December 7 2025 - Jesse Schlabach

The broadcast features David John from Haven of Rest's development team discussing several upcoming holiday events following Thanksgiving. The first major event is the "Happy Birthday Jesus" party for children, scheduled for Saturday, December 6th. This event, which begins with doors opening at 1:30 PM and a program at 2:00 PM, involves extensive volunteer efforts, decorating, music, and a lively, Christ-centered program featuring a clear gospel message. The day concludes with children receiving gifts, cake, and candy. Following this, Haven of Rest hosts a Christmas giveaway for families, where registered families can "shop" for age-appropriate gifts and receive prayer from staff, as well as an "Adopt A Family" program where individuals, businesses, and churches provide gifts based on a family's wish list. The success of all these special events, which aim to connect with and bless families, is credited to the generous support of donors and the indispensable help of volunteers. David John requested prayer for wisdom and strength as he manages the numerous interactions with staff, volunteers, and the families they serve.

The Haven of Rest Ministries is preparing for a very full house for their special Thanksgiving Day celebrations, which include two main services and meals open not only to their guests but also to the wider community, past guests, and alumni. The day's events begin in the morning with guests gathering around 10:45 AM for music, followed by a service at 11:30 AM, and then a traditional Thanksgiving lunch at 12:00 PM, featuring mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and more. A significant "army of volunteers" and kitchen staff ensure the meal is a special, served experience, much like a restaurant, complete with post-meal gift bags with personal care items, while the evening includes a second chapel service around 6:00 PM, often with guest speaker Terry Pluto, followed by another dinner. The focus of the day is on being a family, sharing hope, meeting practical needs, and pointing guests to Christ, particularly recognizing that holidays can be difficult for those experiencing homelessness or loss, and the event is made possible by the prayers, financial support, and donations (like turkeys) from their prayer partners and supporters.

During the broadcast, Katrina Henry from the Haven of Rest development department details the "Every Child, Every Chance" program, a preventative ministry that partners with counselors at Akron Public Schools to support students and families before they require shelter services. Working primarily with seven schools, the initiative addresses barriers to education by providing immediate necessities such as shoes, winter coats, clothing, and hygiene products, often delivering them discreetly to maintain the dignity of the recipients. As the winter season approaches, the program is focused on distributing full Thanksgiving meal baskets to ten families per school and providing Christmas assistance—comprising both gifts and essential clothing items like underwear and socks—to five families per school. Henry concludes by highlighting the importance of community support through prayer and a business match financial campaign to sustain these year-round efforts.

Jesse Schlabach, the director of the Men's Division at Haven of Rest, discussed the impact of colder weather in November on the people they serve, noting that the seasonal change drives more unhoused individuals to seek shelter and services, despite a general increase in numbers compared to the previous year. When guests arrive, the 24/7 staff conducts a brief intake, assesses their immediate needs like clothing or shelter, and begins the process of moving them from crisis and chaos toward stability and control. Beyond meeting basic needs, the long-term goal is transformation through Christ, which involves addressing life-controlling issues like mental health, addiction, or unemployment through case management, as well as providing spiritual guidance through chapel services and Bible studies. The staff works to help guests overcome resistance to structure by listening to their individual stories, building relationships, and giving encouragement and direction to help them become thriving members of the community, ultimately focusing on helping them obtain housing and work. Jesse asked for prayers for his staff to have the strength, wisdom, and discernment needed to deal with a wide range of situations as the numbers increase.

Eric Swatson, the new development assistant with a focus on social media at Haven of Rest, shared his journey to the mission and his faith. Growing up in Akron, he was aware of Haven of Rest but didn't fully understand their work until a friend, Landon, introduced him. A spontaneous conversation with Doctor Yvonne Brake led Eric to pursue a role in the development office, focusing on sharing the overarching perspective of Haven of Rest as a rescue mission rather than just a homeless shelter. Eric's social media strategy, currently in the strategizing phase, involves weekly themed content rotation. Eric accepted Christ in after a difficult period that included graduating high school, losing his Air Force eligibility, a breakup, and his father's death. What excites him most about Haven of Rest is its counter-cultural nature of selflessness, grace, and compassion and the opportunity to share the gospel with the disenfranchised and displaced. He asks listeners to pray that he can continue to honor the Lord, especially for the fruits of the Spirit.

