2013 Turning Points - July/August

Children At Heart Ministries Newsletter Vol. 7, No. 4 - July/Aug 2013

Loved as Your Own STARRY 他 Page 3

Success Stories You Make Possible

Inside: Miracle Farm 他 Getting Their Wings TBCH 他 Angry No Longer Gracewood 他 Legacy of a Church

Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

What Does Family Look Like?

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amilies come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors! My literal immediate family is comprised of my wife, daughter and son. On a bigger scale, I am blessed with a mother and father who will celebrate 50 years of marriage at the end of this year. I have a sister and her family.

I have known my four grandparents and still have one grandmother living who celebrated her 94th birthday earlier this year. And on an even larger scale, there is all of my wife’s family. When you put us all together, that’s a lot of family!

For some, family is a sports team, the folks we work with, a church, or the brotherhood found at the fire or police department. It could be a sorority, fraternity, a choir, or groups that go through a common event for a long period of time. On a very large scale, we are a part of a country – the American family. What a blessing to have the family heritage of a free country, 237 years old this summer, of men and women who have made this nation possible.

Also this summer, Texas Baptists celebrate the “Family Gathering” – the coming together of a mosaic of Baptists young and old from every imaginable walk of life from across the state, a family reunion in San Antonio that will celebrate who we are in Christ as we worship, fellowship and eat together. Children At Heart Ministries is a child of Texas Baptists; we are a grateful part of the family!

Vol. 7, No. 4 July/Aug 2013 Published for friends of

Children At Heart Ministries 1301 N Mays Round Rock TX 78664 (512) 255-3668 ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org Todd L. Roberson President/CEO On the cover: Sheehan family photo

by Tara Pottichen.

As a family of ministries, Gracewood, Miracle Farm, STARRY and Texas Baptist Children’s Home are direct care arms of Children At Heart, reaching out to children and families where family has come unraveled, or is nonexistent, or where it simply needs a helping hand and a listening ear. We are thankful for your willingness to be a part of our family – to make hope and healing possible for many children and families. You are making an impact not only today but on the children and families of future generations.

We want to keep in mind always the family blessing from Ephesians 3:14-21: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Gratefully,

Todd L. Roberson President/CEO www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

“ We are a family of Christian ministries that exists to honor God and build a better world by serving children and strengthening families.”

Home, Hope and Healing

Communications Office Bill Martin Director of Communications Danna Reeves Graphic Designer Ginger Swann Communications Coordinator Jordan Maney Communications Assistant Haley Smith Contributing Writer ©2013 Layout/Design by Danna Reeves Printing by Sunset Press, Inc.

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A Letter from Our President

Gracewood Don Forrester, President Debbie Rippstein, Executive Director 1617 Elmview, Houston TX 77080 (713) 988-9757 www.Gracewood.org Miracle Farm Don Forrester, President Alex Hamilton, Executive Director 10802 FM 2621, Brenham TX 77833 (979) 836-0901 www.MiracleFarm.org STARRY Don Forrester, President Richard Singleton, Executive Director 1300 N Mays, Round Rock TX 78664 (512) 246-4288 www.STARRYonline.org Texas Baptist Children’s Home Don Forrester, President Keith Dyer, Executive Director 1101 N Mays, Round Rock TX 78664 (512) 255-3682 www.TBCH.org

www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

Loved as Your Own

STARRY

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resh out of college, Ryan and Mandy Sheehan married and planned to have a family. However, what they didn’t know was how the Lord had planned for their family to look. After all three of their biological children were born, they gave away all of their infant clothes and baby items to friends – but it wasn’t long until they found themselves wanting another child.

“I really was done and felt complete with how my family was and the biological children we had,” said Mandy. “I know it was God that put the passion in my heart for babies.”

After talking with a friend who was fostering with STARRY and hearing great things about their experience, the Sheehans decided to become foster parents.

“There are so many kids out there who need a home and it seemed like a great opportunity to show love to a child who Sheehan family Maddie, Gabriel with Mandy, Ryan and Sydney and son, Tanner. needed it,” Mandy said.

