Independent...Ashley was self-sufficient, but something was missing – page 4

When one thinks of an open

door certain imagery comes to

mind. Revelation 3:8 describes an open door in

this manner: I know your works. Behold, I have set

before you an open door, which no one is able to

shut. I know that you have but little power, and

yet you have kept My word and have not denied

My name.

When I think of an open door, I think of unlimited

opportunity. Open doors are symbolic of these

opportunities and the ability to do something

worthwhile, something to make one’s life count.

We must remember that our God is a God of open

doors. Some see open doors and proceed with

great caution, or they may not even move forward

at all because of fear. Open doors may cause us

to leave our comfort zone and take a risk.

Eron Green, President and CEO

We are in a season of open doors here at STCH

Ministries. At times it feels as if we are “drinking

water from a fire hydrant”. We feel blessed to be

chosen to have so many opportunities for growth

as an organization, because as we grow, so will

our impact for the Kingdom. I would ask that

you keep us in your prayers as we continue the

journey God has for STCH Ministries.

When I think of the difficulties faced by DeDe,

Ashley, Eloy and Lupe, the open doors that

were provided by God were, at times, extremely

difficult to walk through but look where they are

now! Ultimately, who we become while we go

through the door often matters more than the

door we choose.

Open Doors

STCHM is a Texas Baptist agency affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.2 Fall 2015

Family Counseling - Corpus Christi 361.991.8680

Family Counseling - Victoria 361.575.5151

Family Counseling - SATELLITE OFFICES:

Beeville and San Antonio 361.991.8680

Gonzales, Rockport, and Stockdale 361.575.5151

President’s Office and Development 361.375.2417

Homes for Children - Beeville 361.375.2101

Homes for Families - Goliad 361.575.5151

Jobs for Life - Corpus Christi 361.452.3046

International Ministry - Corpus Christi 361.994.0940

Join us on www.STCHM.org STCHM@stchm.org

contents STCH MinistriesSnapshots

KIdS HELpIng KIdS

The generosity of children knows

no bounds! Bryce and Chance

heard STCH Ministries staff, Joel

and Galilee Bowden, present our

ministries at First Baptist Church in

Orange Grove. They were so moved

by what they heard; they decided to

set up a lemonade stand in their little

town. The plan? To raise money to

donate to the kids that call Boothe

Campus home. Soon after we were

surprised by a handwritten note we

received in the mail, along with their

donation. The note read, “We had

a lemonade stand and earned $15.

Our great-grandma matched it. We

wanted to give the money to you.”

We love to share this story with our

kids. The kindness and generosity

these boys demonstrated is a great

example for us all.

VALErO’S gIFTEvery year Valero hosts a Texas Open

Benefit for Children to raise money for

www.STCHM.org 3

VISIT STCHM On FACEbOOKConnect with us on Facebook for an up-to-date, as it happens, snapshot of what we are doing daily. There is always

something post-worthy. We encourage you to share what we are doing with your Facebook friends, so check us

out and tell others about us, www.facebook.com/stchm.

P4IndEpEndEnT...

P6HELpIng TO

TrAnSFOrM LIVES

P7THEy bELIEVE In ME

P8SUppOrTEd by SOUTH

TEXAS CATTLEWOMEn

P9SprIng EVEnTS

P10THE prOVIdEr

P11nEW FAMILy COUnSELIng

LOCATIOnS

P12pEACE OF HEArT

P14JOAnnA’S JOUrnAL

rEApIng A HArVEST

We have been truly blessed by our faithful donors. Thank you!

organizations in their area. A committee

chooses different non-profits that are

focused on children to receive the

benefits from the event. We have been

honored to be recognized by them for

several years.

Many people do not realize that we

are funded completely by private

donations. Gifts like this help us to

continue to meet the needs of children

and families we serve. At the check

presentation Jeff Brewer, Director of

Development, shared our appreciation

to the committee and Valero by

saying, “We have been blessed by your

continued support of our ministry. Due

to the tremendous growth we continue

to see at our Boothe Campus outside

of Pettus, we will be using this donation

to literally feed our kids.”

The giant check presented was a

wondrous thing for our kids. Faith

Cottage gathered in the Commissary

for a picture-perfect moment!

quickly found out the community really wasn’t fond of

him. Still she kept her head high and continued to work

and take care of her family. She often left her children

in the care of their father when she went to work, until

she returned home one day to find Child Protective

Services inquiring about the safety of Kylee and Kyle.

