“My Heart Won’t Stay Broken Forever”
June 2024 Newsletter
Book Me To Speak!
I’m planning outreach and speaking engagements for the second half of 2024! If you’d like to schedule me to speak at your church, school, organization, or small group, I’m available for talks ranging from Sunday morning guest preaching to conference presentations.
I have over a decade worth of stories to share. In a spiritual setting, my favorite topics might be trusting in God’s protection and provision, caring for the poor or outcasts, and forgiveness. In an educational setting, I could share regarding homelessness (including the unique challenges of reservation homelessness) or how to make a big impact with a small amount of resources. Messages are always tailored to fit the needs of the event or audience. If you are interested in having me speak, fill out our new speaker request form. Please refer any conference planners, student club leaders, or church leaders who may be looking for a speaker.
New Computer Lab
This month, we received a donation of computers from Valley Christian Schools in California and have set up a computer lab for our clients to use! We have three shelter residents who are making good progress getting into Job Corps, a deaf client who is using the computers to learn sign language, a couple clients will be starting to study for their GEDs using the computers. These are just a few of the ways the computers have been utilized in the first few weeks. The computers have also been valuable in allowing clients to complete online job applications, complete online certifications, and apply for housing.
Coming Alive After Grief
We’re continuing to show up strong with six weekly recovery meetings alongside Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church. We’ve been encouraged by the positive response of the community and shelter residents to AA and NA meetings, but especially encouraged by the impact of our grief group. One woman told the group: “I feel like I am finally alive again.”
The same woman said in a later group: “Now I know that my heart won’t stay broken forever.” Grief group is one of my favorite spaces. Psalms 43:18 says: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” I feel God with us in our meetings and have been so happy to see all the healing that takes place.
Casework: Small, Consistent Steps toward Freedom and Sober Living
Have you ever wondered what a typical day’s routine looks like for a shelter resident? In addition to providing recreation and meals and expecting residents to pitch in with a chore or two, we’re settling into a consistent routine with client casework. Each resident at our shelter is required to complete 15 hours of individualized steps toward their goals each week. For a given client, this could be something as big as applying for college or a small step like finding a gym buddy and committing to weekly exercise to promote physical and mental strength.
We’ve created a gracious accountability system that motivates our clients to keep moving forward to escape addiction and poverty, and are seeing great results!
Fundraising Needs This Month: Salaries
Running Iglutheca costs about $16,000 per month. We keep our operations lean; about $3000 of that goes toward food, electricity, and supplies. The other $13,000 goes straight into staff salaries. If we can’t maintain our current staff, we’ll have to drastically cut the services we currently offer, especially casework and day shelter. We’ve recently received our last grant funding payment. While we are actively looking for new grant opportunities, we will be depending entirely on private donations (currently coming in at about $5000 per month) for the next few months. If you’ve been considering becoming a monthly donor, joining us at this crucial time would be an answer to prayer! Donations can be made through our website or mailed to our P.0. Box.
Prayer Requests
• For our clients to succeed in their job searches.
• For God to provide the funding that we need to keep our doors open.
• For our community members struggling with severe mental illness, with so few resources available to them, and that we would be able to find and connect them with the help that they need to thrive.