August Campus Update

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“Let them eat cake!”  Well, in this instance, it was pie.  Mmm, mmm, good!  Our residents have been working all summer in their cooking class making all sorts of good food.  Our school staff has been teaching the kids the “ins and outs” of how to cook.  Every so often, the rest of the staff would get to reap the benefits and partake in the different goodies they created.  My favorite was pie day!  It was announced that the kids were going to be making desserts in class and they needed us to pick which one we wanted from a list and it would be delivered.  The choices were sugar cream pie, blueberry cream pie, red/white/blue layer cake, and apple pie with carmel drizzle.  Even though this was a hard choice for some, I immediately ordered a piece of the blueberry cream pie. 

As we all settled in to our work day, we set aside the idea of pie.  Then, what a treat when the whole class and teachers waltzed through the Administration Building holding trays of prewrapped pie, wearing their aprons and gloves!  The staff waited patiently in their doorways for the kids to give them their selected item.  I felt like a kid at Christmas because my office was at the very end of the hallway and I had to wait my turn. J 

Finally, the kids made their way to my office and I saw my beautiful piece of blueberry cream pie sitting in the middle of the tray.  The kids were all smiles to see how excited we were.  They laughed as I tore open the saran wrap and stuck my finger in the middle of my pie for a quick taste.

Why am I telling you this?  First, I used to be a houseparent for many years and I knew that even the smallest things are important in the eyes of a child.  Whether they are 17 or 12, these kids are sponges for positive feedback on things they have accomplished.  I wanted them to know I cared.

Second, I wanted you to know that all of us here at Shults-Lewis are safe and having as much fun with the kids as we can, in any way that we can, to help them stay focused on their goals and accomplishments before they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

So, please keep the kids and our staff in your prayers as we get ready to move on to our Fall Semester.  Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your love.

For the kids,

Lissa Baldwin Development Director        

Faith. Family. Future.   

July Campus Update

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COVID-19 – A word we are all tired of hearing.  It has invaded our lives and intruded on everything we do.  As the world tries to find its “new normal”, the staff at Shults-Lewis would like to send out a HUGE thank you. 

We thank all of the people who have been on the frontlines dealing with this day after day; trying to keep everyone calm and giving us hope.  

We thank everyone in education who have worked tirelessly to get our kids through the rest of the school year, graduate our seniors, and work even harder to prepare all students for the fall. 

We thank everyone who has transitioned to working from home so our businesses can continue to operate. 

In general, we want to thank everyone out there for everything you have done to help each other during COVID-19.  “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” –John 15:12

COVID-19 was not the only struggle we at Shults-Lewis had to face these past few months.  For those of you who were unaware, our beloved friend and coworker, Beth Frump passed away on April 5th due to natural causes.  Beth was the face of Shults-Lewis and loved our kids with a passion.  Shults-Lewis would like to thank all of you out there who sent cards of encouragement, called to check on us, or made donations in memory of Beth.  We needed you and, as always, you were there for us.

The Development Team is working together to fill some very big shoes (or to those who really knew her well, flip flops).  And even though we will never be able to BE Beth, we can certainly follow her Christian example of hospitality and unconditional love. 

So, again, we say thank you.  Continue to pray for our agency, this mission, and most importantly, our kids.

Stay safe.  Stay healthy.

Lissa Baldwin                          Kiana Baldwin                         Hannah Baldwin

Development Director            Dev. Assistant                          Dev. Assistant       

Faith. Family. Future.      

March Campus Update

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February.  Of course we are going to talk about Valentine’s Day!  Did you get the opportunity to do anything amazing for the Hallmark holiday? Glenn & Angela Robertson hosted a Valentine’s dinner for the staff and kids.  We had an awesome Italian dinner and played Valentine’s Scategories.   I must admit there were some very creative answers.  Something you do not want to receive for Valentine’s Day starting with the letter “L”.  Lettuce.  How about starting with the letter “S”?  Surgery.  Lots of fun and laughter as we celebrated together.

It’s not polite to share a lady’s age.  So I’ll just say we celebrated Ms. Sherry’s “ZERO” birthday this month.  Sherry has been a part of the Shults-Lewis family her entire life as her mother was the cook here back in our early years.  Sherry also worked in Development for many years as an office manager, and currently, she helps with our food ordering.  We are so blessed to have her as part of our family.

As part of our on-going training for our direct care staff, we have been diving into TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention).  This is a trauma-informed, connection building training that empowers our staff to meet the complex needs of our kids.  We are so blessed to have Jon O’Keefe, our Program Director, as a trainer of this program.  As we say around campus, “more tools for the toolbox” as we continue to strive to offer the best care for our kids!