They accused her of endangering her children. “There

was just so much drama that I wasn’t used to dealing

with,” Ashley reflected. “I realized I was just existing, not

living. But I didn’t know what to do.”

Ashley was struggling with whether or not she should

move back to Houston or stay where she was. Seemingly

by chance, she met Jade and Weston Keeler. The couple

invited Ashley and her children over to their home and

immediately a bond was made. The Keelers have been

very influential in the direction Ashley’s life has taken

ever since. “I started attending church with them at First

Baptist Church in East Bernard. It wasn’t very long before

they told me about STCH Ministries Homes for Families.

They encouraged me to look into it.”

After visiting the Marshall Ranch Campus in Goliad, she

decided that it was not for her. “I toured the campus

and thought it was a wonderful thing they were doing,

but it wasn’t for me. I was independent already!” Ashley

giggled at the thought. “I mean, I had my own place and

was able to take care of myself.”

4 Fall 2015

The importance of being independent is huge in our society. The significance of being able to take

care of ourselves determines how we measure our own success. Ashley, a single mother of two, was

doing just that. She had a steady job, working full-time and then some. She had her own apartment

and a car. By definition, she was independent. There was just one thing missing…her reliance on God.

A shley attended church when her schedule allowed,

which wasn’t often. Sometimes she worked up to

80 hours a week. Determined to make a good life for

herself and her children, Kylee and Kyle, she just pushed

forward. If she was tired or needed a break, she would

just keep going. It wasn’t until her uncle passed that

Ashley found herself in need of help. He had been

responsible for watching her children while she worked.

Out of desperation, Ashely moved from Houston to East

Bernard, Texas, to be with her boyfriend, who is the father

of her children.

Once in East Bernard, Ashley was in for a rude awakening.

Her boyfriend was struggling with some things and she

Independent...

Continued on page 5

The Keelers encouraged Ashley to consider the

opportunities it presented. “I was working all the time.

When I was with my kids, I just gave them whatever they

wanted,” Ashley sighed. “I was just so tired, so I did what

was easy.”

“Even though I didn’t want to give up my independence,

I decided I would give it a try.” Sitting cross legged on

the floor of the family room in Fredrick Cottage, Ashley

looked down at her hands as she continued, “At first, I

just did it for my kids. I knew it was the best thing for

them. Before, I used to worry all the time.” She looked

up, smiling brightly and said, “Now I have peace and I

am happy. Not long after I got here, I was sitting on the

back porch and heard nothing in my head. It was great!”

Even though Ashley struggled with a feeling of isolation

when she first got to Marshall Ranch, she committed to

letting go of the control. She started to receive letters

every day. Weston, along with other ladies from her

church, had written letters of encouragement to Ashley.

Then Weston would mail one each day. This gave Ashley

the courage to continue on her journey. “I was so used to

taking care of myself. Now I am learning to allow others

to lead. For the first time in my life I have time to think

about my future - to dream.”

Ashley is not the only one that this move has impacted.

Kylee and Kyle have shown growth as well. Irene Gutierrez

provides activities for

the children in our

Homes for Families

program while the

moms participate in

Bible study, computer

classes, counseling

sessions, and other

opportunities offered

on the Marshall

Ranch Campus. Irene

interacts with the

children daily. “It is

amazing what love

Homes for families

www.STCHM.org 5

After coming to

Homes for Families,

she finally had the time

to embrace her life and

change her focus.

can do. When Kylee and Kyle first came here, they were

very quiet and scared. They clung to Ashley. I started,

very gently, doing preschool activities with them and

they took to it easily. They started to become more verbal

and expressive. They are very good, sweet kids.”

Irene enjoys getting to witness what God is doing in the

lives of these families. She started as a volunteer and

then was hired on staff. “It is pretty amazing. I am blessed

every day to get to come here. Seeing the spiritual growth

of the mothers and their children, it is so wonderful.” She

continued, “Most of the time these women are so used

to people taking from them, always wanting something

from them. They don’t expect to get something without

any strings attached.”

Even though Ashley was

independent, she was

just going through the

motions. Working,

attending church,

and so on. After

coming to Homes

for Families, she

finally had the time to embrace her life and change her

focus. “In everything I do, I want God to be first. It was

so worth it to come here and give up my independence.

