Spring 2020 Pulse

PULSE

The reality of the current Stay Home order in Michigan has hit us pretty hard. We don’t like the “new normal” that we are forced to live, and we continue to talk through this to help all of us understand it better. We don’t like it! We don’t like not seeing our friends and family! We miss interacting with you and having volunteers interact with us. But, you know what, it’s okay for us to not like this current situation. We all know that if we stick to this we are going to come out okay in the end.

Soon, we can be together as a community without having to be six feet apart. We can play games with friends and visitors, and we can gather to worship together. In the meantime, we must all do our part to partner with each other as we nurture our faith, practice proper social distance, and maintain as best we can the strong sense of community that David’s House provides. Most importantly, we go forward knowing that our God is faithful and our God is in control in all things.

We pray that this newsletter finds you and your family healthy and well. We know this situation has created stress in several areas for families. Please know that you are being prayed for daily – and sometimes multiple times during the day – by our staff and the residents of David’s House. We are so thankful for you.

SPRING 2020

What’s Inside Letter from the President PAGE 2

Letter from the Chaplain PAGE 4

Resident & Staff Spotlight PAGE 5

Remembering Kevin PAGE 7

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Casey Kuperus, President

As I write this, today is the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This is a time of waiting as Christians wait to celebrate our Savior’s resurrection from his death on Good Friday. It seems as of late, we are doing a lot of waiting. Since Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order on March 14, which placed restrictions on organizations like David’s House (with good reason), we have all been waiting for a time for life to return to normal. We miss having the opportunity to visit with family and loved ones, to congregate together and celebrate, and to simply be out in the community in our volunteer or work sites. And yet, we know that this waiting is part of a larger plan to keep everyone at David’s House safe and healthy. To date, we rejoice in the fact that none of the residents have COVID-19 symptoms. We are thankful for the prayers of many, and for the faithful staff that continues to work every single day.

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Though this is not the plan we would’ve laid out, we continue to place our trust in the fact that God’s plan for David’s House is one that continues to bring hope for the future, just as Christ’s death on Good Friday brought us our hope. I imagine that it was difficult for Jesus’ disciples to envision that hope on Good Friday as well.

Earlier this year, David’s House also lost one of its founders, Lois DeBoer.

Lois and Jay began David’s House over 33 years ago with a simple plan of providing a loving, Christian home for their son David and nine other men.

At the time, that was their simple plan…..one home for their son. Over 30 years later, God has expanded that plan to provide a home for 43 individuals in five homes on our campus, and also serving nine additional women in two homes offsite. Jay and Lois have often shared that this was not just their work or plan, but God’s plan to continue to expand and bless this ministry at the right times and in the right ways.

We are ever thankful that Lois and Jay took this step in God’s plan to begin David’s House many years ago. We are also thankful that we can openly serve a Savior that died for us and that we know holds a greater plan for us as well despite the difficulties we are now living through.

Thank you for your continual prayer and financial support.

Casey Kuperus, President

1925 - 2020

Upcoming Events Summer Concert Series - June 16,

June 30, July 14, July 28, August 11 and August 25

Walk-A-Thon - September 12th Giving Tuesday - December 1st 2

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Jake Sanford

Jake Sanford is a seventh grader at Forest Hills Central Middle School. He began serving at David’s House as a way to meet the Citizen in Community badge requirement for Boy Scouts.

This 8-hour badge goes towards Jake’s goal of becoming an Eagle scout. When asked why David’s House, Jake replied “I chose David’s House because I wanted something different. We do a lot of service projects with other organizations in the community and I wanted to serve a population that no other Scouts had worked with.” Due to Jake’s involvement, his parents and sisters have also come to volunteer at David’s House. His Scout Troop will also be visiting David’s House to volunteer soon.

