{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"OurCalling - Our podcast about homelessness","title":"From Career Shifts to a Life-Changing Mission: Pioneering OurCalling Part 1-ft Carolyn Walker ","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2362,"description":"In this episode, Pastor Wayne Walker, CEO of OurCalling, interviews Carolyn Walker(wife and co-founder) as they delve into the compelling story behind founding OurCalling, a mission borne out of a clear directive from God to serve the homeless in Dallas. Together, they discuss the initial gaps in spiritual care outside of shelters and how personal experiences with trauma and homelessness fuelled their commitment. They highlight the challenges and adjustments faced while transitioning from planned international missions to focusing entirely on local needs, evolving their services beyond mere food provision to address deeper issues of autonomy and identity. Through reflective narratives and personal anecdotes, the Walkers emphasize the importance of dignity, autonomy, and the balancing act between their intense professional commitments and maintaining a healthy personal life.\nhttps://www.ourcalling.org/\n- **Carolyn Walker Introduction** (Time 01:15): Carolyn shares her background, mentioning she’s from Arlington, Texas, the youngest of 7 kids, and has worked in Dallas for most of her marriage.- **Purpose of Our Calling** (Time 02:55): Carolyn explains that founding Our Calling felt like the only option – a clear direction from God for their lives.- **Filling a Void** (Time 03:14): Initially, there was a significant void in spiritual care for the homeless outside of shelters, which led to the creation of Our Calling.- **Background and Motivation** (Time 05:09): Both Wayne and Carolyn had early experiences with trauma, homelessness, and witnessing the needs of others, which motivated their current mission.- **Shift from Planned Careers to Founding Our Calling** (Time 09:13): The couple originally planned to serve abroad, but meeting needs in Dallas redirected their path, confirmed by advice from a mission agency.- **Challenges and Adjustments** (Time 14:56): Living full-time serving the homeless community in Dallas presented challenges, including ignorance from...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/2RHLn1iF6qgogxKQcSJHpezOPHmvt7UahFTLl8Rdkps/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzUxNDEzLzE3MTE5/ODU2NjgtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}