Victory Mission + Ministry

This video is worth 3 minutes of your time.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Anyone who knows me knows that I have a soft spot in my heart for nonprofits. So when I got the opportunity to volunteer at the Victory Mission + Ministry with some of my beloved coworkers at Central Bank, you better believe I jumped on it. Servant Leadership is a beautiful thing 💚 Photo Credit 📸: Raven Avila-Neumann

What a joy to use some Volunteer Time Off (VTO), to serve alongside Victory Mission + Ministry's Garden Leader and Chef, Dyllan Dale! Really appreciate Dyllan for welcoming me into his kitchen and taking the time to assign me some tasks! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him and his story. Not only is Dyllan an employee but he has also found hope, help and healing through Victory’s ministry during his own bout with addiction. In addition to serving Victory’s culinary needs, Dyllan has started his own business, Wild Foods By Dyllan, which he describes as “forage cooking”. I was super encouraged by Dyllan’s story, and I even had a bonus chance encounter from Victory’s own Jason Hynson during my visit. (Thanks also to Mindy McDonald for connecting me with Dyllan!) All credit to Mercy for empowering "caregivers" (new monicker for "coworker") to get involved in the community during normal business hours! Very thankful that Mercy afforded me the time to serve a wonderful ministry in our community and allowing me to experience the eternal truth that “it is more blessed to give than receive”, a timely thought as we approach Christmas and consider the One with whom the scriptures speaks: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatian 4:4 Merry Christmas all!!

I can’t describe the smell. Not concisely. It had layers to it. A layer of musty house. A layer of stale alcohol.  A layer of long-expired moldy food. A layer of human waste. … I can’t describe the sights either. Trash just isn’t the right word. It had layers too. A layer of cigarette butts.  Stacked towers of empty beer cans.  Every type of pest you can think of.  Blood. … But even more disturbing, I’m not sure I can describe the feeling. The darkness. The heaviness. The weight. It’s as if you can feel the hurt coming from the walls. When you see these things, you can sense a cloud over your eyes, heart, and mind. When you look at needles next to a bottle of NARCAN and you have to scoff/laugh at the irony because that’s the easiest way for your mind to process what you’re seeing. … Because this is what happens when you purchase a trap house. … And you dig through that trash. You go through boxes of gloves and trash bags to clear out the garbage. You tear out the stained carpet. You pull vines off of the siding. You paint the walls. You paint the walls again. (Helps trap the smell). You level the concrete. You put in new doors. You put in flooring. You replace the wiring. You get the water running again. You build a working kitchen. You put together a functioning bathroom. … Suddenly, it smells different. It looks different. IT FEELS DIFFERENT. … What was a trap house… what was a den of pain and addiction… what was a “safe” haven for brokenness… is now a house of ministry. A house where men finish the final phase of the Restoration program. Where they pay rent, live with roommates, and take another step toward independence and a rebuilt life. … Unclean to Pure. Dirty to Washed.  Broken to Mended. Hurt to Healed. Death to Life. It’s not just the story of this little yellow house across from the shelter. It’s the story of the Restoration program. It’s the story of the Gospel - Jesus shows us that no life is beyond repair.

So grateful to our friends at United Way of the Ozarks for organizing such an impactful event to serve our local communities! Counting down the days until Day of Caring! 7️⃣ 👏 https://lnkd.in/enc29a7i

Matching $125,000 in May only!!! Get on the Victory team and match today!!! #maymatching #victorylife

Note to self... 📝

Imagine a world... 🌎

Huge shout out to those legislators who helped Victory Mission + Ministry with a budget item of $11 million to improve facilities to those leaving poverty behind and stepping into a new life of "victory". Thank you, Senate Appropriation Chair Lincoln Hough! Thank you, House Appropriation Chair Cody Smith! Your support means individuals will have a way to look forward from prison, drugs, labels, and a life without shelter. Every life has purpose! We can't wait to see the next step and how many more lives will be impacted. ☺️🎉 The budget will move forward to our Governor's desk. Big Celebration 🎊 today!

There's still work to do! https://lnkd.in/gUxUaj5C Thanks to you, we're almost at 20% of our goal. With just THREE WEEKS LEFT, your gift will be matched, doubling its impact. Donate now towards the goal of matching $125,000!!! 💵 🟰 💵 💵