Latest / Our Community, Our Mission / Ep #193 - Clarity through Disaster: Meet Steve Saffa

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Ep #193 - Clarity through Disaster: Meet Steve Saffa · Our Community, Our Mission

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and your blessings and provisions.
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: God, thank you for this time.
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: Another podcast and, Lord, just all our listeners and supporters of the rescue mission.
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Lord, pray your blessing over them and pray your blessing over this time and this conversation.
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: Thank you for our special guest today.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: In your holy name we pray Amen.
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: Hello everybody.
• 0:23
  Speaker 2: You're listening to Our Community, our mission of podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 0:27
  Speaker 2: This is Barry Fiecker, your host on podcast number 193 on Thursday, october, the 12th of 2023.
• 0:35
  Speaker 2: We're almost to 200.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: We are.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: We have celebration on that, when we had a celebration, I think, on the 150th or something, josh.
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: Yeah, we did 150.
• 0:42
  Speaker 3: Yeah, and some people called in or did something that was really cool yeah.
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: Not that you have to do that for 200, but anyway it was.
• 0:48
  Speaker 3: But it's cool.
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: Yeah, this has just been amazing, I think, from Josh.
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: What you've told us is this is one of the longer standing podcasts For podcast people start them up and then they quit them.
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: Yeah, they definitely don't go as long as we've been.
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: I mean typically.
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: I mean you've definitely got a bunch that do.
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: So that's something about either we like to talk a lot or people are listening.
• 1:10
  Speaker 3: Well, that's that, and we're not even getting paid.
• 1:12
  Speaker 3: Those people that have long running ones probably have advertisers.
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: Yeah, typically the ones that keep going and do well, they'll start doing ads and make it a full-time job.
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: Well, no threats out there, so anyway if you're new to our community or our mission.
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: This is yes, it's been going for quite some time now and it is primarily a weekly podcast which we interview staff of the rescue mission, volunteers of the rescue mission, community leaders, community members at large, people who do volunteering here at the mission.
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: We interview people who are experiencing homelessness right now, with some on the streets and some in shelter, and it's a variety program.
• 1:48
  Speaker 3: It's wonderful, Even people from other missions, other states right, that's right, I mean not, everybody is just local.
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: Well, yeah, I mean Doug Burley here, who just come back from Ukraine and bombings and those kind of things, right, and so, yeah, this is kind of a good and the mission from Seattle.
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: Yeah, yep, I was about to say the folks from Seattle.
• 2:07
  Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly.
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: So the other person you're hearing talk, in addition to Josh and me, is Mary Craball.
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: He's Director of.
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: Supportive Services here at Speak of Rescue Mission.
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: Deputy Director.
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: Yes, Get that right, that's a long title.
• 2:17
  Speaker 3: Mary, I know it is.
• 2:17
  Speaker 3: I know it's just Mary, I'm.
• 2:18
  Speaker 3: People know who you are Exactly.
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: And I'm going to say in October of 2023 that they say fall is actually tomorrow.
• 2:27
  Speaker 3: I know, I know, isn't that wonderful.
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm ready for it, I'm too.
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: I want freeze to get the allergy things out of the way and the bugs, because the older I get.
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: Yeah, we got a fly in this room today.
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: I know.
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: So if somebody starts gagging If you hear a smack on the microphone, it's just starting to hit the fly.
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: The fly has gone by by.
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, we're hoping, or he'll get another launch out for a different journey.
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: Mary, we've got a couple updates before we get to our special guest today, and so we had a really awesome, cool experience this week with some other rescue ministries coming to Topeka to visit.
• 3:01
  Speaker 3: Absolutely Well.
• 3:02
  Speaker 3: You know, there are rescue missions all over the United States and even internationally, and we we really like to get together to learn from each other and support each other, and so we were asked to be able to do the what we call a regional huddle with folks that are in rescue missions around the region, and they asked us to be the host of that, which was just such an honor, Anyway.
• 3:28
  Speaker 3: So we had 40 individuals from eight different ministries from Nebraska to Colorado to Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas all coming here to Topeka to hear about what we do here, showing them different kinds of things, different ways that we function in this ministry, Because while we are all rescue missions primarily, we don't all function the same way.
• 3:51
  Speaker 3: You know, there are different models in different communities because of what their needs are.
• 3:56
  Speaker 3: So it was wonderful to network, it was wonderful to be able to just fellowship and worship with them.
• 4:01
  Speaker 3: We spent Amanda did a really incredible job of calling out the fact that all of us are working under extreme situations almost all the time and that sometimes we forget to care for ourselves and those around us who are what we always have called our first flock right so staff, volunteers and that it really is important, because, while the folks that we serve are facing unbelievable struggles, we have people right beside us that are also struggling with different kinds of things.
• 4:34
  Speaker 2: The helpers are not immune.
• 4:37
  Speaker 3: Right.
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: Facing secondary trauma.
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: Absolutely.
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Or maybe in their own life experiences, things that they've gone through.
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: So to keep them healthy, you're going to help others be healthy.
• 4:45
  Speaker 3: Absolutely, and so it was just.
• 4:47
  Speaker 3: It was a time that was incredibly encouraging.
• 4:49
  Speaker 3: We spent a whole day with these folks.
• 4:52
  Speaker 3: They toured MAP, they toured our shelters.
• 4:55
  Speaker 3: They heard about different partnerships that we have.
• 4:57
  Speaker 3: We had John the Iron man, Ken Trell, who is a championship fighter.
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: Been on the podcast.
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: Been on the podcast.
• 5:06
  Speaker 3: Exactly, we had a keynote speaker and just really resonated with folks.
• 5:09
  Speaker 3: So it was just a wonderful day and we're so grateful and we're all so grateful it's done yeah.
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: There's a lot of planning that goes into those.
• 5:18
  Speaker 3: Absolutely, even though it's a one day deal.
