Earlier this week, our board of directors met with our entire staff for a day-long strategic planning session. This effort sets the direction of Hope Alive for the next 3-5 years. As part of the day, the board wanted to hear from a resident mom about the impact Hope Alive’s ministry is having on the lives of those we serve. Riyan (who was featured in our November newsletter) shared with the board the accomplishments she and her children have made during their stay that have put them on the road to success and independence.
Riyan first talked about the children’s ministry staff that has helped to change the lives of her children. She’s so thankful for the loving care, support and professional advice the children’s staff provides to her and her two little ones. She said they’ve learned so much more than she ever imagined they could at this young stage of their lives.
Riyan also talked about the changes that have happened in her own life. She’s learned important conflict resolution and financial management skills, grown in her faith, and has become a role model and leader among her peers. She admitted that some of the life-change she’s experienced has been hard, but she recognizes that it’s all for her benefit to bring her to the place where she is today. She was awarded a vehicle through Second Chances Garage to give her greater independence, will complete her associate’s degree at FCC this year, and is interviewing for a full-time job as she prepares to graduate from the program and move out on her own.
Riyan’s testimony was the highlight of our day – helping us better understand the significant impact God's ministry is having on our families' lives. As we celebrate our fifth year of serving homeless families and our tenth year since Hope Alive was born, we praise God for the ministry’s effectiveness in changing the face of homelessness in our community.
On behalf of our staff, board of directors, and residents, thank you for keeping hope alive for each precious life we serve. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Showing posts with label life-change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life-change. Show all posts
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas comes from the heart
Last night I watched a popular Christmas movie – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. My favorite part is near the end of the movie when the Grinch learns that, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, perhaps Christmas means a little bit more.” As desperate as the Grinch was to steal Christmas from Whoville, he found he couldn’t because it lived in the hearts of the people.
Friday morning as I drove through downtown Frederick for an early morning meeting, I stopped at the traffic light at “square corner” (the intersection of Market and Patrick Streets). What happened right there in the busiest intersection in downtown Frederick was a wonderful reminder of what the Grinch discovered about the true meaning of Christmas. In the middle of the crosswalk, two friends met and embraced with a big hug and smile. In the hustle and bustle of the busy Christmas season, their embrace was a beautiful reminder that love from the heart is the true meaning of Christmas.
The Bible says that love comes from God. And it's His love that God gave to the whole world in the gift of His Son Jesus. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1. “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Fod God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17.
Once the Grinch experienced love through the little girl Cindy Lou, he was never the same again. He found forgiveness, joy and meaning for life. How much greater love can we experience and how much more can our lives be changed when we receive the gift of God's Son Jesus as His gift of salvation for the world? Immeasurably more and beyond anything we can ever ask or imagine.
From the board of directors, staff, and resident families at Hope Alive, our prayer for you this Christmas is that you will receive God’s gift of His Son – the Christ child – and know His life-changing love! May your hearts be filled with God’s love this Christmas!
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday morning as I drove through downtown Frederick for an early morning meeting, I stopped at the traffic light at “square corner” (the intersection of Market and Patrick Streets). What happened right there in the busiest intersection in downtown Frederick was a wonderful reminder of what the Grinch discovered about the true meaning of Christmas. In the middle of the crosswalk, two friends met and embraced with a big hug and smile. In the hustle and bustle of the busy Christmas season, their embrace was a beautiful reminder that love from the heart is the true meaning of Christmas.
The Bible says that love comes from God. And it's His love that God gave to the whole world in the gift of His Son Jesus. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1. “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Fod God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17.
Once the Grinch experienced love through the little girl Cindy Lou, he was never the same again. He found forgiveness, joy and meaning for life. How much greater love can we experience and how much more can our lives be changed when we receive the gift of God's Son Jesus as His gift of salvation for the world? Immeasurably more and beyond anything we can ever ask or imagine.
From the board of directors, staff, and resident families at Hope Alive, our prayer for you this Christmas is that you will receive God’s gift of His Son – the Christ child – and know His life-changing love! May your hearts be filled with God’s love this Christmas!
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The spirit of giving
This Christmas season I’ve been especially impacted by the spirit of giving – but in two totally different ways.
Last week one of our resident moms bounded up the steps to the office and presented the staff with a bouquet of roses. She wanted to thank us for everything we’ve done for her and her two young children. Your first thought may be, “Why in the world is she spending money on flowers when she doesn’t even have a home of her own?”
This amazing young woman has achieved so much since coming to Hope Alive. She’s maintaining her budget with controlled spending. She’s reducing her debt and is saving for her family’s future which qualified her for a vehicle from Second Chance Garage. She’s working as a substitute teacher and will earn an associates degree in 2012. She’s shown spiritual growth and maturity and is a godly role model for her peers. She and her children will graduate from the Hope Alive program next spring and live on their own for the first time in their lives. So, her giving in this way was not a foolish waste of money, but a loving expression of her gratitude that encourages the staff and makes her feel even more loved and valued.
I’ve also been impacted by the overwhelming spirit of giving from the community. Like every other Christmas, we’ve been inundated with gifts from generous individuals and groups who want our families to know they are surrounded by a community who loves and cares for them.
But there was one wrapped gift that arrived that I can’t stop thinking about. (If any gifts are delivered wrapped, we unwrap them to verify the contents and make sure they go to the right family.) One such gift was a pair of fashion boots. They were stylish and something that one of our moms or older girls would love. But … they were worn, scuffed, and had a hole in the sole. This gift just broke my heart … mostly for the person who gave it.
I would hope that when we give to others – especially those in need – that we give our best. God gave His perfect gift to us in His Son Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God did not hold back His best, but offered His one and only Son as the sacrifice for the sins of the world so that we might have new life through Him … all because of His great love for us! May this Christmas be a season filled with the true spirit of giving by giving Him our best in response for the precious gift of love He has freely given to us! May your Christmas be filled with the wonderful celebration of the indescribable gift of Jesus Christ!
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
P.S. There's still time to take advantage of our challenge grant matching dollar for dollar every new gift we receive!
Last week one of our resident moms bounded up the steps to the office and presented the staff with a bouquet of roses. She wanted to thank us for everything we’ve done for her and her two young children. Your first thought may be, “Why in the world is she spending money on flowers when she doesn’t even have a home of her own?”
