Gospel Con Carne

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Howie! A talented musician and natural storyteller, Howie has lived a life full of unexpected turns. From playing in bands to serving in the Navy, his journey has taken him through seasons of change, hardship and perseverance. After losing his job and home, Howie experienced homelessness in Austin for 17 years. During that time, he encountered the kindness of strangers and the unexpected connections that helped him along the way. In 2021, Howie found his way to Community First! Village, where he now has a place to call home. His story is a reminder of how life can change in unexpected ways and how a little kindness can make a lasting difference.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, John, also known around the Village as Mighty Mouse!

From working carnival rides across Texas and beyond to earning his unforgettable nickname, John has lived a life full of adventure, stories and resilience.

John spent 26 years experiencing homelessness in Austin, including a number of years camping under a bridge and building community with other individuals who were living on the streets. Along the way, John says he found purpose in serving others, volunteering with a local street ministry and eventually beginning his work at The Charlie Center, where he continues to pour into the lives of others who are experiencing homelessness today.

In 2023, after more than two decades on the streets, John moved into Community First! Village. While adjusting to living in his new home took some time, he's grateful for the journey, the people who helped him along the way, and also how having a place to call home has changed his outlook on life.

On this special episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with Mobile Loaves & Fishes' new President, Tim Allen!

Tim's journey to MLF has been anything but ordinary. From growing up in Los Angeles and joining his parents as they served people experiencing homelessness on Skid Row, to a career in business, entrepreneurship, ministry and nonprofit leadership, Tim's story has been shaped by a desire to use his gifts to serve others.

In this episode, Tim shares about his childhood, his faith, his family, his professional journey and the experiences that helped shape his understanding of what it means to live a life of service. He also reflects on the moments that eventually led him to Austin and, ultimately, to Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

Join us for a special conversation about the winding road that brought Tim to MLF and the experiences that prepared him to help lead our mission of empowering the community around us into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Nancy! Born in Germany and raised in North Austin, Nancy has lived a life full of adventure. From working behind the scenes at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters to running her own businesses, Nancy spent much of her life working hard and raising her two sons. After experiencing deep loss, Nancy eventually found herself living on the streets of Austin. During her time living under a bridge, she became an advocate for others experiencing homelessness, helping people find food, getting to appointments and looking out for one another. Everything began to change when Nancy found her way to Community First! Village in 2023. Today, she has found a place to call home and spends her time connecting with neighbors, singing, creating art and bringing joy to those around her. In this episode, Nancy reminds us that there is always room for joy, purpose and a new beginning—and shares the role her faith has played in her journey home.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with one of our beloved volunteers, Dita Heilman!

Dita's story of serving others began long before she found her way to Community First! Village. Born and raised in the Albania/Kosovo region of Europe, she met her husband, Steve, while he was volunteering with a medical nonprofit during the early 1990s. What started with a chance encounter and a shared cup of coffee grew into a life rooted in compassion, hospitality and a calling to serve others.

Today, Dita and Steve faithfully volunteer in the Art House at Community First! Village, where they help create handcrafted ceramic pieces alongside our neighbors living in the Village. Through every conversation, shared project and creative endeavor, Dita reminds us that the most meaningful connections are built when we take the time to simply be present with one another.

In this episode, Dita reflects on the power of kindness across cultures, the unexpected path that led her from Kosovo to Austin, and how volunteering has become a beautiful expression of gratitude for the life she's been given. Her story is a reminder that serving others doesn't just their change lives—it has the power to transform our own.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with one of our beloved volunteers, Dita Heilman!

Dita's story of serving others began long before she found her way to Community First! Village. Born and raised in the Albania/Kosovo region of Europe, she met her husband, Steve, while he was volunteering with a medical nonprofit during the early 1990s. What started with a chance encounter and a shared cup of coffee grew into a life rooted in compassion, hospitality and a calling to serve others.

