Hope & Care, March 2016 Edition

March 2016

& Family Ministries

hope & care p ro v i d i n g h o p e & c a re

, whatever you did for o ne of the le ‘I tell you the truth ill reply, ast of the w g n i se brot K e hers o “Th f

ABCS HIGHLIGHTS

Quarterly Newsletter

mine, you

did for

me.’” M atth

ew 25:40

Message from the Executive Director

Our Yuma office will also move this summer to the campus of Immanuel Southern Baptist Church.

Our ministry model of housing ABCS offices on church The Tucson New Life campuses is a win-win Pregnancy Center Diaper partnership that benefits Dash 5K is on Saturday, the church, the community April 2, 2016. To register, and us. The partnership in visit abcs.org/diaperdash.

Yuma will provide us with more adequate space at a Join ABCS at our significant cost reduction. new Phoenix location for a community wide open The Yuma office will house on April 30. Call continue to provide New We are incredibly grateful (602) 346-2300 or see our Life Pregnancy Center, to all those who supported online event calender for this project by giving, New Life Counseling, more details. volunteering or praying. In Arms of Love Foster Care addition to the funds raised, 2015 Ministry Highlights and Parent Aide services, Community Resource several churches supported the campaign but will also add a small resource center Centers gave out over by sending volunteer teams to help with and family visitation rooms for our DCS15,000 food boxes in 2015. construction or sponsoring rooms. Because involved families. of their generosity, our four family Pursue Life New Life visitation rooms, resource center Please join us April 30 for a community Adult Pregnancy and New Life Pregnancy Center wide open house at our new Phoenix Ministry Centers are completely furnished. The location, or contact your local office (page BHHS Legacy Foundation 8) to schedule a tour to see the ministry gave ABCS three grants going on in your community firsthand.

New Life Mission totaling $25,000 to fully Thank you for joining us on mission! & Family Ministries Transitional Encounter fund the resource center.

Program 360 7 Ministries | 1 Mission We are in awe of how God In Him, provided and are excited Providing hope and care to hurting children and families to begin pregnancy and through Christ-centered ministries.

Community resource center services Steve Hanna New Life Resource Counseling early this month.

Executive Director Centers

Pursue Life Adult Ministry has launched a set of online resources at pursuelifeaz.com. Page 6

Foster Care & Parent Aide

Our Mission Drive campaign is wrappedup! We set a goal to raise $100,000 to help offset renovation expenses at our new Phoenix office location at Mission Drive Baptist Church (now Central Phoenix Community Church). We are pleased to share with you that God provided $171,449 towards the renovation and move expenses (wow!), and that we moved in January.

abcs.org 7

(800) 678-0648 7

M N P V ABCSministries

UPCOMING EVENTS

Community Resource Centers

GET INVOLVED How can you help?

By donating food and clothing items, providing back to school supplies or volunteering your time to serve those in need. For more information on how you can get involved at a community resource center near you, call (800) 678-0648.

CONTACT JOSH HANNA

State Director ABCS Resource Centers jhanna@abcs.org (520) 495-0333

AARON NORWOOD Director Rio Vista Center & Casa de Amor anorwood@abcs.org (480) 510-1353

LOCATIONS

THE FIRST PAYCHECK Daryl has been coming to the Rio Vista Center for the last three years. He has been living on the streets for many years and came to the center for a meal and a food bag. Like most people that walk through the doors at the Rio Vista Center, Daryl’s story is unique, as well as heartbreaking.

Daryl was living the American Dream. He had a family and a job. Drugs took over Daryl’s life, and he lost it all. Since then he has been camping on the streets, primarily in Tempe.

When he speaks of his family to staff at the center he always mentions his daughters. He hasn’t seen them in a number of years and misses them a great deal.

A month ago Daryl reached out to a staff member at the Rio Vista Center and was desperate to talk. When they met, Daryl told him God had inspired him to get his life back together. He started to look for jobs that day and needed a ride to a couple interviews.

That very same week Daryl was hired for a full-time job at a warehouse moving recycled plastic. Daryl didn’t have anything to eat for lunch during his first two weeks of work. With donated food items, the Rio Vista Center was able to provide lunch for Daryl until he got paid.

