critical time to act. From meal staples and new winter clothing to bed sheets, crockpots, socks, and underwear, we highlight the specific items that make Christmas warmer and more dignified for hundreds of neighbors in need. Giving is simple, too—visit TRMonline.org for a live needs list, explore the Amazon Wishlist (https://a.co/fIoVLhH) , or get involved by volunteering or scheduling a tour. This episode also marks a first for us—we open our very own listener mailbag. A thoughtful question came in asking how long to remain patient with a loved one struggling with addiction, and when, if ever, it’s time to let go. The conversation that follows is raw and compassionate, exploring the tension between love and boundaries, patience and accountability. We talk about how grace doesn’t mean enabling harm and why safety must always come first, even as we hold on to hope for change. There isn’t a clear or easy answer to questions like this—only the continual call to trust where Jesus leads and to keep loving with both wisdom and grace. Grounded in real stories of recovery and resilience, this episode is both practical and deeply personal—a reminder that compassion and truth can coexist, even in the hardest moments. To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  To send in your own questions, click below. Send us a Message!

    52 min

  6. SEP 30

    Ep #286 – One Voice, Many Stories: Night of Praise 2025 Recap

    Headlines may feel heavy, but hope sounds different when a city sings together. At Night of Praise, hundreds gathered as blended worship teams lifted one voice, prayers filled the room, and powerful testimonies of transformation reminded us why this work matters. With open doors and generous hearts, people responded with food donations, sponsorships, and support that will help meet real needs and extend love in the gap for those experiencing hunger and homelessness. In this episode, we reflect on why fundraising wrapped in worship isn’t about transactions but about God’s economy—where people are the priority, relationships drive outcomes, and unity paints a fuller picture of grace. The testimonies shared point to lives changed and to the calling we all share: to love in the gap with kindness, generosity, and hope. Worship nights like this reframe generosity, embody the upside-down kingdom of Jesus, and invite us all to join in everyday acts of compassion that make a lasting difference. To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    47 min

  7. SEP 23

    Ep #285 – Rediscovering Your Childlike Faith

    Rediscover the freedom of childlike faith in a world that often pushes us toward skepticism and guardedness. Drawing from the beloved film Hook, Mike Schoettle, TRM’s Director of Spiritual Wellness & Discipleship, reflects on how we, like Peter Pan, can forget who we truly are as we grow older—losing our innocence, trust, and openness to God’s wonder. Jesus’ words remind us that unless we receive the kingdom of God like a child, we cannot enter it at all. The very qualities we tend to discard with age—trusting without hesitation, approaching with openness, and believing without seeing—are the ones that most deeply connect us to Him. Through a moving story of his daughter’s contagious laughter at a family soccer game, Schoettle paints a picture of the joy that childlike faith awakens—an echo of the joy and laughter that awaits us in heaven. This powerful reminder invites us to reflect on our first encounters with Jesus and to reclaim the wonder, trust, and delight that once came so naturally. When was the last time your faith made you laugh until tears came? Perhaps it’s time to fly, fight, and crow again. To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    11 min

  8. SEP 16

    EP #284 – Holy Discontent and Bold Innovation with Matt Dildine

    Matt Dildine, CEO of the Fresno Rescue Mission, shows what happens when holy discontent collides with bold innovation. Leaving behind a successful law career, he stepped into leadership with a vision to reimagine how communities respond to homelessness. Out of that vision came City Center—a collaborative campus in the heart of Fresno that houses more than 20 service providers under one roof, and creates spaces that uplift and inspire the surrounding community.  At the center of this model is DTCR: dignity, time, community, and relationship. Rather than pushing people quickly through programs, Fresno Mission embraces longer engagement to build meaningful connections and lasting change. From replacing mandatory chapel with relational church experiences to offering a free grocery store that becomes a bridge to both care and the gospel, the approach is reshaping how faith-based organizations serve. As Chairman of the Board for Citygate Network, Dildine also provides leadership on a national scale, helping guide innovation and collaboration among ministries serving vulnerable populations across the country. To learn more about TRM, Click Here! To support TRM, Click Here!  Send us a Message!

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Weekly updates and conversations from Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries!

Information

  • Creator
    TRM Ministries
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    291
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Our Community, Our Mission
  • Show Website
    Our Community, Our Mission

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