Today, Dita and Steve faithfully volunteer in the Art House at Community First! Village, where they help create handcrafted ceramic pieces alongside our neighbors living in the Village. Through every conversation, shared project and creative endeavor, Dita reminds us that the most meaningful connections are built when we take the time to simply be present with one another.

In this episode, Dita reflects on the power of kindness across cultures, the unexpected path that led her from Kosovo to Austin, and how volunteering has become a beautiful expression of gratitude for the life she's been given. Her story is a reminder that serving others doesn't just their change lives—it has the power to transform our own.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with a longtime friend of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Ilene Green! Ilene's journey to Community First! Village began long before she called Austin home. While living out of state, Ilene started volunteering with Mobile Loaves & Fishes when her son, Charles, began working at the organization. After retiring from a career as a teaching aid, where she spent years working alongside children and adults with disabilities, Ilene moved from Illinois to Austin and quickly found a new place to serve. What started as simple volunteer work in our Genesis Gardens and Community Market has grown into a beautiful rhythm of showing up, listening and loving our neighbors well. Every Wednesday, Ilene spends the entire day at the Village; walking the neighborhood, sitting with neighbors, learning their stories and helping them access the support they need. For Ilene, it's never about the state of someone's home—it's about the person inside it. She celebrates neighbors' growth, encourages them through challenges and cherishes the friendships she's built along the way. She's witnessed firsthand that the blessings flow both ways, as neighbors and volunteers continue to teach, encourage and love one another. In this episode, Ilene reminds us that patience and grace can go a long way, and that sometimes the greatest gift we can offer someone is simply our presence.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our longtime neighbor and friend, Shorty!

Born and raised in Houston, Texas and one of many siblings, Shorty's life has been shaped by both hardship and resilience. After losing his mother at just nine years old, he eventually spent 31 years living on the streets, struggling with addiction and searching for stability and belonging along the way.

Everything began to change when Shorty moved into Community First! Village in November of 2016. Now approaching 10 years at the Village, Shorty reflects on what it means to finally have a place to call home after decades without one. After knowing Alan for more than two decades, he says the Village has become the family he never thought he would have—a place where he feels deeply loved, supported and known.

In this episode, Shorty reflects on the loss of some of the friends he made at the Village, the peace he finds living near the memorial garden and the moment he instinctively ran into a burning RV to save a fellow neighbor. Through every story, Shorty reminds us to look out for one another, love one another and never underestimate the pure goodness found in community.

On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Brenda!

Born and raised in Midland and one of 14 siblings, Brenda's life has been marked by both deep love and deep hardship. After losing her sense of identity and falling into addiction, Brenda spent more than a decade living on the streets of Austin. This experience humbled her in ways she never imagined. In the midst of it all, Brenda made the incredibly difficult decision to entrust her young daughter to her father, knowing she couldn't raise her child on the streets. However, through every season, Brenda's daughter and family never stopped loving her.

Everything began to change when Brenda connected with a case worker through the Trinity Center, which ultimately led her to Community First! Village. Since moving into the Village in 2018, Brenda has rediscovered who she is—reclaiming her name, her purpose and her sense of self-worth. Today, she loves cooking, enjoys working onsite, and recently moved into a new PMRV on our expansion property. Most of all, she cherishes the friendships she's built and the community she now calls home.

The Gospel Con Carne podcast is back! Join us this season as Mobile Loaves & Fishes' Founder & CEO, Alan Graham, and his guests share the powerful, untold stories of individuals who have experienced homelessness—and the hope that meets them along the way. We're honored to kick off the season with Debra, one of Alan's neighbors in Community First! Village. A lifelong wanderer and mother of eight, Debra's journey has included seasons of hardship—homelessness, addiction and raising her family as a single mom—but also deep resilience and growth. After beginning her sobriety journey in 2007, Debra has now been in recovery for about 18 years. She found her way home to Community First! Village in December 2025, where she is finally able to fully live into her calling as an artist. Through painting, murals and sculpture, Debra uses her gifts to share love, freedom and faith.