Shepherds Through My Eyes

I created this blog site a while ago… and then stared at it for weeks without writing a word. Waiting. 

Waiting for what? I don’t really know – the story that perfectly illustrated the Shepherds Ministries philosophy; the big story that would wow you with the greatness of God; the emotional story that would move you to give, to serve, to pray; the powerful story from Dr. Amstutz himself that would impress the socks off of you. You know, that story.

Well, that story hasn’t come to me yet. I sit at my computer praying “God, give me Your Words to tell this amazing story! What do You want me to say?” And I keep hearing, “Write about what you know,” only it sounds like the voice of my college writing instructor, not God.

I’ve heard it so often now that I’m starting to think it is God, stirring up memories so I stop stressing over the perfect story and start writing the story of Shepherds that I know because I’ve experienced it.

So here goes:

I’m Susan Griffis, the Marketing Director for Shepherds. I sit quietly at a cluttered desk in a little corner of a big office in the Findley Center and thank God every day for calling me to Shepherds. 

I came to Shepherds because my husband prayed for a new job for me, one that would take me out of a toxic work environment that was emotionally suffocating me. He prayed, “God, find a job for her that is perfectly suited to her gifts and abilities,” and God responded by having the HR Director at Shepherds leave a message on my answering machine. It said, “Susan, you don’t know me, but I’m calling because I have a job opening that may be perfectly suited to your gifts and abilities.”

I came to Shepherds with the intention of working hard, becoming an indispensable employee and a tireless co-worker, but one who kept a safe distance from everyone. After my last position, I was drained and broken. I didn’t need friends anymore; I didn’t want to get involved. I just needed God and my family and a regular paycheck.

Now, if you’ve ever worked with people with intellectual disabilities, you already know what happens next.

You know that, at Shepherds, people like Gary walk up to your desk to give you gifts of bruised apples, flowers picked from the carefully landscaped gardens, and cold coffee he brewed himself from his cottage across campus.

You know that people like Butch tell you that he plans to ask your husband’s permission to hold your hand at the Special Olympics basketball game.

You can hear people like Gayle boss you around in her deep, lisping voice, telling you what she wants you to buy for her birthday, where she wants you to hang her photo in your office, and what time she wants you to come over to her apartment for donuts on Saturday. And guess what? You get to bring the donuts. 

You get to know people like Faith who ask you to write your prayer requests on colored index cards so she remembers to pray for you every day.  And Terry who sings you old hymns in the hallway. And Daniela who nestles her head in your shoulder as she hugs you.

You shake hands with another Gary at the start of every work day after he walks into your office to say “Good morning,” and brace yourself against the wall as Miranda barrels at you for a loving tackle.

 

Are you getting a feel for Shepherds yet? There is no “keeping your distance” on this campus. 

But that’s only one dimension of this ministry. Do I believe that God called me here because my gifts and abilities were perfectly suited to the job? Yes. And I believe that about every staff member I’ve met.

Do you know Ruth? This woman works directly with the residents and absolutely glows with the love of God. She’s patient, compassionate and focused – just what people with intellectual disabilities need in their daily lives.

How about Mary with her passion for finding the strengths in everybody? How encouraging she is to clients and staff alike!

Chris, with his quiet confidence and warm demeanor, brings assurance to nervous parents visiting the college for the first time.

And women like Sherry, Ashley, Tracy, Kim, Nella and Renae, with their kind-hearted natures, can make all our clients, whether on or off campus, feel the warmth of family and home.

Our nursing staff is the perfect mixture of sympathy and no-nonsense because, you know, sometimes our residents need medical attention, but sometimes they just want a cute Band-Aid or a nap in the sick room.

We have visionaries like Dr. Kinkade, Brian, Tracy and Andrea who see where God is leading the ministry in the future, and people like Dr. Amstutz and Muriel who remind us of the important work God has done in the past.

I want you to meet all these people in this blog, as well as Michele and Joy and Nancy and Allan and Matt and Charles and Dan and… you get the picture. Each person has their own unique God story and I pray that He gives me the right words to tell them.

And that’s another aspect of Shepherds you need to be aware of – God works here.

He has a desk right by mine and shares His stories and ideas with me. He also has a desk in Linda’s office so He can reassure her as she’s paying the bills. He walks with Becci on her tours so our visitors feel His presence. He puts His arm around Dr. Amstutz to guide and support him as he makes daily decisions for the ministry. He pours His energy into the Living Skills Instructors and Residential Life Staff as they work one-on-one with the residents and students. He leads volunteers, all with hearts to give of their time and talents, directly to our door. He holds out a pen to our donors and encourages them to write the checks that purchase the food, pay the bills, hire the support staff, and build the programs that uphold the ministry and enrich the lives of those we serve.

God is the reason we are all drawn together as a Shepherds family – residents, clients, students, staff, Board, donors, prayer warriors and volunteers. He hand-picked each one of us for this time, this place and this purpose – to show the world that all human beings, including those with intellectual disabilities, were created on and for purpose; that we all must find this purpose and use it to His glory.

Shepherds does this through our philosophy of Appropriate Independence™. I defined it for you on the About Shepherds Ministries page so I’ll just tell you a brief story that illustrates it instead.

There once was a little boy born with severe disabilities. He could do nothing – not talk, not sit up, not feed himself – nothing. But he could smile. In his five years on earth, he smiled at everyone, and he smiled in almost all circumstances. He smiled so much that people were drawn closer to him.  These people asked themselves, “If this little boy can find such joy in life when he can do nothing for himself, why is my joy not equal to or greater since I can walk and dance and talk and sing? Where does this amazing joy come from?” In asking this question and seeking the answer, they found the Source of all True Joy – God.

Now imagine if this little boy could no longer smile; if his parents told him, “No, no honey. Life is so tiring for you already. Don’t waste what little energy you have by smiling all the time.” Or imagine if he was locked up in a room all day, as happens to people with intellectual disabilities in some developing countries, where others couldn’t see his beautiful smile. What would happen then?

His ability to bring joy to others and to serve God with his gift would be lost.

At Shepherds, we find and encourage the abilities in our people – whether it’s planting a flower, cooking a meal, picking out an outfit, riding a bike, or reading a book. We train our people to develop their abilities and then use these abilities to serve others and please God. This is Appropriate Independence simplified. 

This is the Shepherds of my experience. It’s a place of healing and compassion. It’s a ministry of potential, dignity and relationships. And it’s a people of ability, joy and passion bringing glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As you read each story, I pray you’ll develop a love for the people of Shepherds Ministries, a desire to see purpose and dignity brought to people with intellectual disabilities throughout the world, and an awe of the Mighty God who leads us all in His Kingdom-building work.

Please check back often as we share His work at Shepherds with you.