Shelterwood

Blog Relocated!

2007-10-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

Thank you for viewing the Shelterwood Blog. We are excited to announce that the Shelterwood website has been updated and all current and future blog updates will be located there. Please visit us at www.Shelterwood.org!!!

Summer at Shelterwood

2007-07-23T09:43:00.001-06:00

During the summer while teens are at Shelterwood they have half-days of school Monday through Thursday and Fridays off which affords the opportunity to take weekend trips into the wilderness of the Ozark Mountains and Rocky Mountains. Every few weeks there is also a whole week without classes that allows for trips even further away. This summer our teens have had the opportunity to take trips to Steamboat Springs, CO to go hiking and horseback riding, canoe one of the many beautiful rivers in Missouri, and even made it up to Kansas City to volunteer with The Sky's the Limit inner-city camp.

Baptism

2007-05-07T15:39:00.000-06:00

This past weekend four of our Shelterwood teens decided to express their recent profession of faith at the church they have been attending in Denver during their stay in our program. One of the teen's family was able to attend. It was an exciting time for the teens and their families along with our staff and the big sisters in our LeadTime program who have poured out Christ's love to her. In addition to this, another former Shelterwood teen who attended our Branson facility a couple years ago was also baptized this same morning at this same church!

Family Weekend

2007-05-04T10:10:00.000-06:00

Shelterwood recently held the bi-annual parent's weekend at both our Branson and Denver locations. The parents were able to come out and visit their teens at our facilities, take part in parenting classes, parent group sessions, family counseling, parent/teacher conferences with the school professionals, in addition to opportunities to get to know the house staff. Once again it was a very impactful weekend for not only the parents and teens, but also our staff. We are so thankful for the families we work with and the ways God is moving in their lives to accomplish His purposes. One family that went through our program in 2003 in Branson was able to return and share their experience during the weekend. She typed out the testimony she shared and it is included in our links section to the right. Please take time to read it as I'm sure you will be encouraged.

Mission opportunity

2007-03-12T09:23:00.000-06:00

At various times throughout the year Shelterwood teens take part in activities that provide service in the local community and the world. Some of our Shelterwood teens recently had the opportunity to go down to Juarez, Mexico with staff and LeadTimers in partnership with International Family Missions (IFM). They took part in ongoing relationships IFM already has down there with a local colonia, an orphanage, churches, and a men's rehab. The picture is the entire team that was able to go.

Feedback

2007-01-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

The staff at Shelterwood continues to be blessed by the feedback we receive from the families we serve. One current Shelterwood father recently wrote:

"He is doing great…it has been an incredible transformation… I respect him as much as any man in my life…it is not something I would ever say without meaning it...he has truly earned my admiration... thank you for putting such a caring team of bigs, counselors, teachers and staff at SW…SWood has saved our family"

Westword Magazine article on former Shelterwood little

2006-12-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

The following article appeared in the Westword magazine, a Denver area arts and entertainment magazine. Heather Cameron attended Shelterwood as a little sister and then returned to serve as a big sister. You can read the entire article by clicking on the link titled Westword article or typing in the link following the introduction on your web browser.

"Heather Cameron heard the sound of the gunshots that killed her mother. On Saturday, April 20, 1996, the twelve-year-old was waiting for Debra Cameron -- Debbie, to her friends -- to return from a charity auction at Graland Country Day School, where Heather was in the sixth grade. Debbie had called a little earlier to say she was on her way home and to ask her daughter what she wanted to eat. So Heather sat on the couch of her mom's loft in the Neusteter building, watching MTV and thinking about dinner."--Westword Magazine--Nov. 23, 2006

http://www.westword.com/Issues/2006-11-23/news/feature.html

Gulf Coast Experience

2006-11-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

Wow. What a great week. The group is exhausted but a "good" exhausted.It's been an awesome time of serving and giving and learning. We finished up at Charles Lassar's home in Chalmette, Louisiana. Chalmette was one of the hardest hit areas of New Orleans. It's on the east side where the storm surge hit the hardest. This is the home where we worked last year too. It was a beautiful home but trashed by the 10 feet of water that sat in it for weeks. Charles shared with us the story of his home and family. He said,"we all say we depend on the Lord, but we lean on our homes and families and communities. When those are removed, it really tests your faith". It reminded me of the quote from Marvin Daniels at our Leadership retreat, "Whatever you own that you're not ready to give up really own's you". That really hit me hard as we witnessed the destruction- how much of my life own's me?Am I really not my own and dependent on my loving God? We saw that illustrated on our way to Chalmeete one morning when the car right in front of us swerved on the rainy road and flipped into the woods next to the Interstate. We went to help the lady and her baby out of the vehicle. Miraculously, they were OK, but it reminded us that life is so fragile. It's all about depending on the Lord, period. Our other project was at the "By Water Retreat Center" in Kiln, Mississippi owned by Charles and Teresa Boyle. That is also where we stayed and the facility was awesome but a mess. The water didn't do the damage (like in Chalmette) because Kiln is 18 miles from the ocean, but the wind knocked over hundred of trees. We spent our time cutting countless trees and clearing debris. The team of 13 Leadtime, Shelterwood kids and Leadership did a remarkable job. Michelle Beadle, my sister-in-law, stayed with us and prepared all the meals. She is amazing and said she already has projects for us for next year! There will be plenty to do a year from now! President Bush said it'll take 25 years for the Gulf Coast to be rebuilt. I think he was right. It's simply been an awesome time of ministry. I hear the Thanksgiving Serve Project in Branson has gone great also. Whether a "Mission trip" in Branson, Africa or right here, it's been a great "classroom" to make us all a little uncomfortable, get our eyes off ourselves and serve the Lord. Thanks for your prayers and to those who gave financially, thanks for making this trip possible. We make the drive home tomorrow. Please pray for safety. Thank you
-Joey