In February, we placed another young man in Home #7.  As always, I ask you to pray for his transition into our program!  We are truly blessed to be able to work with these amazing kids!  We would love to serve more kids, but we need houseparents in order to do that!  And as mentioned above, our houseparents are given training and tools in order to help understand and help meet the needs of kids.

Also, be prayerful of the Phone Campaign happening this month.  Please pray for our volunteers, donors as they make their prayerful decision regarding donations for 2020, and for the development staff, as we spend a lot of time traveling throughout the month!

Thank you for your prayers and your support!

For the kids,

Beth Frump,  Development Director 

February Campus Update

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Have you seen the meme? The one that says something like “Today is the 3,652nd day of January”? I completely feel that. The rest of the year FLIES so quickly, that when January arrives, with its calm, less chaotic schedule, it feels to drag on forever. That being said, January was still full of changes and progress at Shults-Lewis.


We placed two new girls and a new boy this month. Please pray for them as they begin their journey with us. It is always a challenge to adjust to a new environment.


Kim & Fred Lucas have shifted into Home #7 to fill the role of full-time boys’ houseparents. We are grateful for their willingness to adjust to the role we need them in, and for the staff who are filling into our relief roles while we search for houseparents. PLEASE be prayerful for this. We NEED houseparents!!!


Last month, Mike Zandstra, our Science teacher, resigned and headed back “home” to Michigan. He and his wife, Jen, have been part of the Shults-Lewis family for many years, working here the last 12. We will miss him, but we know he is doing what is best for his immediate family. Pray for the Zandstras as they are dealing with the move and Mike is starting a new teaching position.


I was on the phone with a dear friend this week, and we were talking about mission work. The world is a HUGE place with so many opportunities. However, we discussed, that sometimes we miss the mission field right in our back yards. We can sometimes miss the opportunities because they come in ways we don’t expect, and not looking like what we expect. Mission work may come disguised as being a houseparent at Shults-Lewis, a therapist, a teacher, or principal. I cannot emphasize enough that we need missionaries. We need help. The amount of families and children we can help is limited because of our limited number of staff.


Thank you for your prayers and your support!
For the kids,

Beth Frump,
Development Director

January Campus Update

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THREE KIDS! Three of our kids left our program successfully in December. They’ve already ‘friended” and “added” me on social medias. One of the girls who left had actually worked part-time in development over the last few months. I sent her a message that I already miss her! I’m so excited for her and the others as they are moving forward with their lives, but I definitely miss them when they leave here. Please pray for all of them as they transition back to home and school.


Christmas was amazing here! Our kids were blessed with fantastic gifts from various congregations and local organizations. They were all so excited to tell me about their Christmas goodies that they were practically talking over each other to let me know about their gifts. Holidays can be difficult for our kids because it can bring up past traumas and issues regarding separation from their families. And while it is NOT about the gifts, for them to see and understand that people (YOU) are supporting them and loving them because of your love for the Father, is incredible. Thank you!!


In December we contracted someone for our accounting. I am so grateful we were able to find someone to help us with those accounting tasks as I knew that I could not continue working in both roles for 2020. Stephanie comes to us from Valparaiso and is a CPA, and is already fitting in with our staff. We still have empty offices that need filling—Therapist, Principal, Houseparents, Teachers. Please continue to pray and pass along the word that we need staff!


I love new calendars and new planners and new To Do lists….I get so excited about planning the year ahead of us. I just can’t wait to see what God is going to do in 2020! Have you marked the calendar for all of our events for 2020?!?!


March is our Phone for Children Campaign.


Sunday, May 31st is Day of Prayer & Giving for Shults-Lewis.


Friday, June 12th is our Annual Golf Tournament


Saturday, September 19th is our Annual Day/Open House Day


I am constantly amazed by the way God works through YOU to bless the children and staff of Shults-Lewis. Thank you so very much!
For the kids,


Beth
Beth Frump, Director of Development

December Campus Update

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I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with football…oh, and family & friends. Seriously, I do hope that you were able to spend some time with people who you love and cherish. Holidays can be a difficult time for our kids, as most of them do not have great memories of family gatherings. I am truly thankful for our houseparents who go the extra mile to help our kids feel at home and safe during the holiday season.


During this month, we will have several kids transitioning back home or onto their next step. Please pray for them as many of them are getting anxious and concerned, as anyone would. We know they have the skills to be successful and they know that we are here for them anytime they need us.


November brought our Annual Staff Appreciation Dinner. The board brought the dinner on campus with an amazing meal cooked by Jon & Tim Miller (you may have tasted their amazing chicken on Annual Day). It was a relaxing evening with great entertainment and fun. The Board awarded the Board of Trustees Award to Jim & Irene Gordon for their years of services and continued support of Shults-Lewis. I found myself speechless as Angela Robertson, Executive Director, chose me for the Service to Children Award. I work with an amazing staff, all of whom are deserving of that award. I am truly humbled and grateful for the award and for the ability to continue to serve this incredible ministry.


