The following is an update from Open House Ministries, where Wanda Ashworth Valencia, one of CBF’s field personnel, serves as executive director.
Open House Ministries gives thanks for our faithful donors and prayer partners! Because of you, OHM continues to reach 100 children and youth every week. This number might sound familiar as OHM has been working at this level for several years, but this year we EXPANDED our ministry during the school year to also offer academic support for youth. Two of our supporters raised enough funds to purchase 5 laptops, giving us the capacity for youth to do their homework at OHM and learn critical skillson the computer. Hopefully, this will impact the 50% graduation rate in our community. Our “Imagination Station” computer lab is filled with 15 – 20 middle-school students, every afternoon, Monday through Thursday.
As the school year comes to a close, the OHM staff and volunteers are already looking ahead toward summer. We are reminded of the critical need for a safe haven in our community following 2 recent shootings in our neighborhood. OHM will once again EXPAND our outreach to 80 elementary children and 50 youth weekly, during the summer months, with the help of supporting mission church teams. Our free elementary summer camp will run Monday through Friday, 9 am – 2 pm, for six weeks.
This year, we will also offer a youth program, Monday through Thursday, 4 pm – 7 pm. We want our teens to have a safe place to hang out and hopefully, we will be able to fund a few field trips and community service projects. Of course, we will still have bible study, worship and small group discussions so our young adults can come to know God in a deeper, more personal way.
Please continue to support us during the summer months! Summer at Open House Ministries is an exciting time, but summer brings additional costs. We need your help to hire local teens for the summer, to fund field trips, supplies and additional food costs.
We need you now more than ever!
Blessings,
Wanda
| PRAYER REQUESTSSUMMER CAMPS– Please pray for the children, youth, mission teams, cadets, and OHM staff as we prepare for an awesome summer. WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS– This summer, we will start a Sunday night worship service at 7 pm. It is our hope that this will be a place for adults, as well as children and youth. FUNDING– Pray for new funding streams for OHM, particularly grant opportunities, as well as new monthly partners. We give praise for our faithful monthly donors and partner churches who have carried Open House Ministries through a difficult economic season. God Bless You! God knows who you are! Thank You! Thank You!DREAMERS – Pray for all the young people who were carried across our borders as small children and now have no pathway to citizenship. Pray for compassionate immigration reform. |
WISH LIST
“You have not, because you ask not…”
OK – we’re asking.
Would you consider taking up one of these projects or even fundraising for them?
(By the way, the safe we mentioned in our March newsletter was funded by a private donor! Thank you!)
BACK TO SCHOOL – We will need backpacks and school supplies for 130 children and youth in August. Can your family or small group help us out?
Keep your eyes open for a new or used office copy machine. If your company or church is upgrading, please let us know.
Gas-operated pressure washer – Retail price is $400.00 at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Educational computer games (for elementary) – CD’s can be purchased at Best Buy or Computer stores. Retail from $10.00 – $75.00 or send us a gift card and we will purchase the software for you.
Gift Cards from Walmart, Publix or BJ’s – We can use gift cards to purchase food, snacks, and supplies for our programs. $25, $50, or $100.
See if your kids or grandkids would like to donate their old Play Station, XBox or Wii System and video games for use in the “Imagination Station.” Video Games are needed for youth – Wii, XBox, PS1, PS2 and PS3 games. (Used OK) Game systems retail new for about $300.00 and games can be purchased used from Game Works for $10-$75. You can also donate gift cards for this project.
Exterior Electric Drinking Water Fountain – Retail for a new fountain is between $500 and $800.
12-passenger Van – Used or new, plus an estimated $5,000.00 per year for insurance funding.
Donate and ship us your unused Yarn Rolls, Crochet Hooks, and Instructional Books for the the Crochet group.