Joseph Staples
Executive Director
Doulos Ministries/Shelterwood-Branson

Headed to the Gulf Coast

2006-10-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

We are loading up the vans and trailers and taking another trip down to
the Gulf Coast region to help serve the people there. Let's all keep
praying for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. That area, a year later,
is still in pretty bad shape. Lives and homes are still being rebuilt,
but apparently the surge of help from a year ago has worn off. They
still need food, they need shelter, they need peace, they need safety,
and they need the Lord.
So, Nov. 13-17, we're again taking a Doulos crew of kids, Staff and
Leadership down to Kiln, Mississippi and New Orleans to help clear
debris, rebuild homes and bring hope and encouragement to the people.

One family's experience

2006-09-19T12:03:00.000-06:00

One family's experience as published in the September 2006 Back to School issue of Frisco STYLE Magazine with permission from Style Publishing Group,LLC. :

After only a few months there, David and Juli realized the twins were exactly where they needed to be.

Now Nelson looks back at how he used to feel and shared these sentiments:
"At the worst times it felt like I was at the bottom of a well looking up at the light. Everyone was in the light. I wanted to be there and I couldn't get there. God sent down the bucket and pulled me up into the light."

The family is optimistic about the future. From what they have experienced, so far, it seems to David and Juli that definite progress has been made. The boys really seem to have a genuine concern for each other now that they haven't had in a long time. After only a few days with Tanner home, David said gratefully, "They gave my son back to me."

Check out the article

Recognition for Shelterwood in Kanakuk Sept. '06 Newsletter

2006-09-14T11:55:00.000-06:00

Kanakuk Kamps Sept. '06 newsletter--a phenomenal Christian sports camp for kids. President Joe White writes in support of Shelterwood and proclaims that, "the results are AMAZING!" Check Kanakuk out at www.kanakuk.com.

Inspirational Thoughts

2006-08-28T11:20:00.000-06:00

It hit me hard this morning.

A terrible tragedy occurred over the weekend. A Canadair CRJ-10 commercial jet with 47 passengers and 3 crew members took off on the wrong runway. News reports said the crew was well rested. They said the crew was familiar with the aircraft. The weather wasn't a factor. They were veterans and had logged many hours of takeoffs and landings. Yet they tried to take off, in the dark, on the unlit 3, 500 runway designed only for daylight hours instead of the 7,000 runway designed for commercial aircraft. The flight had been cleared by the professional air traffic controllers. The routine had been rehearsed and practiced a zillion times. One pilot barely survived. The disaster will be scrutinized. But, the plane tried to take off on a runway much too short for a plane of it's size, while the correct runway sat there vacant and available. The plane reached the end of the runway too slow and never reached any altitude. With a full tank of gas, ready to fly the distance, it burst into flames as it rolled out of control.

It hit me hard this morning.

I work and minister in a setting that has been around for a while. It is a wonderful ministry. Many lives have been changed. The Staff is awesome, talented and experienced. But, even with all those credentials, if the Lord isn't first on each takeoff, then we run the danger of using wrong runways. If each "flight"- meeting, class, phone call, etc.- isn't bathed in prayer, then we run the danger of trying to fly without the proper speed and direction. All the success at Doulos over the years is because of Him.

I claim that He's my "controller,"but He only is if I'm yielding myself to Him in prayer "without ceasing". That's been my lesson this week. That's been the lesson of my life. With my kids, with my future, with decisions at Doulos, I have to be a man of prayer. Of course, that doesn't assure perfect takeoffs and flights, but it does assure that "God is in it." Lord, may we all put you first in every decision we make.

I am praying for families of those deceased passengers. I am praying for pilot that is hanging on to life. The point is, I am praying....

Your brother,

-Joey

Joseph Staples
Executive Director
Doulos Ministries/Shelterwood-Branson

Parent Quote

2006-08-24T07:54:00.000-06:00

"This place isn't about 8 months or 12 months, it's about God's timing."
Denver SW teen at Family Weekend 4/07

"He is doing great…it has been an incredible transformation… I respect him as much as any man in my life…it is not something I would ever say without meaning it...he has truly earned my admiration... thank you for putting such a caring team of bigs, counselors, teachers and staff at SW…SWood has saved our family"
SW Father

We just visited Shelterwood in Branson as a celebration of the anniversary of Jamie's graduation. She really enjoyed seeing teachers, staff, and the few girls she knew from when she was there. The bigs have really kept in touch.

SW Parent

Our God is wonderful, and He works miracles through the people at Shelterwood.

SW Parent

Jimmy is more enthusiastic about school then I have seen him be in years. I, and everyone at his school can see the "Shelterwood effect". I was worried, but have no reason to worry anymore. I have no doubt that Shelterwood saved my son's life.

Bless you,
Susan

Our son Paul Schrag attended Shelterwood in Colorado in 2001. The year there was the turning point for his life and God worked miracles in Pauls life and ours. I say to those who ask that Paul is a walking picture of the grace of God in our lives.