This amazing young woman has achieved so much since coming to Hope Alive. She’s maintaining her budget with controlled spending. She’s reducing her debt and is saving for her family’s future which qualified her for a vehicle from Second Chance Garage. She’s working as a substitute teacher and will earn an associates degree in 2012. She’s shown spiritual growth and maturity and is a godly role model for her peers. She and her children will graduate from the Hope Alive program next spring and live on their own for the first time in their lives. So, her giving in this way was not a foolish waste of money, but a loving expression of her gratitude that encourages the staff and makes her feel even more loved and valued.
I’ve also been impacted by the overwhelming spirit of giving from the community. Like every other Christmas, we’ve been inundated with gifts from generous individuals and groups who want our families to know they are surrounded by a community who loves and cares for them.
But there was one wrapped gift that arrived that I can’t stop thinking about. (If any gifts are delivered wrapped, we unwrap them to verify the contents and make sure they go to the right family.) One such gift was a pair of fashion boots. They were stylish and something that one of our moms or older girls would love. But … they were worn, scuffed, and had a hole in the sole. This gift just broke my heart … mostly for the person who gave it.
I would hope that when we give to others – especially those in need – that we give our best. God gave His perfect gift to us in His Son Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God did not hold back His best, but offered His one and only Son as the sacrifice for the sins of the world so that we might have new life through Him … all because of His great love for us! May this Christmas be a season filled with the true spirit of giving by giving Him our best in response for the precious gift of love He has freely given to us! May your Christmas be filled with the wonderful celebration of the indescribable gift of Jesus Christ!
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
P.S. There's still time to take advantage of our challenge grant matching dollar for dollar every new gift we receive!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Through God's miraculous provision
God has provided for His ministry at Hope Alive in miraculous ways over the past 10 years. This year we were blessed to be selected as a beneficiary of the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program. Today wraps up our first year as a participating charity with the final Walkathon on the National Mall. Just over 500 walkers participated in seven mini walks in October and November and today’s Walkathon – raising more than $15,000 to benefit Hope Alive’s resident families.
Special thanks to all our walkers, Catoctin High Soccer and Cross Country Teams, Lewistown Elementary, Sabillasville Elementary, Thurmont Elementary, and Middletown United Methodist Church for hosting mini walks, and to the many many donors who funded walker registration fees. We are looking forward to even greater success next year!
We are also excited about an amazing opportunity God has provided through the Ausherman Family Foundation. They have awarded us a generous $25,000 challenge grant – matching dollar for dollar every new gift received up to that amount. Just note “challenge grant” on the memo line of your check and your gift will return to Hope Alive doubled. This challenge grant and matching gifts can erase our summer deficit and position us for a strong year in 2012.
Through God’s miraculous provision, He has faithfully sustained His ministry since opening our doors five years ago even through our unstable economic times. In this season of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for God’s faithfulness, mercy, grace, life-changing love, and hope that He alone can give. As you enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends, please remember the families who call Hope Alive home and the many homeless families who are struggling to survive right here in our own backyard – and count the many blessings in your life!
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Special thanks to all our walkers, Catoctin High Soccer and Cross Country Teams, Lewistown Elementary, Sabillasville Elementary, Thurmont Elementary, and Middletown United Methodist Church for hosting mini walks, and to the many many donors who funded walker registration fees. We are looking forward to even greater success next year!
We are also excited about an amazing opportunity God has provided through the Ausherman Family Foundation. They have awarded us a generous $25,000 challenge grant – matching dollar for dollar every new gift received up to that amount. Just note “challenge grant” on the memo line of your check and your gift will return to Hope Alive doubled. This challenge grant and matching gifts can erase our summer deficit and position us for a strong year in 2012.
Through God’s miraculous provision, He has faithfully sustained His ministry since opening our doors five years ago even through our unstable economic times. In this season of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for God’s faithfulness, mercy, grace, life-changing love, and hope that He alone can give. As you enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends, please remember the families who call Hope Alive home and the many homeless families who are struggling to survive right here in our own backyard – and count the many blessings in your life!
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Life-change and hope
While enroute to the Pentagon this morning for a CFC charity fair, I checked my email on my phone and had a wonderful surprise. I had a Facebook notice that Monica (a graduate of our program) posted a comment on the Hope Alive wall. She said Hope Alive was a life changing experience for her. Even more important than her time at Hope Alive were the people there that the Lord used to cradle her and her son and to change the course of her life. Wow!
Interestng "coincidence" that I took copies of our June newsletter featuring Monica's story to today’s charity fair. The front page article – Nothing is Impossible with God – attributes Monica’s inspirational story of hope to the power of God in her life. One woman reached down to pick up a copy being attracted by the half page photo of Monica’s beaming face in the sea of caps and gowns. When she noticed God’s name in the title, she quickly retracted her hand and moved on. How sad that the testimony of God’s power in someone’s life is offensive to her. As she walked away, I prayed that she too would come to know the One who offers hope.
If you want to hear more inspirational stories of life-change like Monica’s, then join us at our Resident Achievement Banquet next Thursday, October 13 at Dutch’s Daughter. To reserve your seat, call 301.241.4005 today! Check out Monica's post and "like" us on Facebook. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Interestng "coincidence" that I took copies of our June newsletter featuring Monica's story to today’s charity fair. The front page article – Nothing is Impossible with God – attributes Monica’s inspirational story of hope to the power of God in her life. One woman reached down to pick up a copy being attracted by the half page photo of Monica’s beaming face in the sea of caps and gowns. When she noticed God’s name in the title, she quickly retracted her hand and moved on. How sad that the testimony of God’s power in someone’s life is offensive to her. As she walked away, I prayed that she too would come to know the One who offers hope.
If you want to hear more inspirational stories of life-change like Monica’s, then join us at our Resident Achievement Banquet next Thursday, October 13 at Dutch’s Daughter. To reserve your seat, call 301.241.4005 today! Check out Monica's post and "like" us on Facebook. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Needs of homeless children
If you follow my blog, you may have been wondering where I’ve been for the past several weeks. My excuse is that there’s just too much to do and too little time. Part of the “too much to do” are the grants we’ve been writing and submitting to private foundations. In writing about the needs of homeless families, I’m reminded of the serious challenges homeless children – our children – face.