I have gained so much more.”

Continued from page 4

6 Fall 2015

Jobs for life

Helping to Transform Lives

me in my encouragement of them.

It is my purpose here to help them

learn to trust themselves, others, and

ultimately God.”

“These women just need love, true

unconditional love.” Diane’s eyes

began to fill up with tears as she

shared that we all have sinned,

including her. “I know what these

women are experiencing; I myself

have strayed from Him, but God is

so good! I honestly don’t know how I

trusted Him so easily. What I do know

is that God’s understanding is larger

than ours. The only way to allow God

to fill you up with His love and truth is

to share what you are feeling inside,

empty that sorrow and hurt out, so

that He can fill it with His love.

“It is in our brokenness that we find the

Lord. Getting to be a part of showing

Christ’s love to these women, knowing

that for some of them it is the very

first time they have seen it - it is very

fulfilling. I just want to do this every

day! Allow Him to fill me up, so that I

may pour out His love into their lives.

At STCH Ministries Jobs for Life, we

always put God first and that allows

us to transform lives for His Kingdom.”

Diane Eschbach enjoys volunteering with children’s ministry and with the elderly, so when she was encouraged by a friend to volunteer as a mentor to ladies enrolled in STCH Ministries Jobs for Life, she was a little caught off guard. After taking the time to pray about it, Diane decided to go out of

her comfort zone and embrace the opportunity that was presented to her.

A llowing God to lead her, Diane

realized she could use the gifts He

had given her to make a difference

for the Kingdom in a way she had

never considered. “I always thought of

myself as an encourager, I love to lift

people up.” Diane has been a mentor

at Jobs for Life for three semesters.

“As a mentor, I come alongside the

women and encourage them, pray

with them. Help them get some

direction in their lives.”

Understanding that most of these

women have never known the love of

Christ and understandably have trust

issues, Diane is patient with each of

them. “I am completely transparent

with them. I know that these women

have always been around takers. I want

them to know they can trust me. They

may be broken in areas of their lives

and since it didn’t happen overnight, I

know the transformation will be slow.”

As Diane builds relationships with

these ladies, she understands that she

cannot help them in a way that might

interfere with their growing trust in

God. “My heart just grieves for them. I

have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide I encourage anyone who has a heart to serve to get out of your comfort zone and allow him to use your gifts.

alumni update

THEy bELIEVEd In MEBy Keith Patrick

n 1998, my mom signed the paperwork for me to go into

foster care. She looked so much different than I remembered

from even a few years before. She had aged so much; her

life had been hard and I knew that was all because of her

choices. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I made an internal

decision not to end up living my life the way she lived hers.

That doesn’t mean I had the skills yet to actually carry that

decision out. I was in foster care for about a year and then

transitioned into the care of STCH Ministries. I ended up at

the Marshall Ranch Campus in Goliad.

For the first time in my life, I was part of a real home

environment. I did chores for the first time, had expectations

for behavior, and rules to operate within. I had also always

been an only child living with senior citizens. Now I had

siblings and 3-4 of us shared a car, and I earned money and

had to manage it for gas. I had never been in a “normal”

www.STCHM.org 7

I

Keith graduated from

Texas Tech University

with a degree in

Human Development

& Family Studies and

MS in Agricultural

Communications.

Keith is the Director

of Entrepreneurship &

Innovation for Frenship

ISD in Wolfforth, TX.

I grew up living with my grandparents in Austin. When I was in 4th grade my grandmother passed away and I went to live with my great-grandmother. After my Granny passed, I really didn’t have anywhere to go at that point. My mother had never been a significant part of my life and I had never met my father. There simply weren’t many options for me.

home life and now I was expected to learn how to function

in that world, and that was exactly what I needed.

I was also learning responsibility and how to live up to

my potential. I really enjoyed working on campus for

Greg Huskey, Marshall Campus Administrator at the

time. I love variety in a job, and he found something

new for me to do every day to keep me interested. The

stability at STCH Ministries was also helping me reach

my potential at school. Honestly, I don’t believe I would

have gone to college if not for them. I always had the

ability to do well in school and I think I just assumed

college would happen for me, but I didn’t have the drive

or determination to see it through. They believed in me.

