Walking My Own Path: Reflections on My First Six Months at Pathways
November 21, 2025
At Pathways, we believe everyone is walking on a journey. For me—as a first-time Executive Director and my first time working with an agency serving people experiencing homelessness—this has been a journey too. When I came to Pathways, I felt led here, even though I also felt unprepared. As a planner and Eagle Scout, those are feelings I don’t enjoy. But as I’ve settled into this role, I’ve become more confident that I am following God’s will for my life.
Having worked in the nonprofit world for twelve years across the Upstate of South Carolina, I’ve partnered with many communities and agencies. Pathways, however, was founded on something truly special—collaboration. It’s a word we often hear, but genuine collaboration is rarely achieved. Here in York County, it’s different. While we’re not perfect and never will be, the willingness and intentionality to work together here are genuine and strong.
I feel blessed to be surrounded by like-minded people who care deeply about our community. I’ve made so many new friendships and partnerships, and I never feel alone in the work. I often receive—and make—calls just to check on others. That sense of mutual care and connection truly matters to me.
After meeting with our board, partners, and community members, I realized I needed to get to know our guests on a deeper level. I’ve tried to be visible and present, but over Independence Day, I decided to “walk a day in their shoes.”
That 24-hour experience was one of the most impactful moments of my time here. I have never been homeless. I’ve always lived a middle-class life, and while I’ll never fully understand every barrier our guests face, this experience gave me a glimpse. From riding the bus and sleeping in a shelter to eating at a soup kitchen, I saw just a fraction of what life is like for our guests. Most importantly, I spent meaningful time with them—listening, learning, and letting them know they are seen and valued.
With the support of the Pathways Board and our partners, we’ve been able to try new things. We hosted a job fair—something done before, but this time we focused on second-chance employers along the bus route. The results were incredible: 103 job seekers attended, and many found employment.
That success sparked a bigger vision. We noticed three key things—there were available second-chance jobs, an unused kitchen during the day on campus, and a need to build job skills. From that came the Culinary Workforce Readiness Program, a partnership with York Tech and Chef Teshia. This program will help our guests develop workforce skills that can lead to stable employment and independence.
We’re also preparing to launch a Volunteer Chaplaincy Program, where local chaplains will be on-site daily to offer a listening ear, encouragement, and spiritual support to both guests and staff. Alongside these efforts, we’ve worked diligently to strengthen campus safety and security through better processes and partnerships.
The past six months have been a rollercoaster of emotions—joy and pain often side by side. Some days, we celebrate guests who secure jobs, move into apartments, begin a relationship with Jesus, or simply take a positive step forward. On those same days, we also encounter setbacks: a guest making a poor choice, a new arrival in crisis, or a facility issue on campus.
Every day is full of planned meetings and unexpected moments. We celebrate progress while wrestling with the ongoing challenges in our continuum of care.
Through this journey, my understanding of the need has deepened. Right now, our math simply doesn’t add up. On average, 45 new guests walk through our doors each month, and about 15 find their way to self-sufficiency. I once heard someone say, “All they need is a job.” At one time, I might have believed that. Now, I know it’s not that simple.
Every guest’s journey is unique, and many of their steps depend on factors beyond our control—paperwork, systems, and barriers that take time to overcome. But no matter what brought someone to our door, they are all God’s children, and we are called to serve them.
As I reflect on these first six months, I am encouraged by the progress happening on campus. I am grateful for the new friendships and partnerships that have formed, and I am inspired by the resilience of our guests. My prayer is that I continue using my spiritual gifts to make a difference—that my actions reflect the Lord I am grateful to serve, and that others see and feel that I care.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 remind me daily why Pathways exists. We are called not only to meet immediate needs—to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and welcome the stranger—but also to help people change their lives. I don’t want to simply meet people where they are; I want to help them move forward.
At Pathways, we walk with each guest on their journey—meeting needs as Jesus taught us to do, but also helping them grow, heal, and find hope for a better tomorrow.
Collective Impact in Action January was a powerful reminder of what can happen when compassion meets action. Across the Pathways campus, community partners, volunteers, and on-site agencies came together to spread holiday cheer while continuing to provide critical support and services. From meals and outreach efforts to moments of connection and care, the season was filled with hope, generosity, and meaningful impact. Throughout the month, individuals received the resources they needed to move forward—whether through workforce support, housing assistance, health and recovery services, or simply the encouragement of a community that showed up for them. Every act of kindness, every shared meal, and every collaborative effort reflected the heart of Pathways. Together, we closed the year by lifting spirits, opening doors, and strengthening the pathways forward for our neighbors and our community.
