Making a Difference, One Smile and One Prayer at a Time

One morning, a young woman came into St. Francis Seraph Ministries looking upset and maybe a little angry. Annise Anderson, SFSM’S Office Manager/Finance Assistant, made a point of smiling at the woman and giving her a warm greeting.

“I said, ‘Hey, there! How’s your day going?’” Annise recalls. “Her whole demeanor changed. She was no longer that scrapping kind of person who wanted to fight somebody.”

Since August 2015, Annise has worked in support of all SFSM’s programs. That means there’s no such thing as a typical day. But what is consistent from day to day is the chance to make an impact in someone’s life.

“I like to treat everybody like they’re the important person that God has put in my life for that moment,” Annise says. “If I can help somebody feel that they’re important when they’re down and out, that, to me, makes a whole lot of difference.”

Annise, who grew up in Dayton, Ohio, has a degree in computer science from Central State University. Her technical skills serve her well in her jack-of-all-trades role — “I like to keep everything running so the employees as well as the guests feel comfortable,” she says — but her love for listening and getting to know others is every bit as vital.

One of the joys of her job is talking with SFSM’s guests. Each one has a unique story, and hearing that story can help Annise understand how SFSM might serve them better, both physically and spiritually.

“A lot of times, there are people who say, ‘Hey, can you pray for me?’” Annise says. “I will pray at the drop of a hat for any and all of them — and pray with them. That’s sometimes more important than giving them a meal.”

Annise feels a deep sense of satisfaction when she sees the way SFSM empowers people to transform their lives. Whether it’s a Sarah Center student using her new skills to increase her income or a dining room guest who’s found a new job, Annise knows she’s helping to make a real difference in the community.

“There are so many things we’ve done,” she says. “It makes me proud to say I’m part of a change that’s positive.”