Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence is one of the most inspirational stories you will ever hear. For 25 years, Bobbi Jo Reed has rescued thousands of addicts. But before she could help others, Bobbi Jo needed to help herself.
This true life story takes an honest look into the world of alcoholism and addiction and provides keys to long term recovery in Kansas City’s most dangerous neighborhood.
After a middle class upbringing, Bobbi Jo turned to drinking and drugs at a young age. Soon, her life spiraled out of control. Addiction led to abuse, prostitution, and homelessness. When she hit rock bottom, Bobbi Jo had a spiritual awakening.
With newfound strength, Bobbi Jo was lifted out of a personal hell. That strength gave her the courage to return to the streets to help others. Using the testimony of her dark past as a “blueprint of hope”, Bobbi Jo Reed reflects on her transformation. How she was saved. Why she was chosen. And why more than 10,000 souls now call her, “Mom.”
Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence is one of the most inspirational stories you will ever hear. For 25 years, Bobbi Jo Reed has rescued thousands of addicts. But before she could help others, Bobbi Jo needed to help herself.
This true life story takes an honest look into the world of alcoholism and addiction and provides keys to long term recovery in Kansas City’s most dangerous neighborhood.
After a middle class upbringing, Bobbi Jo turned to drinking and drugs at a young age. Soon, her life spiraled out of control. Addiction led to abuse, prostitution, and homelessness. When she hit rock bottom, Bobbi Jo had a spiritual awakening.
With newfound strength, Bobbi Jo was lifted out of a personal hell. That strength gave her the courage to return to the streets to help others. Using the testimony of her dark past as a “blueprint of hope”, Bobbi Jo Reed reflects on her transformation. How she was saved. Why she was chosen. And why more than 10,000 souls now call her, “Mom.”
Blast off, Hey everybody. Welcome to hyphenated life. We are here with, uh, Bobby, Joe Reed and Brent and Donna Jones of a film that, uh, was released only two days ago called Bobby Joe under the influence. This is, uh, an honest testimony of addiction and one woman's discovery that the only way to save herself is to save others. So this documentary, uh, again, titled Bobby Joe under the influence is one of the most inspirational stories. David, I think that we could, any of us say that we will ever hear. And for 25 years, Bobby, Joe Reed has rescued thousands of people who, uh, have been addicted, but before she could help others, she needed to help herself. And so this is a true life story that takes an honest look into the world of alcoholism and addiction and provides keys to long-term recovery for a well in Kansas. City's most dangerous neighborhood. And we'll be talking a little bit more about that today. After a middle-class upbringing, Bobby Joe turned to drinking and drugs at a young age and soon her life spiraled out of control. Addiction led to abuse and prostitution homelessness. And when she hit rock bottom, Bobby Jo had a spiritual awakening and with a new found strength, she was lifted out of a personal hell. And that strength gave her the courage to return to the streets, to help others who were in her similar situation. So using the testimony of her past as a blueprint of hope, Bobby Jo raid reflects on her transformation, how she was saved, why she was chosen, and now why more than 8,000 souls now call her mom. So this is the feature of Bobby Jo under the influence, this wonderful documentary. So Bobby Jo read herself the real life. Bobby Jo is with us today. Thank you for joining us so much. Thank you so much for having me. It's an honor. Thank you. And we're joined also by the director and producer, Brett Jones owns and, um, he was born and raised in Kansas city and right out of high school, he was hired as a camera man by the Kansas city chiefs. I pretty sure they're going to their second super bowl, by the way, having certain, uh, his filmmaking dreams took him to Los Angeles where he worked on set with Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Michael Bay, Cameron Crowe. You know, just to name, drop a little bit. Bobby Joe under the influence is his first documentary feature film. Brett Jones, welcome to hyphenated life. Thank you. And Donna Jones, producer, Donna Jo. I was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, and never imagined working in the entertainment entertainment industry. She graduated, excuse me, graduating from UBC in Vancouver with a BA in psychology. She moved to LA where she met and married Brent Jones, she and Brent form gold room films with the intention of creating socially impactful films with met messages that can change lives. She writes it is time to start giving back. We are so grateful that we can use our production skill set to make a real difference in the Kansas city community. Donna Jones, welcome to hyphenated life.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. Where do we even begin? Right with this film? I am just so I guess to begin I'm so as a, as a pastor of a church in Boulder, Colorado, the people's Republic of Boulder, just watching this film, this documentary, uh, Bobby, Joe, your life story is one that is so extraordinary and so deep. And I also want to set a context because our church here in Boulder, we host a variety of recovery groups. We have, you know, pre pandemic and a non pandemic world. David. We have something like six to 800 people who come through our doors here at pine street church in Boulder through various recovery programs. So, uh, Bobby, Joe, your story and what you're doing, uh, really hits home for us, uh, here at pine street church and hyphenated life. So I just wanted to acknowledge that kind of pretext, uh, as we talked today. And I think that made that extra impactful for me watching the film and listening to your story. So I guess I would just start, uh, we want people to watch this film, and so we don't want to go through line by line or in a linear way, uh, what the film is all about, because we, we want to leave some room for folks to, to watch it, but, but Bobby, Joe, where might you start with your own story as we step into this, um, around addiction. And what I would say is just this extraordinary vulnerability for you to put your full life story out for, for the world to see, uh, where do you get that kind of vulnerability and courage to even begin this enterprise?