In the past three years, they’ve had nine “We loved him and our kids loved him,” Ryan said. As a foster children, ranging in age from 3 days to 3 years old, family, they decided to make it official and Gabriel’s adoption placed in their home through STARRY. was finalized earlier this year. “Adopting a child was a blessing I “I love each of these foster kids just like I do my own didn’t even know I wanted,” said Mandy. children, even if we only have them for a short time,” said Through their foster care and adoption journey, the Mandy. “Regardless of how long it takes or what it entails, we’re Sheehans have seen many friends open their homes to here to love them just the same.” children in need. “It pushes a lot of people to think about this Becoming a foster parent can be an incredibly rewarding in a way they haven’t considered it before,” said Ryan. experience, but the journey it is not without struggle. “Foster Their older children have seen the direct effects of this care isn’t easy,” explained Ryan. “All the training you go through process, as well. is helpful, but none of it really, truly prepares you for your first “Fostering has opened many doors for our kids. They have placement.” friends who ask questions and open up easily in these kinds “Being a foster parent is a difficult job because of the time of conversations,” said Ryan. “They’re learning that they have it takes, the changes you have to make, and the emotional friends who’ve been adopted or who say they want to do struggle,” added Mandy. “At one point, I really started thinking something like foster care one day too.” that God had picked the wrong person for this job … but then With Gabriel’s adoption finalized, the Sheehans continue I started seeing each of these children get better, healthier, and to serve as a foster family and may even consider another happier. Getting to see them turn around makes it all worth it.” adoption. “I have no idea what God has in store,” said Mandy. “If “There is a healing aspect to foster care,” said Ryan. “You see God says to adopt again, we will. Our hearts are open.” the need, as overwhelming as it may be, and you get to help “The thing is, we have to do something because the need is fix it.” so great,” explained Ryan. “None of us can sit back and watch.

All of the foster children who have been placed in the So whatever stage of life you’re in, you can do something and Sheehan’s home have been reunited with their biological make a difference in the life of child, don’t count yourself out.” families, with the exception of Gabriel.

— Ginger Swann At 7 months old, Gabriel was placed in Ryan and Mandy’s home. “He became part of the family. Our older kids [ages 13, 12 and 10 years old] absolutely loved him,” said Mandy. When Gabriel’s case began moving toward adoption, Ryan and Mandy were presented with the chance to make him a part of their forever family. They knew this was an opportunity they couldn’t let pass.

www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

July/Aug 2013 | Turning Points

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Getting Their Wings

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MIRACLE FARM

ickey and Troy are very different personalities – Rickey is outgoing and Troy is reserved – but they share a common belief that even if you take the boy out of Miracle Farm, you’ll never take Miracle Farm out of the boy … or the man.

“This was the turning point in my life,” said Troy, 18. “This place helped me get my wings. I’ll take with me an all-go, cando attitude. I learned that here.”

Troy’s confidence is echoed by Rickey.

“I learned things that not just a young man would do, but what a man would do,” said Rickey, 17. “Miracle Farm changed my life and helped me become a Godly man.”

Troy arrived from East Bernard in June of 2010 and Rickey from Tomball five months later. This August, they will Rickey, right, pins Troy before A Day At Miracle Farm 2013, graduate together from the Farm’s onas Ranch Manager Mike Gallaway proudly looks on. campus high school.

Perhaps most impressively, both boys Rickey noted that all of the boys in his cottage are much were selected to carry the American flag at the annual younger than he is. “I tell them that what you were doing Miracle Farm open house, “A Day At Miracle Farm”, Rickey in before wasn’t working. Nobody here is going to change 2012 and Troy in 2013. There is no higher honor a Miracle you. It has to be God working through you.” He likes to cite Farm boy can receive.

Joshua 1:7 as a life verse for himself and guidance for other Both admitted that they would hardly recognize the boys. boys who arrived at the Farm three short years ago.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all “I was a young man who needed direction,” said Rickey. the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to “I was struggling to find out who I was and who I needed the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever to be.” you go.

He credited his house parents, Chris and Renda Welch, After graduation, Rickey plans to attend Blinn College with shaping his view of what the future might hold for to obtain an EMS certification, with plans to become him. “Words can’t express what they have meant in my life,” a firefighter. Troy has been participating in the HVAC he said. “Mr. Chris is an example of what a true man after vocational program and will pursue that while attending God’s heart is and is like a father to me.” college, then wants to become a Navy Seal.

“Miracle Farm really was a fresh start for me,” added Troy, “Troy has matured so much in his time at Miracle Farm,” who also praises the influence of his house parents, David said Executive Director Alex Hamilton. “He has become a and Gayla Jones. “My foundation was really shaky. I was like strong leader on campus and a young man that will make a a dog on a leash, fighting everything, because I wanted to positive difference in the world.” do what I wanted to do first. I was able to strip away the old “Rickey has overcome many obstacles to get to where foundation and level the house, then rebuild it.” he is today,” Alex added. “He is a picture of the power of Because they’ve been here longer than most of the God’s grace when combined with hard work.” other boys, Rickey and Troy find themselves looked up to as The boys have plans to pay forward all that’s been given role models. them.

