June 2016
& Family Ministries
hope & care p ro v i d i n g h o p e & c a re
, whatever you did for o ne of the le ‘I tell you the truth ill reply, ast of the w g n i se brot K e hers o “Th f
Quarterly Newsletter
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ABCS HIGHLIGHTS
Message from the Executive Director
Resource and pregnancy centers across the state meet more than physical needs. Pages 2, 5
I am excited to share with you that Caring Ministries is now a part of Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries. Caring Ministries is a Tucson nonprofit that serves families in Southern Arizona with food and clothing, while also sharing the Gospel. Caring Ministries joins The Rio Vista Center in Phoenix and Casa de Amor in Mesa as a main hub for our Community Resource Centers ministry. The hubs help supply smaller ABCS satellite resource centers across the state.
The need for foster and adoptive families is great and growing, with over 19,000 children in the state’s care. Page 3 Pastors and church leaders can find resources and support at leadercareaz.org. Page 7
My father, Ross Hanna, started Sharing Ministries Baptist Church in 1972. A New Life Transitional The church soon began Program participant shares a food ministry to serve her story from hardship to the local community in the Old hope. Page 8 Pascua neighborhood. The ministry would later grow to include a network of Pursue Life New Life churches and community partners Adult Pregnancy throughout Southern Arizona, Ministry Centers as well as mission work along the border. In 1992, my father established the food New Life Mission and clothing ministry as a & Family Ministries Transitional Encounter separate non-profit, Caring Program 360 7 Ministries | 1 Mission Ministries.
New Life Counseling
Providing hope and care to hurting children and families through Christ-centered ministries.
Foster Care & Parent Aide
Community Resource Centers
ew 25:40
sister, Jerry and Tama Gollihue, who have fervently pursued God’s call to minister to those in need. I am grateful for their years of faithful service. Josh Hanna, my son, will now serve as the director of Caring Ministries, in addition to his role as state director of the new ABCS Community Resource Centers ministry. You’ll notice on page 2 that numbers from Caring Ministries have been added to our overall ministry highlights. Last month alone Caring Ministries had 30 individuals volunteer 1,800 hours, and they gave out 1,531 food boxes! I am thrilled to have Caring Ministries as a part of ABCS, and humbled that God would allow us to continue the work He started through my dad over 40 years ago. We covet your prayers during this time of transition.
In Him,
Steve Hanna Executive Director
Over the last 20+ years Caring Ministries has been led by my brother-in-law and
abcs.org 7 (800) 678-0648 7
M N P V ABCSministries
UPCOMING EVENTS
Community Resource Centers
BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE Casa de Amor in Mesa is hosting a back to school drive for a local school. Lincoln Elementary has 850 students with 95% living below the poverty line. You can purchase supplies or help sort the items. Contact Paula at (480) 628-6340.
CONTACT JOSH HANNA
Director Caring Ministries & State Director ABCS Resource Centers jhanna@abcs.org (520) 495-0333
AARON NORWOOD Director Rio Vista Center & Casa de Amor anorwood@abcs.org (480) 510-1353
LOCATIONS Mesa Metro Phoenix Snowflake South Phoenix Tucson Yuma
A DEEPER NEED Four women came in together to the resource center in Tucson. All four were in need of clothes. They went back to the clothing room to do a little “shopping”. Because items are donated to the resource center, clients can browse the clothing room and pick out enough to fill a bag to take for free. As they were collecting their items, the women were talking to a staff member at the center. The women ended up briefly sharing each of their stories, one of which was particularly heartbreaking. Joanna* told the staff member that she has had a really hard time since moving to Tucson to care for her 94-year-old father. She explained that she used to be a therapeutic foster mom when she lived in New York. She enjoyed her life there married to her childhood sweetheart until he was tragically killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “Ever since then, things have been spiraling,” Joanna said. When the women were done bagging up their items, the staff member felt she needed to pray for these women. She helped them outside with their things and asked if she could pray. They all said yes, so the group stood outside and prayed together. Before they left, Joanna and the others let the staff know how appreciative they were of not only the clothing but the prayer and emotional support as well. They said the resource center went above and beyond their expectations. They came for clothing but were able to have a much deeper need met. *Client name has been changed to respect privacy
PHOENIX COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE The BHHS Legacy Foundation Resource Center at our new ABCS location in Phoenix was open for services during a community open house to let families living nearby know they can return for monthly food and clothing assistance. The event included activities for kids, prayer and free lunch. The resource center gave out 36 food bags to mostly new clients, and three people decided they wanted to get baptized after receiving prayer at the event. Since opening in March, the Phoenix resource center has given out over 260 food boxes.