Speaker 2:Well, I have to say that throughout my life, I always felt inadequate about everything. Um, being pretty enough, being skinny enough, being smart enough. And of course that led to many years of addiction. And when I, um, started sobering up and not using anymore and helping other people, it really, for the first time in my life make me, it made me feel like I had some type of purpose and I had never felt like I really had a purpose in this world before I started helping others out there were struggling with the same thing that I had been going through. And, uh, you know, at first you help people and it makes you feel good, right? And then something switched in me and I just kept doing it because it just became the next right thing to do. You're once it about making me feel good anymore, it was about doing the next right thing and in life. And, uh, you know what I can say that I'm not embarrassed. If not one thing that happened in my past, everything that's happened in my past has made me the person I am today. And, you know, God can use all that, all the difficulties, all the tragedies, all the things that I endure, you know, what I I'm washed clean through the blood of Jesus Jesus first off. So I'm not ashamed by any of that. But what, what this movie does is show the power of redemption that we have through God's grace and his mercy. If he can take someone like me, you know, it just blows my mind. Sometimes I look at my life to go, well, how did this happen? But if God can take someone like me and use me to help all the thousands of lives that's been impacted by this ministry, you know, I'm just grateful. And I know if it can happen for me, it can happen for anybody. Cause I was the lowest of the low. And quite frankly, I have never met anybody through all my workings. I've never met anybody that was as low down as I was. And so I know it's a story of hope for everyone, but I tell you what, this is my passion. I get to live what I was created for. And so, you know, a lot of us stumble through our life wondering, you know, what do we want to be when we grow up? Well, I never knew I was a Jack of many trades. And when you're in active addiction, you kind of do that to survive. But now I get to live out my purpose every single day. And I'll tell you what I put in tons of hours and lots of energy, but God replenishes my spirit every day. People refer to me as the little Energizer Energizer buddy bunny, because I have not stopped. I go all the time and that all that energy comes from the Holy spirit. And I haven't had today do a day of work. I get to do service every day.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I think your story after having watched the film is undoubtedly undoubtedly inspirational. You know, you can't walk away from that without feeling the energy, come through the screen, you know, that, that you exude and your story conveys. Um, Brent, Donna, you both, I seems like you both kind of bring different areas of expertise to this project. What about, uh, Bobbi Jo's story inspired you to want to turn it into this? You know, I would consider cinema a high art at this point. I think I've said often, I think it's one of the pinnacles of human artistic achievement because it combined so many aspects of human creativity. And so you bring this beautiful artistry to telling Bobby Joe's story. Um, what was your inspiration? What are some things that, that causes you guys to want to come in and take on this project?
