Gospel Con Carne

Everyone has a story to tell, and Community First! neighbor Helen Hopkins is never at a loss when it comes to sharing her next tale. Many of our neighbors here at the Village struggle when trying to reflect on their upbringing, but Helen has an abundance of treasured memories with family and the life she has lived. Hear how Helen spreads her love and faith with other residents in our community and also outward into the world as she strives to live intentionally among her neighbors. 

While his time on the streets lasted about three years, John "JR" Rogers says he feels like he was homeless most of his life before moving into Community First! Village. Designated as the outcast of his 11 siblings, JR lost the sense of love at an early age and later dealt with his heartache by blowing into a harmonica. JR has experienced his fair share of storms in life, but felt the sharpest loss when his wife of 32 years passed away. This loss pushed JR into a deep depression that eventually left him living on the streets and believing he could no longer trust anyone. It hasn't come easy, but JR has learned to receive and, in turn, provide unconditional love to anyone he encounters as he has a newfound appreciation for what he considers the true meaning of multiplying God’s Kingdom. (Editor's Note: JR is the talent behind the harmonica you hear at the beginning and end of the Gospel Con Carne podcast. Thank you for keeping in mind the beauty of the person behind the blues as you listen to his episode.)   

As one of the original founding members of the Mobile Loaves & Fishes "six pack," Pat Patterson is a man who exudes selflessness. He even recalls how helping others in need at one point in life just wasn't fulfilling enough—only because it wasn't happening often enough by his servant-hearted terms. This conversation with Pat gives a touching look into his life as he reflects on his childhood on a farm, serving in the army, meeting the love of his life, Bunky, followed by 52 years of marriage and raising six children. When a hurricane struck the Gulf Coast in the early years of the Mobile Loaves & Fishes ministry, Pat realized that God had big plans for the path ahead. So Pat did what Pat does best—he continued to serve, and has been in awe of God's work ever since

A victim of abuse from as far back as she can remember, Penny Hunt first ran away from home when she was only 6-years-old. By the age of 12 she was hopping freight trains across the country -- partly for the adventure, but mostly for survival. At one point in her journey she landed in Austin with nothing more than a mountain bike, two backpacks and $80 in her pocket. Continued neglect and abuse followed, leaving Penny with a complete loss of faith in humanity. Penny, however, has never given up the fight. Today as a neighbor living in Community First! Village, she's doing her best embrace her new community of friends as she recovers from a lifelong journey filled with lots of love and whole lot of loss. 

As a sixth-generation Texan, Kathryn Whitaker has certainly had her share of life. She had a good upbringing in the Texas Panhandle, and soon began her own Texas-sized family (six kids from kinder through college) after marrying her college sweetheart. But the storms awaited, and so did her anger with God. In this authentic conversation, Kathryn shares how her struggles through a miscarriage, a troubled marriage and managing the needs of a child born with serious health complications has rocked, challenged and, ultimately, solidified her faith. She is also reminded daily that none of us is ever too far from God's redemption. (Be sure to check out Kathryn's soon-to-be-released book - Live Big, Love Bigger.) 

A self-described "straight F" student when he was growing up, Larry Cottrell never fully learned to read and write until he was 38-years-old ... when he was in prison. He was exposed to alcohol and drugs at a very early age, which was the main contributor to his spending more than two decades behind bars. But through it all, Larry says he never doubted God. He reads his Bible daily, knows that he's as imperfect as they get, and is learning to love again through new friendships and a dog named Trouble. 

Remember the dot-com heyday of the late 1990's? As co-founder of the software company Vignette, Ross Garber certainly does. Ironically, starting a successful high-tech start-up also happens to have been one of the most lonely and isolated moments in his life. Today, in midst of a decades long family genealogy project, Ross has acquired a growing sense of gratitude for his Jewish ancestors along with a desire to weave charitable acts, a giving heart and simple kindness into his everyday actions. As the topic of homelessness becomes an increasingly polarizing subject in Austin, Texas and other cities around the country, this powerful conversation with Ross Garber provides a timely reminder about priorities and the value of being connected. 

In many ways, Ellis Johnston is the epitome of one of our fundamental beliefs at Mobile Loaves & Fishes related to the largest cause of homelessness in our country. In almost all cases it starts with a profound loss of family or an otherwise significant breakdown in one's family unit. Ellis knows this all too well. An abusive childhood at the hands of his father led Ellis on a path toward drugs and alcohol at an early age. Following time in prison, he wound up homeless and paranoid while living on the streets of Austin. Today Ellis is an actively contributing neighbor of Community First! Village and thrives on the many friendships that are now a regular part of his life. 

She was never homeless, though Wendy Smith recalls how she easily could have ended up on the streets when she was ready to give up at one point in life. Following a rough childhood involving divorced parents, she found steady ground in her relationship with Christ. Following a failed date to a Huey Lewis concert more than 30 years ago, today Wendy and her husband Larry have found themselves as missional residents living in Community First! Village where they serve individuals coming out of chronic homelessness. It is an experience she never imagined encountering in life, and also one she's quite certain she would never change.

