September Campus Udate

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“…Fall.  It makes me want to buy school supplies.  I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils” is a quote from a movie that always pops in my head during this time of year.  I was texting with a donor last night and she was organizing and cleaning which made me smile because I feel like everyone is doing that right now.  It must be the Fall.  Our kids started their Fall semester, newly sharpened pencils and planners all set for them.  We almost have a full teaching staff!!  Our veterans, Mike Zandstra, our Interim Principal teaching Math & Science, and Fathe Davis, teaching History, was joined by Maddi Nelson, housemom, who is a licensed Indiana teacher and is now teaching English, and Fred Lucas, housedad, is a teacher’s aide.  Prayers for our teachers and our students!

August brought us a lot of new friends as groups from Livonia (Michigan), Eagle Valley (Indianapolis, Indiana), Muscatine (Iowa), and Cloverdale (Indiana) came.  We have enjoyed meeting new people, making memories with each group that comes.  And words cannot express how much we appreciate the hard work they all have put in.  On a campus as large as ours, it is awesome to receive help with all the projects!

We are gearing up for Annual Day, Saturday, September 15th!  We have booths of food and crafts.

We have our awesome KidZone with inflatable Bounce House and Obstacle Course.  One congregation in IL is trying to organize more teen focused activities throughout the day.  We have our Benefit Auction.  And, we have the BEST Garage Sale in our gym.  Practically fills our entire gym.  Clothes.  Home Décor.  Furniture.  So much stuff!  Look forward to seeing you!!!

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For the children,

Beth Frump

Beth Frump, Director of Development

August Campus Update

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I just finished my “module” of training with our NEW HOUSEPARENTS, Kim & Fred Lucas.  What an awesome couple!  I can’t wait for you to meet them!  They come to us from Arkansas where they were houseparents at a Christian children’s home.  They wanted to move back to Indiana to be closer to their kids and grandkids.  They arrived mid-July and they truly just fit in.  They are an awesome blessing to our houseparenting staff!

 

We are still in need of houseparents as Derric & Aley are leaving us this month.  As I’m sure you are aware, Derric has been accepted into preaching school.  We are excited for their future, but they will be dearly missed!

Besides the changes in staff, July was JAM PACKED with awesome activities.  We started the month with a 4th of July party at our Executive Director’s home.  The kids had a great time playing baseball and enjoyed the fireworks show that Glenn put together for them.

We had a brand new group from Northeast (Detroit) who gave a day of service to us and enjoyed some time with our kids and staff.

Plymouth came mid-month.  And while they worked hard and got so many things accomplished for the campus, the lasting memory of the trip will be the 1st No Fun Color Run.  Don’t let the name deceive you.  It was one of the most fun days we have ever had.  All over our campus there were “obstacles” for the kids to do and as they successfully completed the tasks, they “earned their colors”.  We ended that night with a cook-out and a Bean Bag Toss Tournament.  What an awesome day.

Literally just hours after Plymouth left campus, a group from Florissant, MO, arrived.  They brought 35 people!  THIRTY-FIVE!  That’s is the LARGEST group we have ever had on campus.  When they arrived, I told them that we had some challenges with having that many people visiting campus, but this group is amazing.  They do such a great job of breaking into smaller chaperone-led teams and tackling projects.  They are hard-working and do such an awesome job of being patient and considerate.  They have brought smaller groups to campus over the years, and they always just do an incredible job working with us.

The last group of July was Park Forest.  They joined us on Day of Prayer & Giving at church and joined us in prayer for the agency and for the kids.  What an awesome opportunity.  They also spent the afternoon serving by doing some deep cleaning, sorting in the pantry, and even some office work for us.  Park Forest is located less than an hour away and we are truly blessed to work with them throughout the year with various projects.  We are blessed to have them so close!

It is so refueling and energizing to spend time with groups and with you.  I cannot wait to see you on Annual Day, Saturday, September 15th!  Come spend the day with

us.  Let me introduce you to our new houseparents.  Come eat some amazing pie with me and catch me up on how things are going in your congregation.

July was a busy, busy month.  And August is looking to be the same….and I LOVE IT!

See you soon!

For the children,

Beth Frump,

Beth Frump, Director of Development

July Campus Update

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Campus Update for July

I had to sign and date a form today and quickly had to scratch out the “6” and make it a “7”. Just like that, June was over! But we made some awesome memories in that month!