By: Karl Vogl II On any given day in Rock Hill, a hot meal can mean far more than nourishment — it can mean dignity, hope and a reminder that someone cares. At Pathways Community Center, House of Agape has quietly become a lifeline for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. What began as a small effort to serve meals out of a garage has grown into a seven-day-a-week ministry dedicated to meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the community. House of Agape seeks to follow the biblical call to be “doers of the word, not hearers only,” providing meals and encouragement to neighbors throughout Rock Hill. In a recent interview, trustee Robyn Large, trustee Beth Simmonds, and volunteer Michelle Pittman reflected on the ministry’s beginnings, its current initiatives and what the future may hold. According to Large, the inspiration for the ministry began with a simple act of service. Several members of the ministry previously volunteered with a feeding program in Gastonia, North Carolina, where Associate Pastor Bill Long shared weekly messages while volunteers provided meals and music. One moment in particular stayed with them. “One night a young man thanked Pastor Bill over and over for a hot dog,” Large said. “Pastor Bill told him, ‘It’s just a hot dog.’ The young man responded, ‘If it wasn’t for this hot dog, my son wouldn’t have eaten today.’” For Large, that interaction revealed the deeper impact a simple meal can have. Another defining moment soon followed. “We were in the driveway of our home washing our motorcycles when a friend stopped by,” Large said. “She told us she felt God wanted us to open a ministry like that in Rock Hill.” At the time, the idea seemed unexpected, but in the weeks that followed, Large said the path forward became clear. House of Agape began by serving food one night a week in a garage above the Larges’ home. As the need in the community became more apparent, the ministry expanded to a trailer in a nearby parking lot. Eventually, what began as a single night of service grew to seven days a week. Today, the ministry operates out of Pathways Community Center, where expanded space and shared resources have allowed the program to reach even more people. “We want each person to know they are cared for, they matter, and we would love to introduce them to the ONE from where all hope comes from,” Pittman said. The move also strengthened collaboration with other ministries serving within the Pathways network, including Lifehouse, Bethel, The Haven and Manna House. As the ministry has grown, Large and Simmonds say they have also witnessed the harmful impact of misconceptions about the people they serve. “The homeless or less fortunate are often not seen, or they are treated as if they are less than,” Simmonds said. Large said many people also assume those experiencing food insecurity must also be homeless or struggling with addiction. “While that can be true in some cases, it certainly isn’t true for everyone,” Large said. “Food insecurity does not always equate to homelessness or unemployment. Many people who work hard every day still struggle to put food on the table.” Simmonds said acknowledging that reality can be uncomfortable for some. “People at Agape are impacted physically by the weather – (hot, cold, or rainy), health issues, or the need for clothing or shelter, but they also may be more impacted by feelings of being lonely, weary, broken-hearted, angry, tired, or hopeless,” Pittman said. “So, food is not the only thing they receive at HOA that may impact their life.” Pittman emphasized that at House of Agape everyone that enters also receives hope, acceptance, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or even simple smiles and laughter. We cannot fix their situation, but we can encourage them, present options and resources, listen to them, and most importantly pray with them,” Pittman said. The group also noted that many people are uncomfortable admitting that they, too, are just a paycheck or two away from being in the same circumstances as some of our clients. Volunteers play a vital role in the work of House of Agape. According to Simmonds, the culture volunteers create — along with the intentional conversations they have with guests — helps ensure every person who walks through the doors feels welcomed and valued. “The conversations are just as important as the meals,” she said. The ministry continues to welcome new volunteers, and both trustees say the program’s impact would not be possible without their dedication. While there are currently no formal plans for expansion, Large and Simmonds say they remain confident in the ministry’s direction. They believe God is guiding House of Agape exactly where it needs to be — and that the next steps will become clear in time.
This past month, our community experienced back-to-back winter storms—weather we rarely see in our area. As conditions worsened, Pathways moved quickly into full partnership mode to ensure the safety, dignity, and care of our guests. We live in a world where collaboration and partnership are words often used, but genuine partnership is far less common. At Pathways, we truly believe in partnership. We recognize that we are all serving the same population, that we all love our community, and that we all want the very best for those we serve. We also understand that each organization has a unique calling—to live out its mission fully without duplicating efforts. During moments of crisis, that shared understanding becomes visible and powerful. As the storms approached, partners came together to plan, communicate, and support one another. We engaged community partners such as the City of Rock Hill, the American Red Cross, and the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen to help us expand capacity and respond to emerging needs. Shelter partners across the community accepted additional guests to ensure people could get out of the dangerous weather and into safe spaces. On our campus, Pathways staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to clear snow and ice so guests—many with limited mobility—could safely navigate the exterior of the building. Staff members slept on site to ensure uninterrupted care and coverage throughout the storm. The Day Shelter expanded into the auditorium to create additional space and warmth as the number of guests increased. Support flowed in from every direction. Manna House Food Pantry donated food for shelter guests. House of Agape served additional guests and opened their space to accommodate other meals being provided. The Soup Kitchen delivered extra meals. York Electric generously brought meals when the ice storm proved less severe than anticipated. Church partners adjusted quickly, bringing meals early when travel later became unsafe. When church partners could not be physically present to serve or preach, technology allowed us to continue sharing the Word, and our own guests stepped up to prepare meals for one another. For those who chose not to stay in shelter, we provided as much warmth and support as possible. While the storms disrupted daily operations, one thing never changed: our partners never stopped caring, loving, and serving our shared guests. This is the power of partnership—moving, shifting, sharing resources, and working together to serve the people we love. This is the power of our campus.