Speaker 4:Every single thing about Bobby Joseph's life is the short answer. Every single thing. That's why I saw Bobby Joe speak. And, um, I was in the audience and it, you know, just the church up the road from me and it just humbled me and it inspired me and made me want to do something. And so just every single thing about that hour that I spent with Bobby Jo was amazing. And it gave me that incredible inspiration and I felt that energy and I knew it was real. And so I needed to explore it. I really wanted to go down and see what was going on. So there was a, there was a giant, I wouldn't say a little spark. There was a giant, uh, flash, I guess, wow, there's something here. And I went up and talked to Bobby jealous, you know, I want to get your book. Can I maybe do a documentary or film about you? And we went down and we put her on camera for three hours. And she walked around with all that energy. And we were just, you know, I had two cameras on her and we just were blown away by her presence and her personality and the energy that she had and it just became infectious. So I saw her speak for one hour. Then I get to spend three hours with her. And well, we've been hanging out quite a bit for the past year and you know what it's been, um, it's been an incredible experience and it's filled us both with, uh, with, uh, just it's given us a, a purpose, you know, and it's it because it's so real. It's not, it's it, her life story is real. It's humble. So she's not going to brag about herself and because she's a very humble and energetic, but I wanted to get this story to people so they could be inspired. So she shared the story with me. We were inspired and we wanted to share it with other people. So it can have that ripple effect and go out into the communities and inspire other people to help others. And to have that energy. Now, what we wanted to create when we were creating the film was something that would inspire people through this medium and see. And most people, when they finished watching go, you know what I need to do more. It takes you, you know, for, for an hour and 40 minutes, you've taken out of yourself. And you're, you're what it's like to live in a moment to be in, to be present. And, and I think it even releases a little bit of your fear and anxiety as you're watching it, you go, wow. If this person can do this, I can certainly just see back in your chair and go, I can do more. I can do more. And I really believe that we need that. Now we've always needed it. And now more than ever, there's a lot of division and, and it's, it will inspire people and bring them together and you go, you know what, maybe we do have differences, but I don't want to look down upon these people. I, you know, we shouldn't look down upon other human beings. We're all in this together. So let's get to, let's get together and start helping each other is, is the message. And the, um, I'm just getting fired up here,
Speaker 1:Go for it. Yeah. Preach brother,
Speaker 4:Right in there that, that Luther shares. And he says the solution is love. And so ultimately there's hope and a solution is for us to love each other and serve each other. I mean, there's a point in that where I asked Bobby Joe about, you know, the person that's on the street. Why am I scared? Why did I walk around? Why am I not helping each? And every individual that, why do we do that? And it's fear, you know? And she described it to me. It's fear. She, sometimes I feel that way too, but you know, they're human beings and they're, they have a heart they're, they're struggling with addiction and alcoholism and, and some of them have never had families. And they did. Bobby. Joe provides a family for people. Where's your family there. And if there's anything that needs to really bring us all together, it's, it's, it's it need a family, you know, and that's why they call her mom. So there's these, all these people that call her mom and it's, it's great, mom. Okay. There's a great, there's a great person at the helm there and it's warm and loving and, and, and there's trust there. It's not going to judge you on, on your past. It's going to help you forget the shame of your past, or whatever's gone on, it's like, man, we're going to create a new human being with you. We were going to help you. So I don't know, that's kind of a long answer, but it's fired me in that one hour of her testimony. And I needed other people to see that testimony, you know, I needed to get, I don't want it to share that we were going to do all kinds of other things, and we're trying to figure out what we were going to do. And, um, I can't think of a better story to tell. She just laid it at my feet. They're just like, this is what we got to do. This is, this is going to bring people together. It's it's really going to have an impact. And if they, I hope it does that.
Speaker 1:I can tell you really fired up. I want to, I almost want to call you Reverend Brent Jones after that. That was, that was extraordinary. Um, so I have so many questions, uh, one maybe kind of to stick with you, Brent and Donna is, um, kind of giving your experience in filmmaking. And I believe this is your first documentary film. If I'm, if I'm not forgetting, um, what would you say? I mean, you sort of already said that, but how was this a departure from what Donna, you and Brett, uh, have done as filmmakers and in what was, uh, the kind of lighting your fire that made you take this, this new detour in your own professional lives?