Two weeks later, Daryl asked the same staff member if he could get a ride to his company’s corporate office to pick up his check. Daryl got emotional when he held the envelope in his hands. It was his first paycheck in a long time. He opened it up, and tears started streaming from his eyes. He showed the staff member the check, written out for $290, and said, “I haven’t held a paycheck in six years. I haven’t seen this much money in six years. God has blessed me.” That might not seem like a life-changing amount of money, but for Daryl it represented the hard work and perseverance of having and keeping a job. The change started with Daryl listening to God. The Community Resource Centers exist for people just like Daryl. It might take years for a client to advance their life, but our staff and volunteers are here to take that journey with them. As they receive food and clothing we share the love of Christ with them and trust that God will take care of the rest.

Mesa

Casa de Amor

Metro Phoenix

ABCS Resource Center

South Phoenix Rio Vista Center

Tucson

ABCS Resource Center

2016 YTD Decisions for Christ: 2 ABCS MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

Foster Care & Parent Aide Decisions: 0 Foster kids in care: 262 Current foster families: 180 DCS-involved families: 691 (est.

2,073 children) Adoptions: 0

Community Resource Centers

New Life Pregnancy Centers

New Life Transitional Program

Decisions: 2

Decisions: 0

Food boxes: 1,863

Pregnancy tests: 95

Current clients: 6

Clothing bags: 1,222

Material assist: 2,335

Children: 8

Diapers: 2,210

Decisions for life: 1

Hygiene bags: 105

Attendance in parenting classes: 272

Decisions: 0

Bible study: 79

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Work program clients: 2 Mentors: 3

New Life Counseling

Mission Encounter 360

Decisions: 0

Decisions: 0

Sessions: 172

Volunteers: 275

Leader Care Event Participants: 0 Leader Care Sessions: 6 Leader Care Contacts: 109

Volunteer hrs: 2,702 Interns: 8 ABCS Tours: 55 Mission actions: 6

Foster Care / Parent Aide

Parent Aide

BAND OF BROTHERS An Arms of Love Foster Care licensing worker visited a placement center back in November. This center housed over 40 kids waiting for a foster home. Among the children was a sibling group of three brothers, aged 14 years, 13 years and 16 months. The older two were very protective of their baby brother but unfortunately could not be placed together. The older boys would likely go to a group home while the 16-month-old would be placed with a foster family. The boys cried when they heard this news and asked if they could stay at the placement center to stay together.

The licensing worker reached out to coworkers and foster families in hopes of finding a home that would take the baby and keep in communication with the older brothers. One Arms of Love family agreed but was not able to contact the brothers in their group home after their caseworker went on vacation. The family and licensing worker reached out to DCS to try and contact the older boys. Finally, just before Christmas, the three brothers were able to have a visit together. From everyone’s report, the teenagers were thrilled to see their younger brother. They even took a picture at the visit, and the foster family said all three brothers’ faces were beaming with joy.

Since then, the foster family has continued phone contact and visits with the older brothers. The foster dad especially has bonded with these teenaged boys as a mentor figure. The boys have even asked foster dad for prayer. The foster family has loved helping these brothers stay in touch and hopes to keep in close communication with them, even after they are reunified with their parents. We are thankful for each Arms of Love Foster Family that has answered the call to foster, especially when these families go above and beyond to show God’s love and provide hope and care to these children.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOSTER CARE IN YOUR AREA

Arms of Love Foster Care has expanded its ministry to Pinal County.

Now serving families in: Cononino County Maricopa County Pima County Pinal County Yavapai County Yuma County To learn more about how you can become a foster parent or how you and your church can reach foster children in your community, please contact us at (800) 678-0648 or armsoflove@ abcs.org.

EDITH & LUIS There are currently over 18,000 children in the Arizona foster care system. Edith and Luis, close siblings, are available for adoption. Edith is especially proud of her relationship with Luis and loves being a big sister. She also likes to play Legos and spend time with him. Edith loves to catch butterflies and swim. She wants to be a lifeguard someday. Edith’s dream for her future is “to have a good family”.

Luis is full of life. His personality immediately brings light and energy to any setting. Luis likes to play with his tablet and enjoys educational games and videos. He enjoys anything visual, especially superhero movies and children’s films. He will play outside with Edith, as she enjoys soccer. He is very close to her and affectionate with her.

They are like two peas in a pod.

Visit childrensheartgallery.org for more information.

CONTACT NICHOLE TAMBURSTUEN State Director Arms of Love Foster Care ntamburstuen@abcs.org (602) 346-2300

CHERYL HUTCHINS State Director Parent Aide chutchins@abcs.org (800) 678-0648

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MEET THE INTERNS

Mission Encounter 360 INTERN RIVALRY

Sydney Lien

Amanda McShane

Each semester students all over Arizona seek internships for academic and career development. Many Christian students have the same needs but also desire a place to learn how ministry intersects with social services and to grow in their walk with Christ. ABCS provides this experience for students through unique environments and opportunities in our intern program.

