Episode Transcript
Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission, brings over 30 years of experience in urban ministry and non-profit leadership. Serving at Water Street allows Jack to fulfill his passion for equipping and motivating others to work collaboratively for the glory of God and the healing and wholeness of our cities.
Nicholas Paulukow
Not all heroes wear capes—some wear name badges and serve coffee in the name of Jesus. Welcome back to The Servant Leader’s Library, the podcast where tech meets testimony, boardrooms meet back alleys, and leadership means rolling up your sleeves to do the hard and the holy work. I’m your host, Nicholas Paulukow, CEO of ONE 2 ONE, where we specialize in managed IT, cybersecurity—and a good cup of coffee every once in a while.
Today’s guest is a living legend in Lancaster: Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission. With over 30 years in urban ministry and nonprofit leadership, Jack isn’t just preaching healing and wholeness—he’s orchestrating it, from the streets to the strategy room. His passion lies in mobilizing people for God’s glory and the restoration of our cities.
So whether you’re tuning in from a server room, a sanctuary, or your morning commute, grab a cup, take a breath, and lean in—because today we’re talking about leadership that serves, heals, and points to something eternal.
Let’s dive in.
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Nicholas Paulukow
Jack, thank you for joining us today—we really appreciate it.
Jack Crowley
Thanks so much, Nick. That intro was amazing!
Nicholas Paulukow
Well, you are amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever called someone a living legend before—but you are in our heart down here.
Jack Crowley
I’m going to tell my daughters that when I get home.
Nicholas Paulukow
You know, somehow the kids don’t see us the same way, right? We’re not always celebrities to them.
Thanks again for being here. Why don’t you tell us a little more about yourself?
Jack Crowley
Absolutely—thanks again. It’s great to be here. I’m excited for this conversation.
I’ve been at Water Street for over 30 years now. It was actually my first job right out of college. I started as a camp counselor for the summer day camp program. The short version of my journey is this: I made a two-month commitment to work at Water Street, and halfway through those two months, they convinced me to stay for two years.
So I did. I took the leap and committed to two years. Then, 20 years later, they asked me to become President.
I’ve tried to leave multiple times—but so far, I’ve been unsuccessful.
Nicholas Paulukow
What originally drew you there as a student?
Jack Crowley
I grew up mostly outside Philadelphia—Media, Pennsylvania was home. I came to Franklin & Marshall College, which is what brought me to Lancaster. But honestly, I had no idea Lancaster City even existed when I first got there.
I’d drive in straight off Route 30, loop around to the Harrisburg Pike exit, and come in the back way to campus. That was the fastest route.
Back then, in the early ’90s, the philosophy was: “Stay away from the city.” So everything was built to keep students on campus—you didn’t really have to leave. It wasn’t until my senior year that I really discovered the city.
I was leading a Bible study at the time, and one of the students who joined had grown up in Lancaster City. He roped me into joining his bowling team at Rocky Springs.
Nicholas Paulukow
Oh, all right!
Jack Crowley
Yeah! I remember that first night, driving into the city—not being very good at bowling—and thinking, “Wait… there’s a whole city here!” Buildings, row homes, everything tightly packed together. It really struck me.
Nicholas Paulukow
A little different than the ’90s and today again.
Jack Crowley
Oh yeah. But by that point, my heart was already moving toward working with youth—particularly kids in difficult circumstances.
At F&M, I was a psychology and government major. Originally, I wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to make lots of money. I wanted to intimidate people and have a lot of power. Thought I could accomplish that in a courtroom.
But as God was working on my heart and revealing more of who Jesus was to me—and what it really meant to follow Him—I started rethinking that path. It didn’t seem like making tons of money and intimidating people was exactly how Jesus would go about living out His life.
And through my psychology classes, especially through research with an incredible professor named Dr. Michael Penn, I started digging deeper. We studied coping styles, hope, and learned helplessness. We interviewed adolescents in juvenile detention centers and halfway houses. We asked questions about how they made decisions, how they coped with trauma and adversity.
