What I've Learned At Shepherds

Blog #2 in the “Celebrating 55” series

Thank you to Bill Stevens, Director of Development Activities, for writing today’s blog.

My ministry experience for the past 18 years at Shepherds has taught me four important truths. I have observed, experienced, and sought to live day to day the practical applications of these truths by the living examples of my friends who call Shepherds home.

Gayle

Gary

I have learned that “the just do live by faith”, a simple but powerful faith.  My friends Gayle and R.J. remind me every time I visit with them that they exhibit that kind of faith.  After eight years of faithfully praying for my wife who has been delivered from a terrible form of cancer, they still ask me how she is doing and if we still are keeping the faith.  Our respect for one another is reciprocal.  They have given me many prayer requests over the years and by faith we have seen them all answered.

   

I have learned that praying without ceasing and that the effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous avail much.  My two friends, both named Gary, never fail to pray with me when I am able to be on campus.  They also never fail to ask for my prayer requests, give me their requests, and always want to know how their prayers are being answered.  The truth of the matter is simple -  their prayers are being answered.  I have learned just how important prayer is to our residents and clients.  Great answers to prayer have been the testimonies of Shepherds for over 55 years.  My prayer life and my faith to believe God for great things have definitely been challenged by the example of my friends.

Dan

I have learned the truth of knowing the joy of being saved and serving Jesus.  No better lesson has been taught to me than by my friend Dan C.  From the very first week of my employment when I was going through indoctrination and training in the Shepherds Way, Dan showed me the importance of those truths to him.  I always fall short of the joy he constantly expresses, and he keeps me challenged before the Lord to show it, too!  When Dan and I first met in the hallway outside of his living area, he asked me a question, “Mr. Stevens, are you saved?”  Wow, that simple question humbled me and made realize just whom I was called to serve, individuals created by God, on and for a purpose, i.e. salvation and service to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  That is Dan in a nutshell!  Dan never seems to have a problem.  He is always full of joy and has an exuberance I could only dream of showing.  I have learned that I need to be more like Dan and share my faith and serve my Lord with all joy!

Butch

I have learned from my closest friend the truth of Proverbs 18:24. “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”  From the time we first met, Butch bonded in close friendship with me and my wife.  He came to think of us as his “foster parents’ and he, as our adopted son.  To this day, eighteen years later, we speak by phone regularly and I have the wonderful opportunity to visit my friend, brother and son two or three times a year.  Our friendship continues to grow.  I am still learning what a friend we have in Jesus, but also what friends we have gained by being a part of this wonderful ministry called Shepherds.  It is a truth, an important truth; one that I will cherish forever.  Dan C told me one more thing on that eventful day when we first met.  He said, “Mr. Stevens, when I get to heaven I will be just like you.”  That statement reminded me that Dan knew why he was at Shepherds, but that Jesus Christ is the difference for all eternity.  I am going to enjoy hearing the testimonies of my friends as they stand or sit at the feet of Jesus and tell Him all the great things that they learned and experienced by being cared for by God’s servants at Shepherds.  And do you know what?  I am going to sit or stand at the feet of Jesus, too.  I am going to tell Him as a testimony on behalf of my friends, what great and wonderful lessons they taught me.

Gary

Ruthie Jo

The Mini Reunion

Thank you to Bill Stevens for writing today's blog. Bill is Director for Development Activities and Field Representative for the Southeast region. If you'd like to contact Bill to arrange a visit to your church or home, please call 904-260-2425.



I left Jacksonville just before 7AM for my four-hour drive to meet up with resident, Dan, who was spending his summer vacation in Lake Placid, FL with his sister and brother-in-law. In spite of heavy traffic getting to the interstate and taking the long route around Orlando to avoid the congestion, I arrived at my destination right on time at 11:30AM.  Dan’s sister had previously thought she would keep the purpose of my visit a surprise, but she spilled the beans and Dan rushed out to greet me with his usual rib-crushing bear hug.  He knew we were on the way to meet up with Louis, a.k.a. “Butch.”  Dan had not seen his friend of over 22 years in more than a year since Butch moved away from Shepherds to his new independent life in Sebring, FL. (see “Catalyst for Independence”).