Speaker 2:Well, I'll say this. Um, when I met Brent Jones years ago, I met a person that just, if he believes in it and if he just believes he can do it and he just does it, I mean, we built our entire career out of really, I mean, the entertainment business is sorta like creating things out of thin air. Right. Um, and I've just been a believer in Brent Jones for many years. And when we moved to Kansas city and we were looking for a project here and we wanted to make a film and, and you know, it's been Brent's dream to make, make movies. Um, we wanted to do something, you know, that had a, that ha that would impact the community here. So when he came home after the meeting and meeting Bobby, Joe and stuffed the book in my hand, it was like, you know, this is, this is unbelievable. You've got to read this, you know, we, we talked about it and, and it's just, you know, things happen in life and, and you, you get inspired by something and it just takes you in a direction. And sometimes you just have to kind of go with that. I mean, we weren't really planning on making documentary films in the basement of our home when we moved here. But, um, if there's one thing I've learned in my years of being married to Brent Jones is, um, I just have to kind of roll with it and, and, and, and take that, just take that inspiration and do whatever I can. And maybe there's a, there's an art to this film. And you know how Brent was just saying that he at Bobby, Joe never brags about herself. Well, I'm here to tell you that Brent Jones is, is the same way. And it took him and all of his years of experience to be able to, to make this film and, and, and tell Bobby Joe's story in an honest and truthful way and get that feeling across and that message across. And so, um, I knew that he could do that. I was just here to put the pieces together. I was here to put the team together and, and do the detail work behind the scenes and all of those things. So the artistry is his, for me, it was so real. This story is so real. It's raw, it's real under, it's a documentary. So it's real.
Speaker 4:And it has, uh, you know, it's, it's the, it's, it's the heart right there. It's the heart of it is right there where you can see it. And when everything else is just kind of masked by, you know, a lot of television commercials and things are masked in trying to sell you something. And this, I wasn't selling anything in here because I come from doing television commercials. I went down and I'm like, wow, this is about as real as it gets. No, Bobby Joe story was about as real as it gets. And then we met other people at healing house and their stories were from the heart. And it was, there was nothing made up about it. It's, it's raw and it's real. And it gets to the heart. And at something that I hadn't really, I had experienced it in, in a, in some movie-making and some powerful scenes that I've been involved in where, you know, I was doing a movie and there was some acting going on and it gave me, you know, gave me chills. And I was like, that's amazing. What's going on? Well, this was real. And I got those chills every single time, every single time, my, uh, cinematographer, Russ, how they went down there and did an interview, we'd come back just going, Oh my gosh, that was amazing. I can't believe the stuff that we, you know, those stories that were revealed and what came about, you know, it was it's, it's not scripted and it's, you know, it's just human. Uh, it's just a very human story. You guys, it's, it's right there at, it gets to the heart of things from the very first scene and it goes and goes and goes. So there's nothing more inspiring than that. You know, I don't know that where we're going from here. I love the documentary style now. I mean, I've never done a whole lot of that. I'd done a bit of it, but this one was very powerful for me.
Speaker 3:For, for us here. We, we had some inspiration to create this podcast that you're on today. And sort of the Genesis of that is, is our observation of this kind of false duality of a sec secular world. That's separate from a sacred world in one of the themes I'm hearing. And I got from watching the documentary. Is there, there Bobby Joe in your life, you discovered this a need for openness, honesty, sincerity, integrity, unconditionality of love, love being the opposite of fear, not hate. And, um, and you discovered that these worlds, you know, when you're at rock bottom in the most sort of UN seemingly unsafe grid place in the world, what's really happening is you've separated those two things so much that that's how you ended up there. So I don't know if you can comment a little bit on, uh, your journey to, to recognizing the critical nature of, of doing your work unconditionally. I just, I know that me,
Speaker 2:I felt like in it for a very long time when I was out there in the world, in my addiction, and I really got to a point I just wanted to die, and I didn't think I should be sucking up the same errors as all you normal people were. Right. And, um, I was, so I was in, I became an yet, you know, I'd try to go into a gas station, bathroom to get cleaned up and they would tell me, get out of here. Uh, you can't be in here and you become this faceless entity that people disregard you and you do, you become an it. And, um, I remember, you know, just feeling like that. And, and, and, you know, here's the awful part about that is the farther down the scale you go, you all becomes acceptable and you just accept that you're nothing anymore, except, um, except somebody else's, um, you're somebody else's victim all the time is what you become. And, you know, uh, I went to 12 step meetings when I got sober and I helped a lot of people. I started sponsoring a lot of people and, um, I started kind of casing. Uh, I started going to church, I'd go for the praise and worship