The second half of Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Fall semester is here!
For our Friday Favorites, the hosts shared their favorite class they took in school.
Click HERE to hear from Xander, Marcy, Josiah and Ethan OR click on the image below.
The Salvation Army has been serving the Mount Vernon community for more than 135 years, offering practical assistance and sharing God’s love with those in need. Josiah Styer got the chance to sit down with Captain Christine Moretz to discuss the organization’s ministry, community outreach, and exciting plans for the future.
Listen to the conversation HERE!
The Salvation Army helps meet a variety of needs throughout Knox County, including providing food for the hungry, assisting with utility bills and rental expenses, and responding to emergencies. Through these efforts, the organization continues to serve individuals and families during challenging times.
One exciting development is the Salvation Army’s new childcare center. Captain Moretz looks forward to helping meet the childcare needs of Knox County families, providing a safe place for children while helping parents continue working and making ends meet. The center is also hiring for available positions.
There are several ways to get involved with the Salvation Army, including volunteering to serve hot meals at the food pantry. Those interested in volunteering or learning more can call 740-392-8716.
Captain Moretz also shares how her parents influenced her connection to the Salvation Army and how she later felt God calling her to serve as a pastor. She also encourages the community to pray for the Salvation Army, asking God to provide the wisdom and strength needed to carry out its ministry.
The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon is located at 206 East Ohio Avenue in Mount Vernon, Ohio. To learn more about its programs, volunteer opportunities, and ministry, search for the Salvation Army of Mount Vernon online or on Facebook.
Listen to both parts of this Praisestock conversation with Josiah Styer and Captain Christine Moretz, and discover how the Salvation Army continues to serve our community through faith, compassion, and practical care.
WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger is joined by Tanner Cooper Risser, the new Annual Drive and Community Relations Director for Food For the Hungry, to talk about the organization’s mission of caring for neighbors throughout Knox County!
Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!
Food For the Hungry is an annual food and financial drive that brings the community together to support local needs. Tanner shares about his role working with the board and connecting with the community to spread the word about Food For the Hungry and its mission. He also highlights several upcoming opportunities to get involved, including the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, Fire and Ice in December, and the Food For the Hungry Drive and Snowflake Gala on Friday, December 11.
There are many ways to support Food For the Hungry, whether by donating, volunteering, or contributing food. Tanner also encourages the community to pray for open and generous hearts as people consider how they can give their time, energy, food, or financial resources to help their neighbors.
Click HERE to learn more about Food For The Hungry!
WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger is joined by Sherri and John Penko from faith Baptist Church to talk about the ministries they have there.
Click HERE to listen to the conversation, or click the image below!
At Faith Baptist, they help with the Children’s ministries including Awana club, they have handbook time, game time, and large group lessons. Sherri helps with American Heritage girls, while John helps with Trail Life USA, they’re both faith based scouting programs focusing on God. Awana club is designed to come along side families to help kids come to Christ. All their ministries are located at 8764 Martinsburg road in mount Vernon. Both American Heritage Girls and Trail Life have annual service projects in the community; their Awana Club helps with food for the hungry.
You can get involved with their Trail Life, and American Heritage Girls on Tuesdays at 6:45 and Awana Club on Wednesdays at 6:30 and you can show up a little bit early to learn about the program and get registered. You can get connected by calling the Church at 740-397-4502. To get connected with trail life, visit traillifeusa.com, and for American Heritage Girls, visit americanheritagegirls.org. You can pray for young men and women to learn about integrity, hope, and truth in Christ; they want to stay focused on teaching them. Trail life wants to build relationships between leaders and young men’s, they want to build Godly men. Awana wants kids to have fun and learn about God.
The Morning Thing continues our highlights on Knox County Ministries. Today, we shared a conversation with Abby Almodovar, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator with Starting Point.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.
She shared about the many services that Starting Point offers to the community. These services are available for both women and men. They are free and completely confidential. The ministry is located at 11 Woodlake Trail in Mount Vernon. Their website is www.friendsofksp.com
WNZR’s Daniel Russell talked with Vicky Howard Johnson about Pure Desire, a ministry dedicated to helping people overcome sexual brokenness, shame, and isolation.
Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!
Through its programs and resources, Pure Desire helps individuals navigate challenges involving addiction, abuse, and betrayal. The ministry encourages people to seek support, find community, and begin the journey toward healing.
Vicky shared about Pure Desire’s eight-week introductory class, which began October 13 at Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene. Those interested in learning more about the ministry can visit puredesire.org, where they can find podcasts, counseling services, and resources for men, women, and students. Vicky also encouraged prayer for those struggling to be open and honest about their experiences and to seek the help they need. Pure Desire’s mission is to help people move beyond shame, find healing through community, and become whole in the way God intended.
Click HERE for more information about the class!
WNZR’s Brock Hankins talked with Connie Jackson, Kids Ministry Director, and Jon Whisner, Senior Pastor of the Church at Chapel Hill, about the church’s upcoming Fall Fest 2026!
Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!
he event will take place Sunday, October 18, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 7530 Johnstown Road in Mount Vernon. The church began using an additional 11 acres of land purchased four years ago to serve the community and share the love of Jesus with local families. Connie also shares her personal story of attending the church’s Trunk or Treat and how that experience helped change the direction of her life.
