SHELBY — Two dozen people crammed onto the steps at 21 East Main Street, straddling the line between the sunlight and the shadow from the awning, shoulders hunched against a bitter January wind.
In the front row was Kimberly Mosler, beaming with excitement and bouncing to stay warm.
Earlier this month, Crossroads Church donated its Shelby ministry center to Ignited, a faith-based non-profit founded by Mosler. Ignited has operated a certified recovery home in Shelby since 2024.
“We come along women overcoming substance abuse, trauma, and exploitation,” Mosler said. “Our mission is to encourage them in their healing process, to equip them with the tools and resources that they need and to empower them to fulfill their God-given destiny.”
For the last six months, the organization has partnered with Crossroads to offer programming at the Main Street storefront. Ignited has used the space for mentorship, Bible studies, trauma-informed classes, medication management and peer recovery support, Mosler said.
Operations Pastor Jesse Rider said the church had been prayerfully considering how the building could best serve the community. Leaders ultimately decided to donate the space to Ignited. They also presented Mosler with a $10,000 check to help cover maintenance and utilities costs.
“They’re the ones who are here all the time,” he said. “We might as well just make it their home.”
“They (Ignited) do a remarkable job of caring for people who often are forgotten or pushed aside or cast aside. They have made them a priority,” Rider added. “We absolutely want to support them in that. “
Ignited and Crossroads held a joint celebration and ribbon cutting for the space on Thursday.
Mosler said she felt overwhelmed by the goodness of God and generosity of Crossroads Church.
“We’ve been deeply encouraged by Crossroads wrapping their arms around us, and even more importantly, wrapping your arms around the woman that we serve,” she said.
“This gift is for them,” she added. “These are beautiful women of God who deserve every ounce of support that this community can offer them.”
‘I needed someone to believe in me before I could believe in myself’
Mosler’s passion for helping women in recovery rebuild their lives stems from her own lived experience.
Near the end of her time in nursing school, she said her addiction was “at its peak.” She was unable to walk the stage at graduation as a result.
She credits her recovery to God and the support of her community.
“I needed someone to believe in me and surround me before I could believe in myself,” she said. “If I didn’t have the community surrounding me or the resources available, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Mosler opened Milk & Honey, a coffee trailer, last fall and aims to open a brick and mortar location this year.
The coffee shop will provide employment opportunities for women in the process of rebuilding their lives, Mosler said last year.
Lead pastor Andrew Anderson said partnering with Ignited offered the church a chance to fulfill the calling of all Christians to care for people in need.
“This isn’t just an opportunity. This is our obligation,” he said. “You are reaching individuals that we never could, in ways that we never could. We appreciate you.”
Mosler said she plans to honor the previous use of the space, which included allowing two local foster families to continue using the site for supervised visits.
“This is a large building and we are committed to stewarding it with excellence,” she said. “We are prayerfully processing additional creative opportunities for community use as well.”
