I recently had an encounter with a woman involved with Evangel Home that was really encouraging. She is one of those people who has great joy and great faith. She listens to God and does what He tells her to do, listening to that inner prompting from the Holy Spirit. ‘If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:25). She lives and walks by the Spirit.
It was a great delight to see this in action while traipsing all around Costco with her. This one item really stood out to me. It was a pair of shoes. I hadn’t heard of anyone needing shoes but she kept coming back to it nearly insisting we get shoes. We ended up calling the house manager on duty. It turns out that one of our residents had very large feet and we didn’t have any closed toed shoes for her in our storehouse. It is sometimes hard to tell how a shoe will fit, especially when you have to cross over to men’s shoes just to get the right fit for bigger feet. Wouldn’t you know it is just like God to provide for every little thing? The woman I was with wore the exact same size of shoes as our resident and could make sure they were a good fit!
The next day, the resident came up and gave me the biggest hug and said to pass the hug on to the person who got her the shoes. She was jumping up and down with delight and awe and you could just see this meant so much to her. It was amazing to her that she had shoes that not only fit but that she could wear socks with. She received them with such a humble and grateful heart.
Let these shoes be an encouragement to keep in step with the Lord. To have a humble heart and grateful heart for all the things He does for us each and every day. Walk by the Spirit and let Him guide each step that you take.
With joy,
Sarah Dawson
Executive Director
8/31/21
It’s the perfect time of year to head up to Yosemite and see the falls. This month we were able to take a few brave residents and staff to the Mist Trail at Vernal Falls. I was so impressed with their attitudes to try something new. Most had never been to Yosemite before and none, other than myself, had been to Vernal Falls. For those of you who don’t know, it is a strenuous hike mostly uphill on the way to the top.
Seeing people do something they have never done before, seeing them face a challenge or a fear and spending time in God’s beautiful creation are three things that truly excite me about God and the life He has given. This trip was a perfect combination of these three things.
Let me tell you about Kourtney. When she arrived a little over a year ago, she was quiet, did not believe in herself and wasn’t sure if she truly believed in God. When asking her about the trip she said she would have never chosen to face this challenge back then but this time she did. She could have chosen to go on the easy day but she chose the one that would cause her to get out of her comfort zone and grow even if it didn’t work out. And it didn’t. This day, she was not able to get to the top. But she amazed me because she kept going even when it felt like her legs were about to give out and slip down the mountain. She finally got to the point where it wasn’t going to be safe to continue. We sent the other ladies on and ate our lunch right there with the raging waters sounding in the background. Kourtney is a thinker. While we sat and ate we talked about the accomplishments she has made this last year. She stated that she can’t really explain it but her being able to make it as far as she did this last year and on this hike were only because of God. It’s as simple as that!
With joy,
Sarah Dawson
Executive Director
5/31/21
Dear friends,
Isaiah 43:18-19 says “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
The phrase “all things new” reminds me of what happens after the destruction of wildfires. It is devastating to watch the things we love burn. Yet after the fire and destruction, we see signs of new growth and new life. It takes some time before you start to see the new life spring up but eventually it comes. This process is necessary for the forest to be healthier. It has to burn away the unnecessary brush to be ready for what is coming. What looks like a barren wasteland after the fire becomes fertile for new growth and new beginnings.
This verse in Isaiah is powerful. “Do you not perceive it?” It would have been hard to see a way in the wilderness if the Israelites were focused on the past and only saw what they lost rather than what lay ahead. And to then see a stream in the wasteland…wow! Historically, cities were built near water so they would have a steady source to supply their needs. God is saying that he is going to take something that was previously unfit for use or habitation so that He can turn it into something that is vibrant and lifegiving.
It has been amazing to see this past year in such a way and how this parallels the life of our residents. There has been so much pain this past year but God takes that and makes streams in the desert. He is doing a new thing! This is our greatest desire to minister to those women who have been damaged and broken by the world and watch God give them new life.