part. You know, that was kind of fun, but I don't like to stay in for all that preaching stuff, but God has a way of getting near where he needs, you know, when he needs you there. And so, um, it, it, I think it talks about it in the movie, but I was dating a guy and he was going to this church. And so I started going for all the wrong reasons, but dad was able to start putting seeds, planting seeds in me. And, um, on December 1st of 1998, uh, my dad died a month before I got sober. And then, um, my mom passed on, uh, December 30th of 1998. And, um, so I went out to the church on new year's Eve. We were supposed to be due in September. And, you know, I was decorating the church. You're doing lots of things, but I really, once it, I wouldn't say I was a member of the body of Christ. I was just going. And, um, so that night I was alone, my boyfriend had went out and relapsed my roommates relapsed. I was home alone. My mom had just passed. I went out and got her urn, and I had this moment of, um, just aloneness. You know, I had nothing to[inaudible] myself with, again, I drank and once at an option taken drugs, once in an option, I didn't have any options truly. And that night I started crying. I cried out to God and I said, please don't let me go back to where I come from and just show me what to do, Lord. I mean, it was the most lonely experience I've ever had in my life. And in that, in that aloneness, I cried out to God in, um, when I woke up, I fell asleep, praying, and, you know, at first it's an obstacle for anybody to come to know, uh, that believe Christ loves them because we've done so much bad stuff, right. I've been a liar, cheat, the prostitute that don't want nothing to do with somebody like me. And it's really hard for us to wrap our mind around. That's why Jesus came for people just like us. And so anyway, when I cried out to God in, um, I finally went off to sleep. And when I woke up January, first of 1999, the Holy spirit had taken up residence in me. And for the first time I'm an adult woman by now 38 years old. And for the very first time in my life, I felt like things were going to be okay. All the fear had been removed from me. Um, I asked him to guide my steps at night and he started taking control of things. And I got to tell you, you know, I'm no saying so I was still drying to, okay, well, I think that, and God would bring me right back into step with it was with his will for me. And, um, that's when things really changed because I had been in a 12 step program. But, but this is when the inside of me truly transform. And I figured out it wasn't about me anymore. It was about helping other people. And you know what? I've always been colorblind addict, blind net. You know what I always, I always tell my kids here, you know, I don't care what you did yesterday, baby. I do care about what you're doing today. And what you do do today is what's going to affect your tomorrow. So we start from where we're at. I'd never looked down. How could I ever look down on anybody? That's not in my realm of thinking now, do I, uh, time my kids tell me when and not when they need it, you bet ya. Because you know, sometimes they're stubborn and hardheaded. I used to be severed, stubborn and hardheaded still land, but it's in a good way now. But, um, you know, I tell them the truth. I can't Pat them on the back and say, baby, it's going to be okay. Everything's going to work out. No, unless you start doing things the right way. It's not going to be okay. And I tell you what, um, you know, you don't have to be a believer to come in to the healing house program, but it's been very few. And now we're up to over 10,000 folks that we've held their hands have been any that left without the knowledge of, of Christ. And many, many have accepted Christ. You're not tell you what this people can leave here. You know, people have to justify why they're leaving and why they're going to go back and start doing drugs or alcohol. You'd try to come up with some reasons why you're doing this. And this is the place whenever they decide to stop or wherever they're at, or whenever they're at that space where they feel that total hopelessness, the first place they call is here. No matter how they left. I get phone calls at three o'clock in the morning with the boy shaking behind the phone saying, mom, can I come home? I'm like, yeah, baby, where you at? I throw my clothes off and he go get it.
Speaker 1:The things that really stood out to me to Bobby Joe in the film is that it's not just that there was, there were several testimonies during the documentary that sort of gave a nod to, it's not just for 30 days or people who were saying, Hey, I'm just going to come here for 30 days. And it turns out it really is, uh, this growing sort of expanded lifetime family and in what, what Brent mentioned earlier, and I wanted to kind of rewind just a second to ask you about is, you know, what people call you mom. I mean, there was, by my wondering about that, or curiosity was your connection to, uh, the film talks about the craving that you had for a relationship with your dad and how that was changing before he died. And that seemed to be a real turning point for you, right? I mean, that's kind of the time when you went to rehab and detox and this epiphany and coming to yourself was beginning to happen. Uh, and then talking about your mom who was diagnosed with cancer, you T you took care of her right. For a few years. I think you called her the dragon lady, which might have other connotations for folks. But, um, I was just sort of curious how you, how you think that, that, that huge wide welcome that you offer to people for, what is it, 8,000 people to call you mom, how do you and your own heart and mind connect that to what you were really longing for and maybe missing in your own kind of family of origin.