Research shows that homeless children are twice as likely as middle class children to have moderate to severe acute and chronic health problems. Half of homeless children have witnessed or experienced violence in their lives so it’s understandable that half of homeless school-age children have problems with anxiety and depression and 20% of homeless preschoolers have emotional disturbances that require professional care. Homeless children are four times more likely to have delayed development and behavioral disorders. These needs describe our youngest residents, but despite their serious challenges our children are exceptionally bright and fun-loving and just need a stable healing environment in which to grow and develop to their full potential. Hope Alive offers just that to our children. Once a family finds stability at Hope Alive, the changes that God brings to their lives are amazing.
To hear about this incredible life-change, I invite you to join us at our upcoming Resident Achievement Banquet on Thursday, October 13 at Dutch’s Daughter starting at 6pm. It’s a wonderful celebration of our residents’ inspirational progress and an evening of fabulous food and fellowship. Visit our website or call to reserve your seat today.
We’re also excited about our upcoming Help the Homeless Mini-Walks and hope you can join us on:
Sunday, October 16 for the Hope Alive Mini Walk on our beautiful nature trail in Sabillasville. Join us anytime between 1-4pm at the Hope Alive property for a short walk and to better understand the journeys of homeless families.
Saturday, October 22 at the Hope Alive Corn Maze at Crumland Farms in Frederick between 10am and 3pm for lots of fun on their twisty turny corn maze.
Visit our website to link to the online registration or to download a walker registration for the walk of your choice. You can always register at the walk and every walker will receive a free t-shirt!
Thanks for reading! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Research shows that homeless children are twice as likely as middle class children to have moderate to severe acute and chronic health problems. Half of homeless children have witnessed or experienced violence in their lives so it’s understandable that half of homeless school-age children have problems with anxiety and depression and 20% of homeless preschoolers have emotional disturbances that require professional care. Homeless children are four times more likely to have delayed development and behavioral disorders. These needs describe our youngest residents, but despite their serious challenges our children are exceptionally bright and fun-loving and just need a stable healing environment in which to grow and develop to their full potential. Hope Alive offers just that to our children. Once a family finds stability at Hope Alive, the changes that God brings to their lives are amazing.
To hear about this incredible life-change, I invite you to join us at our upcoming Resident Achievement Banquet on Thursday, October 13 at Dutch’s Daughter starting at 6pm. It’s a wonderful celebration of our residents’ inspirational progress and an evening of fabulous food and fellowship. Visit our website or call to reserve your seat today.
We’re also excited about our upcoming Help the Homeless Mini-Walks and hope you can join us on:
Sunday, October 16 for the Hope Alive Mini Walk on our beautiful nature trail in Sabillasville. Join us anytime between 1-4pm at the Hope Alive property for a short walk and to better understand the journeys of homeless families.
Saturday, October 22 at the Hope Alive Corn Maze at Crumland Farms in Frederick between 10am and 3pm for lots of fun on their twisty turny corn maze.
Visit our website to link to the online registration or to download a walker registration for the walk of your choice. You can always register at the walk and every walker will receive a free t-shirt!
Thanks for reading! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The little fawn
Yesterday afternoon I was returning to Hope Alive after picking up some lunch in Thurmont. (Not a usual occurrence since it means a trip down the mountain.) As I headed up the driveway, a fawn came darting across and ran through the front yard. I watched her go over the hill toward the Joshua Center. As I rounded the corner of the house I spotted her at the playground fence trying to figure out which way to go. When she saw me she turned and took off over the hill disappearing into the safety of the tall field grass.
This reminded me of our youngest residents that often come to us frightened by their housing instability and the uncertainty in their lives. Like the little fawn, they don’t know which way to turn and where safety lies. And like the fawn, they stay close to mom until they feel safe to run. Once our children feel secure, healing begins, they gain confidence and even make remarkable physical growth! I didn’t realize how much growth until I saw the growth chart in Abba’s Angels marking inches in new height within a couple of months for nearly every child!
Before we know it that little fawn will be an adult and before we know it our children will grow into the amazing men and women God designed them to be! What a joy to watch them change and experience new hope!
Here in this beautiful setting, God often uses nature to reveal His presence and encourage us in the work He has called us to do.
One more reminder about our upcoming fall events …
A Benefit Concert - Friday, September 9, 7:30pm - Featuring gospel artists AGCS – A Group Called Seneca and Seven Days Running at Monocacy Valley Church, 9861 Old National Pike, New Market, MD.
Rock the Need – Saturday, September 17, 2-8pm – A charity concert and fashion show at Westview Promenade benefitting Hope Alive and other local charities.
Fourth Annual Resident Achievement Banquet - Thursday, October 13, 6:00pm, at Dutch’s Daughter to celebrate the inspirational progress of our residents.
Help the Homeless Mini-Walks: Maze-a-thon at Crumland Farms - Saturday, October 29, 10am-3pm and Hope Alive Mini Walk – Sunday, October 16, 1-4pm (raindate October 23).
Help us spread the word! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
This reminded me of our youngest residents that often come to us frightened by their housing instability and the uncertainty in their lives. Like the little fawn, they don’t know which way to turn and where safety lies. And like the fawn, they stay close to mom until they feel safe to run. Once our children feel secure, healing begins, they gain confidence and even make remarkable physical growth! I didn’t realize how much growth until I saw the growth chart in Abba’s Angels marking inches in new height within a couple of months for nearly every child!
Before we know it that little fawn will be an adult and before we know it our children will grow into the amazing men and women God designed them to be! What a joy to watch them change and experience new hope!
Here in this beautiful setting, God often uses nature to reveal His presence and encourage us in the work He has called us to do.
One more reminder about our upcoming fall events …
A Benefit Concert - Friday, September 9, 7:30pm - Featuring gospel artists AGCS – A Group Called Seneca and Seven Days Running at Monocacy Valley Church, 9861 Old National Pike, New Market, MD.
Rock the Need – Saturday, September 17, 2-8pm – A charity concert and fashion show at Westview Promenade benefitting Hope Alive and other local charities.
Fourth Annual Resident Achievement Banquet - Thursday, October 13, 6:00pm, at Dutch’s Daughter to celebrate the inspirational progress of our residents.
Help the Homeless Mini-Walks: Maze-a-thon at Crumland Farms - Saturday, October 29, 10am-3pm and Hope Alive Mini Walk – Sunday, October 16, 1-4pm (raindate October 23).
Help us spread the word! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, July 28, 2011
God speaks through children
God always uses the children to remind me of why I’m here at Hope Alive doing what He called me to do. It was many many years ago that God spoke to me through some precious children that lived at the Frederick Rescue Mission where I served for more than seven years. It was during that time that God broke my heart for homeless women and children and I heard God’s gentle voice calling me to make a difference in their lives.