“All Things New” is our theme for this year. We realize that there is still a hard road ahead but we are looking forward to the new growth that will happen! Thank you for being a part of our journey!
With joy,
Sarah Dawson
Executive Director
01/31/2021
Dear friends,
I have wondered often over this last year if we are experiencing something like the year of Jubilee. According to Leviticus, every fifty years God’s provisions would be enough for the people and land of Israel to take a year to be restored. Slaves were to be released, land returned to its former owner, debts forgiven, etc. While this seems pretty amazing, it seems like it came at a cost. What about those who have been working the land in the meantime? Where do they go now? Can you imagine the upheaval it must have caused to get that restoration? We as humans can get so attached to people, traditions, and the way we think things should go. We can think that all of these patterns, these possessions, and associated burdens belong to us when they don’t. I imagine that having to return things every fifty years would help keep things in perspective, reminding the Israelites that their land and possessions belonged to God. Still, it must have been painful when the control over their lives was stripped away.
With the world and our nation in upheaval, it can be difficult to see any good. Things are uncertain and it is hard to live with uncertainty. What if this year is an opportunity for things to be restored, and this is part of that painful process? Will it be worth it? I absolutely believe that even though these circumstances are painful now, we will see great things on the other side, as we trust our great and wonderful God. We have the privilege of knowing and believing that God is good. We know that no matter the turmoil we can still praise Him. We can still trust Him. We know that even in the midst of this there is one thing that is certain: those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, believe that He died, was raised again and now sits with the Father in heaven, have the promise of being with Him forever. This is not our home. We are just here for the moment. Our home is with Him forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Many of us are tired, if not plain exhausted. And yet, even in this exhaustion, I find hope because it reminds me of the reason that Evangel Home exists. Our founding verse in Matthew says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” We are here so that those women who have been worn down by life can come and find rest. I am grateful for and praying for each of you that read this, that you will find rest in God as you trust Him today.
With Joy,
Sarah Dawson
Executive Director
12/20/20
Dear friends,
Recently, I challenged our staff to get out of their comfort zone and try something many of our residents deal with on a day to day basis. I want to lead by example so I tried it too!
I chose to take the bus to work one day.
I’ve taken public transportation all over the world, but there is something different about taking it in your own hometown. When I’m home, I have a car and that equals FREEDOM. I can go where I want in less than 15 minutes. Choosing to take the bus was not an easy task because I hadn’t done it since I was in middle school (over 30 years ago) and I do not like giving up my freedom.
The night before my journey, I let my family know of my plans. While they are generally encouraging of my adventurous side, I was met from some of them with anxiety, worry and warnings. I was however very grateful for one piece of advice that had not occurred to me—the payment options. I immediately researched the options and not one was a credit card!
Thankfully, I was able to scrounge around and gather exact change of $1.25 for each way before I showed up at the bus stop. Further preparations required me to pare down to the essentials of what I needed that day. Even if I forget something, I usually have everything I could ever possibly need stuffed in the trunk of my car so it takes very little thought each morning. I can jump in that wonderful mechanical freedom they call a car and easily get what I want.
When all was said and done, I had to ditch my fashionable briefcase and take my hiking backpack so I could shove even more things inside including a change of clothes. It was a really cold day in early February and I wasn’t about to walk all that way in dress shoes and slacks! The bus ride was relatively uneventful, and after the long trek, I eventually got to work and was surprisingly energized.”
By the end of a full day, I just wanted to be home and was NOT looking forward to figuring out how to get home. After finding several different options, I started getting anxious because they all seemed to be delayed and I was in unfamiliar territory. I was out of place, alone, tired and just wanted to be back home. Frustrated, I thought, “I could have been there in 15 minutes if I had my car!” Eventually I got on the bus and to the transfer station. Still trying to figure out which bus to take and when I should expect it’s arrival, I noticed what I thought was my bus so I jumped on quickly before it left. The anxiety continued as the bus started heading in a direction that was not towards home. I finally figured out I had the right number bus, but still didn’t know if it was in the right direction. I decided to change my focus and if it took me three hours to get home, then so be it! After that I relaxed, got a lot of work done and thoroughly enjoyed my ride. By the time I was home, I was re-energized and grateful I didn’t have to battle rush hour traffic in my car that day.