Speaker 2:That's exactly, exactly what has taken place is that I really wanted to create the family that I never had. And I wanted to have, you know, I tell people all the time I had this great big dysfunctional family, but the thing about us is we're all trying to have the right direction, you know, it's, and we're okay in our dysfunction, as long as we're improving. The thing is, is that, you know, uh, I think it's important that we get together and we eat dinner. And we talk about our day, you know, some things that are unheard of today, we're also busy and we eat dinner together and we talk, chat about our day and talk about the things that's went on. And then, you know, we have Bible studies together. We have recovery groups together I've wanted to create, and it was all through God. Okay. What God is to foundation in the center of everything that takes place here. And you can feel his presence in any of our homes. I mean, it's just thick. And I, people tell me all the time, this is, they'll say this is the first time I've ever, ever felt like I'm really at home, anywhere and stuff up from desking, their whole lie. And people come in and they just feel that, I mean, the homes are decorated beautifully and, and I get graded all the houses myself, but honestly, they come in and it's like a sigh of relief from the world and it's safe. And it's this feeling like I felt on January 1st of 1999, everything's gonna be okay. You know, just that sigh of relief in your spirit when you've been out there in all that despair. And finally I'm home. And we have the family that I didn't really get to have coming up. You know, my mom had some mental health issues going on and a lot of other things. And so God has created this family. I tell everybody, if anybody tries to say, look what you've done. And I'm like, don't know this, look at what God's done, because this has been his from date before I even bought at the main house. I went back in before it even belonged to me and put this little frame picture of Jesus in the center of the house. And I said, Lord, be the foundation in the center of everything that takes place from this day forward. And this ministry belongs to him. Not me. I just get up, you get to do things every day. It's his, and there's no way, there's no way you can explain what has happened here, if it were not God-given.
Speaker 1:So, so Bobby, Joe, you live what, um, in one way or another, usually called the gospel with guts. And, uh, you, you live the gospel with guts. And, uh, I, I wonder if you could just kind of tell our audience just a little bit about, cause I, uh, I grew up in a revivalistic tradition, you know, in, in the Southeast and all of that, but, uh, I, I've got a pretty vanilla story when I think of when I consider all the depths of, of your own personal history and story and, uh, you know, what one writer or another calls continual conversion, but could you talk a little bit about how you K what was the hinge point for you, uh, to come to this of, of welcoming Christ and presence into your life and to be able to talk about the Holy spirit, the way you just talked about, uh, could you say just a little bit about how that story came to be and how you came to discover that?
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I've got to say that God does speak to me, audibly. God speaks to my heart. And ever since that January 1st that I told you about God started speaking to my heart and you know what? I was not a big person of faith or anything like that, but he just started putting on my heart, what was the next thing to do? And every time we put steps into my heart, I just stepped out in it because I figured, well, this is what he's telling me to do. So I know he, he already knows how it's going to happen, so I just need to step out there and it started. And so, um, you know, I'm not, I've been, I've read scripture every night, but I can't quote many scriptures, but I'll tell you what I can live scripture in my daily life. I choose to live the Bible. I choose to live my life as Christ wants me to. And I just know, I, I, I just know what in my spirit, what and who I'm supposed to be. And he really has led me, you know, at first I was just doing whatever God told me to do. I quit wearing a watch because I figured I'm not on my time anymore. I'm on God's time because you know, what, if somebody is having a tragedy, if I'm, if I got little plans to do this or that, and somebody has a big tragedy, well, that's what I'm going to do. So now I'm on God's time. Now I have to really pay attention, or I wouldn't have been here for the interview. Um, so I just continue to do that. And as we continue to grow, then I get to get like a board of directors and man, that was a trip. I got to ask people what I can do. So the funny thing about that, now I have to go to the board. So I say stuff to them, and they're a little bit more stringent now, but for many years, they're just, like I said, you know, God put it around my heart, that we're going to do this. And they'll say, okay, here we go again. You don't have any money, but we're going to do this. And so they've kind of just learned because God has continued to show up and show out in every aspect of this. And I mean, really when he puts something on my heart, it's going to be, it's going to happen. And all I gotta do is suit up and show up and, and work hard, you know, do the deal every day. And it's all him. And, you know, you could tell people all day long, well, you know, just keep your eyes focused on Jesus and this and that. I tell you what, when I first started in my, uh, walk with the Lord, I read the Bible for a year and a half and I could not figure it out. I couldn't make sense of it, but I read it every day. And finally, I went to the church. I was going to back there and I said, you know, I'm just not getting this. And I'm really trying. And, um, he said, you know what? You need to ask the Holy spirit to give you understanding of what you're reading. That was really good information. So I started the asking the Holy spirit to come in and give me understanding. And man, you see the commercials like the light bulb comes on. That happened to me. And I'm like, wow, I get it. I've been raped for a year and a half. And now I really get that. And it was just all of a sudden, and you know, I was blessed a few years ago to take a trip to the Holy land. And it just made everything so real to me. I love Jesus with all my heart. And I love God in everything I do is to serve them. You know, he's just everything to me.