That was the beginning of the Hope Alive journey. Because God had used these children in such a powerful way in my life, a ministry to meet the unique needs of homeless children was at the very core of the Hope Alive vision. Today, we have a ministry that far surpasses that original vision. Thanks to the passionate leadership of our children’s ministry director, Ashley Benoit, and the dedicated service of our preschool teacher, Susan Hagelin, and assistant, Liz Miesner, our resident children experience love, stability, joy, growth and hope every day!
On Tuesday of this week, Jody (Family Ministry Specialist) and I were talking in the hall. As one of the little toddlers walked by with her caregiver, she stopped and hugged me around my knees. She turned to Jody and did the same and then she went on her way! Then yesterday, I was in the children’s center during nap time and one of our sweet little preschoolers was tossing and turning on her nap cot unable to fall asleep. She then settled down and turned to look at me with a great big smile and blew me a kiss! My heart just melted.
These children and their amazing mothers are the reason we are here. Just knowing that God is changing their lives in such remarkable ways encourages us in this journey. God speaks through them to confirm His calling on our lives to minister to their needs. Thank you for walking with us in this journey of faith and for your loving support and encouragement that God uses to keep hope alive for all of us here in this ministry! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
That was the beginning of the Hope Alive journey. Because God had used these children in such a powerful way in my life, a ministry to meet the unique needs of homeless children was at the very core of the Hope Alive vision. Today, we have a ministry that far surpasses that original vision. Thanks to the passionate leadership of our children’s ministry director, Ashley Benoit, and the dedicated service of our preschool teacher, Susan Hagelin, and assistant, Liz Miesner, our resident children experience love, stability, joy, growth and hope every day!
On Tuesday of this week, Jody (Family Ministry Specialist) and I were talking in the hall. As one of the little toddlers walked by with her caregiver, she stopped and hugged me around my knees. She turned to Jody and did the same and then she went on her way! Then yesterday, I was in the children’s center during nap time and one of our sweet little preschoolers was tossing and turning on her nap cot unable to fall asleep. She then settled down and turned to look at me with a great big smile and blew me a kiss! My heart just melted.
These children and their amazing mothers are the reason we are here. Just knowing that God is changing their lives in such remarkable ways encourages us in this journey. God speaks through them to confirm His calling on our lives to minister to their needs. Thank you for walking with us in this journey of faith and for your loving support and encouragement that God uses to keep hope alive for all of us here in this ministry! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Peace in the midst of the storm
I tend to panic in storms. The wind, rain, tornado warnings, flash flooding and mud slides over the last two weeks claimed lives and caused wide-spread flooding, damage and debris.
Thankfully Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24-27 have brought me peace in the midst of the storms: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Jesus’ words assure us that if we build our lives on Him, then we can weather any storm no matter how great the wind, rain and floods become. His words remind me of the storms of life our resident moms at Hope Alive have faced. They can choose to rebuild their lives on the Savior and find healing, love, hope, and peace from the storms that have shaken their foundations. As they come to know Christ, their lives change in amazing ways! Or sadly, they can choose to continue to live on shifting sand with no firm foundation.
Please pray that every homeless family – whether at Hope Alive or struggling to survive in our community – will see Jesus reaching out His hands to them in the midst of their storms. Pray that the storms they face in life will move them to build their house upon the rock – Jesus Christ! May you know His peace in the midst of the storm. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thankfully Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24-27 have brought me peace in the midst of the storms: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Jesus’ words assure us that if we build our lives on Him, then we can weather any storm no matter how great the wind, rain and floods become. His words remind me of the storms of life our resident moms at Hope Alive have faced. They can choose to rebuild their lives on the Savior and find healing, love, hope, and peace from the storms that have shaken their foundations. As they come to know Christ, their lives change in amazing ways! Or sadly, they can choose to continue to live on shifting sand with no firm foundation.
Please pray that every homeless family – whether at Hope Alive or struggling to survive in our community – will see Jesus reaching out His hands to them in the midst of their storms. Pray that the storms they face in life will move them to build their house upon the rock – Jesus Christ! May you know His peace in the midst of the storm. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Rekindling the vision
Nine years ago this week, God told me it was time to step out in faith. On Sunday, April 7, 2002, my pastor preached a sermon on “rekindling the vision”. For me, the vision was one of a new women and children's ministry that God had birthed in my heart two years earlier - a ministry that was located outside the city of Frederick in a safe and secure nurturing environment where homeless women and children could find healing, recovery and hope of a future. By the end of the two years leading up to April 7th, I had lost hope that the vision would ever be fulfilled because nothing seemed to be happening to make it a reality.
When I heard my pastor’s message that Sunday morning, I knew God was speaking to me. My pastor challenged each of us in the congregation with this question: “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” God answered the question for me. He told me it was my fear of loosing a paycheck. I knew at that moment that God was asking me to step out in faith, leave my job, and start this new ministry as a full-time volunteer. That’s when Hope Alive, Inc. was born.
I wonder what would have happened if I had not been in church that morning or if I was preoccupied during my pastor's message and didn’t hear God speak to me. Or what if I assumed his message was for someone else thinking God couldn’t possibly be speaking to me! April 7, 2002 changed my life. The nine years since that time has been tremendously challenging, but incredibly rewarding and spiritually life-changing! What a privilege to watch what God can do to make His vision a reality. What a blessing to be used by God to serve His people in need when we say “YES” to His call. And what an honor to serve alongside so many of God’s faithful servants in the kingdom work He has called us to do.
What about you? Is there a vision God has laid on your heart that you’ve lost hope will ever be fulfilled? As my pastor asked me that Sunday morning nine years ago, “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” Believe that with God all things are possible and listen intently for His voice because He is speaking!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
When I heard my pastor’s message that Sunday morning, I knew God was speaking to me. My pastor challenged each of us in the congregation with this question: “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” God answered the question for me. He told me it was my fear of loosing a paycheck. I knew at that moment that God was asking me to step out in faith, leave my job, and start this new ministry as a full-time volunteer. That’s when Hope Alive, Inc. was born.