“I don’t like to hold myself higher than anyone else,” ‘I’ve gotten multiple chances in life and if I can help said Troy, “but I try to lead through example. If there’s another young man in the future, that will help make sure I something that needs to be done, if I start doing it, pretty am a Godly person,” Rickey said. soon the younger guys will see what I’m doing and join in.

“I can’t imagine a time when I don’t come back to They learn that you need to lighten up and let the program Miracle Farm,” said Troy. “I got my wings here and I know do the work.”

God will want me to help somebody else get theirs.”

— Bill Martin

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www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

Angry No Longer

TBCH

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alm and composed, Megan wouldn’t seem like a teenager with any past trauma. But like most of the children at Texas Baptist Children’s Home, behind every smile is a story.

“When I first got here, I hated it. I hated that I had house parents. I hated that I had to live with other kids. I hated everything that happened to get me here. That’s all I felt because I was angry,” she said.

As she approached her high school graduation in June, Megan took time to reflect on her three years as a resident of TBCH’s Campus Life Program. Although she described her initial reaction as “difficult,” once she learned to open herself to what TBCH had to offer, she started to grow.

“No child wants to ever come to a place like this, so I was very unhappy at first. I was one of the older kids in my cottage and had this responsibility thrown on me to set an example.

I didn’t care about that. I wanted to do what I wanted to do, but I learned that’s not how a family works,” she said.

Megan found that once she took to being a role model, many of the younger kids in the program began to look up to her.

“They’ll ask me questions or for help just like a big sister. I didn’t like it at first, but now I know I’ll miss it,” she said.

Megan hopes to move on to the TBCH Independent Living program and work full-time for a year. Eventually she hopes to pursue a career in nursing.

“I’ve known for some time that I like taking care of people,” she said, “but the people here helped me believe I could actually do it.”

She cites the campus youth minister, her counselor and her house parents as just a few of the individuals who helped her grow and heal. Nancy Gage, Campus Life Supervisor, witnessed firsthand the positive effects on Megan.

“She is encouraged and is looking into a CNA job at a nursing home. As she matures, she is learning to lean on the support she has received through TBCH and others, and face the future with courage,” Nancy said. “The future can look pretty scary if you aren’t sure you’re capable of making it on your own, but we want her to know that she’s not alone, even after she leaves the Campus Life Program.”

“I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself, others and God here. It’s stuff I’ll use forever,” Megan said.

Megan knows her healing process will help her relate to and comfort children with similar circumstances in the future.

“That’s why I want to do nursing. I want to help people heal.

I can’t pay back everyone who’s helped me, but I think they’d be happy to see me share what I was given,” she said.

www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

Knowing that one chapter of her life is coming to an end; Megan is as excited about her future.

“When I think of how I felt when I came here and how different I am now, I get such a good feeling,” she stated. “My story’s just starting but I’ll always remember this place as a blessing.”

— Jordan Maney

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July/Aug 2013 | Turning Points

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Legacy of a Church

GRACEWOOD

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irst Baptist Church of Spring Branch in Houston may be disappearing, but it is leaving a legacy that will impact generations of families in its community through a new counseling program at Gracewood.

A large and vital church in the decades after it was founded in 1949, over the years First Baptist Spring Branch gradually became smaller and smaller.

“The community changes, people move out, the demographics change and we lost people to various controversies,” said Mary Linnenburg, a church member since 1959. “A core of us stayed, maybe because of our love for the church or maybe because we were just stubborn.

“We were an elderly congregation and when our pastors resigned, we realized that we did not have the energy to start over. We Gracewood Executive Director Debbie Rippstein accepts a $100,000 check from Laverne Graham and other members of First Baptist Church Spring Branch. had kind of been on life support for a number of years.” a counseling program that will serve the community. We also The church property, located less than two miles from want to be a resource to our community and our partner Gracewood’s Elmview campus, was sold, leaving the church churches who do not have counselors on staff and need a with a sizeable amount of money. place to refer members who need support.”