Mrs. Terhune took our Star Students bowling in November. They “forgot” to take pictures, but claim they had some high scores. Not sure I believe that one, but I do know they had a great time.


Franky and Tosha Penney moved away in November. While we miss them, we know they will do an awesome job of reflecting Jesus to kids in Ohio. They are forever part of the Shults-Lewis family!


Their departure has left us with an empty home. Please continue to be in prayer for us for staffing needs. Not only for houseparents, but we have several positions that need filling: Therapist, Principal, Teachers. Please don’t skim over that. Please pray for us as we search and share with others that we need staff. Years ago, we were visiting a congregation who is VERY active with us, who does a lot for us and with us. While there, it was mentioned that we needed a staff person, and someone said, “Wait! You need a teacher? I’m a teacher!” I need you, my friends, to share our need for staff.


Thanks for all you do for the kids!


I pray you have an awesome holiday season!


For the kids,

Beth Frump, Director of Development

November Campus Update

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Oh how I wish you were standing in my office at the end of the month when I ask the Development Team, “What all did we do this month? So I can share with my Helping Hands!” Because Kiana’s response today was “it was a whirlwind of chaos”. Though those aren’t quite the words I would use; she’s not wrong.


We were blessed to have a group from Greenfield, Indiana come visit. They brought amazing treats for our kids, and gifts for our homes. After providing pizza for lunch, they helped by working in the pantry. We truly appreciate our time with them! As always, you are invited to come visit campus anytime. Or schedule a time to bring a group to see campus, enjoy a meal with the kids & staff, and if you have some extra time, there’s always projects around campus that could use your help.


I was blessed to be a part of a ladies’ day in Adrian, Michigan. What an incredible day! We truly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know you all better! Please add us to your invite list when you have events at your congregation. While we can’t always make it to everything, we love the opportunity to spend time with you!!


The kids had an awesome time for Spirit Week! We had Bad Hair Day (don’t tell them, but on some of them, it looked kinda normal :), Nerd Day (our teachers really got into that day!), Hat Day, and Costume Day. The kids painted pumpkins for the Pumpkin Decorating Contest, and as usual, they were AWESOME! On Halloween, the teachers provided an awesome meal of treats—Mummy Dogs, Veggies shaped into a Pumpkin, cupcakes with melting ghosts, it was yummy!!


Please continue to pray for us as we seek out staff members. While we are utilizing a wonderful contracted counselor for our kids, we really need to find a full-time therapist on-campus. We are also needing a Principal, an English Teacher, and Director of Operations. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry or know someone who may be, please let us know. Word of mouth is usually the best way to find staff!! You could be the answer we are looking for, or know who is!!


While October was a crazy busy month, we all know that this month and next can be even more insane with all the amazing activities that are happening. So before we get too far into the holiday season, I would like to take a moment to thank you for all you do for our kids and staff. I pray that you have the most incredible holiday season and I am looking forward to an awesome 2020 with you!

For the kids,
Beth
Beth Frump, Director of Development

October Campus Update

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September is always a blur for me. I try every year to soak up every moment, but somehow, it just goes too quickly.


We start September off with the Malden Labor Day Parade. This little parade that goes from the corner of our road (325 South) down ¾ of a mile to 400 South, back over to 150 East (½ mile, at most), and back down to right in front of our campus (corner of 325 S & 150 E) has grown into quite an event. We drive the truck in the parade, tossing out invites to Annual Day attached to candy and Frisbees. Anyway, this year, I think all of Malden PLUS a majority of Valparaiso was sitting alongside the road. And this is what I love, as we throw out our invites and the kids scramble for the candy, the parents say “See you at the garage sale”. You see, our Annual Day Garage Sale is huge in our community! Not only do they donate towards it, they shop it every year! The parade is such an awesome way for us to continue to show our mission, God’s light, in our little corner of Indiana.


After the Labor Day Parade, the Sojourners begin arriving. Oh, how we love our Sojourners. They are the reason Annual Day is ready on time every year. Without them, I’d be in trouble. They set up the garage sale, do many maintenance projects in preparation for the day, and as the tents arrive, they put up all the tables, chairs, signs, etc. to prepare for our perfect day! And while I appreciate them so much for all of their selfless, tireless work, the real reason we love them coming is the extra “grandparent” love they share with our kids….and our staff.


Annual Day arrived and was perfect. We had some hiccups and some rain, but no one seemed to mind. We laughed together. We ate together. We shopped together. We raised money for the children at Shults-Lewis. You’ll read more about that in the November Telegram.


