It’s not uncommon request for Jon Lewis, a chaplain with the Gwinnett County, Georgia police department, to receive a call to minister to the family of a suicide victim. One of twelve chaplains serving the 800-person force, he will sometimes show up at a crime scene and work with families of victims while the police are doing their work.
Recently, Jon responded to a murder-suicide scene, where a man had killed his girlfriend before taking his own life. Jon ministered to the woman’s six-year-old daughter, who was unaware of everything that happened. She just wondered why the television news helicopter was flying overhead.
A member at 12Stone Church, where he serves as a pastor-on-call, Jon conducted 15 funerals last year, most of them the result of some traumatic situation. “When the call comes,” he said, “I don’t know what I will find when I arrive, so I pray, ‘Holy Spirit, speak through me.’”
When a police officer was killed recently, he was available to minister to the officers working through the trauma of losing a comrade.
As if that weren’t enough action in his life, Jon is also involved with the Atlanta Mission, particularly it’s Potter’s House, a 570-acre facility that houses 100 men. The facility offers a year-long program assisting victims of addiction and homelessness. The program helps them find jobs and get back on their feet.
Jon preaches at the facility on Tuesday morning and conducts a Wednesday evening discipleship gathering, mentoring participants to build self-confidence and leadership skills. He says, “There are two types of pain – the pain of changing and the pain of staying the same.” He mentors them toward change.
Jon also leads a non-profit organization called “Heirborn Servants” where they empower women, who are survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking, they help get them places that matter. “Ultimately,” Jon says, “everybody needs a car.” If they cannot afford a car, the organization partners with them by paying some or all the cost of LYFT or Uber rides for a specified period. They also find dependable vehicles they give away to ladies who qualify. They recently gifted their 49th vehicle to a survivor. Each woman has a mentor (strongly encouraged) who is in contact with them weekly or even daily, to get them connected to a church and a small group. The addition of a new rideshare program allows ministry partners to schedule rides for vetted qualified clientss
“Some days,” Jon says, “I feel like I’m 100 years old spiritually because of the opportunities I have had to serve.”
Connect with Jon on LinkedIn.
Savanna Rakestraw is an experienced Business Development Executive in the healthcare industry with a broad experience in all aspects of sales and staffing. Ethically driven and self-motivated with years of a proven track record.
Committed to her client’s patient care needs by providing access to medical care with flexible and personalized staffing. Skilled in client relationship management, understanding tribulations, sales, staffing, and business development. Highly adept in relationship building through personal and business core values of others first, wisdom, and growth. A huge advocate in giving back to the community by serving charitable organizations.
Savanna co-lead for the Associate Networking Group, The Women’s Network, at Jackson Healthcare. She serves as a Board Member for Heirborn Servants, a non-profit organization gifting cars to single women who are survivors of domestic violence and trafficking. Savanna also gives her time as a mentor through our mentor program.
Connect with Savanna on LinkedIn.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Who Heirborn Servants serve and their mission
- How the idea of gifting cars / rides began
- How the name Heirborn Servants came about
- Managed rideshare program
- Mentor program for the women Heirborn serves
- Handbags of Hope
- How people can get involved
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