Brighter Stories

Today’s episode is an interview with Johnny Cruz, who graduated from Victory's Restoration Program in November 2022. Johnny grew up in a loving and attentive family, but he still felt a little outcast. As a young adult he started seeking validation through relationships that were often codependent. He found career success as a junior stockbroker in New York City, then as a personal banker in Texas. But he ended up losing everything. He came to Victory Mission in search of something different for his life and that’s exactly what he’s found.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission  Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission YouTube: @springfieldvictorymission

What does it really mean to do life with someone?   That’s what Anna, Caitlin, and I talked about on this week’s episode. Anna and Caitlin are the Life Together Coaches at Victory. That means they spend a lot of time interacting with the community and walking through life with people. They shared some great tips on doing life with people, boundaries, and managing burn out. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Content Warning: This episode mentions sensitive topics, including drug use Today’s episode is an interview with Daniel Whitaker, who graduated from Victory's Restoration Program in November 2022.  Daniel was on his own a lot when he was younger. His dad left when he was 11, and Daniel left home at 15 or 16 years old. He spent years on the streets being furious with the world. Eventually, he felt like he couldn’t keep going. He wanted something different so he came to Victory Mission. Now he’s on a new path in life.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Today’s episode is part 2 of the conversation I had with Bryan Stallings from Elevate Branson. This time we dove in deeper: what does it look like to serve your neighbors hands-on? We talked about the responsibility of serving and the sacrifice that comes with it, and the importance of having a supportive community. Listen in as Bryan and I wrap up our conversation on the cost of serving others. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Content Warning:  This episode mentions sensitive topics, including depression and thoughts of suicide. Today’s episode is an interview with Rebecca Wells, Victory’s FIRST woman to graduate from the Restoration Program.   Rebecca’s dad wasn’t around much when she was a kid. She looked to other men for the love she missed from her dad, but she never found it. Years of seeking validation led her to a dark and hopeless place. It was then that God intervened and brought her to Victory Mission. Now her life looks different in the best way. Let’s hear her story. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Today’s episode is part one of a two part conversation that I had with Bryan Stallings, CEO and Executive Director of Elevate Branson. In 2008, Bryan and his wife Amy put on a Thanksgiving Day dinner for their homeless neighbors in Branson, MO. They had the common view of people experiencing homelessness: they were lazy, used substances, and didn't want to work. The dinner was small enough that Bryan and Amy were able to sit down and actually talk with those who came. They learned that the people they were serving were just like you and I. Life had hit these people hard but they didn’t have the support systems to help them through it. After hearing their stories, Bryan and Amy knew they couldn’t wait another year to do something. They started handing out sack lunches and soon after started their nonprofit. Listen in as Bryan shares what he’s learned in the nearly 15 years since starting his nonprofit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Content Warning: This episode mentions mental health struggles, drug use, and suicide. If you’re familiar with Victory’s Restoration Program, you know that we ask men and women to spend a year working on themselves. We’ve seen many lives transformed during this program. But what happens when the year is over? Today I sat down with Dyllan Dale, a graduate from June 2020 to talk about what life has been like since he graduated. Let’s hear his story together. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

How do you help someone coming from hopelessness, discouragement, and poverty? How do you really help them? I sat down with Mark McKnelly, Director of Restoration at Victory Mission and author of Change for the Poor: A Guide to Restoring Lives with Those in Material and Relational Poverty. Mark has been in the helping business for over 10 years, first in a church environment and now in a nonprofit. We discussed why it’s not enough to just fix one area of someone’s life and why it’s important to build a relationship before helping. Join us as we talk restoring lives through a “wholistic” approach. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Cody had a pretty normal life growing up. But his family was dysfunctional and he felt like his parents were overly strict. He didn’t know correction in a loving manner.   Cody started smoking pot and partying at a young age. This led him to a cycle of addiction that eventually landed him in prison. He did well for several years after his release but then life grew stagnant.  He got caught up in addiction again and was sent back to prison. Everything seemed to come crashing down around him. Then Cody found God. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