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: The first one we ever hosted at Topeka Rescue Mission was the same day of the federal building bombing in Oklahoma City.
• 5:27
  Speaker 3: Oh my goodness, yes.
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: And back in those days where this one this week was a one day, that was a two and a half day.
• 5:32
  Speaker 3: Oh my gosh.
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: And so it was like what is happening to our country?
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: And here we are and the rescue mission in Oklahoma City.
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: They were supposed to be here, yes, but they had their windows blown out, of course, down in Oklahoma City because of that situation.
• 5:44
  Speaker 2: So they were kind of like our brothers and our sisters who are on the front line of that kind of situation Not that it was directly homeless at all, but it affected the people who were on the streets that there was a big explosion and so rescue missions whether they be every day in the trenches or things like that, happen.
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: So many people have to turn to them because there's no way else to turn to.
• 6:06
  Speaker 2: And then here you had this, this grouping of people that came together.
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: It's just in learning from each other, solidarity, praying for each other and those kind of things.
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: So this organization on a national, international level is called the city gate network.
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: Yes, it's an organization that's been around for over 100 years.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: And to speak of rescue mission as a part of that, which is amazing, and you've heard some different times where we've gone on a national level, you and LeMande and some other staff members have gone to what was it last time?
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: Florida for a big meeting, and before that was San Antonio and Right In Florida, there were 1200 people there.
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: It's amazing when you walk in and say these are all people in rescue ministry and that's just a sampling of it, and so, yeah, it's a powerful thing.
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: Just one more story.
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: I went to my first one ever as the director of the rescue mission I don't know 87, I want to say and it was in Lincoln, nebraska.
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: And so I went to Lincoln, nebraska Now, if people know anything about the old rescue mission, we were in an old rundown building that was actually leaning one to stop.
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: You kind of walk in like you were in the Ozarks, you know, one of those fun houses but literally and would eventually fall down a couple of years later.
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: But I pulled up to the people city rescue mission in Lincoln, nebraska, and I didn't see a sign.
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: And I pulled up the address and I go, I don't see the rescue mission.
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: It was a nice building.
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: So me, I thought I must be mixed up on my direction.
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: So I ran clear to the other side of Lincoln, nebraska, thinking I must got my east of my west.
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: I got over there and there was a field and I must be tired.
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: So I ran back over to the other side because the meeting was getting ready to start and I pulled up and I saw this little sign people city rescue mission outside of a brand new building.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: I walked in and I was stunned and I met this guy named Steve Janovic.
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: He's a former banker out of Lincoln.
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: He became the director of the rescue mission there and I said I didn't know, you could have new building, have rescue mission, and so ours was falling down and it was Steve, because of this connection, of what no one called City Gate.
• 8:14
  Speaker 2: Now, that coached me how to say yes, you can.
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: And so our community came together and we met some incredible people out of that relationship.
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: So when we think of Topeka rescue mission, it's a corporate partner, independent corporate partner in spirit and in training and educating and sharing with each other so we can learn best practices from others and share ours as well, and it doesn't matter the size, right?
• 8:39
  Speaker 3: I mean, we learn things from very small rescue missions or midsize ones, like we are, or from the big guys, right, there is never there is never any shortage of things that we can learn from other folks and how they're doing.
• 8:55
  Speaker 2: Especially in this day and age when there is a literal homeless crisis in America.
• 8:59
  Speaker 2: Yes, and so we can.
• 9:01
  Speaker 3: And there is that part too.
• 9:02
  Speaker 3: You know, this camaraderie that comes from having to face some of the same things too right, you tend to not feel as alone after these kinds of coming together.
• 9:14
  Speaker 3: You know where.
• 9:15
  Speaker 3: You know that there are other people.
• 9:16
  Speaker 3: It's not just us.
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: It's not just us that are seeing what we're seeing, and it's not just us that get frustrated, or it's not just us that struggle with different kinds of situations in our cities.
• 9:27
  Speaker 3: So it's very encouraging in that way too, not to be alone.
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's great you mentioned.
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: You're glad it's over because there's a lot of work to it.
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: But now you're gearing up for the next fun event.
• 9:38
  Speaker 3: Well, it's part of why we're glad that's over, because and I'm just going to say this and I'm not going to say anything else Christmas is coming.
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: Okay, well, thank you, mary and Carol, for being on the podcast today.
• 9:49
  Speaker 2: We're glad that you're coming here.
• 9:50
  Speaker 2: Christmas is coming and we need to know a little bit more than that.
• 9:56
  Speaker 3: You do, you absolutely do.
• 9:57
  Speaker 3: You know there's so many opportunities this time of year, going into the holiday season, whether it's Thanksgiving and then into Christmas and the new year.
• 10:05
  Speaker 3: It's just a very exciting time around the mission.
• 10:09
  Speaker 3: It's also a time when we know we need to be prepared, because the needs are great and we want everyone to be able to celebrate the holidays and feel included and special, and so preparing for Christmas is a huge ordeal because we'll adopt families through United Ways Christmas Bureau.
• 10:30
  Speaker 3: We will have all of our guests that we will also serve for Christmas, as well as our unsheltered neighbors to be able to make sure that they all have a special time.
• 10:41
  Speaker 3: So the need for volunteers, for new Christmas gifts, for donations of food, so that we can give people what they need to prepare a wonderful meal All of those things are just so important and, frankly, I don't know how to stress enough how important the volunteers will be in helping us get ready.
• 11:00
  Speaker 3: Oh, there would be no way.
• 11:02
  Speaker 3: There would be no way we could do it.
• 11:03
  Speaker 3: So lots of opportunities to engage and I would just encourage folks to reach out to us.
• 11:08
  Speaker 3: Go on our website to check out what's going on.
• 11:11
  Speaker 3: Call our volunteer coordinator, susie, to see what kind of volunteer opportunities there will be from now through the end of the year.
• 11:20
  Speaker 3: And just come and join us and have a different kind of holiday experience and being able to help people and to receive so much because of helping people.