STCH Ministries gave me the opportunity to succeed,

but also approached me with the expectation that I

would. That expectation was something I desperately

needed; I had become comfortable with mediocrity and

that mindset doesn’t work with who I am and the way

I am motivated.

You won’t find a better

group of people dedicated

to helping kids that need

someone to believe in them.

This organization is second

to none in the emphasis it

places on the mission God

has placed before them to

serve children. Even in a

short time it gave me the

tools to be who I wanted to

be in life. That doesn’t happen

everywhere, and I thank God

that STCH Ministries was

there for me when I needed it.Keith and his wife, Kristin, at the STCH Ministries Family Reunion this summer. Kristen is a 4th grade reading and writing teacher for Lubbock ISD.

outh Texas CattleWomen have been supporting South

Texas Children’s Home Ministries since the 70s, when several

ladies of the group sponsored children in their homes for a

week or two during the summer. As more members learned

about our ministry, their hearts became full of love for the

children we serve at our Boothe Campus. This was just the

beginning of our relationship with these passionate women!

In the 80s, Shirley Malaer, Commissary Supervisor for STCH

Ministries at the time, visited with South Texas CattleWoman

Dorothy Kinsel. After learning about the needs of the

campus, the group was able to donate a $200 beef gift

certificate. “Our organization promotes the importance

of beef as the preferred source of protein,” stated Terry

Chandler, member of the South Texas CattleWomen. “It

is so important to us to provide beef for these children.

The quality nutrients in beef make a big difference in their

formative years and directly impact their learning capacity.”

With roughly 110 members, this is just one of fifteen Texas

CattleWomen chapters in the state of Texas. Covering about

eighteen counties in an area roughly bordered by Cotulla

to Pleasanton, San Antonio, Seguin, Stockdale, and west to

Uvalde, the South Texas CattleWomen are directly impacting

communities by educating consumers on the importance

of beef in a healthy diet and staying up with legislation

that impacts the beef industry. The mission of South Texas

CattleWomen’s is CattleWomen share a common interest in

the BEEF industry. We share friendships and support each

other during the challenges and successes that being involved

in the beef industry present. We are ranchers, teachers,

health care professionals,

industry affiliates, and

more. Owning a cow (or

marrying a rancher) is

NOT a requirement.

“We work with consumers,

medical people, ag

departments and culinary

arts departments, USO,

military and Wounded

Warriors Project, ag days

at local schools, as well as with Miss Rodeo Texas and Miss

Rodeo America.” Terry continued, “We are one of the few

chapters that are involved with children’s homes. We try to

establish a working relationship with the homes and help

these kids get the most nutritious meal they can get - beef!

We know that children’s homes run on very tight budgets,

and we are glad we can help with outstanding nutrition.”

Steadily increasing their donations over the last decade has

greatly impacted our campus. In the last four years, STCW

has given STCH Ministries a total of $19,000 to buy beef for

the children’s table including a $6,000 beef gift certificate

to Elder’s Country Story & Market in Beeville this year. This

has been put to good use as we have seen tremendous

growth at the Boothe Campus of STCH Ministries. We are

currently the largest Baptist affiliated children’s home in

the United States that is completely privately funded. The

continued support from the South Texas CattleWomen has

been a wonderful blessing to us. We truly appreciate their

dedication to the children we serve!

www.facebook.com/SouthTexasCattleWomen

8 Fall 2015

S

Supported by

South Texas CattleWomen

www.STCHM.org 9

Spring Events

Saturday - April 16, 2016STCH Ministries Ladies for the Least embodies our mission to honor God, reach hurting children and families with His love and truth, and enable others to join us in this ministry. This event provides such an amazing opportunity for use to worship, fellowship, and inspire one another, with the purpose of impacting children and families in need throughout South Texas and the Dominican Republic.

Ladies for the Least is a giving society. Each year, members gather at our gorgeous Boothe Campus to collectively fund a needed project for one of our ministries: Homes for Children, Homes for Families, Family Counseling, Jobs for Life and International Ministry. Annual membership is $1000, with an option to attend the event as a guest.

STCH Ministries Ignite Your Relationship will be held at the beautiful Omni Bayfront hotel in Corpus Christi, providing the perfect occasion for a special night out for couples of all ages. Join us for dinner, entertainment, and a guest speaker that will help strengthen, restore, and ignite your relationship.

This special event is hosted by STCH Ministries Family Counseling and sponsored in part by Blanche Davis Moore Foundation. Save the date for this special couple’s night out.