Our amazing friends from Whiteland Church of Christ (Indiana) came and worked hard on various projects around campus. They also took us all out for a fun Saturday with pizza and a movie! They have made that part of their trip for several years and we are so very thankful for the entire congregation for allowing us to have such an awesome day out!

We welcomed a brand new group from Green Valley (Indiana). What a fun group! They helped with some work down at the barn, yard work, and other various projects during some major heat wave days. What a great group of positive, hardworking kids (and adults!).

The other group we were able to spend time with last month was from Greenfield, Indiana. Typically, this group makes the journey during the winter, and usually during some major snow storm. So this year, they changed it up and came in June….and managed to come on one of the hottest days of the year, thus far. My question, “which is worse, fighting the snow storms or working in the heat?”. Jury’s still out, but either way, we always appreciate their visit to campus. They brought some great gifts for the homes, helping us cross off some of our houseparent’s “Wish List” items.

Besides groups, we had our Annual Golf Tournament in June. The rain and storms that were predicted and ALL around us, stayed away. We prayed for a BUBBLE around the golf course as the stormy weather was less than 10 miles away. And God provided a beautiful day with not a single drop of rain. So thankful for that and for the opportunity to spend time with my favorite golfers as we raised money for the children and families of Shults-Lewis!

As our new Executive Director, Angela Robertson, is settling into to her role, we are excited about the future of Shults-Lewis. However, to continue our ministry, we NEED STAFF! We need a clinical therapist!!! Right now, our Program Director is having to handle all things program related, as well as do the individual counseling and family therapy. Share the word that we need a clinical therapist, please!

We also need houseparents. We do have a new couple who will be joining us this month and we are extremely excited to work with them. However, as they arrive, the Franklins will be leaving (They are headed to Preaching School!). We would like to hire TWO more sets of houseparents. Who will you tell today about our need for a therapist and houseparents?

Thank you for being a part of our community. You are making a difference in the lives of children and families!

For the children,

Beth Frump, Director of Development

June Campus Update

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One of the things we do each morning with our kids is a Community Meeting, and one of the things we ask each person is “How are you feeling?”. This is not a quick “good” or “fine” answer but rather, it is to be answered with an honest emotion—I’m happy, sad, angry, frustrated. We do this for many reasons, but one of the reasons is that we would rather a child TELL us they are angry, than SHOW us they are angry.

Today I am feeling discombobulated. I completely understand the phrase “herding cats” as today I am trying to get things accomplished off of my To Do List, while stopping to answer questions, give directions, answer phone calls, and have had several people just pop in today. Here’s a secret—I LOVE IT. It’s a Mary vs Martha thing in my world. Sometimes, the To Do List needs to wait and I need to spend some time listening to a co-worker that is struggling or spend some time rejoicing with one of our kids who is proud of their grades.

This month, like all months, I have had many, many emotions. Today I am excited that our newly appointed Executive Director will be taking office tomorrow (June 1st). Angela Robertson, who has served as Program Director for the past several years, will be leading this agency forward.
Along with that, I am feeling grateful that we were able to spend this last month with Peter Bumpass, a Board Member, as our Interim Executive Director. He has been a major blessing to the staff as he worked alongside us. He has spent several hours each week at the school helping the kids with their assignments, especially in Math.

Proud is the best word I can use to describe my feelings at the annual Celebration of Strengths Banquet as we watched the kids receive their various awards. Each child is recognized with a strength that the staff sees in them. They also each received an award for their academic achievements.
As the school year ended, we had four of our kids leave our program. I am happy for them, sad for me (going to miss those kids!), and concerned for their future. Please pray that they will continue to use the tools that they know and that they will be successful!

Every day, I am grateful for you. You are the reason we are able to continue ministering to children and families. THANK YOU!!! Thank you for being a part of our community. You are making a difference in the lives of children and families!

For the children,
Beth Frump, Director of Development

Faith. Family. Future.

May Campus Update

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As I walked out of the office last night, the kids had just finished doing some prep work on the Raised Garden Bed at the school, and were enjoying some time on the swings.  Earlier this week they had spent time down at the Barn, giving our Barn and our goats a Spring Cleaning.  Our 4H Program has been such a blessing for our kids.  They are learning all kinds of skills and responsibilities.  We are so thankful for everyone who was a part of Day of Prayer & Giving in 2017 who made our dream of the 4H program a reality!