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: And there's people that come back to help out year after year after year and actually let us know at the beginning of summer that they want to help out for Christmas because they don't want to miss the opportunity.
• 11:43
  Speaker 3: Absolutely.
• 11:43
  Speaker 2: Because they want to make sure that they're in line it's a beautiful time.
• 11:47
  Speaker 3: It is.
• 11:47
  Speaker 3: It's a beautiful time.
• 11:48
  Speaker 2: People can get more information by going to the website trmonlineorg, and you can find the volunteer page there, and also Christmas needs and how you can help.
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: And there's a lot of needs right now in our world, to say the least, but even in our own community.
• 12:05
  Speaker 2: Here there are people in desperate need and you know, the speaker rescue mission has to be planning for this.
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: But if we look at black, at Christmas of 2022, there was an interruption before Christmas called a record breaking cold snap- yes.
• 12:22
  Speaker 2: That we had to continue to play, plan for Christmas, prepare for Christmas.
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: But we had to save lives Right, and so it was an emergency intervention between the city of Topeka, some other agencies breakthrough house, Vallejo, Topeka rescue mission, putting people in.
• 12:37
  Speaker 2: United Way right and putting people into the distribution center as an overflow excuse me, the warehouse as an overflow and going out on the streets and rescuing them because they were going to die.
• 12:50
  Speaker 3: Yes, and not just them, but also their pets.
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: That's right.
• 12:53
  Speaker 3: And street dog coalition was so helpful in helping us find places for them.
• 12:57
  Speaker 3: Yes, right For those pets because people were not going to come in and leave their pet outside.
• 13:04
  Speaker 2: And so you know the whole thing of serving both sides of the leash, absolutely, it's just so critical and it was and we could not have done enough for when we've been good relationships oh no Partnerships To do something that you don't do every day, but you come together really quickly and do something that has a significant impact.
• 13:19
  Speaker 3: Yes, yeah.
• 13:20
  Speaker 2: Well, miriam, we have a special guest today that I've gotten to know, and some others around the rescue mission have gotten to know him, and he's joy he is, he's got a very boring job.
• 13:32
  Speaker 3: I would agree Not much activity, not much.
• 13:34
  Speaker 2: You know.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: It's one of those things we want to talk about.
• 13:37
  Speaker 2: Hr department today Miriam, he's over here being very kind to me we talk about, you know, we talk about the people out on the river banks and mobile access, partnership, and then shelters and saving lives and doing special things like Christmas, and then there's HR.
• 13:54
  Speaker 3: I know, and in more ways than you could ever imagine, he saves lives, he does, he does and gets people right where they need to be.
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: So, Miriam, the HR department is under your supportive services, so please introduce our special guest.
• 14:11
  Speaker 3: Absolutely Well, I'll tell you what.
• 14:13
  Speaker 3: So this is a really special kind of position because not just anybody can do HR, because it can be stressful and you're asked to do difficult things that involve people's feelings.
• 14:26
  Speaker 3: So this need to be both serious and compassionate and empathetic and still be able to carry out the work that has to be done which protects the organization, is critical.
• 14:42
  Speaker 3: And I will tell you, it took us a long time to find the right person.
• 14:46
  Speaker 3: We were looking for a specific kind of person with certain characteristics, and it took us a while.
• 14:55
  Speaker 3: And then, all of a sudden, mr Steve Safa showed up and it was just.
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: It was remarkable.
• 15:01
  Speaker 3: I think from the first time that we talked to Steve, we knew that he was going to be a really great fit, not just because of his experience, because he comes to us with a lot of great experience from large organizations and large companies and much, much larger than us.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: Right.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: So to have somebody with his breadth of experience and not just that his love for the Lord on top of it, because sometimes you can find the people with the experience.
• 15:33
  Speaker 3: That won't necessarily be a good fit for our culture, right.
• 15:36
  Speaker 3: Because, we are so dependent on the Lord and this is such a Christ-centered organization, and we just knew that Steve was going to be that guy, and we put him through some ringers, though it wasn't easy.
• 15:49
  Speaker 3: It wasn't just like come on Now.
• 15:52
  Speaker 3: He had to interview with me and Amanda, and then he had to interview with the deputy Well, that's enough right there, right, and then we brought the deputies in.
• 16:01
  Speaker 3: So, steve, but it was wonderful and we are just so grateful that you're here, steve.
• 16:05
  Speaker 3: God bless you so grateful Steve.
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: Welcome to our community, our mission, and I've been kind of having fun with Steve, just kind of teasing him about how hard this podcast is, and but he's came anyway.
• 16:15
  Speaker 2: Steve, you really have been a joy.
• 16:19
  Speaker 2: You got a hard job here.
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: You got the back office stuff and looking for the right people to get in here to connect with the right interviews and payroll.
• 16:33
  Speaker 2: That's an important one too.
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, you know a lot of people probably don't realize the need for an HR department in a ministry like Topeka Rescue Mission, but how many employees are here currently?
• 16:44
  Speaker 4: So we're pretty fully staffed, I'm going to say around 76 or so.
• 16:49
  Speaker 4: I think we've got a couple of openings, but we're, you know we've been.
• 16:52
  Speaker 4: You know Maryam and I talk about this, but you know the Lord has brought just some beautiful people to our mission and who are really plugged in and on fire and want to serve.
• 17:02
  Speaker 2: And we're kind of firing on all charges right now, and that's not normal today in employment, that's, there's places that can't find staff, and we're in a unique place right now.
• 17:15
  Speaker 4: Yeah, no, that's a great point.
• 17:17
  Speaker 4: It is so unique I mean I've never seen, you know, kind of a, almost like a.
• 17:22
  Speaker 4: You know the labor market is almost upside down.
• 17:25
  Speaker 4: You know where there's people can have three or four opportunities if they really put their mind to it.
