I had the opportunity to make Toni’s portrait at Faith City Mission in Amarillo, Texas and it was captured on a livestream.

Toni always remembers your name. And then she begins praying for you. Her ministry is to pray for people and has seen many healed and helped from her prayers. She lives with schizophrenia and her children dropped her in front of Faith City after she got out of a mental hospital. She said her dad was “always helping somebody.” He died when she was only 24 yet he was the one who taught her virtue. Toni’s message to the world is written into her portrait “Give people grace. Love people more often. Pray for those who hurt you.” When I asked about her passion she said, “caring for the homeless.” Even with nothing, Toni’s attention is on others who may also need a hand.

The entire process of Toni’s portrait is up on YouTube from the 24-hr “Conversations on a Bench” broadcast.

 Watch the first half of Toni’s portrait, here