Get to know RIFA: Jenni Thorn

Jenni Thorn

Life Enrichment Coordinator

I sat down to interview Jenni as she worked away on her Ipad at RIFA. Jenni (notice the spelling, she said her parents just wanted to be different) has been working here for almost 4 years now and plays a very key role at RIFA. Jenni is grateful to be raised by a family that put a priority on ministry and missions and gets to live that out at RIFA everyday. Jenni has been married to her husband Richard for 5 years now. Jenni worked on her Undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.  She enjoyed her time there and was the member of two sororities while she was there.  After Samford she attended The University of Alabama to get  her Masters of Social Work. This explains why she is a huge Roll Tide Fan (one of two around here, Dan Ward being the other).

Jenni has a passion for a program called Christian Womens Job Corp. This national program helps women learn job and life skills while helping them grow in their faith. While Jenni was working with a group trying to get Christian Womens Job Corp to Jackson she came into contact with RIFA and soon she was working for RIFA running the education program that includes her beloved Christian Womens Job Corp. Jenni is the Life Enrichment Coordinator for RIFA which means that she overseas all of the education programming. In addition to the adult literacy and basic education class, Christian Womens Job Corp, Jenni also runs the Uniform exchange and the Summer Club for children. For Jenni the hardest part about her job is convincing people that real change can happen but that it takes some small steps and that things like enrolling in classes are worth their time.  But her favorite part of working at RIFA is seeing the real life change that can happen like women coming in with no self esteem and leaving with a firm confidence in themselves and who they are in God.  When I asked her what she wanted people to know about RIFA she responded with this: ‘RIFA is more that just a soup kitchen and a thrift store, we do more that just put bandades on problems, we try to bring about real life change in the community.’

Please Pray for Jenni as she continues to lead the Life Enrichment Department.

Get to know RIFA: The Soup Kitchen

When most people think of RIFA they think of our Soup Kitchen. That is with good reason, the Soup Kitchen is our busiest area. With an average of a 150 meals a day served, it is a high traffic area. That meal count is not count the breakfast we serve, which consists of 90-120 cups of coffee and extra pastries from local business like Starbucks, Green Frog, Doo-Dahs and Donuts and More. Local churches provide the majority of the volunteer hours for serving in the Soup Kitchen and provide dinner on two nights of the week. Groups are scheduled a year in a advance to come in and serve. Ever other week Dan, the Soup Kitchen Manager, puts out a list of needed items for the Soup Kitchen.  If you would like to be added to this list email, Shaun at shaun@rifarifa.org and ask to be added to the “Friends of RIFA needs list”.  In addition to all of that we also have shower and laundry access for our patrons! The Soup Kitchen can operate because of support from the community, every little bit helps so feel free to bring down a can good or a financial donation!

Get to know RIFA! Lisa Tillman, Executive Director

Lisa Tillman, Executive Director

In the first installment of a new series on the RIFA Blog called ‘Get to know RIFA!’ we will get to know the Executive Director of RIFA Lisa Tillman.

Lisa is  originally from Florida where she attended the University of Florida and received her Bachelors in Business Administration. The path that God took her down to get to RIFA is an interesting one. After graduating from college,  she found her self in an industry that worked with airlines. During a recession,  she found herself out of a job,  in the unemployment line and having to move back in with her parents at the age of 30. This was one of the hardest points in her life,  but  God’s plans are bigger than we could ever imagine.

During her time at home with her parents,  she decided to visit some family and friends in West Tennessee over Christmas. At the time,  she asked her friend if she “knew any cute guys I could meet?”. This question turned into her husband  a year later. Now,  Lisa and Kenneth have been married for 19 years and have two wonderful children Kyle and Katie. Lisa loves her family and that is something we can tell by working with her. She also views her children as the legacy she will leave.

After she moved to West Tennessee,  she spent most of her career working at the Jackson Oaks, a senior living community. During a mission trip to Costa Rica,  she learned of a ministry that is very similar to what RIFA does in Jackson. After returning,  a friend who was completely unprovoked mentioned the opening at RIFA for the Director position. In a very quick process,  Lisa was soon the new Director of RIFA.

Being the Executive Director of RIFA means that Lisa is the primary face of the organization. What that boils down to is that she handles the media relations  and speaks at different organizations in town to build support.  Maintaining donor relations is an important part of what she does,  and she does a great job of it. One of her favorite parts of the job is being able to do mission work,  and while she might not be able to go to Costa Rica every morning to serve,  she can come downtown to serve. Unfortunately,  she says there are rarely enough hours in the day to complete her job. She also wants everyone to know that RIFA is more that just a Soup Kitchen.

We are thankful for Lisa’s Service at RIFA and we would ask that you please pray for Lisa and her leadership here!