• 17:30
  Speaker 4: So, yeah, I think, I think we've been blessed and I think you know Grateful Jesus has brought great servants to us, you know, with a, with a heart for the homeless, really so you juggle all the employee stuff and look at regulations, because While we're a minister, we are regulators.
• 17:47
  Speaker 2: An employer, yeah, gotta make sure all those things are tightened down and the, the benefits packages and all those kind of things, so that we can not only get good employees but retain them.
• 17:56
  Speaker 2: Yes, and then setting up just trainings and different things for supervision, how to lead and those kind of things.
• 18:04
  Speaker 2: So, steve, yeah, you want to hear your story about.
• 18:07
  Speaker 2: You know what it's like here, but where'd you come from?
• 18:09
  Speaker 2: What?
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: What's your background in regards to what you've done before, that not everybody can walk in off the streets and be able to Do what you do, right?
• 18:17
  Speaker 4: No, thank you Barry.
• 18:17
  Speaker 4: You know pretty modest backgrounds Actually.
• 18:22
  Speaker 4: You know I always give credit to my, my mother and father.
• 18:25
  Speaker 4: They were wonderful people, they were God fearing, and you know just wonderful people, my brothers and sisters.
• 18:31
  Speaker 4: I always like to give credit to they.
• 18:33
  Speaker 4: They're all in the service I want to kind of say, you know, helping other people kind of Professions as well.
• 18:39
  Speaker 4: So we're all kind of cut from the same cloth barn and raised in st Louis Missouri.
• 18:42
  Speaker 4: You know, which was a wonderful upbringing, a great education, you know that type of thing.
• 18:49
  Speaker 4: And then, and then kind of to Miriam's point, you know I was fortunate to just have some good opportunities presented to me, you know, to kind of climb the HR ladder if you will, and had wonderful mentors and and you know leaders as well who you know kind of kicked the ball to me a lot of times and I got a lot of different experiences.
• 19:08
  Speaker 4: One of them was, you know I was able to kind of dabble in this global human resources.
• 19:14
  Speaker 4: So you know I work for a couple of organizations.
• 19:16
  Speaker 4: That and again I kind of considered a blessing.
• 19:19
  Speaker 4: You know, almost I was able to kind of go around the world a couple times, you know, working in a HR capacity.
• 19:24
  Speaker 2: So for organizations or ministries that we're doing global work that's right serving with their massive staff needs, yes in HR.
• 19:32
  Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, what kind of countries?
• 19:34
  Speaker 2: What did you?
• 19:35
  Speaker 4: well, the most notable Was, you know, a few years back I had an opportunity to go to East Africa, so that's a lot of times people ask me what's this?
• 19:46
  Speaker 4: And it's the flag of Kenya Actually.
• 19:49
  Speaker 4: And so I was in an HR capacity and we had responsibilities and oversight for four countries it was Kenya, it was Ethiopia, south Sudan and Uganda, a little bit of Rwanda as well, but so it was eye-opening, honestly, you know, I mean you can kind of present it in a way, barry, were you know, you could Kind of create this impression that it was so cool and everything.
• 20:14
  Speaker 4: But you know, honestly, we were taking care of the folks in the refugee camps.
• 20:18
  Speaker 4: Okay, well, and you know I kind of joke a little bit because you know, I think sometimes when you say camp here, you know you tell folks in America, you know they almost think like Boy Scout or Girl Scout, and it was eye-opening, I mean it just was eye-opening and and honestly, it was just sad.
• 20:36
  Speaker 4: You know that the main contrast, I think, between at least that region of the world great people, don't get me wrong, great people, oh my gosh, but in here is just kind of this whole concept of hope.
• 20:48
  Speaker 4: You know what I mean.
• 20:49
  Speaker 4: You can have your PhD, you can be.
• 20:51
  Speaker 4: You know, I have all these wonderful interpersonal and there's nothing to do you know what I mean.
• 20:57
  Speaker 4: There's no opportunities where we do have so many out.
• 21:01
  Speaker 4: You know, we're just blessed.
• 21:02
  Speaker 4: You know what I mean and I don't mean to say that in a cliche, in a cliche sense.
• 21:06
  Speaker 4: But you know we are blessed and, and you know, consistent with TRM, I think we're blessed with One purpose in mind to to sew it forward and bless others.
• 21:17
  Speaker 2: Yeah or some things, steve, you learned about.
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: You know, in the HR department you see through a kind of a confidential lens a lot of times with with people, but people in the Serving arena.
• 21:29
  Speaker 2: What are some of the challenges that they face that you were able to view?
• 21:35
  Speaker 4: Yeah, you know it's a little bit ironic, but the biggest challenge is that most people, you know people who are drawn to TRM you know, previous to this I also worked over at St Francis Hospital, I think people that are drawn to the you know, I guess I would characterize it as kind of the serving type of you know positions and jobs and industries and organizations.
• 21:58
  Speaker 4: It's ironic, but it's almost like they, you know they, they go Above and beyond, to the point where they are sacrificing themselves and their families and you know they burn out.
• 22:12
  Speaker 4: Honestly, you know, you know what I mean.
• 22:13
  Speaker 4: There's this balance, you know there's there's conditions where you know you.
• 22:19
  Speaker 4: Obviously we've all heard of compassion fatigue, but it's, you know, I kind of never really realized it until I started working in hospitals and you know, here at TRM where man it is a real dynamic and part of the psychology is that you know, if you're, if you, you know some folks feel like, if you know they're not kind of overextending, they almost feel a little bit guilty like they're not going right.
• 22:42
  Speaker 4: You know Going and you know not doing enough in God's name.
• 22:45
  Speaker 4: Basically is because it needs never run out.
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: The needs are always there, you know.
• 22:49
  Speaker 2: You look at the, the Ethiopian camps or the homeless Situations growing in America, the people that just continually come through our doors, the, the, the increase that we've talked about on the podcast here before and put it in the rescue mission newsletter about the Significant increases of people seeking food, basic things in the United States of America.