We had one girl leave our program in September as she headed onto the next phase of her life. She calls often and tells us how much she misses us, but she’s doing really well! Keep praying for her. As she left, we placed two new girls and two new boys. With 3 full-time homes and one relief, we are able to continue to help more kids and families which is incredible.


We still need some staff members though. One is Director of Operations—basically accounting. Currently, I’m trying to wear both hats while we find someone, and as much as I don’t mind filling in, we need someone who can focus on it full time and allow me to get back to raising fun…I mean, fundraising.  Who do you know that loves accounting and who would love to come be a part of this ministry?!


We are also still looking for a full-time counselor. We have a contracted counselor who is great, but we really need someone on staff. Finally, we still need a Principal. As much as I love seeing Vickie on campus again, she deserves to enjoy her retirement. She’s an amazing woman who continues to serve this ministry in HUGE ways. All positions come with a competitive salary, retirement, and benefit package. And beyond that, you get to be a part of a ministry who is striving to serve God by serving His children.


For the kids,

Beth Frump, Director of Development

September Campus Update

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“Ms. Beth, I need the Campus Updates to mail!” I responded, “Yes, I know, but what happened in August.” “Well…” as she glanced at the calendar, “You had a vacation, we had a group, and the rest of the days were just….normal?” with a little shrug on the word “normal”.


Over the last several months, we’ve had so much happening with visiting groups and staff changes that each day was full to capacity with activity. And while not every day in August was full of chaos, there was still a million awesome things happening on campus every day. Sometimes, it takes me a moment to sit and think about all the everyday things that make this ministry work and function to help me remember it’s not always the BIG stuff.


For instance, today the Development Staff is working hard on preparing for YOUR visit on Annual Day (Saturday, September 21st). Sojourners are here getting things all set up for the garage sale on Annual Day. It’s going to be an awesome day!


The social services team have placed four new kids into our program over the last few weeks. They are busy with paperwork, getting the kids settled, and continuing to interview more kids for placement.


The maintenance staff is working on the air conditioning in Homes 3 & 4, mowing the lawn, testing fire alarms, getting vehicles maintained, fixing washers and dryers, and so much more.


The teachers are working with the kids in the classrooms. They are teaching, sharing, and helping our kids grow academically. They are patiently working with kids who are so far behind in school (11th grader who doesn’t know their multiplication tables!) and meeting their educational needs and striving to get them to where they should be.


Houseparents are busy in the homes. They are meal prepping, menu writing, filling out paperwork, and preparing for their evenings. They work diligently at being proactive during the day so that they can fully focus on the children in the evenings, helping with homework, listening to each child share about their day, and being an example and providing a Christian home environment for our kids.


And all the support staff are busy getting five billion things done, always several steps ahead of what needs to be done, and always being the support the administrators need.


It is amazing how as each person does their specific role to the best of their abilities that we form this awesome ministry. How amazing that I am so blessed to work with all of this incredible people—from James, putting away those commodities, to Angela, our Executive Director—and together, we are changing the world, one child at a time!


THANK YOU!!!


For the kids,

Beth Frump, Director of Development

August Campus Update

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I was having one of those days where I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. The “To Do” list seemed too long, the day too short. The meetings were eating my day and I just couldn’t find a moment to even think. It was at that moment I looked up and read one of my favorite verses, “Be Still and Know that I AM” (Psalm 46:10) and so I did. I went outside and sat down on a picnic table and just took some time away from it all.


As I did, I began to look around our beautiful campus! Have you been to campus? If not, COME TO CAMPUS. But there I sat on newly painted picnic table (thank you, Wheeler Road Youth Group), looked at the castle that Florissant Youth Group created for our goats, and simply enjoyed how amazing our campus looked (thank you, Plymouth).


July was BUSY! We had amazing youth groups and chaperones who truly worked tirelessly on every task we placed before them with no complaints, including mucking the goat barn! Besides all of the hard work, we played 9-Squre and Left Right Center, enjoyed the No Fun Color Run, bonfires with S’mores, played Ping-Pong, shared many meals, Oreos, and ice cream, and simply enjoyed being with our family.


We had two kids successfully complete our program and move on. We are so proud of them and their accomplishments. We are already hearing back from them about how they are doing and so far, they are doing great! Continue to pray for them as they will both be entering school this month and that can be a difficult transition for our kids.


It should be on your calendar to come visit us on our Open House, we call it Annual Day, on Saturday, September 21st. While you are welcome any time, this is a perfect opportunity to see campus, enjoy some amazing entertainment and eat some of the best food you will ever taste! Come see me!


Thank you for being a part of this ministry! Thank you for ALL you do for the kids, their families, and the staff of Shults-Lewis. We are blessed!

For the kids,

Beth Frump, Director of Development