The radio broadcast featured Jonathan Iaconas, the clothing coordinator at Haven of Rest, discussing the essential service the clothing department provides at the client service building. He highlighted that the department connects the generosity of the community to the practical needs of guests, helping to affirm their dignity by offering high-quality, organized clothing free of charge in a setting described as a department store. As the weather turns cold, the team is busy transitioning to fall and winter items like coats, jackets, hats, and new undergarments, with a particular ongoing need for men's pants in sizes 28-34. Donations are processed, sorted, and weighed (with about 60-70,000 lbs of clothes received monthly) by staff, volunteers, and community service workers, who also help provide household items for those moving out. Jonathan estimates the department handles around 1,000 appointments a month and asks for prayers for the team's health and the filling of open positions.

Haven of Rest food service manager, Jonell Muth, shared the substantial scope of the organization's food ministry, which prepares and serves about 300 to 400 meals daily to guests, including residents and community members. She highlighted the significant need for donations, noting that they use up to 900 small cans of vegetables for a single meal and need around 250 burgers for one meal. Key donation needs include canned goods (especially vegetables and fruits), snack items for work program lunches (such as chips, fruit cups, and individually wrapped snack cakes), coffee, instant oatmeal packets, and pastries for breakfast, as well as hot chocolate for the day rooms. Jonell emphasized the positive impact on guests, who often express gratitude and are blessed by the nutritious meals , and spoke about the "miracle" of God's provision, such as a recent donation of over 1,000 pounds of prepared food. The food service team is staffed by six full-time people and is supported by five to six volunteers daily. To help with donations or volunteer, listeners can call Jonell or the mission at 330-535-1563 and ask for the kitchen.

The Haven of Rest is holding an Open House on October 16th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the main mission building, 175 E Market, where the last tour starts around 4:30 PM. This event welcomes the entire community, including agency and church leaders, for a transparent, 45-minute to hour-long tour of their facilities, which include the worship center, learning and career center, Harvest Home for women and children, and client service centers. The open house aims to provide a visual understanding of the work being done to transform lives and allows for open conversation and questions. Visitors can just show up—no appointment is required—and will be offered light refreshments, with accommodations like wheelchairs and staff assistance available for those with limited mobility. If a person is unable to attend, they can call 330−535−1563 to arrange a tour at a later time.

The radio broadcast features an interview with Billy, who shares his journey from a participant in the Conquerors program at Haven of Rest to a full-time employee on the ministry team. After completing the program and an internship, during which he served in the men's day room, defusing situations and bringing order to chaos by ministering grace and Christ's word to men in crisis, he was hired in June to work in the kitchen. Billy now sees his role in food service as ministry, where he is able to prepare meals with care and use the opportunity to speak with and listen to the Conquerors, fulfilling the mission's goal of serving both physical and spiritual food. He is focused on continuing to grow stronger and wiser, praying for guidance and strength as a vessel of God, and looking toward his future as a youth pastor.

Dan shared his testimony on the radio broadcast, detailing his successful transition from the Conquerors program to an eight-month intern program, and finally being hired as a full-time staff member in the Facilities Department on November 17th. He credits the intern program with teaching him patience and love for his fellow man and sees his current role—where he uses his previous expertise in electrical and plumbing—as God's path for him. Dan is thriving in the Christian atmosphere at Haven of Rest, where he enjoys the support of his co-workers and the entire staff, and he's rebuilding his life by getting his driver's license and finding a church family where he attends an amends Bible study. He asked listeners to pray for him as he plans to move out soon and for the salvation of his children.