After hearing about Dan’s latest fishing trip wherein he lost the “big” ones, we buckled the seat belts and headed back north some 20 miles to meet Butch at his home.  During the drive, Dan shared his recent life events with me.  He excitedly told me about being picked as captain of his bowling team.  It seems he is quite the bowler.  Several times he has bowled 200+ games according to his brother-in-law.  He ardently described his hook deliveries and how he had to position his feet and release the ball.  He has two bowling balls of his own of which he is very proud.  He also told me of a recent outing to the lanes where he met “Señor Michael” a six-foot four-inch, Spanish-speaking bowler who was with a friend who translated for him.  Dan and Señor Michael became friends quickly, and Dan enjoyed speaking through a translator.  Dan also shared about his personal experiences of trying to help a severely ill roommate at Shepherds.  He was asked to call 911 and stay on the line with the operator until help arrived.  Sadly, his friend David passed away, but Dan was so happy that he could attend his funeral.  Dan is quite the conversationalist and continually talks, jumping from one story to another.  He would punctuate his story telling by using the exclamation“all ex-sudden” instead of “suddenly”.  He must have peppered his conversations with that phrase during the course of the day twenty to twenty-five times.  Before the last few miles to Butch’s home, we stopped to purchase our picnic food.  Yes, weather permitting, we were planning an outside picnic with all southern food.  Dan picked out a box of fried chicken, southern style potato salad, baked beans, a peach cobbler pie, and two bottles of soda.  I added a bag of ice, and we strapped in the car again to make our way to Maranatha Village where Butch resides in his mobile home.

As we drove into Maranatha Village, Dan began sizing everything up.  Two lakes -he wondered if Butch fished.  I told him Butch said there were gators in them.  “All ex-sudden” he was alert, scanning the banks and looking with interest at the homes we passed until we pulled into Butch’s drive.  We made our way to the door, knocked, and when Butch opened the door, Dan exclaimed, “Remember me?”

Butch let us in, and “all ex-sudden” Dan saw Butch’s sister, whom he knew, and warmly greeted her too.  After she left, they noticed it was getting awfully hot and clouds were forming, so we had our picnic inside. 

Dan talked continually, filling Butch in on all the news about their mutual friends at Shepherds.  It was quite a reunion, although truly a mini-reunion since there were just the two of them.  After lunch, before our next adventure of the afternoon, Butch took Dan on a tour of Marantha Village on his golf cart in hopes of spotting gators. 

“Nope!” Dan said emphatically on their return. “No alligators, but I think I can teach Butch something about fishing.”   

Butch showed us his new propane grill, 

his new basketball hoop and stand, 

and told Dan about his landscaping work around his home.  Butch also works as general yardman and landscaper for the Manor Assisted Living Facility.  It was his earnings of $66.48 every two weeks that paid for grill, basketball stand, a new flat screen tv, and soon-to-be-delivered - a new stackable washer /dryer combination being installed in the bathroom.  That’s pretty common in most small mobile homes.  Butch really does a good job with independent living.  Not only does he work for the Village, but he is member of Maranatha Baptist Church where he now serves as an usher with his own name tag!

We buckled up once again and went to a local mall where they have an arcade called “Game Time.”  I had searched for a miniature golf (Putt- Putt) course, but the only one in Sebring was closed for the summer and the next closest was 60 miles away in Lakeland.  The guys enjoyed over an hour playing ski ball, basketball toss, milk can toss, and Ninja sword fighting.   

When their tokens ran out, we left the arcade to only find out it was really getting ready to pour. Dan wanted Butch to see where he lived on summer vacation so we drove in the driving rain back to Lake Placid and arrived at Dan’s sister’s house just as the rain was slacking.  It was still raining so Dan could not give Butch a tour of the property to see his brother-in-law’s fishing boat, the pool, and the grill “that is a lot bigger than yours!”  We sat and talked with Dan’s brother-in-law while Dan did most of the talking, telling Ron about their day and everything that Butch was doing.  Ron told me that Dan is high functioning enough to live independently, but he has problems remembering to take very important meds, and they have not wanted to chance it to this point in his life.  Dan is very happy and was looking forward to going back to Shepherds to resume his activities, his sports, his work, time with his friends, and his “Harbor” group home roomies.  I received another crushing hug, and Butch and I departed for the return trip to his home.

I dropped Butch off with the promise I would be back before the end of the year so we could grill out.  He was excited, not because of what I said or that I was leaving, but rather because he could hardly wait for the next day when he would go to Tropicana Park in St. Petersburg with a bus load from Maranatha Village to see the Tampa Bay Rays play.