2 0 1 6

Friday - April 22, 2016

long for Lorraine to realize the trouble boiled down to their

finances. After Lorraine spoke to her supervisor, Brenda

Whitfield, Director of Counseling in Victoria, the couple was

asked to write down all of their debt, expenses, and income

to bring in with them on the next visit. Brenda facilitates

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU) classes and

encouraged the couple to enroll.

“We did as Brenda requested. We only had $38 left after we

paid our bills. The stress we were dealing with was so high.”

Tears began to fill Eloy’s eyes. As he looked down, Lupe

reached over touching his arm gently. She said, “We just put

our trust in the Lord to provide.”

After the 9-week FPU classes and almost a year in

counseling, Eloy and Lupe have been able to plan their

finances in such a way that Eloy no longer has to work for

anyone and the couple can now enjoy their time together.

Eloy grinned, “This experience has brought us closer

together and made our faith stronger…in each other and

in the Man upstairs, the true Provider.”

n 1962, Eloy began working as a deckhand onboard a

tugboat. He moved up the ladder over the years, eventually

becoming a captain, until he retired eight years ago. As Eloy

talked about his drive to provide for his family, he was sitting

up straight with both his arms resting on the table. His hands

enclosed each other and his eyes were bright. This was a

proud man. What stood out most though, was his wife, Lupe.

She was sitting to his right, facing her husband. She was

quietly gazing at him as he spoke, with total admiration on

her face. It was hard to believe they came to STCH Ministries

Family Counseling for a troubled marriage.

Since retiring, Eloy and Lupe have found their finances to

be strained. With Eloy’s ingrained sense of responsibility,

he took on side jobs doing mostly construction work since

his retirement, only taking a short break when he started to

experience heart problems and was hospitalized. He had

two stints put in, but that didn’t keep him down long. Eloy

continued to do backbreaking work and the pay didn’t match

the strain on his body.

All this time Eloy and Lupe had been seeking help with their

marriage. “We had gone to several counseling offices, but

nothing seemed to help. Then at church, a friend suggested

we try STCH Ministries.” Eloy expressed how they were

impressed that the services we offered were by licensed

professional therapists and that it was Christ-focused. “So we

decided to give it a try.”

In November of last year, the couple started to see Lorraine

Turner, Family Therapist at STCH Ministries. It didn’t take

10 Fall 2015

I

family Counseling

The ProviderEloy, by all accounts, was a self-made man. Growing

up in a large family, he started working and

providing for his family at a very young age. Despite

the fact that Eloy only had a 4th grade education, he

had a very impressive resume.

In 2014, a newly crafted

tugboat was named after

Eloy. He had the opportunity

to go onboard during

construction and on its

maiden voyage from baton

rouge to new Orleans.

family Counseling

www.STCHM.org 11

about issues and come up with solutions using scriptural

principles. All information discussed by clients during the

counseling process is confidential in accordance with Texas

law and ethical standards.

Our counseling offices also provide a safe and effective

play therapy environment enabling children to express

themselves in their natural language. This helps children

move toward growth and healing.

Examples of Counseling Services:• Family Issues• Marital Relationships• Parenting Challenges• Childhood or Adolescent Struggles• Conflict Resolution• Anger, Depression, and Grief

t is with great excitement that we announce STCH

Ministries Family Counseling has several new locations.

We have added three new satellite offices this fall, one in

Beeville and two in San Antonio. We pray God’s blessings

on these new offices, staff, and clients.

Family Counseling is a preventative ministry. We partner

with churches, organizations, and community groups

to be a first resource in their community for those who

are hurting and in need. Our highly trained and licensed

therapists offer Christ-based counseling to help strengthen

the lives of children, families, couples, and individuals.

Referrals for counseling are accepted from churches of

all denominations and also from the community at large.

Counseling provides a safe place where people can talk

For more information and addresses for all our Family Counseling locations, please visit – www.stchm.org/fc

NewFamily CouNseliNg loCatioNs

i

FAMILy COUnSELInG LOCATIOnS

BeevilleCorpus ChristiSan Antonio361.991.8680

GonzalesRockportStockdaleVictoria

361.575.5151

an you imagine getting to see God work in the lives

of families every single day? At South Texas Children’s

Home Ministries, that is exactly what we get to do. It is a

blessing and an honor. We are granted an opportunity to

serve children and families for whom, most of the time,

we are their last hope. It is a glimpse of true peace to

witness the transformation that happens when a person

accepts Christ in their heart and gives over their life and

all their burdens to Him.