WHAT I LEARNED:
• Preparation — It takes a lot of thought and resources to be able to adequately plan out how to get where you want at the time you need to be there. When women come to our home, they are usually in crisis and chaos. Problem solving skills are diminished when someone is in this state. While some of our residents might be experts at riding the bus, there might be other areas that are new to them and they may need a little extra help planning their day.
• Freedom — Although I thought I was losing my “freedom” by riding the bus, there was a different kind of freedom offered by this experience. I felt rejuvenated by the walk and there was time to relax and think for the hour long bus ride.
• Mindset — “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3:2) It requires a certain mindset to face different life challenges. I love a good challenge, but not everyone does. My mind was set on having a good attitude about the situation and seeing all it could offer. I chose to trust God when I could have given in to the anxiety, frustration and irritation that came from the fact that things were not working out the way I wanted. Many of our women have been so discouraged by their situation it is difficult to set their minds on things above and often have given in to the despair. Our prayer for them is that they would find the hope of Christ, their minds would be refreshed and renewed and they would get out of this cycle of crisis.
WHAT STAFF LEARNED:
Staff also had their own adventures. Here is what some of them said about their experience. Many of them said that after trying to do this challenge, they were “exhausted” and “tired”.
“It was really uncomfortable at first, but then I just had to learn that I could trust God in this situation.”
“Even though I have been where they have been, I forgot what it was like. It has taught me to have more understanding for what the women are going through.”
This was a very exciting and interesting challenge that gave us a new perspective and allowed us to have more empathy for others! What can you do to get out of your comfort zone? Think of your own challenge and try it today. I’d love to hear your stories.
With Joy,
Sarah Dawson
Executive Director
05/01/2019
Dear friends,
When I look through the Bible and try to see how the Church should be, it is this: a place where disciples of Christ are made, forgiveness is extended and every person is using their God-given gifts to encourage and build others up.
Romans 12: 4-8 (NLT) Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:4-8 is what happens at Evangel Home. We have those who come to serve (volunteer) and to teach (chapel leaders and classes). Others send encouraging cards to staff and residents and still others give generously. Our board takes their leadership responsibility seriously. Kindness is poured out at our home. Because each of us has chosen to use the gift God has given us, disciples are being made, women are receiving forgiveness and healing from their hurts, and we all get to share in that joy. Just like the angels rejoice over one lost soul coming to God, so we also rejoice when one woman gets to know God’s great love.
A resident recently stated that before she came here, she thought people were only evil. Day by day she watched how the staff treated her and how all the people faithfully brought donations and gifts. This young woman was amazed to know that all of these people, who didn’t even know her, loved her. What a joy and pleasure to be one small part of His body!
Thank you all for praying as Gerre Brenneman (our past Executive Director) and I have made this transition. I am so excited to be serving with you in this new role!
With Joy,
Sarah Dawson
Executive Director
02/06/2019
Dear friends,
As the end of the year gets closer on the calendar, time on the clock seems to speed up. It has now been slightly more than a year since I began announcing my December retirement. One of the most important things to do at that time was to develop a to-do list of items for the next person – whoever it was going to be.
God provided the person – Sarah Dawson – but we still had to make the list. Have you noticed how He does that all the time? He provides what we need, but we still have to get it done!
Once Sarah was on board, she, office manager Emily Dull, and I started what we call the Retirement Collection. We all added things to it, and have made sure Sarah is experiencing or doing every item on the list. Currently there are 18 categories covering things such as: social media, annual banquet, meetings, board, staff training, newsletters and thank you letters.