Jake’s favorite memory is the first time he came to David’s House because everyone was so friendly and welcoming. He has learned that even though we all have struggles, together we can do great things! He mentioned, “We are all the same and God loves us all. Joel has taught me to whistle, David has taught me joy, Jimmy taught me kindness and Crystal taught me friendliness.”

Thank you to Jake for becoming a part of our family at David’s House.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, and participants who helped us raise over $100,000!

Tulip Sponsors:

SPRING GALA

Our annual Spring Gala was scheduled to take place on March 23. Ten days before the scheduled date, we were told to cancel events and we promptly switched to a new date in May. As COVID-19 continued to spread and the stay home order continued to expand we made the difficult decision to move our entire event to an online auction/gala. While this presented some challenges, it ended up being fun and hopefully, those who participated felt so as well. The result -- Due to the generosity of our sponsors and friends we raised over $100,000. This was less than we would have raised had the gala been held in person, but in times of uncertainty, this is a tremendous blessing.

We shared multiple videos online and on our social media pages that were similar to what we would have shared at the Gala. If you haven’t seen them yet, we hope you find time to check them out. We had a wonderful donor give $25,000 as a challenge to all our supporters to join in supporting us during these unique times. We hope you will prayerfully consider if you can join that challenge at this time.

Table Sponsors:

Terry & Barbara Burlingame Dan & Nancy DeJong Gwen Heys In Memory of Lois DeBoer Clyde & Cheryl Sarver David & Anne Cobb AJACS Selah Counseling Baruch Senior Ministries Dan Vos Construction Oosterheert Brothers Siding Co. CareLinc Medical Equipment Boonstra Electric & Plumbing Casey & Laura Kuperus Greg & Beth Vander Goot Express Employment Professionals In Memory of John Monk K&H Concrete Cutting

NEW FACES

Todd, House 1

Haley, Willow Tree Lodge

A LETTER FROM OUR CHAPLAIN This just might be the best “job” in the world! That’s what I tell myself about serving as the chaplain at David’s House Ministries. Being a part of David’s House is like being a part of one big, loving family!

How wonderful to be a part of the ministry here where the love of Christ is clearly evident and staff and caregivers exhibit a true servant’s heart in the love they have for the precious folks who call David’s House “Home Sweet Home.”

My weekly visits are designed to offer support, guidance, friendship, encouragement, and biblical counsel to staff and residents. Each month I host our “Resident Encouragement Group” meeting which is an interactive time of spiritual growth and allows opportunity to share ideas and opinions. Residents are encouraged to support each other as well as show gratitude for their family members and caregivers. My goal is to help each resident realize God’s purpose for their lives as well as foster a sense of giving back to those who bless us each day.

Thank you for inviting me into “The Family” at David’s House I am truly blessed to be your sister in Christ.

Martha Riggs - Chaplain

Our 2020 Board of Directors Carl Dufendach Chairperson Mike Sherman Secretary Jim Townsley Treasurer Andy Schipper Dan Dafoe

Sheryl Boonstra Rod Jones Mike Worst Paul DeVries 4

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Crystal! She has an uncanny ability of remembering people’s names and birthdays. She is also amazing at the game “Name that Tune”.

One of Crystal’s favorite activities at David’s House is playing the card game Skip-Bo. She also enjoys a good “girl’s day”, shopping and going out for lunch with staff and friends. Her favorite foods are stir-fry and tacos (but only with hard shells!).

When asked what she loves about David’s House, Crystal said, “The people. I feel like I have a whole other family here to love me.” Crystal is such a sweet, tender-hearted person. Her smile could light up any room and can turn a bad day into a good one!

Fun Fact: If Crystal could have any superpower, it would be the ability to make people who irritate her disappear for a little while! (I think we all have felt this, especially lately!)

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Craig is super fun to work with, and you can tell he cares for both his teammates and the residents. Craig has worked at House 2 for just over 4 years now. One of his favorite things about working at David’s House is being able to work with the residents, and it definitely shows through the relationships he has built with them. The residents love him and enjoy joking around with him. Craig is a huge U of M fan and loves joking around with Julie, a MSU fan.