2016 YTD Decisions for Christ: 23 ABCS MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Foster Care & Parent Aide Decisions: 5 Foster kids in care: 248 Current foster families: 183 DCS-involved families: 988 (est. 2,964 children) Adoptions: 19
Community Resource Centers
New Life Pregnancy Centers
New Life Transitional Program
Decisions: 15
Decisions: 0
Food boxes: 8,982
Pregnancy tests: 305
Current clients: 7
Clothing bags: 4,246
Material assist: 8,842
Children: 5
Diapers: 8,762
Decisions for life: 11
Hygiene bags: 494
Attendance in parenting classes: 1,369
Decisions: 0
Bible study: 443
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Work program clients: 2 Mentors: 4
New Life Counseling
Mission Encounter 360
Decisions: 3
Decisions: 0
Sessions: 860
Volunteers: 791
Leader Care Sessions: 28
Volunteer hrs:
Leader Care Event Participants: 50
Interns: 9
Leader Care Contacts: 913
14,022
ABCS Tours: 364 Mission actions: 11
Foster Care / Parent Aide
Parent Aide
AMAZING ANSWER TO PRAYER
UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING FOSTER CARE TRAINING
Lucas’* trip from his foster home to his weekly visit with his parents is an hour each way. For the past few months, these hours in the car have allowed him to get to know his parent aide and for them to talk about all kinds of topics. Recently, on the way back to Lucas’ foster home, the two began to discuss prayer. Lucas had many questions about whether God was even real and told the parent aide he’s never prayed before. His parent aide told him to try it one night before bed. “Just give it a shot. Sometimes God answers prayers in ways we don’t expect, so after you pray make sure to keep an eye out for His answer,” the parent aide told Lucas and explained that God’s answer to prayer is sometimes through other people or situations rather than an audible voice. The next week the parent aide picked Lucas up and asked if he had prayed. “Yeah…” he said, disappointed. “He didn’t respond.” The parent aide encouraged him not to give up and to keep listening and looking out for a possible answer to prayer. Another week went by, and it was time for Lucas’ visit. When the parent aide picked him up, he ran to the car shouting, “Look! Someone put this in my box!” He explained that someone anonymously put a letter in his mailbox expressing sadness for the pain he had been through. Lucas didn’t understand who had given him the letter or why. He kept asking, “But who? Who would do this?” The parent aide simply asked him, “Do you think maybe God answered your prayer?” His chin dropped in amazement. When they got to his visit that day, Lucas asked his mother to help him look for his Bible. A simple prayer can open the door to God’s love and truth. *Name was changed to protect child’s safety
A PLACE KIKI CAN CALL HOME There are currently over 19,000 children in the Arizona foster care system. Kitanna, “Kiki,” is is one of them and is available for adoption. Kiki is bright, articulate, creative and loyal. She loves playing with Barbie dolls, drawing, climbing trees and eating McDonalds and double-stuffed Oreos. A music fan, Kiki likes listening to country and Christian music but turns on today’s hit music when she needs to “get into her jam.” Kiki enjoys watching TV shows like iCarly and Sam and Cat, but she also likes shows that “fight crime,” like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers. Kiki is always eager to spend quiet time doing arts and crafts and drawing, but also loves to be active, play with friends and go to Pump it Up — an inflatable playground.
You can become a licensed foster parent and help care for children affected by the current orphan crisis in Arizona. New foster care pre-service training and licesning classes begin in June. Arms of Love Foster Care licenses and supports foster families in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma counties. Learn more about becoming a foster parent and how you or your church or group can join the cause of orphan care in your community. Contact us at (800) 678-0648 or armsoflove@abcs.org.
CONTACT NICHOLE TAMBURSTUEN State Director Arms of Love Foster Care ntamburstuen@abcs.org (602) 346-2300
CHERYL HUTCHINS State Director Parent Aide chutchins@abcs.org (800) 678-0648
Someday, Kiki would like to go to college and become a teacher and a foster mom. Kiki’s forever family should reside in Arizona so that she can maintain her current connections. Kiki was born in 2006.
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DID YOU KNOW?
