Archive for category: Monthly Updates

Well, it finally happened.  Our campus was breached by COVID.  Being understaffed, it made it that much harder when staff started getting COVID.   But, with God’s help, we pulled together as we usually do and made everything work.  We used some of our office workers and a teacher, to take turns watching one of our boys for a few days in one of our closed Homes until houseparents were in the clear from COVID.   

During all of that, our Board of Trustees and our Administrators made the decision to cancel Annual Day again this year.  It was a hard decision but with the lack of staff and some of them getting COVID, we just couldn’t put an event this big together with so few people.  We also had to consider our sojourners.  Our sojourners consist of retired folks connected with the churches of Christ that travel the country in their RVs and volunteer their time to helping places like ours prepare for events or just help with general upkeep needs.  We did not want to put them, our amazing vendors, or YOU in harm’s way.

During this trying time, we closed campus for 10 days for quarantine to ensure the safety of the staff and kids.  Today is our first day back and, even though we are all wearing masks, it was so good to see our previously sick staff being able to attend meetings and just saying hello.

On a good note, we are placing another female resident today.  We ask that you keep her and her family in your prayers as they make this transition. 

Stay safe, stay healthy,

 Lissa Baldwin, Development Director

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST

-School Secretary                    -Administrative Assistant                    -School Principal

-Director of Operations          -Teacher                                              -Social Services Staff

-Counselor/Therapist              -Houseparents                                     -Executive Director

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Shults-Lewis staff have been busy this summer. Our kids have been working hard on their goals as well as their schoolwork which has paid off. Some of our kids are transitioning to go home this summer. Please pray for them as they take these next steps. And please pray for the kids that are on our waiting list to come here. Since the Zandstras came back to be houseparents, we can now open our boys’ Home again!

The staff have been shuffling around to cover work until we get more staff. Housedad, Don Jones, stepped in to help teach until Mike Zandstra could get trained and take over as teacher. Angela Robertson, Executive Director, and her husband Glenn, Maintenance Supervisor have been taking turns with the Baldwin family to pick up commodities while Don is teaching. We want to thank all of our churches and our “special helpers” for gathering commodities for our kids and helping us load the van this summer.
But, we haven’t been the only ones who have been working hard this summer. We had 2 groups come out to campus and work to get our campus ready for Annual Day. We thank Naperville group from Illinois and Green Valley groups from Indiana, we had an awesome time with them!

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST
-School Secretary -Administrative Assistant -School Principal
-Director of Operations -Teacher -Social Services Staff
-Counselor/Therapist -Houseparents

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As always, please keep us in your prayers and thank you for all you do for this ministry!

Gerald and Phyllis Frump are asking a favor. Since they were unable to have a service or funeral of any kind after Beth’s passing, the Frumps would like you all to do something special. Beth did not like funerals at all, but she did love celebrating her birthday. Gerald and Phyllis would like all of you who may want to find a little closure, to celebrate Beth’s life sometime during her birthday month of June. The Frumps send their love to all of you out there and thank you for your prayers and support over the last year.

On another note, Shults-Lewis will be naming their Hospitality House the “Beth Frump Hospitality House”. We feel that is appropriate since Beth’s hospitality for anyone who came to our campus was nothing less than amazing. We will be holding a short dedication during Annual Day Saturday, September 18. The Frumps ask that you come join us for the ceremony. We have missed you all and would love to see you there.
Many thanks and blessings from the Frump Family and Shults-Lewis!

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST
-School Secretary -Administrative Assistant -School Principal

-Director of Operations -Teacher -Social Services Staff

-Counselor/Therapist -Houseparents

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  Well, we finally got some snow, and since the residents haven’t been able to go in to town much, it was fun for them to get outside and just play.  Housedad, Don Jones, and 2 of the residents in that Home decided to build a snowman (who is clearly an advocate for Shults-Lewis judging by his facemask). J  The kids had a great time as did Mr. Jones. 

We also celebrated a resident birthday!  Quinn turned 17 so her parents decided to buy pizza for everyone in honor of her birthday.  Thank you!!  There were several kinds of pizza, bread sticks, wings, and dessert.  Even though we have to social distance, we find creative ways to enjoy a good lunch. J  And the girls had no problem posing for a quick pic.  Thanks ladies!

We have also been working on connecting more with our community.  We had a community member call us to say she had read an article somewhere about group homes needing items.  She then looked up group homes in her area and found Shults-Lewis.  After speaking with her for a while, we found out she was in a local running group and other members of that group wanted to join in the fun.  Needless to say, after a bit of discussion and planning, our residents each received a brand new piece of luggage, gym outfits for school, pillows, and sheet sets.  We are grateful for our new connections with our community!

Until next month, stay safe!

The staff & kids at

Shults-Lewis                       

We like to try to update you all, as much as possible, on what’s going on with the kids. But since Beth passed away and COVID hit, we have received a tremendous amount of support and encouragement from all of our donors and those of you who simply continue to pray for us. We have so many people checking in on us that we just wanted to take a second and let you know how the staff is doing since the pandemic has changed our lives and Beth stepped out of our lives.

Beth was a busy person but she had a sense of humor that kept a certain energy going throughout campus. So, we have been attempting to fill that void…..sometimes, successfully, sometimes….yeah, not so much.

Whether it’s Angela walking about campus in her “COVID SUIT” or me having “coffee with Beth”, the laughter is slowly coming back. Without our groups on campus, the maintenance staff has been putting in long hours to give the front of our Admin Building a fresh look. And since my office is on the front side of the building, Glenn has no problem banging on my window to give me a little scare. And Kiana just copes by capturing a picture of how she is feeling each day. 🙂

Cathy and Don, houseparents, have been keeping the kids busy in the garden and creating “art”. But the days are usually started off with chapel and a corny joke that Marci finds for our announcements. All of this to say, we are healing. God is watching over us and all of you are praying for us……and we feel it. Thank you for going the extra mile for this agency.

For the kids,

Lissa Baldwin
Development Director