Chloe Specht
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series featuring the 2020 Sacred Sector Fellows. Each Fellow received a host site placement, where they are conducting an organizational assessment and implementation plan, and then will apply the “Three P’s” -- organizational best practices, public policy, and positive engagement -- at their host site.
Photo credit: lexingtonrescue.org
Lexington Rescue Mission (LRM) was founded by Jim and Becky Connell nearly two decades ago in the spring of 2001 with a vision to serve the poorest population in Lexington, Kentucky. In 2003, LRM began offering residential programs to equip individuals with critical life skills and combat homelessness and unemployment. LRM later opened their outreach center in 2005, which quickly became their primary service arm in the community. Through social and evangelistic outreaches, Lexington Rescue Mission helps individuals through a multitude of crisis situations, including job loss, drug addiction, homelessness, and domestic abuse while simultaneously offering the hope and peace of the Gospel.
LRM serves the community of Lexington by providing job and housing assistance, transitional housing, addiction rehabilitation and spiritual support to anyone looking for a fresh start. Additionally, LRM ministers within the prison system in central Kentucky. In the year 2019 alone, LRM housed 66 families, secured 116 job placements, and served nearly 50,000 meals. Day in and day out, LRM is fulfilling their mission to “serve and glorify God through a Christ-centered ministry that helps meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of hurting people in the greater Lexington area.” [1]
LRM grows the community’s awareness of policies that perpetuate hardships for the poorest residents of Lexington. They are advocates for “the least” in their community. Many locals volunteer with LRM to assist them in providing basic social services and spiritual support. LRM has an experienced, professional team to delegate their resources strategically and in good conscience. Additionally, LRM engages the public by meeting basic needs — food, shelter, and jobs. LRM staffers work diligently to make connections with their clientele and leverages the inroads they have paved with love to share the good news of the Gospel.
As a Sacred Sector Fellow, I am assisting Lexington Rescue Mission as they prepare for the launch of a women’s transitional sober living house for the women of central Kentucky who are facing drug addiction, domestic abuse, or homelessness. This summer, I am utilizing my background in communications, creative analysis, and Christian ministry by writing curriculum, providing organizational strategy, and designing promotional material for LRM.
In partnering with LRM, one of my goals has been to learn more about the faith-based nonprofit sector and note specific methods to meet crisis needs in a community. LRM has taught me so much about their ministry to hurting people and how LRM meets the needs of the marginalized women of Lexington. I am learning to be a positive agent for change as I observe LRM’s ministry firsthand and work alongside them to provide holistic community support. By meeting many of the essential needs of their community, LRM forged meaningful relationships with their clientele and they continue to strengthen the whole city each time they assist someone in crisis.
[1] Mission Statement, https://lexingtonrescue.org
Chloe Specht is a graduate student at Asbury Theological Seminary and a Sacred Sector Fellow.
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