77 Government
assistance, including food stamps (SNAP) and WIC, is prohibited from covering the cost of diapers
77 Babies experience more rashes and infections without adequate diaper changes
77 Disposable diapers are required by day cares
77 Diapers cost an
average of $100/month
77 Cloth diapers require
access to sufficient laundry facilities, which low-income families often lack
77 Just this year, over
190,000 diapers have been distributed to children and families in need
77 In just one hour, a
volunteer can bundle enough diapers to help an average of 50 families
CONTACT DANE CLARK
Mission Encounter 360 DIAPERS: HELPING THOSE IN NEED AND GETTING INVOLVED Thousands of clients are served at ABCS each month. Many of those individuals are introduced to our ministries through one simple product: a diaper. For thousands of Arizona children and families this is a very real need that can be just out of reach due to financial hardship. Diapers are one of the most requested items given through our pregnancy and resource centers. Meeting this physical need is a very tangible way to build relationships, show God’s love and share the Gospel. Material assistance, especially packaging diapers, also opens up the avenue for volunteers, interns and small groups to make a difference. Diapers are donated in boxes and must be broken down, labeled by size and repackaged to give to clients. Almost 400,000 diapers were donated to ABCS last year by state diaper banks. That’s enough to fill eight 26-foot trucks! This high volume of diapers allowed hundreds of volunteers of all ages get involved in ABCS ministry. When they come to volunteer, individuals and small groups also receive a tour and learn more about ABCS’ seven Christ-centered ministries and various programs. If you or your small group is interested in getting involved and helping provide hope and care to our community, please call (800) 678-0648 or visit abcs.org/volunteer. We would love to give you more information on how you can be a blessing to families and children through the gift of a diaper.
OUR DIAPER BANK PARTNERS We are grateful for organizations that partner with us to meet this community need. The vast majority of our diaper supply comes from our two state diaper banks. Together we have helped make Arizona children healthier and happier!
State Director Mission Encounter 360 dclark@abcs.org (800) 678-0648
AUTUMN BUSBY
Assistant State Director Mission Encounter 360 abusby@abcs.org (602) 346-2300
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(602) 759-5499 | diaperbankaz.org
(520) 325-1400 | diaperbank.org
New Life Pregnancy Centers
newlife pregnancy center
CHOOSING LIFE A young woman called the Tucson New Life Pregnancy Center asking about free pregnancy tests and if there was a place she could go for an abortion. The director attempted to calm her fears and explained how NLPC does not perform, refer for or recommend abortions. Throughout the phone call, the director learned that the young woman lived in Casa Grande. She explained that the New Life Pregnancy Center in Casa Grande would love to talk with her in person, go over positive options and support her throughout her pregnancy and after. The next day the young lady visited the Casa Grande center and was very upset, close to hysterics. She sat down with the director and kept saying “I can’t have this baby.” The director spent a long time talking with her, explaining the facts of abortion and the possibility of experiencing emotional trauma afterward. She also told her about the precious value of the life of the baby in her womb. When the young woman left the center, she said she would return the following day, but she didn’t come. The director prayed for her and asked others to join in praying for this young woman as well. Then she waited, hoping to hear from her again. A few weeks passed and the young woman called the Casa Grande NLPC. She told the director she decided to keep her baby! She came in later, and the center scheduled an ultrasound appointment. She glowed with joy the entire time – a huge difference from her first visit. God is so good!
FINDING ENCOURAGEMENT Samantha* came into New Life Pregnancy Center to receive free diapers for her son. Samantha has two children she cares for on her own. Her youngest son has autism and several severe medical conditions that require extended trips to the hospital for testing and treatment. As a result, Samantha cannot work. On her visit to the center, she shared with the staff how difficult life has been ever since her son was born. She has been in a continual battle with her son’s father over child support and has felt entirely on her own, often without the finances and resources she needs. She was upset, hurt and on the brink of hopelessness. She spent a long while talking with the staff, venting her frustrations. The staff prayed with her, encouraged her, gave her the diapers she needed and gave her a Believe Bag to let her know there are people praying for her and rooting for her. As she was leaving the center, Samantha smiled for the first time and genuinely thanked the staff. Her problems hadn’t disappeared, but she was reminded that there are people who care and a God who loves her.
NEW BELIEVER After meeting and talking with Claire*, volunteers at the Winslow New Life Pregnancy Center felt God prepared her heart to learn about Him. They started a spiritual conversation with her, and Claire returned later to attend two new believers’ Bible study classes. After the second class, Claire visited NLPC’s partner church, accepted Christ and asked to be baptized! New Life Pregnancy Centers are able to provide services to families free of charge thanks to the support of generous donors and volunteers. Meeting physical needs in the community opens the door for staff and volunteers to show God’s love and present the Gospel. Many clients like Claire visit a center seeking to have a very simple need met and find much more. Thank you for helping provide hope and care and spread the Gospel in your community.