Speaker 3:I think they left, uh, the chapter about how to hear the Holy spirit. They left that out of the Roberts rules of engagement book for, you know, the process of organizational meetings that we, we obviously are employed by a church. You, you work for an organization that has a board. I find in my life, a lot of times these, these structures, these organizational impositions from these human made things really get in the way, what I've seen you do. You know, Andrew was talking about, uh, the gospel with guts. Um, you have been able to utilize a structure that has, that you wouldn't, you wouldn't have impacted 10,000 people who call you mom without that structure. Right? So this is another sort of thing, combining the sacred and secular worlds, how you you've talked a little bit about it, but how do you, how do you really, uh, maintain year, day after day, month after month, year after year, that this allowing the influence of the Holy spirit of, of, of recognizing their spirituality here within this structure, um, structures can, can destroy, but structures can also bolster up. I don't know if you could talk about that a little.
Speaker 2:So, um, a few years ago I started going down to the state Capitol and I had many meetings with the governor, governor Greitens. I've met with Senator juror. So I've met with representatives and you know what, every time I go and meet with those guys, I talk about Jesus. And I talk about God and I'm a hugger. So I always give him a and her first, I kind of startled them. Now they expect it. And I just tell them about what God is doing here. And there's no denying it. And, and I tell him about how light, how many lives are being transformed pier. And I believe that God has gave me the ability to walk in that, in that past, between being the spiritual people and being the secular people, we're all one people is the bottom line and it's how we communicate. And it's how we judge the others and we're all God's children, right? And so to be able to communicate, and the thing is, is that, you know, I'm not, I'm not shy about my faith anywhere I go, you're going to hear God come in the word, God coming out of my mouth. And I don't change that for anybody's convenience because I'm bold in my faith. And I will always be bold in my faith. And because you know what, when all said is done, God is the person the thing that I'm most reliant on. Right? And so I have learned to be able to walk amongst both of those worlds and hopefully in doing so can kind of bring people more together that see, we're not against one another, we're working together for the common good of everyone. So it shouldn't be
Speaker 1:Beautiful. So, um, maybe one or two more things, and then, uh, we'll let you go because our time is running short, but one of, one of the big standout things to me, and I guess it relates a little bit David to what you were asking about, you know, uh, there's this great Albert Nolan book called Jesus before Christianity, uh, theological nerd alert here. But, uh, you know, he says somewhere in that classic book, uh, Jesus did not come to found the church. Jesus came to start a movement. And I, and I've sort of connected that to Bobby, Joe you're, uh, it's sort of David already alluded to this, but this whole, you create a movement and eventually you gotta have organization around that, right? A bead, you, you gotta have people come around you to help, um, bolster that and make more of that. And it, it seems you have really found your vocation by finding something that, you know, one novel says, something that makes more of who you are. And so one of the things that really stood out to me was just the whole real estate phenomenon. Bobby, Joe, like, like you went in, in, what was it? You bought this house for$50,000, right after, I think you spent three and a half years fixing up, was it, was it your mom's house, your parents' house that you fixed up, and then you say, uh, you know, God says, great, great job now, sell it and move to the hood and just thinking about, you know, and, and the way you began, because you were so passionate about supporting women there in the, in the early part of your movement. Right. Um, and, and now that has also blossomed into, um, having several men's houses. I believe they're in Kansas city. So I w I just wanted to say that that is a phenomenal aspect, I think, to your story, that it has become more and more expansive and inclusive in ways that, uh, I'm sure you could never have imagined. And back to that gospel with guts thesis, again, buying that house for 50 grand, what became, I believe healing house and all of the affiliate houses with that. You had that vision in the beginning, and you were so passionate about taking care of women, women, but that is transformed into this beautiful, even more inclusive vision. Could you just say a little bit about how, how that evolved in your own heart and mind to, for it to become so much fuller even than what you envisioned at the beginning?