• 23:07
  Speaker 2: Right, you know, hungry, mm-hmm, and and they never stop.
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so there's no, never break.
• 23:12
  Speaker 2: No, you can't, you can't just Be.
• 23:15
  Speaker 2: I mean, it's like the homeless shelters, you can't Shut them down.
• 23:19
  Speaker 2: Some places do, but you can't do that.
• 23:22
  Speaker 2: I mean, there's never been a day In the 70 years of to pick a rescue mission that they've ever closed the shelters, mm-hmm and some close calls, but never been a day.
• 23:31
  Speaker 2: Because what then?
• 23:32
  Speaker 2: You know?
• 23:33
  Speaker 2: And so your staff and sometimes they were Burning at both ends and working seven days a week and those kind of things they can get to that place where the need never stops, they can burn out.
• 23:43
  Speaker 2: They feel like man, I, I'm not doing enough.
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: So what do you?
• 23:47
  Speaker 2: What do you?
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: What do you say to them, steve?
• 23:49
  Speaker 2: What do you?
• 23:50
  Speaker 2: How can you, in this area of human resources, help those individuals supervisors, directors, whatever, to understand.
• 23:59
  Speaker 2: What can we do about that?
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: Because the needs won't quit.
• 24:03
  Speaker 4: Now, that's a great question and it's a pivotal question, but you know, part of of kind of what I think my calling is is just to be, you know, to exhort and to affirm that you know, that you, that you're in the right place you know that Jesus brought you here and that you know we don't.
• 24:19
  Speaker 4: You know, just, let me just talk some HR stuff.
• 24:22
  Speaker 4: You know we see as a mission we don't have the financial resources Let me put it that way to kind of pay at market if you will and those type of things.
• 24:32
  Speaker 4: But what is most impressive is that the folks at TRM it is sacrificial giving, even in that sense you know what I mean.
• 24:41
  Speaker 4: I mean they're so talented and they're such wonderful people.
• 24:44
  Speaker 4: I mean they could go anywhere and get a job, but just to kind of recognize and express gratitude that you know I get it.
• 24:54
  Speaker 4: You're not making, you know maybe what you could make it up at a for-profit organization, and I don't say that in a disparaging sense, but it is sacrificial and they are called by God and they recognize that.
• 25:04
  Speaker 4: But I just think it's important that we affirm that because you know again the folks that we are trying to help and endeavoring to help.
• 25:13
  Speaker 4: I mean it's just I said to Merriam, you know, a couple of months ago you know I had the opportunity to work one Tuesday at MAP and you know it is just sad, I don't know how else to characterize it.
• 25:26
  Speaker 4: You know what I mean, and that you know we just have this kind of duty to help out.
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so, at the same time, the people that do that all the time, they see the joy and the sadness Right and they see the people who lives are touched and they begin to develop relationships.
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: And it's sad that it has to be there in the first place, yeah, but yet they get a chance.
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: If they stay in the game, they get to see the victories.
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: On that, Steve, I heard you say something I want to come back to, and that is you've worked in corporate, You've seen talent, you have seen how it's resourced.
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: And I think I heard you say something there's the same kind of talent to pick a rescue mission that may be in the corporate arena.
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: Some people will think, well, it's ministry, it's a rescue mission, it's low hanging fruit.
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: People can't get a job.
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: We got some real talent.
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: Oh my gosh.
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: High education, great experience.
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: Oh my gosh.
• 26:16
  Speaker 2: Yep here at the rescue mission who could make better money somewhere else.
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: But they have been led and chosen, you being one of them, to be here, and what would you say about that?
• 26:28
  Speaker 2: Now, I think that's important for Pete to understand that it's, it's, it's, it's and it hasn't always been that way.
• 26:32
  Speaker 2: I mean, back in the day, you know the only employees I could find here were right off the streets.
• 26:38
  Speaker 2: Not that they were bad, but they just didn't quite the tools.
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: They had a lot of baggage that came with them.
• 26:42
  Speaker 2: But that's how we did it for a long time.
• 26:44
  Speaker 2: But today, thankfully to the Lord, sending the right people also the donors, resourcing us enough so that we can keep them, you know, without having to stay here right To be able to do this.
• 26:58
  Speaker 2: So there's, there's that balance there, Steve.
• 27:01
  Speaker 2: What?
• 27:01
  Speaker 2: What compels people to do what you're doing when you could be somewhere else?
• 27:06
  Speaker 4: Yeah, no, great question.
• 27:08
  Speaker 4: And let me, let me make just a few observations.
• 27:10
  Speaker 4: First of all, speaking specifically about TRM, you know I give credit to the folks around this table and you, in turn, give credit to you know, those servants that came before you.
• 27:23
  Speaker 4: I mean, trm is anointed, no ifs ands or buts about it.
• 27:28
  Speaker 4: You know what does that mean.
• 27:29
  Speaker 4: It means that that Jesus is looking after us and he recognizes.
• 27:33
  Speaker 4: You know the, the holy work that we're doing here to take care of.
• 27:37
  Speaker 4: You know the poor, essentially, and the vulnerable.
• 27:40
  Speaker 4: You know, as it says in the book of James, true religion is taking care of the orphans and and the widows.
• 27:46
  Speaker 4: And you know, by extension, yeah, yeah, but the folks, everybody, I mean, you know I I don't know how many times I've said this to LeMand and to Maryam, but I mean we are blessed with such great servants and I and I kind of want to use that word- you know, because we, we, I think we're kind of evolving to the point where we're going to formally adopt us a servant leadership model here,
• 28:12
  Speaker 4: But we are servants.
• 28:13
  Speaker 4: You know, much like Jesus was in my mind buried.
• 28:16
  Speaker 4: It kind of points back to Jesus's ministry, when you know, when he humbled himself to wash the feet of the disciples.
• 28:24
  Speaker 4: You know we could talk an hour on that.