And what I heard from them was… my story. I heard so many similarities. The difference was, I had a support system. I grew up in a different type of family, a different environment, and with a different skin color. When I made dumb teenage decisions, I had people to protect me—a family, a church, friends who were connected. I got second chances.
These kids didn’t.
And God began putting it on my heart: “You made it through because of grace. But there are others who don’t have what you had. Maybe you can be that person for them.”
That desire is what opened the door to Water Street.
Nicholas Paulukow
There’s so much in that story. One thing that really stood out—just yesterday I was reading something that said, “Our ignorance of history deeply impacts how we interpret things.” It was about the “yoke” Jesus mentions. I thought it meant the thing on oxen—but it was actually an invitation to follow His way of life.
And that’s what your story reminds me of. Just living it. Walking alongside people. That’s powerful. And I think a lot of people still only know Water Street as a place for food and shelter. But clearly, there’s more going on.
Jack Crowley
There definitely is. Shelter and food are what most people think about. But I actually came in through the kids’ program—through our summer day camp. I had no idea there was a homeless shelter there when I started.
When I took the job, I was fresh out of college and needed a place to live for two and a half months. They told me, “Don’t worry, we’ll find you housing—some generous supporter will put you up.” So I showed up the day of orientation, thinking I’d be staying in a nice house with a family, maybe with a home-cooked dinner and a pool in the backyard.
But instead, I was brought into the main dorm at Water Street and introduced to my roommates—two gentlemen who had recently come through the shelter and were now in the residential program.
It ended up being an incredible summer. And it completely changed how I saw homelessness.
Nicholas Paulukow
That must’ve been incredibly humbling. From college dorms to Water Street dorms, side by side with people walking through recovery.
Jack Crowley
It was. And funny enough, my experience at Water Street was probably better in a lot of ways. The guys I lived with were amazing. That summer broke down so many of my assumptions.
Since then, I’ve learned that Water Street’s reach is far beyond emergency help. We currently offer shelter for around 150 people daily, between emergency beds and long-term residential programs. There’s also a day shelter where folks can stay on-site during the day and access our enrichment center—job searches, apartment help, and working with case managers and life coaches.
Residential guests go deeper. They’re not just trying to get housed—they’re working through root issues: mental health, addictions, trauma, physical health. We help people build the foundation they need to not just survive, but thrive.
Nicholas Paulukow
And you also mentioned medical and dental care?
Jack Crowley
Yes. We have a medical and dental clinic for our guests and the wider community. Many people in Lancaster don’t realize how many of our neighbors are underinsured or completely uninsured.
We serve adults who are under 200% of the poverty line. For our guests, we also provide nurse care management—getting them connected to insurance, primary care, and mental health resources. And yes, we have a full-time dentist. Dental care is one of the first things to go when someone is struggling financially.
We also offer behavioral health services internally, which are vital to healing from trauma.
Nicholas Paulukow
And on top of that—you’re still leading youth programming?
Jack Crowley
We are. Teen Haven is our youth center—just a block away from Water Street’s campus. We run a summer day camp and afterschool programs for kids from first grade through high school.
It’s more than just a place to hang out. We focus on educational support, leadership development, and helping kids understand their identity in Christ.
On the younger end, we have Wonder Academy—our early learning center with preschool and kindergarten classrooms. These are families that often don’t have access to private preschool. So we step in with a Christ-centered approach to give those kids the foundation they need.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s a huge range—from early learning through adulthood.
Jack Crowley
Exactly. And then we have Compass, our young adult program for 18 to 26-year-olds. The transition into adulthood is incredibly difficult today—especially for those without a support network.
Compass provides mentoring, community, and guidance as they navigate work, faith, finances, and life.
Nicholas Paulukow
That theme of isolation keeps coming up. So many people today feel disconnected. And when you add financial hardship or trauma—it becomes even harder.