I wonder what would have happened if I had not been in church that morning or if I was preoccupied during my pastor's message and didn’t hear God speak to me. Or what if I assumed his message was for someone else thinking God couldn’t possibly be speaking to me! April 7, 2002 changed my life. The nine years since that time has been tremendously challenging, but incredibly rewarding and spiritually life-changing! What a privilege to watch what God can do to make His vision a reality. What a blessing to be used by God to serve His people in need when we say “YES” to His call. And what an honor to serve alongside so many of God’s faithful servants in the kingdom work He has called us to do.
What about you? Is there a vision God has laid on your heart that you’ve lost hope will ever be fulfilled? As my pastor asked me that Sunday morning nine years ago, “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” Believe that with God all things are possible and listen intently for His voice because He is speaking!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tough week
It was a tough week at Hope Alive. It started with our newest staff member breaking her leg requiring surgery, pins and plates. Ouch! She's on crutches and hobbling around the best she can and trying not to overdo it.
Then, another staff member had a stove fire in her apartment requiring a visit by the fire department. No one was hurt, but she was left needing a new stove and smoke smell in everything.
It was also an unusual week of having to make some really tough decisions involving residents. When it involves the lives of others, the decisions are especially difficult to make. Then God brought about a major heart change and that's what it's all about!
Then there was more disappointing decisions made by the Board of County Commissioners this week with their 25% cut to the County's Grants-In-Aid program providing critically needed funding for nonprofit services. This follows last year's funding cut to nonprofits with another 25% projected cut for FY13. Hope Alive submitted a grant for the current funding cycle so if it's rated and ranked among the highest, our funding from two years ago may be reinstated.
And every week we continue to hear the heartbreaking stories from families who are struggling to survive in our own backyard. This week, among others, we received calls from a mother dying of cancer and living on the streets with her two children and a woman with three children needing to flee violence in their home.
Even though it was a tough week, we were blessed to see the positive changes and continued determination of so many of our families as they press forward toward healing, recovery and self-sufficiency.
Please continue to pray for us, those we serve, and the many families who are homeless and on the brink of despair who need our help. Pray God will meet their needs and fill their lives with His life-changing love and hope of a future. As we've witnessed so much lately, we know God hears and answers our prayers! Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Then, another staff member had a stove fire in her apartment requiring a visit by the fire department. No one was hurt, but she was left needing a new stove and smoke smell in everything.
It was also an unusual week of having to make some really tough decisions involving residents. When it involves the lives of others, the decisions are especially difficult to make. Then God brought about a major heart change and that's what it's all about!
Then there was more disappointing decisions made by the Board of County Commissioners this week with their 25% cut to the County's Grants-In-Aid program providing critically needed funding for nonprofit services. This follows last year's funding cut to nonprofits with another 25% projected cut for FY13. Hope Alive submitted a grant for the current funding cycle so if it's rated and ranked among the highest, our funding from two years ago may be reinstated.
And every week we continue to hear the heartbreaking stories from families who are struggling to survive in our own backyard. This week, among others, we received calls from a mother dying of cancer and living on the streets with her two children and a woman with three children needing to flee violence in their home.
Even though it was a tough week, we were blessed to see the positive changes and continued determination of so many of our families as they press forward toward healing, recovery and self-sufficiency.
Please continue to pray for us, those we serve, and the many families who are homeless and on the brink of despair who need our help. Pray God will meet their needs and fill their lives with His life-changing love and hope of a future. As we've witnessed so much lately, we know God hears and answers our prayers! Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday, February 4, 2011
Moving forward toward hope and a future
For the past few months, one of our resident moms has been taking GED classes in preparation for the state exam. This week she took the pre-test exams and passed all the tests with flying colors! This means she can now register to take the state GED exam. Earning her high school diploma is one step toward her goals and dreams that will allow her to move on to college classes and pursue a new career. Prayerfully, she'll be proudly wearing her cap and gown this May at the Frederick County graduation ceremony. We can't wait!
One day on her way to GED class, this mom and Jody Julian (our Family Ministry Specialist) were chatting about her spiritual life and how God has intervened these last few months. In this mother's young faith and wisdom she said, "You never really know about God until you are really that down." God is intervening in her children's lives too. They are happy and well adjusted at Hope Alive and look forward to spending their days in our Children's Center. Just this week, the oldest of the two proudly sang the ABC song with another preschooler as we gathered for prayer. She was thrilled that her mom was there to hear her and beamed as we all applauded.
This mother's nightime panic attacks have now been replaced with peaceful sleep and she often speaks about the opportunities her family is blessed with now they have a secure, happy, and safe environment in which they can grow and thrive.
Please pray for this young mother as she prepares to take her state exam in the coming months. Pray for hers and every family who calls Hope Alive home as they dedicate themselves to important life-change and moving forward toward hope and a future. Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be happy to respond to them in my weekly blog or feel free to call or email me anytime. Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
One day on her way to GED class, this mom and Jody Julian (our Family Ministry Specialist) were chatting about her spiritual life and how God has intervened these last few months. In this mother's young faith and wisdom she said, "You never really know about God until you are really that down." God is intervening in her children's lives too. They are happy and well adjusted at Hope Alive and look forward to spending their days in our Children's Center. Just this week, the oldest of the two proudly sang the ABC song with another preschooler as we gathered for prayer. She was thrilled that her mom was there to hear her and beamed as we all applauded.
This mother's nightime panic attacks have now been replaced with peaceful sleep and she often speaks about the opportunities her family is blessed with now they have a secure, happy, and safe environment in which they can grow and thrive.
Please pray for this young mother as she prepares to take her state exam in the coming months. Pray for hers and every family who calls Hope Alive home as they dedicate themselves to important life-change and moving forward toward hope and a future. Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be happy to respond to them in my weekly blog or feel free to call or email me anytime. Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday, January 21, 2011
Healing from the inside out
Life change is the goal for our resident families which paves the way for them to permanently exit the roles of homelessness and experience self-sufficiency and hope of a future. Pursuing higher education, exploring new careers, and learning job readiness skills and effective money management - including debt resolution and savings - are all significant and measureable goals they need to accomplish. But the real life-change that God desires happens from the inside out. This is often the hardest work to do and for our moms it's the most painful and difficult.
Most of our resident women commit to this challenge in order to find true healing. This work involves exploring their personal faith journeys through a deepening relationship with God as well as identifying and addressing their emotional barriers to health and wholeness.
This week, four of our resident moms took a giant step in this direction by attending a "Walk Through the Bible" class at a local church. They signed up weeks ago because of their desire to know and understand more about God through His word. After dinner and clean-up, they packed up the van with all the children and headed off to church. In addition to their weekly worship attendance, this is a critical part of their journeys to healing from the inside out. I know God will meet them face to face as they desire to know Him and His Son Jesus.