“It’s kind of ironic that for years we had a church but no Mary said the remaining members of the congregation, money and now we have no church but we have money,” Mary which is predominately female these days, were motivated said with a chuckle. by the knowledge that they would be helping women and After the sale was completed, a church committee was children. given the task of determining what to do with the cash. The “Most of our members are older,” she said. “We have had committee’s primary goal was to see that its financial gifts children and now have grandchildren and so we particularly would continue to have an impact on the Spring Branch can identify with a ministry that is helping them turn their lives community. around. The counseling program will contribute to the Spring They knew of Gracewood’s mission to give home, hope and Branch community and will leave a lasting legacy of First healing to single mothers and children because many church Baptist Church.” members had been volunteering at Gracewood for several Meanwhile, Gracewood is continuing to aggressively years. It started with one member who belonged to a garden pursue the additional funding needed to get the full club that helped with some landscaping. That grew to include counseling program open. Meanwhile, it recently introduced a providing monthly meals for residents, child care while moms new “Hope For Families” program that offers parenting classes attended Bible study, vacation Bible school activities, and and other services in the community. The ministry is already much more. accepting counseling referrals as time allows.

As the church committee considered options for giving “Our hope is that when people and churches see the away its money, they quickly settled on Gracewood as one investment First Baptist Spring Branch is making in the health of the beneficiaries. The committee made a $100,000 gift of the community, they will want to be part of it,” said Debbie. to provide seed money for a new community counseling “The need is great and the wonderful members of First Baptist program. have helped us take significant steps toward meeting it.”

“There are so many single mothers and their children who — Bill Martin either don’t qualify for our residential ministry or who we can’t To find out how you can support the counseling project, take in because we are at capacity,” said Debbie Rippstein, contact Josh Plumley, Director of Development for the Gracewood’s Executive Director.

“We had decided that they could be served if we could take Children At Heart Foundation at Gracewood, by phone at our services to them in a non-residential environment through (713) 988-9757 or by email at josh.plumley@cahgift.org.

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www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

Bradley-Legend House Dedication

Gracewood

Friends, family and supporters joined Gracewood in May to dedicate the new Bradley-Legend House on the Elmview campus in Houston. The 7,500 square foot home will house up to five single mothers and their families and also includes offices for the Gracewood staff. The project was a cooperative effort of HomeAid Houston and builder captain Legend Homes. It was named in honor of Jerry and Linda Bradley (retired President of Children At Heart Ministries) and Legend Homes.

Family Care Alumni Reunion Celebrating 34 years of serving moms and children

RSVP to Sandy Waley by July 19th (512) 246-4263 or Sandy.Waley@TBCH.org www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

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Sacrifice and Gratitude

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ay the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.

This verse from the second chapter of Ruth was spoken by Boaz, who had shown kindness to Ruth because of her sacrifice in leaving her family and her home to care for her mother-inlaw, Naomi.

It’s a story of great sacrifice and great gratitude.

I was reminded of the gratitude in the stories of the Sheehans, Rickey, Troy, Megan, and First Baptist Church Spring Branch in this Dawson Clark, CFRE, is Vice President and Chief Operating issue of Turning Points.

Each of these has such deep gratitude for Officer of the Children At Heart Foundation. You can reach him Children At Heart Ministries. And did you catch at (512) 246-4221 or email him that each of them has a strong commitment to at dawson.clark@cahgift.org. sharing all they’ve benefited with others who come behind them?

I hope that encourages you!

It’s not uncommon for those served in our ministries to recognize the great blessing they have received and to plan to pay it forward to others in need.

And that’s where the correlation to Boaz’s gratitude follows.

Building Better Lives for Single Mothers and Children

Children At Heart Foundation We so appreciate all who partner with us financially to provide the resources to serve the Gabriels, Megans, Rickeys, Troys and others who come to Children At Heart broken and wounded…often not knowing what they are looking for or where they’ll find it.

But they do find love and grace; redemption and salvation; healing and hope for their future.

So to all who pray for our ministries and for those we serve, we say thank you. To all who sacrifice financially to provide food, shelter, clothing and love in the 25 cottages, 50+ foster homes, dozens of counseling offices, and many community outreach ministries across our area…we echo Boaz’s words…

May the Lord, the God of Israel...reward you fully for what you have done!

We are all blessed to serve together. Come see us…you’ll be blessed even more as you do.

Blessings abundant, Dawson Clark Vice President and COO www.CAHFoundation.org

You or your Sunday School or mission group can help furnish the cottage for children and single mothers.

See our Wish List at www.FamilyCottage.info A new cottage is under construction for the Family Care ministry at Texas Baptist Children’s Home. It will be a place of hope and restoration for single mothers and their children.

It takes a lot to make a house a home, and you can help.

Everything from towels to sheets to kitchen items are needed to furnish the new Family Cottage. To make it easy for you to help, TBCH has set up wish lists at Target, JCPenney, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

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www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org