CONTACT KEILA TRENBEATH
State Director New Life Pregnancy Center ktrenbeath@abcs.org (602) 346-2300
RACHEL RAMEY
Assistant State Director New Life Pregnancy Center rramey@abcs.org (602) 346-2300
M N nlpcAZ
*Client names have been changed to respect their privacy.
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UPCOMING EVENTS TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE Join us for an exciting service opportunity December 2 - 10, 2016, in partnership with the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention. Blend the luxuries of a cruise vacation with opportunities to serve local island communities in the name of Jesus Christ. Enjoy the sights while giving back on five Caribbean islands. Balcony $1,816 per person Ocean View $1,656 per person Prices are based on double occupancy. Cost includes cruise, transportation, insurance and a mission experience on five islands. There are only 32 spaces left to join us. August 1 is the deadline to book with a deposit. To discover if this volunteer mission experience is for you, visit pursuelifeaz.com/cruise or contact Mona McDonald.
CONTACT MONA MCDONALD
Vice President Pursue Life Adult Ministry mona@abcs.org (602) 346-2300 pursuelifeaz.com
Pursue Life Adult Ministry FINDING PURPOSE LATER IN LIFE Purpose is one of four key areas of Pursue Life Adult Ministry. It is easy after children have left the home and after retirement to lose a sense of purpose. However, these years can be among the most fruitful years of life for Christ. Psalm 92:6 says, Even in old age they will bear fruit, they will remain fresh and green. A more meaningful life began for Moses at age 80, when God used him to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. This stage of life can provide you with more resources and availability to live out your greater purpose. If you are retired, you are freer to better serve Him. One of the biggest benefits of living many years is something many in our culture today overlook or dismiss. It’s the wisdom that comes from so much life experience! Life has given you a wealth of knowledge not learned in books. As a Christian, you are also rewarded with a level of spiritual maturity you didn’t have in your youth. Accumulating so much spiritual experience makes one truly rich. This wisdom and maturity enables us to be leaders, mentors and models. We have a tremendous responsibility to younger generations who follow. Our culture fears and dreads growing older, but this season of life has the potential to be the most purposeful, fulfilling and enjoyable! God created us with a purpose in every season. We are responsible to find and live that purpose, even as we age. Call (602) 3462300 or visit pursuelifeaz.com for help rediscovering your purpose or to help others do the same.
GUARDIANSHIP FOR CHILDREN If you are a parent of minor children, we highly encourage you to ensure your children are cared for if something were to happen to you. Leaving a personal note stating your wishes is not sufficient. It is best to appoint guardianship through a formal will or trust. If both you and your spouse were to die without naming a guardian, a judge would decide where your children go. Without a formal will or trust the judge might place your children in an undesirable location. Here are some areas to consider when appointing a guardian: 77 Choose someone who shares similar values and would raise your child in a safe home environment. 77 Choose an individual who is financially stable to care for your child. 77 Consider someone who lives in the same city so your child can remain connected with family and friends. 77 Consider choosing several individuals in case your first choice is unable to assume guardianship. 77 Make sure you meet with the individual(s) before including them to make sure they feel comfortable accepting your request. Visit abcslegacy.org for more information on estate plans, wills and trusts.
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New Life Counseling LEADER CARE LIBRARY - DR. ROGER DANIELS After 30 years in pastoral ministry, I’ve accumulated a vast collection of resources. My bookshelf currently holds over 500 books and articles. Topics range from theology and church history to pastoral care and counseling to church administration and leadership – not to mention a number of Bible commentaries, various translations of the Bible and books on “contemporary tends,” which quite honestly are no longer “contemporary.” (I’ve got several more loaded on my iPad – forgot to count those.) Even though I no longer preach on a weekly basis, I still receive invitations to speak or teach on a variety of topics. I’m not sure what I would do without these resources. A number of years ago, I was a part of a response team called to minister to a congregation whose church was destroyed by fire. The building was reduced to a literal shell of its former stature. While the pastor was up-beat and encouraging to the members, reminding them that the church is the people not the building, he lamented to me that he was grieving the loss of his personal library, which was also destroyed in the fire. Overhearing this brief conversation was a correspondent from a local television station who I knew to be a believer. He seemed surprised at this pastor’s grief over the loss of such “material things.” I explained that a pastor’s library provides the tools necessary to do his job – much like the correspondent needed his microphone and camera. A pastor’s library feeds his preaching and teaching, guides his administration and enhances his pastoral care.
