Ministry Expansion: Family Support & Additional
Homes - November 6, 2003
The Board of Directors and I want to share
with you our excitement over where we believe He
is directing this ministry. As you know, we have
been raising funds for a second home. We now
have $286,000 to that end. We have been
challenged by the requirements of not only
purchasing a home in this real estate market,
but also the need to double our support base at
a time when we are struggling to meet the needs
of the present home (as you may know we have run
a deficit in 2003 & 2004).
At the same time we continue to receive many
phone calls requesting assistance with Respite
Care (short term care for disable children in
the child's home, to give the parents a much
needed break). For the past ten years Green
Pastures has had opportunity to significantly
support and positively impact the lives of over
30 families who have contacted us to receive
respite care. This has been a wonderful blessing
to both the families and the respite workers.
Generally, this care has been provided by our
child care staff and volunteers. While these
individuals make excellent respite caregivers,
having received training and experience while
working at the home, there are not enough
workers to meet the needs of the many families
who contact us. Local churches recognize this
need but are not equipped to respond. Green
Pastures has the expertise and can provide this
training. Furthermore, the parents of children
with special needs are ready and eager to
promote this idea in their home church.
We are excited about what this could do not
only to meet the needs of families who
desperately need this care, but also for the
positive impact on churches when they open their
doors and hearts to those who have disabilities.
We envision working closely with other
disability ministries to equip local churches
and to support families in a variety of ways, in
addition to the provision of respite workers who
develop an ongoing relationship with these
families. Our vision is "To develop the
resources to offer support in the form of
respite care, recreational resources for parents
with low income, information & referral,
counsel, prayer, and support groups, to every
family in the Bay Area with disabled children
who requests assistance." We see this new
expanded focus on Family Support not as
diverging from the call to care for more
children who cannot stay at home, but as a step
in that direction as many more people experience
and begin supporting disability ministry on a
first hand basis. I am convinced that as we seek
to support & equip the local churches and the
community, the supports (both financial and
human) will come into place to develop
additional homes as well.
We hope you will partner with us as we move
forward with this vision: In Matthew 9:36, 37 we
read of Jesus, "When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion on them, because they were harassed
and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord
of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers
into his harvest field.'" The need is that God
would provide more workers for the harvest.
These families need both our support and the
love and support of the Good Shepherd. Our
prayer is that Green Pastures can help lead
these families to know rest in His care.
Please consider how you might partner with
us: Volunteering in the GP home, becoming a
respite worker, helping us plan a future benefit
banquet, praying for the home, become a liaison
for Green Pastures with your own church or
community group, and supporting us financially .
If you feel called to partner with us in any of
these ways, or would like additional
information, please contact myself or Ed Lewis,
our Operations Manager.
Thank you for helping Green Pastures have a
significant impact in the lives of many.
In the Shepherd's care,
Jeff Marks,
Director
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