Our theme of the month for April was Empowering the Future.  We had a guest speaker who came to talk to the staff and the kids about Human Trafficking.  It’s a topic that breaks my heart, but something we want our kids to be very aware of, in hopes that we can help protect them from that evil.  Our hope is to provide them with tools and knowledge that they are able to have a healthy, productive future.

In April, several staff members were able to attend the Network 1:27 (formerly Christian Child & Family Services Association) Conference.  The conference is full of educational opportunities for furthering our knowledge in our specific fields, but it also allows us to spend time fellowshipping with the other agencies that provide residential, foster care, and adoption services.  “Lighthouses don’t compete” was one of my favorite quotes from the conference, as I love how the conference allows us to brainstorm together and work together as each agency works to serve children and families.  We are truly all in this together, sharing God’s light to children and families throughout the country.

We continually receive phone calls from families needing our assistance for their child, and we are limited on how many kids we can help because we need houseparents.  Pray for our need of houseparents and please share our need with others.  We are looking for couples/families who are willing to simply say, “Lord, here I am, send me”.

We also have other employment opportunities such as Intake Coordinator and teachers.  If you have interest in any of those positions, please contact us!

Thank you for being a part of our community.  You are making a difference in the lives of children and families!

For the children,

Beth Frump

Beth Frump, Director of Development

 

Faith. Family. Future.

April Campus Update

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Over $214,000 pledged during the Phone for Children Campaign!  Thank you!  Thank you for your prayers and your continued support of this ministry.

 

For me, March is always a blur of activity and is over so quickly.  Each day is filled with time with different congregations who volunteer for the Phone Campaign, with phone calls with donors, and with face-to-face conversations with you.  While it is a difficult month as we try to raise the necessary funds through phone calls, it always returns ten-fold in blessings—not only in the funds raised, but in the encouragement from you.  THANK YOU!

While Development was out blazing the trail, campus was still full of activity.  The Park Forest AWSL hosted their Annual Chili Supper for Shults-Lewis, raising over $2,000 for the kids!  Our kids and staff had an awesome time enjoying the amazing food and even better company!

The awesome ladies of Royal Oak and Waterford worked together, creating quilts for each of our kids.  The amount of love and prayer that went in with each stitch was felt as the kids each received their own quilt.

Our kids were also blessed by Easter Baskets from a local Boy Scout Pack as well as amazing goodies from the Royal Oak congregation, and a special young lady from the Waterford congregation!  I am so thankful for each of you and how you use your talents and gifts to bless our kids!

 

Thank you for being a part of this ministry, for giving hope to children and families.  May you be blessed as you have blessed us!

 

For the children,

Beth Frump

Beth Frump, Director of Development

 

Faith. Family. Future.

March Campus Update

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Have you “Answered the Call” for the 2018 Phone Campaign?  If so, THANK YOU!!!!  If not, you can call us (800.462.0513), e-mail me (bethfrump@shultslewis.org), text, SnapChat, Facebook Messenger, or send a carrier pigeon with your pledge.  It is my goal that families will honor our 62 years of serving children & families with a gift of $62.  That’s just $5.17 a month, or you can give  however it best fits your budget ANYTIME this year!  Again, if you have already pledged, I am so very grateful for your partnership in this ministry.  Thank you!

February, we focused on Emotional Management with the kids.  The thought behind Emotional Management is that it is perfectly fine to have emotions and feelings, but it is how you act upon those emotions that matter.  For example, you can be angry, but need to stay in control while you are angry.  With Valentine’s Day being in the midst of Emotions month, we had our Progressive Dinner with the back-drop being the emotion of LOVE.  We had an awesome meal—my group were the “lucky” ones who went in order, and NO I didn’t plan the dinner, I just lucked out.  After the three courses, we landed together at the Caf-A-Gym-A-Torium to share dessert and Jim Powell shared a message with the kids based on 1st Corinthians 13.

 

As Jim Powell finishes his days as Executive Director, the Board of Trustees has named Peter Bumpass as an Interim Director.  Peter has been a part of our Board for about 30 years and has been a part of this ministry for even longer.  He has agreed to step in while the Board makes the final prayerful decision regarding the next Executive Director.  While we are sad to see the Powells go, we know that Peter will be an asset in this transition.  Again, if you have any questions regarding this transition, feel free to contact me anytime.