Recently Sarah asked me what is the best way for her to meet our donors and friends. We have a mailing list of about 5,500 and a donor base of about 1,000. So meeting everyone is a daunting, if not impossible, task. That is why this letter is so important. It is a real connection between Evangel Home and you. It is a link between our heart and yours, and I have always appreciated that you just want us to be honest. Sarah will continue that same communication, and I hope you will encourage her with notes the way you have done for me.
Leadership is a hot topic in our culture. There are thousands of books on the topic (The pages and entries never end if you check Amazon), but the qualities most important for those trying to be godly leaders are top: prayerfully seek God’s direction, be modest, be a peacemaker, be fair and just, surround yourself with honest and trustworthy counselors, be a good learner and listener, be humble, sensible and kind; be slow to anger.
Evangel Home is in good hands as we look ahead.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
10/20/2018
Dear friends,
As I approach my 30th anniversary as Evangel Home director in May, it is a bittersweet time. I am planning to retire at the end of this year. I’ve always thought that the call from God to retire would be as clear as His call to lead the ministry, and it was.
As I prepare for that time, I first want to highlight a few things about Evangel Home. Last fall, staff member Sarah Dawson (with me in the picture to the right) asked what she could learn and how she could prepare to someday be the director. God planted the seed then about the importance for me to train someone to take my place. Sarah is that someone. I met her 20 years ago when she served here as a college intern. Even though she has had other jobs, she never lost her interest in Evangel Home and always stayed in touch. She currently is our night house manager. She is just as fearful and excited as I was about becoming director in 1988 — feeling inadequate and eager at the same time. But we both know that God is leading us, and we trust Him.
Evangel Home is really three things: ministry, small business and family.
As a Christian ministry, we are dedicated to our motto: Christ Leads, People Care, Lives Change. That remains our commitment, and I pray that people will continue to care, perhaps even more, during this year of transition. There are still precious women coming to us who need the hope of Christ and the support and acceptance they receive at Evangel Home.
As a “small business,” we run a tight ship. We will continue to be as transparent with finances, and as open and honest with our decisions, as we always have been. One characteristic of a strong small business is that it is not dependent on one person. When Sarah began to wonder if she could one day be the director, I was excited to begin teaching her. She will take over in 2019, so I still get to write you a few letters! I believe this is one of the most important communication tools we have, and I am confident Sarah will connect with you in her own style.
Finally, Evangel Home staff is family, and this is not something I can just walk away from. I will have to figure out ways to stay connected and supportive while allowing new leadership to flourish. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to serve Him, alongside other devoted workers, in a place where we really do make a difference.
It’s going to be a busy and blessed year
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
3/5/2018
Dear friends,
If I could write a thank you letter that matched the love and encouragement from our friends at this year’s banquet, I would send each of you a bouquet of roses – pink roses. We did send the Evangel Home women who participated in the program flowers, and it’s safe to assume they have not received many bouquets in their lives — just as it is safe to assume they have not experienced the kind of love that filled the room.
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then I want to share two things from the banquet that are being “copied.”
One was the theme. Yes, “A Night at the Movies” was a bit mysterious, but it worked as a wonderful “wrap around” for the evening. It was more than a theme – it provided atmosphere, action, fun, focus and meaning. Several said they were going to use the idea at their next event.
The second thing to be “imitated” was a comment I made on Victoria’s video. Evangel Home is best at “helping one woman 1,000 ways rather than 1,000 women one way.” They have a better chance to be helped when that thought is put into practice. Our women, and others like them, respond best to deep individual attention; attention that can build trust and point to a relationship with Christ. If God knows every hair on their heads, we’d better know their stories and how best to help!
I can’t imagine that there will ever be another gift as meaningful to us as the new pink door pin. Your response to the women giving them to each person was so uplifting to them. One of the women was so nervous that she even asked, “What if someone says they don’t want it?” We assured her that would not happen – everyone would say yes. It was wonderful to see so many people wearing their pins as they left for the evening.
It is even more wonderful to know that so many will be praying for us every time you look at that pink door. Thank you.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
P.S. If you want to see any of the “movies” again, click here to view them on our YouTube channel.