What’s the disconnect between people looking for jobs and employers looking for employees? I sat down again with John Pace, the Director of Outreach and Workforce Development at Victory Mission. Last time he was on we talked about Outreach and this time we’re focusing on Workforce Development. Workforce Development can be the difference between someone just having a job and having a fulfilling career. It empowers people with the confidence to go after work opportunities that they really want. John shares practical tips about running a Workforce Development ministry as well as frameworks we use at Victory. Grab some paper and a pen, because you’re going to want to take notes on this one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Today’s episode is a conversation with Robert Walter, a recent graduate of Victory Mission’s Restoration Program. Robert grew up in California and things were great for a while. His family was happy together. When he was 10 Robert’s family moved to Arkansas, and at age 12 he started hanging with the wrong crowd. He saw the cool kids drinking, smoking, and partying so that’s what he did. Then he was introduced to meth. After a couple of years of meth use his life was in chaos. He ended up in prison three times. Finally he came to realize that he didn’t have a clue how to live a normal life. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

How do you help someone get “unstuck” in their life? This week I had a conversation with John Pace, The Director of Outreach and Workforce Development at Victory Mission. We talked about the concept of Renewal: the stage that happens between Relief and Restoration. While Relief is about meeting immediate needs and Restoration is about “wholistic” change, Renewal is more targeted. It’s a personal and private way of doing life with someone to encourage them towards positive change. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Today we’re talking with Chris Pollard, a recent graduate from Victory Mission’s Restoration Program. Chris started getting in trouble at a young age. He grew up feeling insecure, searching for a place where he would be accepted. He found himself hanging around people who ran the streets and he did whatever he could to fit in with the group. Soon it became part of who he was. He spent the majority of his teenage and adult years in prison. Eventually he realized he was in too deep. He was stranded in Kansas City, hiding from people who wished him harm. For the first time in his life, his mom was scared of him. That’s when Chris knew he needed to change. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

People all across the country are hurting. They’re experiencing homelessness, mental health crises, and addiction. We want to help, but how can we do that while still empowering that person towards an independent life? I sat down with Bobby Mitchell, Victory Mission’s Men’s Shelter Chaplain, to talk about outreach. Bobby also leads Victory’s Street Outreach Team where he regularly interacts with people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, and addiction. Bobby himself used to be in homelessness and addiction, which brings him unique insight as he serves Victory Mission’s unsheltered neighbors. Join us as we discuss Bobby’s experience in outreach and share some practical tips for serving in your own community. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources: Victory Mission's Outreach Rip Card - https://wp.me/aagkUG-2sG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

Jon’s drinking habit escalated gradually. It started as just going out on weekends, having fun with old friends, and maybe having a drink every once in a while. Then having a little bit more. Then it was binge drinking on the weekends, but not during the week. Eventually Jon’s drinking escalated into a daily habit. He was miserable: sunk down spiritually and mentally. But now Jon is a graduate of Victory’s Restoration Program. He’s walked through the rebuilding process and is now reaping the benefits of a restored life.  Hear Jon’s testimony of how he went from daily medicating with alcohol to living free through Jesus Christ. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

What does it mean to be trauma informed? I had the chance to sit down with Victory Mission’s Licensed Professional Counselor Kevin Stratton to talk about just that. Kevin counsels men who come to Victory from addiction, homelessness, or incarceration, and he’s seen around 400 men in the last four years. Of those 400 men, about 70% of them deal with trauma of some kind. In this episode, Kevin talks about how to provide dignity and empower individuals while being respectful of their past experiences. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

I sat down with Restoration Graduate David Saville (or “Cadillac Saville” as he’s known to his friends) to talk about what his life was like before the Restoration Program and how God showed up to change things. Dave spent 30 years in addiction and now He’s living in total freedom through Christ.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission

We’ve all noticed the man or woman standing at the busy intersection holding up a cardboard sign. Or perhaps we have a neighbor, friend, or family member who's stuck in the grips of poverty. Have you found yourself challenged with the big questions about how you can really be helpful? We want to see our communities thrive, but how can we get there? Those are the questions we hope to answer during our first episode. I'm talking with James Whitford, the Executive Director of Watered Gardens Rescue Mission and founder of the True Charity Initiative. During my conversation with James, we discuss challenging topics like learned helplessness, the five steps to paternalism, and how creating a dependency on charity hurts the whole community.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Victory Mission on Facebook and Instagram:  Facebook: @springfieldvictorymission Instagram: @springfieldvictorymission