The University of Arizona

Holly Trask

Christy Madi

Sydney Lien | Sydney grew up in the small town of Independence, Minnesota. She moved to Arizona in 2012 to study Family Studies and Human Development. Graduating in May, Sydney has a passion to advocate for children and families and loves helping others. “I am very excited to work with ABCS and to be able to spread the word of God!” Amanda McShane | Amanda is a senior studying Family Studies and Human Development. She considers Yuma her hometown, but moved around a lot as a child in a Marine Corps family. After she graduates in May, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. “I am confident that interning with ABCS will not only prepare me for my future endeavors, but also foster my relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Sonia Villa

Sarah Whitis

Holly Trask | Holly, born and raised in Tucson, is a senior graduating in May from the U of A with a degree in Family Studies and Human Development and a minor in Psychology.

She is passionate about helping children and sharing the love of Jesus. After graduation she hopes to work with foster children and go into missions overseas. “I am excited to be interning with ABCS to gain experience in different types of ministry.”

Arizona State University Crystal Echols

CONTACT DANE CLARK

State Director Mission Encounter 360 dclark@abcs.org (800) 678-0648

AUTUMN BUSBY

Assistant State Director Mission Encounter 360 abusby@abcs.org (602) 346-2300

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Christy Madi | Christy is a student at ASU studying Social Work. In the future she hopes to work with children in some capacity. Christy enjoys traveling, working out, reading and exploring downtown Phoenix for new restaurants and coffee shops.

Sonia Villa | Sonia is a senior at ASU, graduating this spring with a degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Spanish. She is an aspiring doctor and wishes to go into the OBGYN field. Sonia shared that interning with ABCS will not only help her gain pregnancy center experience, but also allow her to give back to our community.

Sarah Whitis | Sarah is a social work student at ASU who has been interning with ABCS since fall of 2015. Her professional interests include working with children, youth and families. When Sarah is not working or in school she enjoys spending time making crafts, reading and volunteering as an assistant youth leader.

Northern Arizona University Crystal Echols | Crystal is serving at the NLPC in Yuma and is a long distance learner at NAU working towards a degree in Public Health.

New Life Pregnancy Centers

newlife pregnancy center

CENTRAL PHOENIX Alice* came to the Central Phoenix New Life Pregnancy Center hoping to get an ultrasound. A peer counselor explained she would first need to take a pregnancy test, and Alice agreed. The two sat in the office together, and Alice explained her situation. A pregnancy test she had taken was positive. She felt all of the pregnancy symptoms, but was extremely worried because she had experienced 8 miscarriages in her past. Seeing the fear on Alice’s face, the peer counselor told her how Jesus loves her so much he died for her so that by believing in Him she might have peace and hope for the future.

Alice, listened intently with wide eyes, thanked the peer counselor and confessed she had never had any spiritual beliefs.

They continued with the pregnancy test, which came back negative. As the peer counselor told her the test result, Alice sank into a confused silence. The peer counselor asked if she could pray with her. Alice agreed, and as the peer counselor prayed, Alice let the tears she had been holding back flow steadily. The peer counselor reminded her again of how deeply Jesus loved and cared for her and asked if Alice was interested in accepting Him. Alice said she was interested in knowing more, but felt too overwhelmed. The peer counselor encouraged her to return to the center or call for support. Alice thanked the peer counselor genuinely, and as she left, she turned back to the peer counselor to thank her again. Pray for this sweet woman who has endured so much pain and hurt in her life. Pray she would realize the Lord is pursuing her and would surrender her life to Him. *Client name has been changed to respect their privacy.

AMPUTEES HELPING AMPUTEES Pictured is Floyd Hern, founder of the Yuma group Amputees Helping Amputees. Floyd’s group visited the Yuma New Life Pregnancy Center during Christmas asking to help families during the holiday season.

Amputees Helping Amputees then gave $300 to the pregnancy center. They have committed to help the center with future events as well. Thank you, Floyd and Amputees Helping Amputees, for your service to the Yuma community!

THANK YOU SUNDANCE RV PARK! Sundance RV Park in Casa Grande provides ongoing support for the New Life Pregnancy Center in Casa Grande. This past Christmas, Sundance provided handmade new quilts for every child who visited the center! Throughout the year they also donated other materials that have significantly blessed the families in the community. Thank you for your compassion and your support to help provide hope and care to every mother, father and child who visits the center.

