It is easy to talk about “the homeless” as if they are a different group of people. But spend a Saturday morning serving breakfast, pouring coffee, handing out clothes, learning names and listening to stories, and that idea begins to disappear.

In this episode of HopeCast, Mark Graham and Gigi Gerlach share how God led them into a street ministry that has been serving people in Huntington for nearly 20 years. What began with simple acts of service has become something much deeper: relationships, friendship, faith and a community where people are known by name.

You will hear stories of addiction, mental illness, economic hardship and lives that changed almost overnight. You will also hear stories of recovery, forgiveness, unexpected provision and the small moments Mark and Gigi call “God-winks.”

Most importantly, this conversation challenges one of the most persistent misconceptions about homelessness: that there is an “us” and a “them.”

There is not. The person standing in line for breakfast is somebody’s son. Somebody’s mother. Somebody’s friend. Somebody who once had a job, a home and plans for the future. And sometimes the distance between their life and ours is much smaller than we would like to believe.

They are not “those people.” They are us. Listen to this episode of HopeCast and discover what can happen when you stop looking past people and start seeing them.

This week on The Hopecast, host Mitch Webb sits down with hometown hero Jan Rader, whose leadership has transformed the way our community responds to addiction and homelessness. Jan shares the unexpected path that led her to this work, the realities she believes everyone should understand about these challenges, and why she remains hopeful that lasting change is possible. It is an honest conversation about compassion, resilience, and what it takes to build a stronger community.

Our guest this week on Hopecast from the City Mission is Bob Hansen, a longtime leader in behavioral health and recovery work across West Virginia. Hosted by Mitch Webb and Steven Little, this conversation walks through how Bob first entered the field, the experiences that shaped his leadership, and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Bob spent years leading at Prestera Center, helping expand access to mental health and addiction recovery services across the region. His work later extended to the state level, where he played a role in shaping West Virginia’s response to the opioid crisis and strengthening systems of care for those in need. He has also been connected to community-based efforts like Harmony House, supporting practical solutions for individuals working toward stability and recovery.

In this episode, Bob reflects on the realities of the work, the challenges facing communities today, and where he believes behavioral health and recovery efforts are headed in the future. It is a thoughtful, grounded conversation from someone who has spent decades in the middle of this work.

n this episode, Mitch Webb sits down with Cyndi Kirkhart to talk about the partnership between the foodbank and the Huntington City Mission and how they work together to feed people across the region. Cyndi shares what drew her into this work, the reality of food insecurity in the United States, and where she believes the future of serving people is headed. Along the way, she tells powerful stories that show how something as simple as food can change a life. Listen, be inspired, and enjoy.

Dr. Chad Hatfield shares the story of how God changed his life, prepared him for ministry, and ultimately led him to the Huntington City Mission.

He is honest about what many people learn the hard way. Ministry rarely looks like what you expect. Sometimes the suit comes off and you find yourself in work that requires you to get your hands dirty. Along the way, things you never thought would matter, like martial arts training, suddenly become useful. Add in years of counseling and 12-step work, and you begin to see how God was preparing the path all along.

This is a story about calling, obedience, and showing up even when you do not fully understand where it is leading. God is in the work. If He calls you, step into it. It may not be what you imagined, but it will be the ride of your life.

In Episode 2, Keith Wiebe shares what it looks like to stay rooted in a place others might leave. His church has remained in the same neighborhood through decades of challenge, committed to the 7,600 people who live within reach of their doors.

Keith reflects on what that commitment has meant in practice, walking alongside people facing homelessness, food insecurity, and addiction, and choosing presence over programs. This is a conversation about steady ministry, long obedience, and what happens when a church decides it is not going anywhere.

At the center of it all is a simple conviction: when believers work together to serve those in need, God is present and at work.

In this first episode of Hopecast from the Huntington City Mission, host Mitch Webb shares the heart behind the podcast and why it exists to encourage and equip those serving on the front lines of social ministry.

Mitch is joined by Steven Little, Executive Director of the Huntington City Mission, who shares his personal story of struggle with addiction and broken relationships, and how God changed the direction of his life. That transformation led him to Huntington, West Virginia, where he planted a church and began serving in the community, ultimately connecting him to the work of the City Mission.

Steven also talks about his vision for the Mission and the importance of being more than a provider of services. His passion is to lead a ministry that serves people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and addiction while addressing the deeper needs behind those struggles.

This episode sets the foundation for Hopecast and offers both encouragement and perspective for anyone doing this work or considering how to make an impact.