Raised as one of 11 children in a sharecropper's family in Mississippi, Dexter Batie encountered a literal life-changing storm when he was only seven years old. Several years after his mother passed away he dropped out of school, and as a teenager found himself on a path of crime and drugs. Dexter was in prison by the age of 17, and eventually wound up homeless on the streets of Austin for two decades. After living in Community First! Village for more than a year, he takes pride in defending his new neighborhood as a place that has him closer to the path he desires in life.

As a successful day trader with a solid work ethic, David Jamail distinctly remembers the point in his life when God offered him a welcomed alternative to his self-reliant worldview. For once, the Gospel made sense to him. The timing also couldn't have been more appropriate, as a self-inflicted marriage crisis soon followed that would test David to the core of his being. We love to talk about relationships on the Gospel Con Carne, and this deep discussion on the struggles faced by a husband and wife is a true testament to the power of unconditional love. 

The first real memory Robin Draper has of her parents is when they divorced when she was only 8-years-old. That breakdown in her family unit - the profound loss of family that we talk about so much at Mobile Loaves & Fishes - ultimately became the start of a long, tough road for Robin. She is an adventurer. She is a fighter. She is a mother. Today her own beautiful and spunky 8-year-old daughter is having a different kind of impact on the family all around her, and has given Robin new inspiration to become a better woman.  

As co-founder and general partner of Austin Ventures, Ken DeAngelis is a man who understands financial success. A disciplined investment strategist, his venture capital firm has raised more than $4 billion in capital over the past three decades. While Ken is regarded by many as a captain of industry and pillar in Austin's investment community, he is by no means a man without struggles. He also has reached a point in life in which he's okay talking about those struggles as he puts his newfound understanding of the importance of building authentic relationships into action.

When he was a child, Johnny Brown says he dreamed about being a police officer. He always wanted to help people. Part of that dream would eventually come true, but Johnny's time on the police force was cut short by a series of bad decisions that ultimately resulted in him ending up homeless. Johnny has spent a good number of years trying to find his way again in life, and has learned many lessons along the way. He also has been a believer his entire life, and for once says he feels free from the wounds of his past. 

John Vincent was the most enthusiastic neighbor ever to grace Community First! Village, known by all for his larger-than-life personality and entrepreneurial mindset. Sadly, John left this world too early. He passed away a few months ago after suffering a major heart attack, and we miss our brother deeply. We’re grateful to have been able to record this Gospel Con Carne episode with John prior to his passing and be able to share a glimpse of the amazingly rough though beautiful life he lived. John endured a childhood of abandonment and as an adult spent a good number of years in prison where, as he describes, it often seemed easier than living on the streets. In this final conversation we were blessed to have with John, he shares the ongoing struggles of addiction and how community was the difference maker in his life as he pursued a path of transformation. Your Community First! family misses you, John, and we love you dearly. 

Ever since seeing Elvis Presley in concert as a 7-year-old boy, Louis Messina knew he wanted to be in the music business. Today he is recognized as a powerhouse promoter in the music and entertainment industry—and has been for the past several decades—with current and past clients including Taylor Swift, George Strait, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and U2, among others. Taking a trip down memory lane evokes a range of emotions from Louis as he discusses family, relationships, business and a career focused on helping others' dreams come true. 

When Gary Floyd talks about his childhood, he has plenty of good memories to share. The one part that he wishes would have been different is the role alcohol played in his upbringing. Gary was introduced to alcohol at a very young age, and it led him down a path of recklessness that ultimately landed him in prison for nearly two decades. Today Gary is a well known, outgoing neighbor in Community First! Village - and though his days are not without struggle, he is grateful for the power of hope.

Texas Senator Kirk Watson joins the Gospel Con Carne podcast for a compelling conversation about the current issues facing our community. His journey to the state senate has led him to see the power of both collaboration and communication. Through his time spent in politics, Senator Watson also has been witness to a new level divisiveness and its unfortunate impact on society. He shares his deep belief that hope matters, and is what ultimately can bring about real change in our world. 

If you want to find Richard Devore around Community First Village, you need to look no further than our Genesis Gardens. Richard works diligently as part of the gardening operation in the Village, and even leads regular tours with volunteers to share about his newfound community. This is quite a change from the previous life he lived, during which Richard says he lacked drive and direction. Today, he's grateful for the little ways in which he feels appreciated on a daily basis.

At one point in life, Donna Berber described her existence as one of misery, sorrow and hardship. Once you hear her amazing story, you’ll understand why. After enduring a childhood filled with tremendous grief and loss, Donna shares how her experiences cultivated in her a heart of compassion for others who found themselves in a place of suffering. Today she leads A Glimmer of Hope, an extraordinary foundation she co-founded with her husband Philip, which is dedicated to inspiring hope and empowering community throughout Ethiopia. Today, Donna's halo and her impact on the lives of others has literally been felt around the world.