Please continue to pray for our families as they dedicate themselves to this often painful life-change in order to find true healing and recovery and hope of a future. Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Most of our resident women commit to this challenge in order to find true healing. This work involves exploring their personal faith journeys through a deepening relationship with God as well as identifying and addressing their emotional barriers to health and wholeness.
This week, four of our resident moms took a giant step in this direction by attending a "Walk Through the Bible" class at a local church. They signed up weeks ago because of their desire to know and understand more about God through His word. After dinner and clean-up, they packed up the van with all the children and headed off to church. In addition to their weekly worship attendance, this is a critical part of their journeys to healing from the inside out. I know God will meet them face to face as they desire to know Him and His Son Jesus.
Please continue to pray for our families as they dedicate themselves to this often painful life-change in order to find true healing and recovery and hope of a future. Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Reclaiming the life of a child
In preparation for a speaking engagement today, I was reviewing data and information about family homelessness in America and in our own community. When I speak to a group I like to paint a picture of family homelessness highlighting the serious issue that it is not only across this country, but right here in our own backyard.
In 2009, the National Center on Family Homelessness published a study citing that one child in 50 is homeless in America. They go on to report that, “It is virtually impossible to reclaim the life of a child who has spent his childhood without a home.”
In reflecting on our own statistics, Hope Alive has served 34 homeless families including 64 children since opening our doors four years ago. These children have ranged from newborn to 17 years of age. We’ve not only had one newborn at Hope Alive, but three with the second born last month and the third scheduled for delivery tomorrow. I wonder what it feels like for a mother to bring her newborn baby home from the hospital when home is a “homeless shelter”. Our hope – and what we are called to do – is to help facilitate the life-transformation that God wants to bring to each family’s life so every child we serve will not spend their childhood without a home.
We know of many families who have left Hope Alive and returned to permanent affordable housing and are doing well. I just saw a former resident yesterday. This mother happily said her children were healthy and growing. Praise God! But for some, the cycle continues as mothers find that it’s too hard or too painful to embrace change. For their children, the cycle will continue.
Please pray for the youngest residents we serve. They are the innocent victims of this devastating problem that more and more families find themselves facing in this economy. We ended 2010 with a 49% increase in calls for help over the previous year. Our continuing economic challenges will only make the calls for help increase. BUT God is using all of us as His vessels to reach out to families in need to reclaim the life of every child. Thank you for your continued interest and support and may God bless you with a purpose-filled New Year! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
In 2009, the National Center on Family Homelessness published a study citing that one child in 50 is homeless in America. They go on to report that, “It is virtually impossible to reclaim the life of a child who has spent his childhood without a home.”
In reflecting on our own statistics, Hope Alive has served 34 homeless families including 64 children since opening our doors four years ago. These children have ranged from newborn to 17 years of age. We’ve not only had one newborn at Hope Alive, but three with the second born last month and the third scheduled for delivery tomorrow. I wonder what it feels like for a mother to bring her newborn baby home from the hospital when home is a “homeless shelter”. Our hope – and what we are called to do – is to help facilitate the life-transformation that God wants to bring to each family’s life so every child we serve will not spend their childhood without a home.
We know of many families who have left Hope Alive and returned to permanent affordable housing and are doing well. I just saw a former resident yesterday. This mother happily said her children were healthy and growing. Praise God! But for some, the cycle continues as mothers find that it’s too hard or too painful to embrace change. For their children, the cycle will continue.
Please pray for the youngest residents we serve. They are the innocent victims of this devastating problem that more and more families find themselves facing in this economy. We ended 2010 with a 49% increase in calls for help over the previous year. Our continuing economic challenges will only make the calls for help increase. BUT God is using all of us as His vessels to reach out to families in need to reclaim the life of every child. Thank you for your continued interest and support and may God bless you with a purpose-filled New Year! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2010 blessings
It’s hard to believe that we are just about to enter a brand New Year. Where in the world did 2010 go? As we close out this year, I am most grateful to God for sustaining His ministry through 2010 and bringing Hope Alive to a much brighter place financially than we’ve been in the past 3 years. It’s just one more confirmation from our heavenly Father that He is in control and intends for us to continue serving the growing number of homeless families searching for help and embrace them with God’s life-changing love offering them hope and a future.
As I look back on this year I’m especially grateful for our dedicated staff that goes far above and beyond the call of duty. Few know that all of our staff – whether they work daytime, evenings, or weekends – have helped to fill gaps in overnight coverage since September. The dedication of these wonderful women is truly inspiring and I am blessed every day to serve alongside such amazing servants of God.
Also this year, we’ve been blessed with the addition of new developmental assessments for our resident children participating in our child development programs. These new assessments – conducted initially upon intake and then quarterly – measure developmental progress and milestone achievement as well as identify developmental delays that require special services or individualized care and nurturing.
And as always, I am grateful for the ministry that God provides for the women and children who call Hope Alive home. Hope Alive’s residential program has proven to be effective in addressing the diverse and complex needs of our families and moving them forward in their journeys to health, wholeness and stable permanent housing. Each family – despite their length of stay – finds hope of a future. I find such encouragement in my own life journey from our moms who face overwhelming challenges head on with such courage and determination. They are among the most inspiring women I know.
I know that I speak for the Hope Alive staff when I say that the opportunity to serve at Hope Alive is life changing by strengthening our daily walk with Christ and seeing who He is and what He is able to do in and through us. I treasure the times like this morning when the staff gathered around our children to pray for the day and they all chime in with a loud "Amen!"
I want to say a special thank you to Sharon May who is leaving us after 3 ½ years of faithfully loving our Hope Alive families to spend more time with her grandchildren and to Doree Lynn Miles who has committed her gifts and talents over the last 4 ½ years to help make Hope Alive what it is today. We will dearly miss both of these wonderful ladies and wish them God’s richest blessings.
In these last few days of 2010, I encourage you to take the time to give thanks to God for His abundant blessings this year. And may we look forward to the New Year with anticipation and excitement at what God will continue to do!
(If you are interested – or know someone who is – we are searching for Doree Lynn’s replacement as our Development Coordinator. Check out the job posting on our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/.)