Craig is a selfless person, and he’s always looking out for the people around him.

He will do anything needed for any of the residents at the drop of a hat, and he’s always working to support his teammates in the house. Craig is absolutely the kind of person you want to have on your team.

Fun Fact: If Craig could have any superpower, it would be teleportation. This way he could travel anywhere and see the world!

5

GIVE TO MINISTRY OR BLESS YOUR FAMILY? You Don’t Have to Choose

Often, people try to decide whether they should give to ministry or bless their loved ones. Did you know there’s a way you can do both?

Through a lifetime income gift, you can support the important mission of David’s House Ministries and secure steady income payments for you or your loved ones.

Most often, lifetime income gifts are used to provide ongoing income for an individual and/or their spouse. However, a lifetime income gift can also be used as a creative way to bless your parents, children or other individuals in need.

For example, John wanted to provide additional retirement funds to one of his faithful, long-term employees. He included a gift in his will that offers this employee steady payments until the time of her passing when the remainder will go toward ministry.

Another couple was concerned that when they go to be with the Lord, their children would receive a single large lump sum. Instead, they set up lifetime income gifts that will provide each of their children 20 years of steady income, after which their favorite ministries will be blessed.

Is a lifetime income gift the right charitable solution for your goals and situation?

Call Greg VanderGoot at 616-284-4383 or email gvandergoot@dhmin.org to learn more.

Other Ways to Support - Visit our Friends at Roots Brew Shop and purchase a bag of David’s House Blend Coffee - Visit smile.amazon.com to help earn David’s House money while you shop - Visit our Charity List on Amazon to purchase needed items and have them shipped directly to us - Leave David’s House in your will or contact us about a Charitable Gift Annuity - Support our sponsors and other businesses that support David’s House through a variety of fundraising activities - Visit our website and sign up to give a monthly gift www.dhmin.org/giving 6

Gifts in Honor of: Bekki L Crystal R David N Shori Teeple Kerry R Jimmy K

Gifts in Memory of:

Paula Treviso Rev. Howard Longcore Don & Evelyn Florinchi Taylor Andrews Greg Vander Goot Warren T Fred C

Alex Danigelis Lois DeBoer Aunt Peggy Dr. Ralph Rogers Glenn Heys Jim Devries

Kevin Heys Mary Latreille Ron Koning John Monk John Lameyer

REMEMBERING KEVIN Kevin joined the David’s House family in May 2011. It was a bittersweet time for Kevin, having the opportunity to move out on his own, and yet leaving his family home so shortly after his father’s passing.

Kevin was a remarkable man with a strong faith and a deep love of family. He enjoyed spending time with family, especially out at the family cottage soaking up plenty of sunshine, enjoying fun in the water, fishing, camping, and family vacations in Florida.

Kevin experienced physical challenges, but he never lost his sense of humor, his passion for the Detroit Tigers, Orlando Magic, or U of M sports teams.

Kevin enjoyed people. Kevin enjoyed being a greeter at Spectrum Hospital as well at Florentine’s Restaurant. Kevin also enjoyed playing card games with his housemates and family, particularly crazy eights.

Kevin had a huge impact on everyone he met, especially the staff that worked with him at House 3. Kevin had an incredible smile. He was kind, patient, caring, and thoughtful of others. Kevin enjoyed praying at the dinner table and at friendship club with his housemates and staff, always remembering to take his hat off first. Kevin’s favorite time in worship was singing. Even though his voice was soft he enjoyed singing praises to his Lord and savior.

Kevin is deeply missed by everyone at David’s House Ministries.

Written by Ruth Bonfiglio

2251 Hope Grove Ave SW Wyoming, MI 49509-1966

David’s House Ministries | www.dhmin.org

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PULSE SPRING 2020

616.247.7861