REFLECTIONS OF AN NLPC DIRECTOR Lori Palmer, a newly retired pregnancy center director, shares her reflections on her time working with NLPC. Lori helped open four NLPCs in Phoenix and provided training to countless volunteers. Read her full thoughts online at abcs.org/blog/Lori.

“The years have flown by! I guess this is what happens when you are in the midst of trying to do ministry.

Yes, I said, trying because sometimes it was easy, however other times it was very difficult – but always worth it! I can’t believe how much the New Life Pregnancy Centers have grown. It sort of reminds me of what happens to a woman’s belly during pregnancy – ha! I have been blessed, in more ways than I can count, by being a director in this ministry.”

CONTACT KEILA TRENBEATH

State Director New Life Pregnancy Center ktrenbeath@abcs.org (602) 346-2300

RACHEL RAY

Assistant State Director New Life Pregnancy Center rray@abcs.org (602) 346-2300

M N nlpcAZ

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UPCOMING EVENTS CRUISE NIGHT MEETING Join us Friday, May 6, 2016 to learn more about an exciting service opportunity in partnership with the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention: Travel with a Purpose. Sail and serve five Caribbean islands aboard the Celebrity Summit December 2-10, 2016. To register for this informational meeting visit pursuelifeaz.com/cruise or call (602) 346-2300.

ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP We will be hosting an estate planning workshop at our Metro Phoenix location on Saturday, April 23, from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM. Visit pursuelifeaz. com or call (602) 346-2300 to find our more about this and other upcoming workshop events.

CONTACT MONA MCDONALD

Vice President Pursue Life Adult Ministry mona@abcs.org (602) 346-2300 pursuelifeaz.com

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Pursue Life Adult Ministry BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT Support is one of four key focus areas of Pursue Life Adult Ministry. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Do you provide support to loved ones? Do you have support in time of need?

In 2005, the state of Arizona predicted that by 2020, 1 in 4 Arizonans would be age 60 or older (Aging 2020: Arizona’s Plan for an Aging Population). Arizona’s current adult population boom adds issues for us to address as a society and affects our city, state, churches and families. Pursue Life seeks to fill the gaps between adults in need and those willing to be used by God to help. You can also provide support by submitting resources that would be helpful to others and volunteering on a regional team with adults in your community.

In partnership with individuals like you, churches, groups and Arizona’s community and social agencies, we can come together to “reach out and help” and make sure that no one “falls alone”. For more information on supporting one another and living fully in every season of life, visit pursuelifeaz.com or call Mona McDonald at (602) 346-2300.

DON’T BE SURPRISED, BE READY FOR TAX DAY Filing your taxes can be overwhelming. Here are four steps to help you better prepare for tax day: 77 Start early: If you can start working on your taxes several months before the due date it will give you additional time to make adjustments or track down the necessary paperwork to file accurately.

77 Have/create a filing system: It is crucial to have a system to store receipts, tax forms and other critical documents so they are easy to find when needed. If you don’t have a system, start by creating a file that is stored in a safe place. Then file the documents chronologically or alphabetically, based on your personal preference.

77 Once you finish your taxes, evaluate your withholdings. If you owed a large amount, consider withholding more from each paycheck to help you next year. If you received a large refund, consider lowering your withholdings to keep more money in your pocket throughout the year.

77 Make a plan for next year: Having a plan in place throughout the year will help avoid surprises and decrease stress. Know where your money is going, and seek additional ways to reduce your tax liability.

New Life Counseling

JIM MARTIN

RESOLUTIONS There’s an old joke that expresses the resistance church people have to change.

It goes like this: “There’s proof in the Bible that there will be no Baptists (or substitute any other faith group here) in heaven because Revelation 5:9 says, And they sung a new song . . .”

Newness can evoke a sense of fear or suspicion, but I think there is something theologically significant about newness. Consider the following: If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, and all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 And He who sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ – Revelation 21:5 Many use the occasion of a New Year to declare a resolution, taking the opportunity to put one’s best efforts toward some new beginning – getting back in shape, going on a diet, starting a long put-off project, etc.

I have resolved to go paperless, using my computer and tablet whenever possible to avoid the accumulation of paper and clutter.

So far I have been successful. (I feel a bit like an addict who has been awarded his 30 days of sobriety pin! Woo hoo!)

On the other hand, many refrain from making any kind of New Year’s resolution in order to spare themselves the shame and disappointment when they fail to maintain some new behavior. I have actually heard people say this. In fairness, a recent Forbes magazine article reported that only 8% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions.