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
As I look back on this year I’m especially grateful for our dedicated staff that goes far above and beyond the call of duty. Few know that all of our staff – whether they work daytime, evenings, or weekends – have helped to fill gaps in overnight coverage since September. The dedication of these wonderful women is truly inspiring and I am blessed every day to serve alongside such amazing servants of God.
Also this year, we’ve been blessed with the addition of new developmental assessments for our resident children participating in our child development programs. These new assessments – conducted initially upon intake and then quarterly – measure developmental progress and milestone achievement as well as identify developmental delays that require special services or individualized care and nurturing.
And as always, I am grateful for the ministry that God provides for the women and children who call Hope Alive home. Hope Alive’s residential program has proven to be effective in addressing the diverse and complex needs of our families and moving them forward in their journeys to health, wholeness and stable permanent housing. Each family – despite their length of stay – finds hope of a future. I find such encouragement in my own life journey from our moms who face overwhelming challenges head on with such courage and determination. They are among the most inspiring women I know.
I know that I speak for the Hope Alive staff when I say that the opportunity to serve at Hope Alive is life changing by strengthening our daily walk with Christ and seeing who He is and what He is able to do in and through us. I treasure the times like this morning when the staff gathered around our children to pray for the day and they all chime in with a loud "Amen!"
I want to say a special thank you to Sharon May who is leaving us after 3 ½ years of faithfully loving our Hope Alive families to spend more time with her grandchildren and to Doree Lynn Miles who has committed her gifts and talents over the last 4 ½ years to help make Hope Alive what it is today. We will dearly miss both of these wonderful ladies and wish them God’s richest blessings.
In these last few days of 2010, I encourage you to take the time to give thanks to God for His abundant blessings this year. And may we look forward to the New Year with anticipation and excitement at what God will continue to do!
(If you are interested – or know someone who is – we are searching for Doree Lynn’s replacement as our Development Coordinator. Check out the job posting on our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/.)
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Offering hope to the hopeless
First thing Monday morning, a young woman came to our door with her 3 year-old. She and her two children are living in a car since loosing their housing. That morning she was referred to Hope Alive by the Housing Authority so she drove out immediately to see if we could help. Jody – our Family Ministry Specialist – met with her and started an intake. The mother explained that her older son is in school every day and she allows him to ride the bus after school to the neighborhood where they lived so there’s some familiarity to his daily routine. She picks him up from the bus and they ride around for a while and spend the night in the car.
Near the end of Jody’s intake with this mother, the three year-old started to cry and said she wanted to go home. The mother explained that they’d be leaving soon, but instead of going home they needed to ride around a little while longer. Jody was able to offer her hope since we have room to take in this family. Tuesday was the mother’s and child’s birthdays.
Can you imagine living in a car with your children? Can you imagine your child coming home from school not knowing where you’d be sleeping that night? Can you imagine spending your birthday homeless with no gifts or means to celebrate?
Even with the flood of calls we’re receiving, we never become calloused or insensitive to each caller's desperate situation. Jody never completes a call without offering the woman hope – either through referrals to other community services (as limited as they are) or by offering prayer and encouragement. Please pray for each homeless family in our community – and across this country – that is struggling to survive and that more funding and services become available to meet these critical needs.
We are blessed by the generous outpouring of support we've received in the past two months that is enabling us to serve as many families as possible this year. To hear about the dramatic life-change our resident families experience and the abundant harvest God is producing in their lives, please plan to join us at our third annual Resident Achievement Banquet on Thursday, October 21 at Dutch’s Daughter’s Restaurant. It’s an evening you don’t want to miss! Check out our website at www.hopealiveministries.org for details. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Near the end of Jody’s intake with this mother, the three year-old started to cry and said she wanted to go home. The mother explained that they’d be leaving soon, but instead of going home they needed to ride around a little while longer. Jody was able to offer her hope since we have room to take in this family. Tuesday was the mother’s and child’s birthdays.
Can you imagine living in a car with your children? Can you imagine your child coming home from school not knowing where you’d be sleeping that night? Can you imagine spending your birthday homeless with no gifts or means to celebrate?
Even with the flood of calls we’re receiving, we never become calloused or insensitive to each caller's desperate situation. Jody never completes a call without offering the woman hope – either through referrals to other community services (as limited as they are) or by offering prayer and encouragement. Please pray for each homeless family in our community – and across this country – that is struggling to survive and that more funding and services become available to meet these critical needs.
We are blessed by the generous outpouring of support we've received in the past two months that is enabling us to serve as many families as possible this year. To hear about the dramatic life-change our resident families experience and the abundant harvest God is producing in their lives, please plan to join us at our third annual Resident Achievement Banquet on Thursday, October 21 at Dutch’s Daughter’s Restaurant. It’s an evening you don’t want to miss! Check out our website at www.hopealiveministries.org for details. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Graduation celebrations
Graduation in August? Not traditionally, but at Hope Alive we are thrilled to celebrate resident graduations any time of the year! Tomorrow we celebrate the most significant milestone that a family can achieve while at Hope Alive – graduation! In fact, we not only have one graduation to celebrate tomorrow evening, but two! You may have read these families’ stories in our August issue of Hope Matters. Their official “move out” dates were in June and July, but these two special moms and their children wanted to graduate together and with their busy lives it was challenging to find an agreeable date. Tomorrow evening, their life-change and many achievements will be celebrated as they have successfully transitioned to independent living!
What’s especially encouraging to me is the list of guests they have invited. These are their new support networks they have formed for themselves since coming to Hope Alive – volunteers, colleagues, new friends, new families that have embraced them as part of their own, and family relationships that have been mended and reconciled.
As I’ve mentioned before, when a family graduates, it’s not “good-bye”, but “see you soon” because we remain in what seems like constant contact. These moms call to tell us of their successes and struggles and appropriately ask for advice and support when needed.
It will be a wonderfully inspiring evening filled with tears and laughter and thanksgiving to God for all He has done in their lives!
Don’t forget our dollar for dollar match going on right now – thanks to the generosity of the Ausherman Family Foundation. Check out our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/calendar/event/174 for more information and help us spread the word! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
What’s especially encouraging to me is the list of guests they have invited. These are their new support networks they have formed for themselves since coming to Hope Alive – volunteers, colleagues, new friends, new families that have embraced them as part of their own, and family relationships that have been mended and reconciled.
As I’ve mentioned before, when a family graduates, it’s not “good-bye”, but “see you soon” because we remain in what seems like constant contact. These moms call to tell us of their successes and struggles and appropriately ask for advice and support when needed.