• 28:26
  Speaker 4: But that same spirit of serving is here at TRM and again, god's anointed us with that.
• 28:33
  Speaker 4: But but I also think he put the servants in place years ago.
• 28:37
  Speaker 4: You know what I mean to.
• 28:39
  Speaker 4: To get to the point where TRM is and it's special, and I think Topeka is special really.
• 28:44
  Speaker 4: You know, I think that the folks that, oh my gosh, I did, there's just so many of the you know community partnerships and right now, for the folks listening you can't see, but I've got our teacher on that says faith with our sleeves rolled up.
• 29:00
  Speaker 4: And every time I walk into Dillon's or you know I'm out publicly, somebody will stop me and it's kind of a fun sense of pride.
• 29:08
  Speaker 4: You know like, hey, I know Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 29:10
  Speaker 4: And you know what I mean.
• 29:12
  Speaker 4: And I've, I've kidded this guy I don't know how many times, because when, when I, you know, people might out of curiosity just say you know, hey, where you working, steve, and I'm like, oh, topeka Rescue Mission.
• 29:22
  Speaker 4: They don't even hesitate, they're like Barry Feaker.
• 29:24
  Speaker 4: Oh my gosh.
• 29:27
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, I know the sleeves rolled up has actually been around longer than I had.
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: So, it's one of those things like I can't get rid of it.
• 29:35
  Speaker 4: Right, yeah, yeah.
• 29:36
  Speaker 4: But if I may, just just a couple more points.
• 29:40
  Speaker 4: You know everybody here I'm, you know.
• 29:43
  Speaker 4: I think of the folks in food service, I think of the folks that take care of our facilities that you know that that marry them with all her skills and Amanda and you and Josh and Kim, and I mean the list goes on and it's just, every little pocket of TRM is blessed with really well qualified, dedicated, you know, on fire for God people to just help our community and those in need.
• 30:05
  Speaker 4: And it's a beautiful thing, I mean, and it's you know you can't kind of dictate it, you know what I mean.
• 30:11
  Speaker 4: It's, it's godly and it's you know.
• 30:13
  Speaker 4: I think again, and I hope I'm not sounding too redundant, but you know, I just kind of feel like our roles as leaders is to to serve and to help those who are kind of on the front lines, helping, you know, those in our community that are in need.
• 30:27
  Speaker 2: Steve, I think it means a lot, coming from someone like you, to be able to share the way you're sharing about the workforce here and what you've experienced that since you've been here, which has been how long now?
• 30:39
  Speaker 4: I think I'm on.
• 30:40
  Speaker 4: Well, it was May 22nd, so what is that?
• 30:43
  Speaker 4: June, july, August, september?
• 30:45
  Speaker 4: That's crazy to think because I'm looking at Merriam and I'm thinking what it feels like.
• 30:50
  Speaker 4: I've been here two or three years Exactly.
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: You go back and check the HR file to see how that's going Right exactly, merriam, if you in your department also, you work with the donor relations and so you know if I'm a donor out here and I happen to stumble across this podcast.
• 31:04
  Speaker 2: I'm listening to the HR guy who is coming from corporate and other ministries, global ministries and organizations, giving confidence to the workforce here.
• 31:13
  Speaker 2: I'm thinking, oh, that's pretty good endorsement.
• 31:15
  Speaker 3: It's a wonderful endorsement and it's and you know, Barry, I think the thing we all struggle with is how to talk about what this place is like and how people end up here.
• 31:27
  Speaker 3: We all have a feeling like we could not have said no, Right.
• 31:31
  Speaker 2: Right, talking about people work here, absolutely yes, not our guests.
• 31:35
  Speaker 2: Yeah, not our guests.
• 31:37
  Speaker 3: But no, our employees.
• 31:38
  Speaker 3: It's like we all feel like In some ways, we didn't really have a choice.
• 31:43
  Speaker 3: You know that we came and we heard and it was like we're not leaving and even if we thought we were only here for a short timeframe, all of a sudden it's like wait a minute, I don't.
• 31:57
  Speaker 3: There's something really special here.
• 31:59
  Speaker 3: There's something really special about the Topeka Rescue Mission, and I think Steve is saying it so well that you know the Lord has just shown so much favor here and you feel it.
• 32:08
  Speaker 3: Yes, you feel it and you see it every day, so much so that sometimes I hold off on talking about it because it almost sounds out of this world Kind of you know and it's like okay, I don't want people to think that I'm just saying it, I want people to come and experience it.
• 32:26
  Speaker 2: That's really how they can do it, whether they are an employee or a volunteer.
• 32:29
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 32:30
  Speaker 2: Or just you know, even an intercessor who prays for Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 32:33
  Speaker 2: They'll hear the Lord.
• 32:34
  Speaker 2: I mean, we have those out there.
• 32:35
  Speaker 2: Yes, we can name some of them, but they are dedicated to going before the throne of God and praying for this place.
• 32:42
  Speaker 2: Yes, and so you know.
• 32:44
  Speaker 2: I think it's important.
• 32:46
  Speaker 2: We didn't know where we were going with this conversation today, but I think it's important about this, this kind of this anointing of God on this place, because this is not a cakewalk here.
• 32:55
  Speaker 2: This is not easy.
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: There are horrendous, sad, life-and-death type things that are dealt with every day and there are many people in emergency frontline services that are suffering without this.
• 33:11
  Speaker 3: Right.
• 33:12
  Speaker 2: And oftentimes we can actually be of help to them in their law enforcement or first responders, whatever their situation would be to be able to hear their story, understand their story, identify with their story, to be able to then minister to them as well.
• 33:30
  Speaker 2: Because of this, steve, I heard you and Maryam talking about something that happened in T'Cumpcia.
• 33:35
  Speaker 2: Something you can share here that is maybe pivotal for you to be here.
• 33:39
  Speaker 4: No, it really was, and you know I, yeah, thank you for the opportunity to express this, but you know really the bottom line that I want to stress.
