As during the previous two decades, Interfaith Housing Services went through many changes from 2011 through 2020. One of those changes was an extensive transition in leadership development, incorporating a new business model for management and growth. We were introduced to the principles taught by Leadership Reno County, the Kansas Leadership Center, and NeighborWorks America Achieving Excellence Program. As we applied and practiced these principles, our vocabulary and way of thinking began to change. We transitioned to responding to issues adaptively, looking at an issue from all angles and embracing the challenge to include unusual voices and different perspectives. This has had a reformative impact on hiring staff, selecting board members and forming our committees, all of which are such a big part of the growth here at Interfaith.
Another piece of this transition was the creation of the Leadership Team, which was made up of all program and department directors. With this in place, responsibility for the success of the organization no longer rested solely on one person’s shoulders. It was a collaborative effort that saw several years of growth and expansion for Interfaith and for individual team members.
By the mid to late 2010’s, the face of Interfaith was changing. John Scott, CEO of Interfaith, retired. While everyone wished him well, the impact was felt. His knowledge and devotion to Interfaith were irreplaceable. We were so blessed that our Board of Directors at the time devoted themselves to guide the organization through the difficult transition. As these changes were taking place, several valued employees moved on to other pursuits, while the roles and responsibilities changed for many of those who remained. However, with the continued support of our Board and faithful donors, together with much prayer, Interfaith continued moving forward.
In 2018, in light of the expansion of services provided by Interfaith, and in order to more accurately convey the full scope of everything Interfaith offers, Interfaith changed its name…just slightly…to Interfaith Housing and Community Services, Inc., modified the logo…just slightly… and revised the Mission and Vision Statements to:
Interfaith Housing and Community Services seeks to alleviate poverty and build community through housing assistance, financial education and individual empowerment. We envision communities where people have achieved financial self-sufficiency and housing that is affordable in their level of income, accessible to their level of need and where they can live safely with dignity.
While the name and look were different, nothing about Interfaith’s core beliefs changed. We remained mindful of our mission and were steadfast in our desire to be good stewards of what we were given. As we continued to grow and adapt to the changing circumstances, above all else, we remained Christ centered. Our founders strongly believed that Christ calls us to be servants to our neighbors, and it was imperative that foundational piece remain the cornerstone of everything we do.
Our programs and services continued to grow, and in 2019, Interfaith was blessed by being selected for participation in the Capital Builders Program sponsored by the Hutchinson Community Foundation and facilitated by Generous Change of Lawrence. The tools we acquired during those eight months of training reaffirmed the vital connection we treasure with our faithful supporters. You are the Housing Heroes who are responsible for the home repairs made each year and the rental properties built and rehabilitated across our community. You are the reason families who never thought they could buy a home are now homeowners, students are college graduates, and people who dreamed of owning their own business realized that dream. You made that difference in Hutchinson, Reno County, and across our state. Your support has been tremendous. Thank you for caring!
During the final two years of Interfaith’s third decade, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as Interfaith’s CEO. Working for an exceptional Board of Directors and with an outstanding team has made this a tremendous experience. Together we overcame the transition, worked primarily from our homes through a pandemic, and are now nearly through the first year of Interfaith’s fourth decade.
Though there have been challenges, we have experienced far more blessings, those totally unexpected moments when you cannot help but look up, smile and know that God is at work. I cannot list all the times we have seen God’s hand in our projects and programs, from an unexpected call that resulted in the development of four new units of debt free senior housing to our most recent blessing, the LightHouse project.
After hearing there are homeless high school students in our community, I was shaken. I had no idea there were young people living homeless on their own and yet still attending school every day. When I took what I had learned to our Leadership Team, they agreed Interfaith needed to consider how we could meet this newly discovered housing need.
The LightHouse, property we are currently renovating into eight individual apartments, will provide transitional housing for youth, ages 18 to 21, who are homeless or in need of a safe place to live. This renovation project, a huge undertaking for Interfaith, has been made easier because God is in the midst of it. Literally hundreds of volunteers have spent thousands of hours demolishing the interior of 1005 North Washington. A new non-profit, Safe Harbor, is organizing to provide case management and support services for the youth living in those apartments. And it doesn’t stop there. Windows we did not ask for and never could have afforded were suddenly donated. Electrical work that would have been extremely costly is being donated.
I have no doubt that God will continue blessing this project and many future projects, as I continue looking up, smiling and thanking Him. The greatest blessing He has given me, though, has not come from a single project or program, it has been the opportunity to work with such an outstanding organization and such amazing people