We have placed two new residents this month—a girl and a boy.  Please pray for them as they begin their journey with us.  I am so thankful for you and your role in the positive changes in their lives!

 

Thank you for being a part of my community!!

For the children,

Beth Frump

Beth Frump, Director of Development

 

Faith.  Family.  Future

February Campus Update

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SAFETY was our theme for January.  If you follow us on Facebook, you saw that each week we focused on a different aspect of SAFETY—Moral Safety, Emotional Safety, Physical Safety, and Social Safety.  A local power company came in and taught the kids to not electrocute themselves, not to fly balloons near power lines or to let balloons go, not to get out of a car if you hit a power line (unless car is on fire).   The police department sent Lt. Chavez to campus, who taught the kids not to bully or cyberbully.   A local group that teaches positive teen health came and taught the kids not to drink or make poor choices with their bodies.   And finally a former housemom who is a physical therapist came in and taught the kids how to breathe deep, use reflexology, and to create new healthier habits to deal with stress and bad days.  And as one of our boys pointed out this morning, “And Safety month had FOOD!” as we kicked the month off with a lunch from Firehouse Subs.  What a fun month for the kids (& staff)!!

You may have seen or heard that our Executive Director, Jim Powell, and his wife, Carren, have decided to resign from their roles at Shults-Lewis.  In Jim’s words, “it’s just time for us to simplify.”  They are moving to Colorado and will still be involved in the mission of childcare.  However, they want to enjoy a simpler life, with more travel (to see more of the west side of the country).  Obviously, we are sad to see them go, but we appreciate the years of service they have given to us and wish them the best as they journey on.

The Board has already begun to search for the next Executive Director.  We know that God has begun preparing the next Director.  In the meantime, we will continue to care for children and families.  If you have any questions regarding Jim’s departure, feel free to call him or me anytime.

Day by day God is changing the lives of children and families.  I am thankful that He chooses to use us.  He will continue to do amazing things this year at Shults-Lewis and I am grateful that I get a front row seat, next to you.

Thank you for being a part of my community!!

For the children,

Beth Frump

Beth Frump, Director of Development

 

 

Faith. Family. Future.

January Campus Update

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How crazy busy was your December?  If you are like me, it can fly so quickly that I miss it.  I have to be intentional about Being Present, to not rush past the laughter of a 3-year-old as he beat my dad in Hungry, Hungry Hippos AGAIN, to not rush watching a Christmas movie with my niece & her husband (I feel like just yesterday she was the 3-year-old playing the games).  Be Present.  We will never get this time back and I want to make sure I don’t miss it.

Our kids enjoyed a Saturday at the Circus, thanks to a Board Member purchasing the tickets.  They thoroughly enjoyed the day, as did the staff.  Be Present.  Watch the kids squirm as they held a huge snake (yikes!).  Laugh with the kids as they show off their blue tongues from slushies and cotton candy.

Be Present as our kids presented their 4H projects for this semester.  Be Present as they showed their goats, gave their speeches, and shared their creative writing stories.

Several staff members enjoyed the South County Love Your Neighbor Christmas dinner.  Be Present in our community.  We enjoyed an amazing dinner together, laughing together, being entertained by various singers and groups, all while spending time with people from our community.

Christmas parties!  One of the best days of the year is the Staff Christmas Party.  It is the one day where we are able to gather (almost ALL of us) for a lunch.  Be Present as we play Mean Santa and watch the gifts exchange as one person steals another’s new found treasure.   Be Present as we simply enjoy time together, no kids, no worries, no stresses, just us.  Together.

The Kids’ Christmas Party included a game of Bunco and a visit from Santa!  Be Present as the kids receive their gifts from Santa.  Be Present as the kids see all the amazing gifts and stockings that congregations provided for them.

Then there are the simple quiet days during break.  Be Present as they share the plot to the new book they are reading.  Be present and play another round of cards.  Be Present and shoot some basketball or play some ping-pong.

Thank you for supporting this ministry and allowing us the ability to Be Present in the lives of these precious children.

For the kids,

 Beth Frump, Director of Development

Faith. Family. Future.