DeDe is one of those transformations we have been

blessed to behold. This young lady came to one of our

Family Counseling offices back in February of 2014. She

was “very shy with her hair all in her face and she had

huge sad eyes that seemed to beg for help,” shared

Karen Knowlton, Child and Family Therapist.

As time went on, DeDe grew to trust Karen. Becoming

comfortable DeDe was finally able to voice the true load

that she had carried for so long. She had been abused by

her stepfather for years and found herself homeless at age

13. DeDe struggled on her own for two years. Returning

home because she thought things had changed, she

quickly realized her mother was still struggling with a

drug addiction. With the fear of her mom’s new boyfriend

moving into the home, DeDe was on her own again. She

moved in with a friend and hid from everyone else she

knew. No longer attending school, DeDe realized she was

setting herself up for a very hard life. She reached out to

her father. Two and a half years had passed since she had

seen him, but DeDe felt an uncontrollable urge to share

what had happened to her. Meagan, DeDe’s stepmom,

C

12 Fall 2015

I honestly don’t

know where I

would be if I

didn’t come to

STCH Ministries.Continued on page 13

www.STCHM.org 13

immediately contacted STCH Ministries to get DeDe help

with the trauma she had experienced.

Now that DeDe had voiced what she had endured, she

began her first steps toward peace. Yes, DeDe’s story

is complicated and heartbreaking, but it is one that

demonstrates the power of our Heavenly Father. In 1

Corinthians 10:13 (NET) it states, “No trial has overtaken

you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He

will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to

bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that

you may be able to endure it.” God had in fact prepared

a way out for DeDe; it was STCH Ministries Homes for

Children.

Karen truly believed that for DeDe to have absolute

peace with the experiences in her life, she needed Jesus

Christ. “All this time we had talked about the power of

prayer and the importance of her relationship with Jesus

and DeDe always stated she just wasn’t sure, due to the

trauma she had endured, that the Jesus thing was real.”

It was during this time that Karen accepted a position at

the Boothe Campus of STCH Ministries. Boothe Campus

is the location of our Homes for Children ministry, with

cottages that provide loving, Christian homes for hurting

children. This was where DeDe needed to be. Karen

spoke to DeDe’s family about the opportunities she

would have through STCH Ministries, “She could continue

therapy with me and live in a stable environment where

all her needs would be met.”

On August 21, 2014, DeDe’s father placed her voluntarily

into the care of STCH Ministries. “I was scared, nervous,”

DeDe recalls. “I didn’t know anyone and the idea of this

place was too good to be true, honestly.” DeDe moved

into Barnes Cottage with her houseparents, Terry and

Virginia Wilkins, along with a house full of girls. The

two things that blew DeDe away the most were the

peacefulness of the home and how her houseparents

already loved her before they really knew her.

For the first time in DeDe’s life, she has lived in the same

place for over a year. Making up for lost time, DeDe has

thrown herself into her studies and worked hard to make

up classes. She has also realized that God has never

forsaken her; He was preparing the perfect place for her.

Knowing this allowed her to explore the truths of the

Bible and begin a relationship with God. She finally has

found peace. Peace in herself, peace with her past, and

peace of heart. “You can make the choice by loving the

Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself

firmly to Him. This is the key to your life…” Deuteronomy

30:30 (NLT).

DeDe has accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and now

experiences true peace. “I see my past as a blessing,

because I can help others.” DeDe’s eyes were bright

as she continued, “God has given me the strength and

ability to overcome everything I have been through, so

that I can demonstrate His love to those around me.”

DeDe now uses the story of how God plucked her out of

her despair and into a new life to witness to the children

here at Boothe Campus and anywhere else she finds

herself. DeDe has spoken at several churches in the South

Texas area and even in the Dominican Republic, where

she recently went on a week-long mission trip through

STCH Ministries International Ministry. “I want to show

people that if you trust and put your faith in God that

He will work in mighty ways. You just have to have faith,

even when it feels like the world is telling you to give up.

That’s when you will experience true peace.”

Homes for CHildren

This is DeDe’s second year raising animals for

the stock show. She enjoys taking care of Lola

(pictured) and Crispy; exercising them every

day, feeding them, and keeping their pens clean.