FEATURED LEADER CARE FACILITATOR

Webster’s online dictionary defines the verb resolve as, “to make a definite and serious decision to do something.” As followers of Christ, we know that cultivating and maintaining a relationship with God through Christ takes “a definite and serious decision” to remain spiritually healthy.

It can be argued that it takes just as much determination to relate appropriately to the people with whom we cross paths daily.

There’s a picture hanging in my office entitled, The Essence of Compassion.

It reads, “Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and wrong – because sometime in your life you will have been all of these.”

Compassion is something we often crave, but is not that which we find easy to demonstrate, yet it was something people saw in Jesus. The crowds were amazed at His (Jesus’) teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not like the teachers of the law (Matt. 7:28-29). The people felt His compassion and felt none from the Scribes. That’s what caused the people to be amazed.

In the same way, the men and women of the New Life Counseling team have resolved to humbly and compassionately come along side those who struggle, to point them toward the one who does indeed “make all things new.” For more information about New Life Counseling and Leader Care contact us at (800) 678-0648 or visit abcs.org/nlc.

Jim Martin serves as a LeaderCare f a c i l i t a t o r.

LeaderCare, a ministry of New Life Counseling, provides confidential support and encouragement to pastors, ministry staff members and their families. Jim has over 30 years of pastoral experience serving churches throughout Arizona. He is a graduate of Grand Canyon University and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary having, earned both a Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry. Jim serves as an adjunct faculty member at Golden Gate, as well as the Associational Director for the Valley Rim Association of Churches.

For more information, or to find a LeaderCare Facilitator near you call (800) 678-0648.

CONTACT ROGER DANIELS, MA, MDIV, DMIN Vice President New Life Counseling rdaniels@abcs.org (800) 678-0648 newlifeaz.org

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GET IN TOUCH STATEWIDE OPERATIONS Southern Arizona (800) 678-0648

STEVE HANNA

Executive Director hanna@abcs.org

CHRIS CHAN

Assistant Executive Director chan@abcs.org

CURT GARNER

Executive Vice President of Finance cgarner@abcs.org

New Life Transitional Program

MAKING LIFE CHANGES ONE STEP AT A TIME Deciding to make healthy changes in your life can be scary. Participants in the New Life Transitional Program get to experience that first hand as they make serious changes one step at a time. Below are stories written by two of NLTP participants about their experience starting the program and what they have gotten out of it so far. We are so proud of each participant making brave choices to better themselves and their families.

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

ANDREA STUART

“Coming into the program I was very nervous and scared. I didn’t know what to expect.

I knew I would have to open up and share personal things about my life, but I also knew this is what I needed to get my life back on track. I have only been in the program since August, but it has changed me so much.

MICHELLE CLEMENTS

My teachers and counselor have been great, but the main person that has given me the most hope and good advice has been my mentor. She is great listener and has been there for me, helped me to achieve my goals and lifted my spirits. She is like a sister to me, and I thank God for sending her to me.

Executive Vice President of Staff Services and Care stuart@abcs.org

Director of Development & Communications Program Administrator Central Arizona mclements@abcs.org (602) 346-2300

ELAINE GASTON

Program Administrator Eastern Arizona egaston@abcs.org (928) 536-4760

BYRON REINER

Program Administrator Northern/Northwest Arizona breiner@abcs.org (928) 308-1774

SHERYL VAN HORN

Program Administrator Southwest Arizona svanhorn@abcs.org (928) 726-5568

CONTACT DESIREE GOODWIN Director New Life Transitional Program dgoodwin@abcs.org (800) 678-0648

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Transitional

This program has taught me how to forgive and how to move forward. I love all of my classes, and the homework is great. My goals include finding a decent house for my kids and a part time job so I can provide for them. I know I can achieve my goals with a lot of hard work, prayer and my faith in God.”

LETTING GO OF THE PAST & MOVING FORWARD “On the first day of seeing if I was going to be accepted into the program I remember being greeted with a smile from the receptionist, Stacy. The director made me feel welcomed too as she explained the program to me. I hadn’t been in this type of program before but it felt like it would be a good outcome for my family. NLTP has been great and has given me a better understanding of myself, my relationships and God. I have a stronger sense of self- worth since I started the program.

The curriculum used for the program is informative and has helped me grow. If there is something hard to understand, the teachers and other clients in the program help one another in an atmosphere of equality and encouragement.

As part of the program, every client gets a counselor and a mentor. My counselor has been great since she is not the stuffy, serious counselor I have had in the past, and my mentor is like talking to a good friend. The transitional program has been a Godsend to me.”