9/15/2017
Dear friends,
I am often asked how people can help us when they can’t give money, don’t have much time, or perhaps are house bound or dealing with their own issues. I often think of a woman who could play the piano but could not leave her house. She would play for people over the phone.
Someone asked me recently, “What do you do to help people?”
The person had no idea I work at Evangel Home, but I loved their question. It’s one I find myself thinking about quite often, and so I was inspired by one person’s answer.
We recently received a box in the mail. The contents were hidden among wadded up pieces of colorful expired coupons. On top of all the paper was a typed letter which began: “Dear women of Evangel Home, this letter is to serve you notice that God does STILL love you, always has, and always will.”
The letter writer is a 13-year old girl who goes on to explain what’s in the box – “10 handmade bracelets by me.”
She is making bracelets for “abused and neglected women” and sending them to homes and shelters. So far she has sent her bracelets to Michigan, Maine, Kentucky and now California.
She ends her letter by saying, “I pray that these bracelets will brighten up your day, and let the bracelets serve as a reminder that God loves you and He cares for you.”
This 13-year old can answer the question, “What do you do to help people?”
Thank you for all that you do to help people.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
8/18/2017
Dear friends,
Through the years, I have received a lot of little gifts and a lot or prayer requests. This little angel combines both. I have a number of handwritten prayer requests under my desk blotter from Evangel Home friends who ask that we pray for them. This is where the angel comes in. A woman gave it to me at a church where I was speaking. I mentally filed it into my “little gift” category until she told me that she has Alzheimer’s and that making these angels helps her. She also asked for prayer.
The angel is now on a table in back of my desk and is one of the first things I see when I come into the office. So often it is easy to take prayer requests for granted or say we will pray and then we don’t. However, the angel reminds of Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. I like this explanation from on a website called “got Questions?.org:
Paul’s command does not mean we are to be in a head-bowed, eyes-closed posture all day long. He is not referring to non-stop talking, but rather an attitude of God-consciousness and God-surrender that we carry with us all the time. Every waking moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and that He is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions.
Amen.
Yours Truly,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
6/26/2017
Dear friends,
Almost every year since 1990, our staff has gone to St. Anthony in Three Rivers for an overnight retreat – a time always much needed and greatly appreciated. I’ve learned over the years that we do not need a schedule showing us what to do every few hours, but that we need time alone with God and time to be with one another. St Anthony’s is a quick drive, but a world apart.
While there, I set aside time to meet with each woman to reflect together on how she is doing personally, as a staff member, and how we are all doing as a team. This year we focused on 1 Corinthians 13 as our “evaluation form.” I had never looked at that chapter as a way to model leadership, but it is really perfect for that. If we do not love the people we lead and the people we serve, then the apostle Paul might say we are nothing more than “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
The “love” chapter lists what love is and what it isn’t. It is patient. One of our staff explained how she shows this to our residents: “I try to understand where the ladies come from. They are coming to a new environment and we give them room to make mistakes. I usually tell them not to worry about making mistakes since they are worried about getting kicked out. I tell them they just got here and things like our schedule will make sense in a few days. I tell THEM to be patient.”
One of the house managers underlined this in her notes: “People will not remember us for what we accomplish. But they will remember how we made them feel and what we helped them to accomplish. This leadership style is guaranteed to see results. Leadership by love is the most excellent way.”
I encourage you to have a little alone time with God and this chapter. Whether you are leading a big corporation, a Sunday school class, young children, adult children, or friends, you are leading and influencing somebody. Are you leading by love?
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
4/18/2017
Dear friends,
One of our favorite and most significant events of this season is Heart Sisters Week. It began more than 30 years ago when some staff decided that Valentine’s Day should be celebrated first to demonstrate the love of Christ for each of us, and second to celebrate friendship.
Even though the activities have changed over the years, the basics are still the same. Staff and program residents exchange little secret pal gifts every day and then we have a “revealing” party and give each other a nice gift. We also include the crisis home women in some things such as our Valentine’s Day luncheon and by giving them a gift each morning on their pillows.
