DJ TESTIMONY:
DAWN RICKERSON
Hey there, Dawn Rickerson here from Hays, Kansas. I just wanted to take a moment to share my heart about the FireEscape Coffeehouse and KFEX. There is so much that I can say about how that place and the people who serve there impacted my life in such a positive way. I could literally talk for hours about the stories of lessons learned and the heart changing moments I had there right along with all of the FUN and amazing experiences I still cherish to this day…and will, I’m sure, for the rest of my life.
As a shy High School student visiting the FireEscape Coffeehouse for the first time I remember just thinking the place was pretty cool and the people were very nice and welcoming. But it was on my second visit to this amazing place when I first began to realize that these people truly CARED about every person who walked in the door. They remembered my name. That was all it TOOK. Marilyn Harms, with that smile that literally lit up the room, spoke to me by NAME.
Now that may not sound like much, but keep in mind this was a High School girl who hadn’t yet learned her value and most of the time actually thought she might be invisible. But these people, this ministry, remembered me. BY NAME. That was HUGE!! Rarely had I been impacted in such a way…rarely had I ever thought I mattered that much. Well that was something I needed to learn to get used to apparently because it didn’t end there! They knew how much I was worth to God and seemed determined, in their own way…to make that known to me.
But see, the thing that amazes me, is they didn’t just do this with me. The staff there reached out to EVERY kid that walked through those doors. They still do. I don’t know how they have maintained the energy to love so many kids so passionately over the last several years. It MUST be God in that place. There is no other explanation.
I was instantly part of their family and over the next couple of years I would go from being a “Coffeehouse Kid” to a Volunteer and rookie radio DJ…to later a missionary, of sorts, who was called out of Chanute to be a part of spreading God’s love elsewhere, the last of which was the most heart wrenching to begin with, but has been so full of lessons and very rewarding.
As a Coffeehouse Kid, I was still clawing my way out of that shell of shyness I had always hid in so when I was asked about being a radio DJ for KFEX, that was the most surprising thing. But I was SO excited! I have always loved music but being at the FireEscape instilled an even more deep love for music with a meaningful message. I started off just having fun with it, and the fun continued but with the addition of Cody and Becky and their amazing family, I was about to learn even more! Cody brought all of his knowledge and experience in radio to the table and taught all of us rookie volunteer DJ’s so much! I am still very grateful for all that I have learned, and still continue to learn from him. I had no idea how God would use all of this knowledge about radio in my life. Here I am 7 years later working for KPRD Praise Radio for Midwest Kansas…doing the very thing I love to do! Playing music that glorifies God and points hearts and minds toward Christ.
God was using KFEX and the FireEscape as a training grounds for me, and I couldn’t see it at the time…I just thought I was having fun and was quite content with staying right there with the people I loved at the place where I felt most at home in this world. But as we learn in Hebrews chapter 13 and 1 Peter Chapter 2…this world is not our home. We are temporary residents and should not just get cozy and comfortable where we are just because we like it. God has more purpose for us.
God used the ministry of the FireEscape to get me started in my career. He used the people who work tirelessly at the FireEscape week in and week out to touch many kids’ lives with his love, just like He touched mine. It is still such a blessing to me to come back and see that ministry, my family, continuing to serve the youth of Southeast Kansas.
I do not exaggerate when I call these people my family, and express how much I still love every single one of them. We are the body of Christ and I have seen that exemplified in this place countless times. Imperfect people letting perfect love shine through them in their obedience to the one true King. Loving the unloved. They are missionaries to these kids and their own community. YOUR community. And not a day goes by when I don’t think of them
As a shy High School student visiting the FireEscape Coffeehouse for the first time I remember just thinking the place was pretty cool and the people were very nice and welcoming. But it was on my second visit to this amazing place when I first began to realize that these people truly CARED about every person who walked in the door. They remembered my name. That was all it TOOK. Marilyn Harms, with that smile that literally lit up the room, spoke to me by NAME.
Now that may not sound like much, but keep in mind this was a High School girl who hadn’t yet learned her value and most of the time actually thought she might be invisible. But these people, this ministry, remembered me. BY NAME. That was HUGE!! Rarely had I been impacted in such a way…rarely had I ever thought I mattered that much. Well that was something I needed to learn to get used to apparently because it didn’t end there! They knew how much I was worth to God and seemed determined, in their own way…to make that known to me.
But see, the thing that amazes me, is they didn’t just do this with me. The staff there reached out to EVERY kid that walked through those doors. They still do. I don’t know how they have maintained the energy to love so many kids so passionately over the last several years. It MUST be God in that place. There is no other explanation.
I was instantly part of their family and over the next couple of years I would go from being a “Coffeehouse Kid” to a Volunteer and rookie radio DJ…to later a missionary, of sorts, who was called out of Chanute to be a part of spreading God’s love elsewhere, the last of which was the most heart wrenching to begin with, but has been so full of lessons and very rewarding.
As a Coffeehouse Kid, I was still clawing my way out of that shell of shyness I had always hid in so when I was asked about being a radio DJ for KFEX, that was the most surprising thing. But I was SO excited! I have always loved music but being at the FireEscape instilled an even more deep love for music with a meaningful message. I started off just having fun with it, and the fun continued but with the addition of Cody and Becky and their amazing family, I was about to learn even more! Cody brought all of his knowledge and experience in radio to the table and taught all of us rookie volunteer DJ’s so much! I am still very grateful for all that I have learned, and still continue to learn from him. I had no idea how God would use all of this knowledge about radio in my life. Here I am 7 years later working for KPRD Praise Radio for Midwest Kansas…doing the very thing I love to do! Playing music that glorifies God and points hearts and minds toward Christ.
God was using KFEX and the FireEscape as a training grounds for me, and I couldn’t see it at the time…I just thought I was having fun and was quite content with staying right there with the people I loved at the place where I felt most at home in this world. But as we learn in Hebrews chapter 13 and 1 Peter Chapter 2…this world is not our home. We are temporary residents and should not just get cozy and comfortable where we are just because we like it. God has more purpose for us.
God used the ministry of the FireEscape to get me started in my career. He used the people who work tirelessly at the FireEscape week in and week out to touch many kids’ lives with his love, just like He touched mine. It is still such a blessing to me to come back and see that ministry, my family, continuing to serve the youth of Southeast Kansas.
I do not exaggerate when I call these people my family, and express how much I still love every single one of them. We are the body of Christ and I have seen that exemplified in this place countless times. Imperfect people letting perfect love shine through them in their obedience to the one true King. Loving the unloved. They are missionaries to these kids and their own community. YOUR community. And not a day goes by when I don’t think of them