Fall Fest will feature Trunk or Treat, a Touch a Truck experience with Mount Vernon first responders, a photo booth, hayrides to a pumpkin patch, 16 carnival games, and an inflatable obstacle course. More than 700 pumpkins and gourds will be given away, and food trucks will be available for visitors to enjoy. The event is made possible by more than 75 volunteers, local businesses, and community supporters who have contributed sponsorships, pumpkins, prizes, and other resources. Connie and Pastor Whisner hope families will enjoy the activities, connect with others, and experience the love and welcome of the church.
WNZR’s Daniel Russell talks with Kandee Popham, Executive Director of Place 4 Grace, about the ministry’s mission to support pregnant women in need!
Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!
Place 4 Grace provides maternity housing and walks alongside women as they work toward finding safe housing. Located at 790 Fairgrounds Road, the ministry strives to help women find shelter and access the resources they need for everyday living.
Place 4 Grace is also preparing to move its thrift store to 156 North Norton Street, where the organization plans to expand and continue serving the community. The ministry is currently looking for employees and volunteers who share its heart for serving women in need. Community members are also encouraged to pray for Place 4 Grace as it seeks dedicated team members to support its mission.
Click HERE to learn more about Place 4 Grace!
WNZR’s Daniel Russell talks with Dave Maggert from Afterglow Christian Mission House about the ministry’s mission to build friendships and lead people to Jesus!
Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!
Located at 114 East Gambier Street in Mount Vernon, Afterglow serves the community by providing meals seven days a week. Breakfast is served daily from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., offering practical support to those in need.
In addition to meals, Afterglow Christian Mission House provides emotional support and hopes to add Bible studies and support groups in the future. The ministry encourages community members to get involved and help support its mission. To learn more, visit afterglowmissionhouse.com or find Afterglow Christian Mission House on Facebook. Community members are also encouraged to pray that the ministry continues to serve others with God’s spirit of friendship and wisdom.
Click HERE to learn more about Afterglow Christian Mission House!
Domestic violence can affect anyone, and recognizing the warning signs can be an important step toward helping someone find support. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart spoke with Halle Fike, Director of Programs for New Directions of Knox County, about the organization’s work and an upcoming community event, “Change the Story: Gabby’s Untold Story.”
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.
New Directions of Knox County serves as the area’s domestic violence, rape crisis, and human trafficking center. The organization provides emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, advocacy, hospital and court accompaniment, ongoing support for survivors, and prevention education throughout the county.
Fike also oversees the organization’s prevention team, which works with young people in nearly every school in Knox County. Through these programs, students learn about healthy relationships, personal boundaries, consent, and ways to recognize unhealthy behaviors.
Sharing Gabby Petito’s Story
“Change the Story: Gabby’s Untold Story” will take place Wednesday, October 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon.
The event will feature Nicole Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s mother, and Tara Petito, her stepmother. They will share more about Gabby’s life and reflect on warning signs they recognized in hindsight following her death, helping attendees better understand the complexities of domestic violence and the importance of recognizing concerning behaviors.
Although Gabby’s story received national attention, Fike explained that many victims and their families never receive the same level of recognition. The event emphasizes that every survivor has a story that matters and that domestic violence is not always obvious to those outside the relationship.
The program will also include a local community panel and the voice of a survivor, connecting Gabby’s story with the experiences, resources, and challenges within Knox County. The discussion will explore how the community can recognize warning signs, support survivors, and work together to prevent domestic violence.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Fike emphasized that domestic violence is often about patterns of power and control rather than isolated incidents. Warning signs may include extreme jealousy, monitoring a partner’s phone or location, controlling finances, limiting someone’s freedom, or isolating them from friends and family.
Friends, neighbors, and loved ones may notice these behaviors before a person experiencing abuse feels comfortable talking about them. Learning to recognize these patterns can help people respond with care and concern.
While October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Fike stressed that education and prevention must continue throughout the year. Conversations about healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and warning signs can help people recognize unhealthy dynamics and understand where to turn for help.
Supporting Survivors with Compassion
One of the most important messages Fike shared is the need to listen to survivors without judgment, believe them, and offer support without pressuring them to make decisions before they are ready.
Leaving an abusive relationship can be a particularly dangerous time. Instead of telling someone what they must do, friends and family can offer a listening ear, help them explore their options, and remind them that they do not have to face the situation alone.
Fike also encouraged anyone experiencing domestic violence to reach out to New Directions, even if they are not ready to leave a relationship or make a police report. Advocates can listen, discuss available options, assist with safety planning, and connect individuals with community resources while respecting their decisions.
New Directions of Knox County’s 24-hour crisis line is 740-397-HELP (4357).
Every Voice Matters
Fike hopes attendees leave “Change the Story: Gabby’s Untold Story” with a greater understanding of how domestic violence affects individuals, families, workplaces, and entire communities. She also hopes they feel empowered to make a difference.
Changing the story does not always begin with a major action. It may start by speaking up when something is not right, learning to recognize warning signs, believing a survivor, or simply being present when someone needs a person who will listen.
Everyone has a role to play in building a safer, healthier community, and every person deserves to be heard and supported.
Community members are encouraged to attend “Change the Story: Gabby’s Untold Story” on Wednesday, October 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Woodward Opera House. Registration information is available on the New Directions of Knox County website at newdirectionsknox.org and through the organization’s social media pages.
You can also register HERE.
To learn more about New Directions’ services or speak with an advocate, call 740-397-HELP (4357).
WNZR thanks Halle Fike and New Directions of Knox County for helping raise awareness, encourage important conversations, and support survivors throughout our community.