Like many vocations, local church ministry presents new challenges each day. There are times when the local pastor may feel a bit under-equipped to minister to specific concerns. These concerns can be as unique as delivering a sermon to address a unique circumstance (I still remember the first Sunday after September 11, 2001), or as complicated as dealing with a sensitive moral issue within the church body. Most of the pastors I know earnestly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they minister to the flock they are called to serve. It is refreshing, though, to be able to find helpful resources and connect with others who have found themselves in similar circumstances. The Bible tells us, “Plans fail where there is no counsel, but with many advisors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). Leader Care is a ministry of New Life Counseling. Its purpose is to provide hope and care to pastors and church leaders. It continues to grow and change to meet needs. The most recent change is the development and launch of a Leader Care web page and blog intended as another tool to resource, encourage and offer advice to pastors and church leaders. The page provides posts containing stories and antidotes about local church ministry, ideas on providing more effective pastoral care and brief book reviews. In addition, the page provides links to connect with a local Leader Care facilitator for confidential, no-cost support. Encourage your pastor to visit the Leader Care page and blog at leadercareaz.org.
FEATURED LEADER CARE FACILITATOR VICTOR BERRELEZ Victor is a Leader Care facilitator in central Arizona. He graduated from Estrella Mountain Community College and Wayland Baptist University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Human Services and a Masters in Christian Ministry. He served as Fatherhood Coordinator for Catholic Charities and site coordinator and adjunct professor of religion at Wayland Baptist University. He is a Construction Mechanic in the U.S. Naval Reserves and provides funeral honors for fallen veterans. Since January of 2013, Victor has pastored Central Phoenix Community Church, which houses the ABCS Phoenix office. He and his wife Marcela have a combined family of eight children.
CONTACT ROGER DANIELS, MA, MDIV, DMIN Vice President New Life Counseling rdaniels@abcs.org (800) 678-0648 newlifeaz.org
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GET IN TOUCH STATEWIDE OPERATIONS Southern Arizona (800) 678-0648
STEVE HANNA
Executive Director hanna@abcs.org
CHRIS CHAN
Assistant Executive Director chan@abcs.org
CURT GARNER
Executive Vice President of Finance cgarner@abcs.org
ANDREA STUART
Executive Vice President of Staff Services and Care stuart@abcs.org
MICHELLE CLEMENTS
Director of Development & Communications Program Administrator Central Arizona mclements@abcs.org (602) 346-2300
ELAINE GASTON
Program Administrator Eastern Arizona egaston@abcs.org (928) 536-4760
BYRON REINER
Program Administrator Northern/Northwest Arizona breiner@abcs.org (928) 308-1774
New Life Transitional Program
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ON PURPOSE Director of the New Life Transitional Program, Desiree Goodwin, says she is very humbled by the people God brings to be a part of NLTP. “I know that each participant, no matter how long they stick with the program, was brought in for a purpose and by no mistake.” When Desiree met Julie, she says her heart broke by learning the struggles of her past. “Walking alongside her in her journey to freedom has been one of my greatest joys as her mentor.” Julie wanted to share her story because she now has no shame from her past. She knows without a doubt that God has a plan for her life. While she readily admits she is still a work in progress, she hopes her story will help others.
JULIE’S STORY When I was just one year old, my father took the life of two others and committed suicide. My mom turned to a life of drugs after the death of my father and has been in and out of my life ever since. Mom remarried another man that abused me at very young age along with my siblings. I was removed from the home to live with different relatives. Unfortunately the relatives I was placed in custody with were not healthy either, and the abuse continued. Around 10 years of age I began to be placed in several different group homes. I lived in 13 different home environments through my adolescence. When I came to be a part of the New Life Transitional Program I was 20 years old and had no idea how to be an adult. I had not yet graduated from high school, and I contemplated taking my life. The program provided a place for me to grow and helped my self-esteem. Here are some of the accomplishments I have made in the two years of being a part of NLTP. I enrolled myself back in high school and graduated in Sept of 2015. I got my first job and moved into an apartment that was mine alone. I received a scholarship to the Care Giving Institute and got a caregiving certificate. I learned many different life skills and learned how to cope with my emotions and pain. I have two years of sobriety.
Program Administrator Southwest Arizona svanhorn@abcs.org (928) 726-5568
Most importantly this program gave me time to trust that Jesus is in the process of healing my past hurts. At church one day I felt like Jesus shared with me that He knew the pain I went through as a child and that He wept with me that day. It was like we literally shared tears together. Knowing He loves me so much that He recognized my pain, I was able to learn to forgive the people that have hurt me.
CONTACT
I am grateful to God and this program for helping me take my life back. I will be graduating NLTP this summer.
SHERYL VAN HORN
DESIREE GOODWIN Director New Life Transitional Program dgoodwin@abcs.org (800) 678-0648
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Transitional