Jack Crowley
Totally. Isolation is one of the biggest enemies we face. We saw that during COVID—but it’s been growing for years. That’s why we’re launching a new transitional housing initiative called Intentional Communities.
We’re renovating a building to include six studio apartments with a shared kitchen and living room. It’s for guests leaving our residential program. They’ll have independence—but also shared community. A case manager and life coach will help them build connections and routines so that when they move out, they don’t move into isolation.
We’re teaching people not just how to find housing—but how to build community.
Nicholas Paulukow
It’s amazing. That “teach them to fish” model—offering not just help, but healing and dignity.
Jack Crowley
Exactly. And sometimes it’s about relearning things. Many of our guests have had stable housing in the past. But one event—an illness, a job loss, a family breakdown—can send everything spiraling.
And if you don’t have support systems in place, it’s hard to bounce back.
That’s why our programs are individualized. We ask: “What’s the main issue you need to work on?” Is it addiction? Is it physical health? Is it mental wellness? Our guests help shape their action plan, and we walk with them.
Nicholas Paulukow
It reminds me of that airplane advice—“put your oxygen mask on first.” Until someone has enough stability and self-worth, it’s hard for them to show up for anyone else.
Jack Crowley
That’s true for our guests—and for our staff. As leaders, one of our biggest responsibilities is caring for the people who are caring for others. Every day, they carry the weight of someone else’s trauma. That takes a toll.
We’ve built partnerships and internal supports to help with that. But it’s something I carry deeply in my heart. We can’t serve from an empty cup.
Nicholas Paulukow
Absolutely. I’ve seen that with organizations I’ve served, too. Sometimes the caregivers are the ones most in need of care—and we forget to ask how they’re doing.
Jack Crowley
Right. That’s why I’ve started modeling prayer and community practices. Every Wednesday at 7 a.m., I pray on campus for our staff, our guests, and our mission. It’s open to anyone.
Some mornings it’s just me. Other times a few others join. But I’ve found it’s important to show people it’s okay to set aside time for this—even as leaders.
Nicholas Paulukow
That vulnerability is powerful. A lot of young people are asking how to talk about their faith, how to live it out. And the answer is often: show up authentically. Pray publicly—not for show, but to invite others in.
Jack Crowley
Exactly. That’s how discipleship works. You do it, then invite others to join. Then one day, they’re doing it, too.
I’ve seen that play out over the years—especially in leadership. I never sought out a title or position. I just showed up and served. Eventually, someone said, “We need you to lead this.”
And here I am.
Nicholas Paulukow
Do you still ask yourself, “Am I in the right place? Is this what I’m supposed to be doing?”
Jack Crowley
All the time. There have been seasons where I was ready to leave—and even told my boss and a couple board members I was going to. And then the President stepped down, and they asked me to take the role.
But ultimately, it’s not about the title. It’s about the calling.
Our anchor at Water Street is Isaiah 61. Jesus read that passage to launch His ministry—proclaiming freedom for the captives, sight to the blind, healing for the brokenhearted.
That’s the work. That’s the mission. If I get to wake up every day and be part of making that real, why would I want to be anywhere else?
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s a beautiful perspective. And I think it gives people permission to pursue purpose over position. To focus less on “What’s my title?” and more on “How can I serve where I am?”
Jack Crowley
Exactly. The job isn’t the goal. The goal is to use your gifts for something bigger than yourself.
You could be living out Isaiah 61 as a business owner, a teacher, a nurse, or a cashier. It’s about bringing good news, offering hope, restoring what’s broken.
That’s leadership. That’s purpose.
Nicholas Paulukow
Jack, thank you. This conversation has been incredibly meaningful. You’ve reminded me—and I’m sure others—what servant leadership truly looks like.
Jack Crowley
Thank you, Nick. It’s been a joy. And I’m grateful for the chance to share the story—not just mine, but the story of a whole community at Water Street.
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