I returned back home in Jacksonville about 7:30 PM and reviewed the pictures I had taken and enjoyed the blessings and good memories from the Mini-Reunion.  I love my job!

Catalyst for Independence

Thank you to Bill Stevens, Director of Development Activities, for writing today’s blog.

When Shepherds Home and School opened its doors in 1964, thirty-six young people with intellectual disabilities became residents and students.    Gradually Shepherds grew, the young people became teenagers, and there were individuals accepted for residency who were already in their teens.  One such young man, John, came from Ohio to live at Shepherds.  John quickly became quite an asset as he was able to take on a number of jobs on the campus.  John only lived a couple of years at Shepherds and became the first graduate.  He moved back home to work in his parent’s family bookstore.  He subsequently became quite independent and was employed by K-Mart where he worked for many years.

As Shepherds grew, it also became evident that residency and schooling for children were no longer being sought by parents.  The federal and state programs for funding special education for children with intellectual disabilities allowed parents the opportunity to keep their children at home.  Shepherds transitioned to an all-adult facility in the mid-1980s, and a large number of those first thirty-six children who came to Shepherds in 1964, plus others added in the on-going years, now made up a large adult population of residents.  They, of course, in addition to the individuals added as teens and adults, swelled the total number of those being blessed by the compassionate Christian care provided by the dedicated staff of Shepherds Ministries. Some of these individuals were able to become more independent and become part of a growing work force of residents and clients.  Their work involved contract workshops, kitchen help, housekeeping, grounds keeping, greenhouse, and various opportunities to work off campus in local businesses.  These individuals set the pattern for what was yet to come.

Dr. William Amstutz became President and CEO of Shepherds Ministries in 1998.  He had a vision that became a plan with the able assistance of some new staff and administration members.  This plan, undergirded with the Appropriate independence™ philosophy, became the Catalyst Program.  The inception and implementation of the Catalyst program was the outgrowth of the seed of possible independent living for individuals with intellectual disabilities proved out by such individuals as John.  Soon a number of residents entered the Catalyst Program and became clients who lived semi-independent lives in group homes, apartments and mobile homes off campus but in the local community mostly within walking or bike riding distance from Shepherds campus.   

I had the privilege to learn first-hand how the Catalyst Program changes and enhances lives. 

Butch came to live at Shepherds in 1975 and eventually became an important part of the Catalyst Program.

  

 

This fall, Butch left Shepherds after 37 years and moved to his own mobile home in Maranatha Village near Sebring, Florida.  As a ministry representative of Shepherds, I am privileged to travel the southeast USA presenting Shepherds to churches and individuals as a worthy consideration for their stewardship dollars.  Many of our supporters live in the Sebring area, and I am able to visit with them a couple of times every year to update them on the ministry.  On one recent visit, Butch invited me to stay overnight with him in his new “digs.”  

 I gladly accepted his invitation and was greatly impressed.  Butch has a two bedroom mobile, with a large combination living room and dining room, and a sun room or “Blessings” room where he has all his medals won in Special Olympics, and various other diplomas and awards, framed and hanging on his wall. 

His kitchen is very large and has all the modern conveniences.  Butch cooks his own meals and is an immaculate housekeeper.  

He recently joined Maranatha Baptist Church and serves as a volunteer in a number of capacities including yard work for the elderly residents of Maranatha Village.  Butch never charges for his work because he wants to just be a servant of the Lord and help others.  Butch also is the caretaker and groundskeeper for the shuffle board, bocce ball, and horseshoe pits.  Another work opportunity for Butch is being a member of the Maranatha Village Security patrol which watches over the grounds at night.   

Butch and I attended church together and many people commented on how much they have already come to appreciate him.  We stayed up late that night and I introduced him to “Duck Dynasty” on the A&E cable network.  It instantly became his new favorite show.  After a good night’s rest, I awoke to hear Butch already in the kitchen at 6:30 AM preparing our breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.  Butch commented to me several times, “Bill, you are my first overnight guest and the very first person I have cooked for in my new home!”  I could truly say as I left after breakfast that I would look forward to my next visit and his hospitality once again. Words cannot express how I felt about my experience and how I feel about Butch’s new life away from Shepherds.  He truly is living independently, serving the Lord, and able to work in various capacities for His glory.  

If you are interested in the Catalyst Program for yourself or a loved one, please contact Tracy Lackey at 262-878-5620 ext. 4352.