• 33:49
  Speaker 4: It was at least a miracle in my life.
• 33:51
  Speaker 4: You know it was a miracle and here's what happened.
• 33:54
  Speaker 4: A good friend that I worked with at St Francis, his family, has owned a farm, you know, for over 100 years and it's out in T'Cumpcia.
• 34:05
  Speaker 4: It's on 300 acres.
• 34:07
  Speaker 4: You know, I grew up in the city and for me to be out there, I'm just like I'm in heaven, man, because I just love the country.
• 34:14
  Speaker 2: You know what I mean?
• 34:14
  Speaker 2: Oh, quite a little there, yeah.
• 34:16
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 34:16
  Speaker 4: Yeah, that's one of the things I liked about Africa.
• 34:18
  Speaker 4: The safaris were great, I have to admit.
• 34:20
  Speaker 4: But you know, unfortunately, gosh, my buddy, he actually ran St Francis, like all the operational stuff you know.
• 34:31
  Speaker 4: Like, if I don't know like ifa respiratory machine went down, it was his team that would fix it.
• 34:37
  Speaker 4: You know he had worked over there for 20 years and not to belabor this.
• 34:40
  Speaker 4: But I got an opportunity actually to work for Midland Care I was living up in North Dakota and I you know another anointed organization here in Topeka.
• 34:50
  Speaker 4: you know, taking care of the you know, the folks that are in a really tight spot actually, as their life comes to an end here on earth.
• 34:59
  Speaker 4: But they kind of wanted me to come down quickly and I, so I accepted the job and I called my buddy up.
• 35:06
  Speaker 4: His name was Matt Denon, and Matt said oh, don't worry about it, you know, just come and crash out over here at the farmhouse until you can get your belongings down here.
• 35:14
  Speaker 2: We got a barn out here.
• 35:15
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean there were horses and cows and you know all the stuff.
• 35:19
  Speaker 4: You're getting milk by 7am right, yeah, so it was great.
• 35:26
  Speaker 4: I mean, you know I was going to live in the dream really, and but one Sunday night, unfortunately, there was some, something happened and this was an old farmhouse that you know.
• 35:37
  Speaker 4: His dream, matt Denon's dream, was to renovate it and he was two months away from retirement.
• 35:43
  Speaker 4: And you know again one of these guys, it's just good with his hands and you know that was joy to him to be able to renovate the farmhouse and bring it.
• 35:51
  Speaker 4: You know, I think it's, I think it was built back in 1865.
• 35:54
  Speaker 4: But that Sunday night a fire started and it started in the lower part of the house.
• 36:00
  Speaker 4: And I mean, when I say fire, it was I can't really characterize how.
• 36:05
  Speaker 4: You know what it was like and how traumatic it was, and you know all these stories you read about fires.
• 36:10
  Speaker 4: So were you in?
• 36:11
  Speaker 4: the house I was.
• 36:12
  Speaker 4: I was up on the second floor was where my room was.
• 36:15
  Speaker 4: And Matt's, but no no, it wasn't, and you know.
• 36:20
  Speaker 4: Unfortunately Matt passed away in the fire.
• 36:22
  Speaker 4: You know these things happen in minutes.
• 36:25
  Speaker 4: I mean you kind of think that you have time you know to kind of escape and to do but the smoke is so I mean, honestly, I couldn't, I couldn't see, you know, I couldn't see, from me to you away.
• 36:35
  Speaker 4: You know what I mean and and I kind of the only analogy I can give is do you guys know when, like when you were little kids and you'd be at the pool and you'd have that contest like who could hold their breath the longest under the water, and then you hit that point where you just got to poke your head back up, yeah.
• 36:51
  Speaker 4: Well, I was kind of in that state, you know, so I couldn't see and I couldn't breathe, I mean, I just couldn't breathe at all.
• 36:56
  Speaker 4: And, thank you, god led me to the window and somehow I pushed it out and I got on this little ledge, you know, and I was scared to death.
• 37:08
  Speaker 4: I mean, honestly, I'm looking to my left and there's these flames that I can't even explain, and the smoke.
• 37:14
  Speaker 2: And even when I were all alone there, then yeah, I mean, there's no like ambulance or fire truck around the corner.
• 37:19
  Speaker 4: There's no lights out there.
• 37:20
  Speaker 4: You know it's.
• 37:21
  Speaker 2: I mean it's really you know really are alone in the most incredible hopeless feeling.
• 37:26
  Speaker 2: You don't know how he's doing at this point.
• 37:29
  Speaker 4: Oh no, I didn't realize that he had passed away.
• 37:32
  Speaker 4: I mean, I, you know, the doctors told me he did not suffer any pain because you know, he I saw kind of the last event when he went down these stairs into kind of where the main flame fire was.
• 37:44
  Speaker 4: But you know, that's the last.
• 37:47
  Speaker 1: Right.
• 37:48
  Speaker 4: And you know, maryam's heard this but I mean I'm sitting on this little ledge, couldn't breathe, couldn't see, and I'd look down and I was like, oh my gosh, I can't do it.
• 37:58
  Speaker 4: I mean I just can't jump it.
• 38:00
  Speaker 4: It's a long way down, you know what I mean.
• 38:02
  Speaker 4: And then I'd look to my left and these fires are out of control coming at me, you know, and I still can't breathe, I can't see.
• 38:10
  Speaker 4: So I did what most people would do I kind of wiggled out on a little more on that ledge and held on with my you know fingernails digging into the concrete, and I still couldn't let go.
• 38:23
  Speaker 4: And God came and the little ledging that I was holding onto just broke, wow, and down I went because I just couldn't do it.
• 38:33
  Speaker 4: I was so afraid, you know, and down I went and thank you God, he saved me.
• 38:40
  Speaker 4: Honestly, I mean I suffered a pretty bad back accident, but here's part of the miracle too.
• 38:46
  Speaker 4: I mean I broke my back in six places and my tailbone and had some minor burns and you know other issues.