Speaker 2:Right. I initially thought I had the old nursing home I'm going to help Kim women stay sober every year. And then, you know, I didn't plan anything, but when the dope man moved in next door and ran prostitutes and so dope right next to our recovery home,
Speaker 1:I had to shut the AK 47 upstairs.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And Carrie brandished weapon, he had gang members out there to try to scare me out. It would say just crazy. Anyway. So I called the police first few times, and then I just claimed his house in Jesus' name and a year and a half later, we got the dope man's house, but it, but then women were coming in pregnant and we didn't have room for little babies. And so I kept peeking in the windows in an abandoned apartment building because I knew we needed a place for these new mothers. And so I was able to get that building. And it, it, it's something called, uh, equity. I didn't know about equity behind my dumpster, my box car, but, uh, I started figuring out about this equity thing, which allowed me to be able to help more people. And, um, we have currently have 14 homes. Um, what's happened is our whole community has changed. Now. You don't see gang members and prostitutes on the corner and pimps and drug dealers. Now you see moms walking up and down the street for strollers. You see people carrying their Bible up and down the street. What has happened here has it's really started a whole transition of our entire community. And you know what, uh, I don't think God's going to tell me rest. Now, maybe IntelliJ takes me home. So I'm just going to keep doing whatever he puts on my heart to do. And as long as I'm able, I'm going to serve him to the fullest,
Speaker 1:Bobby Jo, a woman who lives the gospel guts, and we are all so fortunate and super lucky that goes deeper than the word. Lucky as I like to say, to have your story, um, thanks to Brent and Donna Jones. And so w what we want to do, we certainly want to encourage our listeners to watch Bobby Joe under the influence. So Brett and Donna, what's the best way folks can connect with this documentary film
Speaker 4:It's available for pre-order on iTunes right now, or no, you, by the time this, by the time this comes out, it will be on, it will be available on Google, Amazon prime, uh, iTunes. It will just be all over all the platforms. Any anybody got a platform, you can download it and watch it on your television, uh, starting February 16th. So it's going to be available everywhere.
Speaker 2:And I need to say Brett and Donna, you know, they came in and started doing the film, but we have became great friends, and they're just amazing people. Um, sometimes sprint gets a little Henri. I was able to baptize him in the pool, outside the pink house, mama duty South year before last,
Speaker 1:Wait, Bobby Jo, you baptized Brent at the pink house. Are you serious? Wow.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I tell him why. I think I should have done a double dunk on you, but we're really family. And I, I believe these days will be part of my life forever. That's beautiful. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And Bobby, Jo, is there a website or where can folks go to learn more about healing house and all of the transformative work that you're doing in Kansas city?
Speaker 2:Uh, they can just go to a healing house, kc.org. And, um, yeah. And you know, we cake, I want to save this. We do help people from all across the country. And so there's a place on there that people can apply if they're in need of help. And that's what we're here to do.
Speaker 1:Healing house Casey dot or healing house, casey.org. So everybody go to that website to learn more about all that's happening with Bobby Jo in Kansas city. And so one more impossible question, Bobby Joe, in 60 seconds, what would you say to somebody listening today? Who's struggling with addiction or who has people they love struggling with addiction? What would be the first thing that that would be the starting point for you to say to anyone listening today? Who's, who's struggling with this and one way or another,
Speaker 2:I believe that if we're still breathing, there's still hope. And the one thing in your addiction is that we become hopeless. And I just want to encourage you that your bottom is not the end that your bottom can be your new beginning. And there is hell[inaudible]
Speaker 5:Hyphenated. Life is a production of pine street church in Boulder, Colorado hosted by Andrew Doherty and David[inaudible]. The podcast is produced by Phil Norman and executive producer, Alexi Molden special, thanks to our guests today and the Leo Hill trust of bolder color.