Through the years, Heart Sisters has been one of the most powerful and joyful ways to show the love of Christ to our women. It is important for us to be able to provide activities for them that are fun – that is something they have not really known.
We are so thankful for our friends who support us and who allow the Lord to touch His chosen in this place called Evangel Home.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
2/24/2017
Dear friends,
A special thanks this month for the wonderful friends who helped us close 2016 on a strong note financially. It was a lean year, but giving in December was about $186,000 bringing total 2016 giving to $758,000. It costs about $65,000 a month or $780,000 a year to run the Home, so we will probably dip into savings at some point.
HOWEVER, . . . I capitalize that ‘however’ because it indicates the God column on the financial spreadsheet. In nearly 30 years of working with Evangel Home finances, I have learned that just because we can’t count it doesn’t mean we can’t count ON it. God has surprised us in more ways than I can count, and so I believe He will do so this year if we have to cover any gaps.
But now we thank Him for the provisions we have, and we thank you for your support and encouragement.
At this month’s staff meeting, we shared some of our favorite Bible verses in a completely spontaneous devotional time. The random verses basically lay out the foundation for our faith and direct our actions. I chose Ephesians 3:20 and the beginning of verse 21: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory . . .”
I like the way the Message paraphrases this Scripture: “God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.”
Blessings and Beyond for 2017,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
1/16/2017
Dear friends,
As we enter the final two months of the year, our days are paced by what can become rapid-fire activities rather than by meaningful acts. I would encourage you to pamper yourself a bit during this season to make sure you stay physically healthy, to ask God to give you an experience outside of your traditions or your comfort zone, and to listen for Him in the midst of all the noise. That thought was delivered to me last month through a very unlikely source: donuts and neighbors.
I had purchased a box of Krispy Kreme donuts for a fund raiser and decided I would give it to the first person I saw when I left work. As I drove to the end of the alley I saw 4 people — 3 black, 1 white. The white person was the oldest; in a wheelchair, wearing some sort of beach umbrella hat, and I could not tell if the person was a man or woman. A second person seated in a wheelchair was a very thin woman wearing a wig, hooked up to an oxygen tank and drinking a beer. There was a handsome young man talking to them, and a little boy about 3 in the middle of it all. OK, there was my donut group.
I stopped the car and walked up to them with the box. I cannot tell you how excited they were about the donuts — they began planning dinner around them, the thin woman dumped her beer on the ground and the person with the umbrella hat saluted me. The young man said, “God bless you,” and the little boy said, “Let me see, let me see.”
I got back in the car, looked at the scene, grabbed my phone to take a picture, and then God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “No. These are your neighbors; this is your city; My image might not be easily seen, but it is in them. Pray for them and think about My image — not your picture.”
Many of you will do similar things this time of year: distribute food to strangers, buy gifts for people you hardly know, make sandwiches to give to hungry people. What if God is using those acts to speak to you – even more so than to the people you are helping? Listen for Him. Thanksgiving and Christmas might be days that come once a year, but to Christ followers they should be year-round. They should mark the conditions or our hearts, not the calendars of our events.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
12/02/2016
Dear Friends,
In September I attended my 50th high school reunion – Hoover High Class of ’66. It’s difficult to share memories without revealing age, so I jumped over that hurdle a long time ago.
I suppose every class thinks it’s special, but the 1966 Patriots’ class really does own several distinctions. We attended a brand new school, and we were the first class to enter as sophomores. The entire student body was less than 900 and our class was about 375.
We had excellent teachers who were chosen to get the new school up and running. We did not win a single football game the first two years but we won the league championship in 1966. We still talk about that season.
We have lost about 50 classmates (that we know of) – a number which seems more than our fair share, but this was just prior to drugs becoming a problem, Viet Nam was calling and claiming some, and we ARE getting older.