• 38:54
  Speaker 4: I don't mean to belabor it, but I don't have any pain in my back.
• 38:58
  Speaker 4: Wow, I mean, it's like I could go ride my bike right now.
• 39:01
  Speaker 4: For you know, and my older brother, god bless him, is a retired physician and you know he came out.
• 39:10
  Speaker 4: I was at Stormont and he came out to be with me and you know we got to talking and he said man, you know I hope you understand what you know you could be paralyzed, you could have had a traumatic brain, you could be dead.
• 39:23
  Speaker 4: Basically, I mean it was that traumatic of a fire.
• 39:26
  Speaker 4: And again I just give all the glory to God and all the great folks in our community, the medical folks at St Francis and at Stormont, where I was, I mean they were unbelievable.
• 39:37
  Speaker 4: My older brother even said man, I can't believe that the carrier getting here and it was at Stormont.
• 39:42
  Speaker 4: So thank you guys at Stormont, so much, they were just beautiful, they were wonderful people and but again, the miracle and I kind of say all this just to say it helped to at least focus.
• 39:56
  Speaker 4: You know what I want to do with the rest of my life and that's to take care of those in need.
• 40:01
  Speaker 2: You know, well, I heard about this guy who had applied for this position, who was way more qualified, and we probably couldn't get him at Speaker Rescue Mission because he won't be able to work for this, but so this apparently played a part in your decision to serve the Lord here.
• 40:18
  Speaker 4: It did you know.
• 40:18
  Speaker 4: I mean, I think it helped to.
• 40:21
  Speaker 4: What am I trying to say, maryam?
• 40:23
  Speaker 4: It helped to kind of focus it more clear.
• 40:27
  Speaker 4: There was more clarity about it.
• 40:29
  Speaker 4: You know, I mean I had been over to Africa, you know, helping in the refugee camps, but I mean this was different somehow.
• 40:36
  Speaker 4: You know it was different.
• 40:38
  Speaker 4: And you know I kind of remember too, if I may share this, I mean, two of the things that came out of this, and I hope I'm not boring everybody with this, but, okay, you're definitely not boring us, I, you know I.
• 40:48
  Speaker 4: But what just kind of struck me was, I remember, right after I fell and I kind of came into my senses and I was crawling away from the house fire, I just remember God coming and I just started repenting, like I don't even know what I was repenting about, but I just started thinking of all these people and like, oh God, if I did something wrong or if I said something or if I, I am so sorry.
• 41:10
  Speaker 4: You know what I mean.
• 41:12
  Speaker 4: And then the other thing was, you know, I'm a, I think, like a lot of us in America were, you know, were a little anxious about things.
• 41:20
  Speaker 4: You know, anxiety and stress seems to be kind of part of our everyday life, unfortunately.
• 41:25
  Speaker 4: But I kind of remember thinking, eh, you know why sweat the small stuff anymore.
• 41:31
  Speaker 4: You know, I kind of feel like I'm blessed to be a TRM and to be hanging out with all you guys and to help in our community.
• 41:38
  Speaker 4: And you know what I mean Cause, cause, kind of, when you go through the fire, literally, you know, you just kind of realize and again, this is just for me you know kind of clarified, barry, that you know kind of what's really important in life.
• 41:49
  Speaker 4: I was just gonna say that that's.
• 41:51
  Speaker 2: You know what what that provided for you in such a you don't.
• 41:56
  Speaker 2: We don't have much time we have.
• 41:57
  Speaker 2: We don't know if we were gonna finish the day out today.
• 42:00
  Speaker 2: We make plans, like we are, just like your friend make plans to fix the house up and the retirement.
• 42:05
  Speaker 2: He didn't know difference.
• 42:07
  Speaker 2: So you got to go on with life but it's not guaranteed, and to make the best out of everything we have.
• 42:15
  Speaker 2: And so, yeah, god has sent different people to be a rescue mission through different circumstances.
• 42:21
  Speaker 2: That's a pretty dramatic yeah.
• 42:23
  Speaker 2: That in your life.
• 42:24
  Speaker 2: Not that it directly sent you here, but it was part of the story and and I just think that you know, for those that God has assigned us to minister to, we really need people here like you, steve, who are so dedicated to him first and what his plan is and to know that today's what I got and I'm gonna do everything I can today for as long today as I can, and so well, steve, you kind of turned a boring subject of HR and something not boring.
• 42:52
  Speaker 2: I say that tongue in cheek, very grateful that to pick a rescue mission has the ability to be on a level Mary, thank you a lot to you and there's around here to to be able to be on a level of fiduciary accountability staffing professional.
• 43:13
  Speaker 2: It's not just down there, it is actually a mighty organization with some mighty people that do Unbelievable and you know one of those is a really pretty cool podcast that this guy over here on the other side that we hardly ever see talk makes this stuff happen.
• 43:28
  Speaker 2: I know, and, and so and his wife over there who's?
• 43:30
  Speaker 2: Working on her emails.
• 43:32
  Speaker 2: So anyway, steve Safa, thank you for sharing today, thank you for being a part of this team and thank you for listening to our community our mission a podcast.
• 43:40
  Speaker 2: That's really, really, really cool, and thank you to the staff at ECR the staff for supporting our mission, our mission a podcast, the Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 43:49
  Speaker 2: You've heard from Steve today about pretty dramatic event in his life and here he is today serving God, may be talking to you about your life and where you might serve.
• 44:01
  Speaker 2: Don't have too many positions open at Topeka Rescue Mission now, but if you're interested in deployment or volunteering, we have plenty of those openings, especially with Christmas coming right, Mary, and you can go to the website trmonlineorg.
• 44:13
  Speaker 2: Don't do that one more time, trmonlineorg.
• 44:18
  Speaker 2: I've only said that about 10 million times, so I guess we have to practice.
• 44:24
  Speaker 2: So anyway, but thank you today for listening to our community, our mission.