It will be a wonderfully inspiring evening filled with tears and laughter and thanksgiving to God for all He has done in their lives!
Don’t forget our dollar for dollar match going on right now – thanks to the generosity of the Ausherman Family Foundation. Check out our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/calendar/event/174 for more information and help us spread the word! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday, August 6, 2010
Homeless trends
A woman and her two young children sleeping in a laundromat? Here in Frederick County? Sounds impossible in this day and age, but unfortunately this was reality for one homeless family that called Hope Alive this week.
I’ve been blogging a lot recently about the alarming increase in the number of homeless families calling us for help – 45% increase from January to July of this year compared to the same period last year. Sadly, the callers are becoming more desperate than ever before.
Here are some trends Jody Julian, our Family Ministry Specialist, has seen in recent calls for services. More homeless families are …
* persistent in calling multiple times as their homeless crisis has not been resolved,
* living doubled up with friends and family members in subsidized housing – placing their subsidized housing in jeopardy,
* calling us having already accessed all available services,
* moving from county to county and even across state lines, hoping to find help,
* calling from out of the region and other states,
* facing homelessness due to foreclosure.
So what do we do? Thanks to the Ausherman Family Foundation’s generous operating grant and $25,000 Challenge Grant matching dollar for dollar every donation we receive, we are able to lift our intake freeze and help as many families as possible.
You may be wondering what happened to the mom and two young children sleeping in the laundromat. Fortunately, the first agency they contacted – the Frederick Community Action Agency – sent out a staff member to confirm their situation (as they prioritize their intakes based on their emergency situation) and they were able to take them into the City shelter right away.
Please pray for the families that are struggling to survive right here in our own backyard and pray for the families we serve to fully embrace the opportunity for life-change and exit the roles of homelessness once and for all. We are so grateful for your support that makes this possible. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday, July 9, 2010
Ready to serve
Just back from vacation, I returned to Hope Alive on Tuesday refreshed, rested and ready to serve. I thought I'd get a week to ease back into the work of the ministry, but the needs of homeless families in our community abruptly brought me back to reality. Just today, we received calls from four homeless families who are struggling to survive in our community. One mother and her two year old are living in a car, two families are living in a motel, and one mother and her 14 month old are facing eviction. Despite our need to operate below capacity because of our staffing and resource limitations, the needs are too great so we’re starting the intake process for two of these families in emergency situations. From January to June of this year, we’ve seen an alarming 43% increase in requests for services as compared to the same period last year.
At the same time, we are refreshed by the life-change our resident families are experiencing! This month we are celebrating two families’ graduations from our residential program. One family moved on to independent housing last month, but she wanted to wait and share the celebration with the next family that’s graduating this month. Both of these families – along with the other families who have successfully moved from Hope Alive to independent housing – are healthy, whole, and living self-sustaining lives filled with hope and a future. And one of our teen residents just came back from a week at Christian camp as a changed young lady. She wants to go on a mission trip later this year to a third world country ready to serve others who are in much greater need than her family.
We continue to trust God completely to meet the needs of homeless women and their children. Through the power of His life-changing love and the ministry of Hope Alive, life transformation is possible and women and their children are finding hope of a future.
Vacation is wonderful, but I am grateful for the privilege of serving God’s people in need. Thank you for your support and commitment to our mission. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
At the same time, we are refreshed by the life-change our resident families are experiencing! This month we are celebrating two families’ graduations from our residential program. One family moved on to independent housing last month, but she wanted to wait and share the celebration with the next family that’s graduating this month. Both of these families – along with the other families who have successfully moved from Hope Alive to independent housing – are healthy, whole, and living self-sustaining lives filled with hope and a future. And one of our teen residents just came back from a week at Christian camp as a changed young lady. She wants to go on a mission trip later this year to a third world country ready to serve others who are in much greater need than her family.
We continue to trust God completely to meet the needs of homeless women and their children. Through the power of His life-changing love and the ministry of Hope Alive, life transformation is possible and women and their children are finding hope of a future.
Vacation is wonderful, but I am grateful for the privilege of serving God’s people in need. Thank you for your support and commitment to our mission. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday, May 14, 2010
Pomp and Circumstance
Da ... Da Da Da Da ... Da ... In case you didn't recognize that tune, it's Pomp and Circumstance - a song we're humming a lot these days at Hope Alive.
Next week we're celebrating two major graduations! One resident mom is graduating with her high school diploma from Frederick County Public School's Adult Education Program. Earlier the same day, another resident mom is graduating from Maryland's Drug Court. After much hard work and determination to change the course of their lives, these two very special women have much to celebrate! Other women at Hope Alive - and especially new families to the program - are encouraged by these women's accomplishments and believe their own lives can be different with the same determination.
As I've shared in recent blogs, the needs of homeless families in the community are increasing significantly. January to April of this year was a 36% increase in phone inquiries from homeless families over the same period last year. In the past week, we've heard of three families - including a total of 9 children - living in motels. We rushed one family through our intake process as they were on their last day of motel placement by the Department of Social Services. Their next move would be to the streets. This new mom is starting her GED work next Monday - a dream she thought she'd never fulfill. And with the example of our two graduates, she'll be even more encouraged on her new journey to hope and a future.
More graduations will follow soon with two more families successfully completing Hope Alive's residential program! I thank God for giving us reason to sing!
Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Next week we're celebrating two major graduations! One resident mom is graduating with her high school diploma from Frederick County Public School's Adult Education Program. Earlier the same day, another resident mom is graduating from Maryland's Drug Court. After much hard work and determination to change the course of their lives, these two very special women have much to celebrate! Other women at Hope Alive - and especially new families to the program - are encouraged by these women's accomplishments and believe their own lives can be different with the same determination.
As I've shared in recent blogs, the needs of homeless families in the community are increasing significantly. January to April of this year was a 36% increase in phone inquiries from homeless families over the same period last year. In the past week, we've heard of three families - including a total of 9 children - living in motels. We rushed one family through our intake process as they were on their last day of motel placement by the Department of Social Services. Their next move would be to the streets. This new mom is starting her GED work next Monday - a dream she thought she'd never fulfill. And with the example of our two graduates, she'll be even more encouraged on her new journey to hope and a future.
More graduations will follow soon with two more families successfully completing Hope Alive's residential program! I thank God for giving us reason to sing!
Until next week ...
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
