Victory Mission marks 50 years, launches new job training program

After five decades of helping individuals in need to gain stability, Victory Mission and Ministry is planning for its next half-century.

Jason Hynson, executive director for nearly a decade, said the nonprofit is growing – a new shelter is under construction – and looking to increase services and workforce training programs for adults who have experienced poverty, homelessness or other challenges.

“What we get to do here with people on a daily basis is help them reset their lives, to move from where they used to feel worthless…to where they can get a job,” he said.

Doug Healy, an attorney who chairs the nonprofit’s board of directors, said he started to volunteer because Victory Mission was changing lives.

“We weren’t just pushing people through the program,” he said. “We were helping them become the better person they could be and actually seeing them achieve.”

The Springfield-based nonprofit broke ground seven months ago on a $22 million shelter redevelopment project near the intersection of Commercial Street and Division Street. The project, expected to open in 2027, will expand the emergency and long-term housing options.

Healy said the new space will allow programs and training to be centered in one place.

“It lets us touch a lot more lives a lot more efficiently and try to help people to have the tools to change,” said Healy, who owns Healy Law Offices LLC. “Ultimately, it’s up to them, but we can equip them and this new building will help.”

This year, with more space and capacity in the works, Victory Mission plans to reflect on its history and future goals.

“Breaking those cycles and helping those people to become productive members of society has very high value, not only to their personal well-being but to the commerce of the city and the well-being of the city,” Healy said.

The nonprofit will launch the Mission Junk Removal program in March, which is patterned after its existing Equip Coffee and Springfield Mattress Recycling programs. It will operate as a social enterprise to train and employ individuals accessing services through Victory Mission.

“In Springfield, with minimum wage increasing, we need to give people a place where they can get a job and learn and grow and develop and then take that career-level job,” Hynson said.

“We’ve been doing it but we’re just taking a bigger step, a bolder step.”

Through the recycling mattress program, Victory Missouri interacted with residents who also wanted appliances and other junk removed.

“You don’t need to go rent a truck,” he said. “We’ll bring the people and, if it’s in your garage, we’ll grab it.”

He said adding a junk removal program felt like the next logical step. In addition to providing training and wages for workers, Hynson said fewer items will be dumped illegally or abandoned.

“We’ll get it picked up. We’ll do the right thing and get it recycled rather than taking up space in the landfill,” he said.

Hynson said the new venture will likely start with a flat rate – like the $89 charged for picking up an unwanted mattress – and there will be a sliding scale, depending on how much junk must be removed.

“The key for us is individuals are going to be putting people to work,” he said of the junk removal crew. “They’re going to show up on time, have a good attitude, be teachable.”

The plan is to start with one truck and up to three men, who will all be paid at least minimum wage. The crew will be led by a coach and mentor, and workers will be hired from among those served in Victory Mission’s long-term shelter program.

Hynson said the program is geared toward helping individuals, not companies, that need help with junk removal. The service can be booked online and the nonprofit is in the process of setting that up.

“The first goal would be customers that would say, ‘I believe in what you are doing,’” he said. “We’re trying to serve.”

The nonprofit additionally offers a bootcamp to get men and women ready for work. They can get help with resumes, practice job interviews, pick out clothing, and complete internships. They also access resources at the Missouri Job Center in Springfield.

“Victory Mission serves our community at the nexus point between faith, poverty prevention and workforce development,” said Ryan DeBoef, a partner at Hahn DeBoef Government Relations, which has sponsored Victory Mission events. “I never cease to be amazed at Victory’s ability to leverage precious few resources to make a dramatic impact on the Springfield community and the entire state.”

According to the U.S. Census, based on 2024 population estimates, the poverty rate is more than 18% in Springfield.

Victory Mission was started in 1976 by Rev. Everett Cook, who provided coffee and sandwiches from the back of his station wagon. Hynson said the nonprofit still engages in outreach but focuses more of its staff time on programs, emergency shelters and job training.

Asked how many people have been helped, Hynson said thousands have benefited.

“We’re having conversations with people about our next 50 years,” he said. “We want to be the place of workforce and affordable housing. We want to be the place where people walk out changed.”

He said equipping individuals with the tools to change their lives is the mission.

“We are a pathway out of poverty,” he said. “We are the place where people find their level of victory. We are their cheerleaders.”

Karen Kunkel, workforce development manager for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said Victory Mission helps individuals in need, including those who have been incarcerated.

“If we don’t help with education, housing and workforce training, how do we expect them to provide for themselves to avoid going back into the criminal justice system,” Kunkel said. “Victory Mission’s holistic approach transforms lives and allows people to become contributing members of our community. We have such a need for skilled workforce, and this hidden talent pool is just awaiting the opportunity to succeed.”