Archive for category: Monthly Updates

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

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

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

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

May was a month of CELEBRATIONS! We kicked off the month with our Annual Celebration of Strengths Banquet. At this banquet, we honor each kid by celebrating the strengths we have seen in them. The school also presents the Honor Roll certificates and some special awards for kids who have worked diligently this school year. Courtney was the recipient of our Golden Rule award this year! This banquet is held at the Sand Creek Country Club and the kids enjoy their night out.

We also celebrated Courtney as she graduated from our high school. For those of you who may not know, we hold an official graduation ceremony—from a commencement speaker to a class motto; our senior had her day!!! We are so proud of her and her accomplishments! Please pray for her as she transitions to her next stage in life.

Anna successfully completed the Shults-Lewis program and we enjoyed a cake in her honor! Again, please pray for her transition. She has been able to return to her family.

Tony was our graduate from Morgan Township High School. I sat beside Aley Franklin, who was his former housemom who had traveled from Tennessee to be at the ceremony. Also in the bleachers was Emily & Joe Allen, Danner Halsey, and Glenn & Angela Robertson. Seated in the “parent” section was Joel & Kerri Halsey. We are proud to be his family! What an incredible honor for us to celebrate this young man!! He will be staying with us until he leaves for college in the Fall!

Speaking of celebrations, I was able to celebrate my big “0” birthday (40) with an awesome party from the staff! Kiana Baldwin, my assistant, decorated the gym in “chaos”. It was awesome! I am blessed to have such an awesome family here at Shults-Lewis.

OH, and more celebrations—we hired a set of houseparents, Rogeric & Meghan Govan. Rogeric will be a housedad for a boys’ home. Meghan will be joining our school staff as a MATH TEACHER!!! YAY! We also were able to coax Vickie Terhune back (little Diet Dr Pepper and some Jolly Ranchers) to be our interim Principal as Mr. Zandstra had decided that he wanted his sole focus to be on teaching science. We are looking for a Principal, but are so thankful to have Vickie back on campus helping us in the meantime!!!

We are still searching for a Director of Operations, an English Teacher, a History Teacher, and a Therapist. Please pray for that and if you know of anyone, let us know!! God is answering our prayers!!!! THANK YOU for your continuous prayers on our behalf!!

For the children,
Beth
Beth Frump, Director of Development