“I never would have had this opportunity before

coming to STCH Ministries.”

Continued from page 12

international ministry

In the af ternoons the Runge team hosted Bible classes in three locations. It was a sight to see their vertically-gif ted pastor playing leapfrog chase with the preschoolers! And best of all was the report that over 20 children accepted Christ.The STCH Ministries staff’s purpose was to introduce new staff members to our International Ministry in the Dominican Republic, and to survey the results of the summer mission trips. It was a combination Doxology and Hallelujah chorus experience!The Santiago orphanage moved into their new facilities; Villa Altagracia school (already in their second month of classes) was dedicated; we shared “almuerzo” inside the second floor “salon” at Raquel’s school; at Monte Plata orphanage new directors and staff exuded energy and enthusiasm while exhibiting spruced up facilities; Rebeca Dinzey, Samuel’s Fund Director, turned into a geography teacher as we delivered maps and globes at the San Felipe tutoring class and we watched children

STCH Ministries President and CEO, Eron Green, and four other administrative staff joined a group from Runge, Texas, and a specialized-in-construction group from Beeville for a varied assortment of ministries.The construction team had volunteered for the challenge of building a small suite of offices on the roof of the dining room at the IBQ site. Russell Jerez, Projects Coordinator, was finally going to have a real office af ter several years of designing buildings and estimating mission team projects in various locations—dodging 4 small children in his two-bedroom apartment, on the hood of the car, or a scrap of lumber perched on a make-do-sawhorse desk!The construction team did permit one wife to be included! She and the Runge ladies joined 8-10 Dominicans in the sewing room. Baby clothes, a dress made to a pattern (right next to rocket science), and other projects were accomplished in spite of way too much laughter and fun!

Joanna’s JournalReaping a Harvest

By Joanna Berry

14 Fall 2015

Continued on page 15

doing homework on the picnic tables built this summer; Pastor Domingo and his wife, Elvira, shared that the ladies saved at the summer medical clinics were being discipled and inviting their friends to church; and Glenys, grateful and giddy with excitement, reported God’s continued work, along with her vision for all that was still needed.The last day, STCH Ministries staff were blessed as it seemed God was throwing open the windows of opportunity, joining the heart of our vision and purpose with like-hearted Dominicans, to make the name of our great God and His kingdom known in a greater way throughout the Dominican Republic. (Doxology here, please!)Our final meeting joined dreams and efforts of the last five years as we met with the Betesda Boys Home board to make concrete commitments and plans to begin the building of their new home by January 2016. (The Hallelujah chorus would

be appropriate here as well!)We celebrate all that God has done, joining Dominican leaders with US churches and individuals and dentists and doctors and teachers and construction teams and more. And now? Prayer, and lots of it! Establishing God’s kingdom, rescuing and educating children, supporting ministries and families in the dark world in which they live is not for sissies. Be strong WITH us. And pray for needs to be met. I am including a short list of needs to pray the Lord of the Harvest to supply. These showers of blessing that we have experienced this week come af ter your mission team and others have given generously, exercised faith, and contributed lots of sweat equity! Thank you for your investment in our International Ministry and your partnership with STCH Ministries.

CRITICAL NEEDS:1. Financial support for teachers in the Christian schools. The government has

raised the pay for public school teachers, while retaining classes of 50-60 students. Everywhere we went—Rosa Elena, Raquel, Villa Altagracia, Girasoles, and others—the need to retain dedicated Christian teachers was voiced.

2. Construction teams—smaller groups of individuals with experience to help build the Betesda Boys Home and finish the inside of a recently repaired home at the Monte Plata orphanage. Suggested dates to come.

3. Finances for the construction at the orphanage sites.

www.STCHM.org 15

Continued from page 14

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 3656San Antonio, TXP.O. Box 759

Beeville, Texas 78104-0759

Address Service Requested

Please join us for

A Homespun ChristmasSaturday, December 5, 2015

3:00-4:15pm - Activities4:30-5:00pm - Entertainment5:00pm - Dinner & Program

On the STCH Ministries, Boothe Campus9243 FM 2617, Pettus TX

Petting zoos, wagon ride, mechanical bull, photo booth,special presentation from our kids, tours, and more

RSVP by November 20361.375.2101 homesforchildren@stchm.org