Rhonda Willingham shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Rhonda, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
What’s most misunderstood about working with the homeless?
People think they’re lazy. That they don’t want to work. That they’re just beggars looking for a handout.
But the truth is far deeper. Many are battling trauma, mental health struggles, job loss, or impossible life circumstances. Some once had homes, families, and careers — until life hit hard and the bottom fell out.
Working with the homeless isn’t about charity — it’s about humanity. It’s about dignity, compassion, and meeting people where they are with love instead of judgment.
They are not invisible. They are not hopeless.
They are God’s children, deserving of the same grace we’ve been given.
And when we choose to see them through the eyes of Christ — everything changes. ❤️
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I know what it’s like to live in the shadows. Once homeless for 18 and a half years — selling drugs, using drugs, and surviving on the streets. But even in my darkest moments, God never stopped chasing me.
In 2007, on a place now known as Deliverance Alley, I was completely delivered — set free from addiction and the strongholds that once bound me. And I didn’t walk that road alone — my Boaz (Rodney), the man God sent into my life, came out of the streets with me. Together, we rose from brokenness to purpose.
Eight years ago, God did something only He could orchestrate — He allowed us to purchase that very same piece of property where my deliverance took place. What was once a place of pain now stands as a place of hope and restoration.
Through our organization, Making It Count, Inc. we have been serving the homeless, the hurting, and the forgotten — giving back to the same streets that once held us captive.
My story is more than a testimony — it’s proof that God still delivers, restores, and writes the most beautiful stories out of the ashes.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds is pain. It’s when you get tired… tired of trying, tired of pretending, tired of being hurt. When you’ve had enough. Addiction isolates you — it convinces you that you’re alone, that no one cares, and that you’re too far gone to be reached.
In that darkness, you want something — peace, love, connection — but you don’t know how to get it. You push people away because it feels safer than being disappointed again. The bond breaks because the brokenness inside feels too heavy to carry together.
But restoration — that comes when you surrender. When you stop running and give your life to Christ.
Because He’s the only one who can take the shattered pieces and make them whole again. He restores what addiction destroys. He rebuilds what pain tears down. He reconnects hearts that were once hardened and brings back the love, the hope, and the purpose you thought were gone forever.
Restoration begins when Jesus steps in. ❤️
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. There was a moment when my life should have ended. I was stabbed in my heart three times — left for dead. The doctors said I was DOA on the table.
But God said, “Not yet.”
He brought me back because my story wasn’t over. He had a purpose for my pain — a calling that went beyond the scars. I shouldn’t be here, but I am… because of His mercy, His grace, and His divine plan.
That’s why I live the way I do now — serving, loving, and giving back. Because when God gives you a second chance, you don’t waste it. You make it count. ❤️
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
My peace, my sanity, and my word — those are non-negotiable.
I’ve lived through chaos, confusion, and broken promises. I know what it’s like to lose yourself trying to survive. So now, I guard my peace like treasure. I protect my sanity because without it, nothing else works.
And my word? That’s my bond. If I say it, I mean it. Integrity still matters.
Because at the end of the day, titles fade, people change, and situations shift — but your peace, your mind, and your character are what keep you grounded. And I refuse to lose those again.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they say I was a servant of God first. That I lived my life pouring into others, leaving no stone unturned for the people.
It’s not about me. It’s never been about me. It’s about love, service, and showing the Kingdom of God in action — whether through a meal, a kind word, or a hand extended to someone in need.
I want my life to reflect that true fulfillment comes not from being served, but from serving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://makingitcountinc.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Making-It-Count-Inc/100071858539695/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=ONhw0nCiC3qD7Q2b&share_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252Fshare%252F1JZGdeADwZ%252F%253Fmibextid%253DwwXIfr&checkpoint_src=any