We were raised by the Greatest Generation and yet embraced much of the Counter Culture – childhood and young adult markers for those of us known forever as the Baby Boomers. Many in my class are successful, many are still married to their high school sweethearts, many are believers, and many are very generous.
One of the proudest moments of my life came at our reunion dinner, Sept. 24, when I was called to the podium with two others: one a classmate and one a 1966 coach. The class of ‘66 had extra money in the reunion fund and divided it among the three of us whose organizations “are making our world a better place.”
Wow!
So I got to stand in front of those people I’ve known (and some I’ve not known) for 50+ years and speak briefly about Evangel Home. I was privileged to share my life’s work because of their generosity.
Those high school roots are anchored firm in fellowship and have grown into dedication to Christ for many of us.
Thank you for being part of that root system.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
10/05/2016
One of our staff members recently gave me a great gift — a chubby little gold hedgehog wearing a pink party hat. Perfect.
This golden hedgehog joins about 15 others on a shelf above my desk. Groups of animals can have such descriptive or interesting names. There is a gaggle of geese and a battery of barracudas; a coaltion of cheetahs and a rhumba of rattlesnakes. But a group of hedgehogs sounds very business-like and no nonsense. They are called an array “an ordered arrangement.”
This little creature became our mascot about 10 years ago for those no-nonsense reasons. Nothing flashy. Nothing to draw attention to itself – just do what it does best: eat, keep its little home, and roll away from danger. I had read a book called “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and he proposed the idea of a “Hedgehog Concept.”
The Hedgehog Concept looks at 3 questions: What are you most passionate about? What can you be best in the world at? What drives your economic engine?
We worked on those questions for weeks, and even though are answers might be different today than 10 or 15 years ago, the Hedgehog Concept resulted in our motto: Christ Leads, People Care, Lives Change. Everything we do should fit into one of those phrases.
And the hedgehog? He reminds us to keep focused, keep doing what we do best, don’t worry about what others are doing, and then start all over again tomorrow.
Every staff member has a Margaret Hudson clay hedgehog. Sometimes we will get distracted and one of us will just say “hedgehog.” Remember why we are here.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
I recently gave a report to our board of directors on the many facets of Evangel Home, and how I see things at this point. I used sort of a stick figure example to provide an evaluation, and thought it would be good to share the results with you.
HEART = Christ. Outward signs of worship might change through the years, but Christ was and must always be first here. “Christ Leads, People Care, Lives Change.” Those six words are not only our motto, they are the foundation of ministry and the blueprint for all we do.
BACKBONE = Staff. We have a staff of 20 full and part-time dedicated servants including two professional counselors. Among full-time staff, the average tenure is 10.7 years. That is testimony to the dedication and quality of our people. The work is hard, and the pay is low, but none of us want to be anywhere else.
ARMS = Program and Counseling. The key here is to provide a balance of self-awareness and relevant classes, Bible study, fitness and counseling. Our women and children face different challenges than they did in earlier years. Therefore, we need to be flexible enough to keep up with change, but firm enough to not bend on the basics.
HANDS = Volunteers. The time and type of service that people want to give has changed, but volunteers are still crucial in shaping our property, programs and people.
LEGS = Donors/Churches. Our donor base and budget are stable, but we will need to increase both in the future in order to keep up with things like increased minimum wage.
MUSCLE = Board. It is the muscle system that provides strength, motion, movement, tone and flexibility. It is unseen but essential to the health of the whole body.
BRAIN = Things to think about. There is plenty to think about, but I believe that as we face things, we do so head on; we pray always; we pivot when necessary; and we never allow the pursuit of money to set our vision. We ask only two questions in all that we do: (1) How is God honored? (2) How does it help our women and children?
Thank you for the part you play in keeping us healthy and vibrant.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
One of the things I am blessed with at Evangel Home is the opportunity to meet people like Nadine. She is not homeless, doesn’t live far from us, and says she enjoys looking for treasures. Today one of her treasures is this set of reindeer antlers that we had discarded. We try to leave things by our dumpsters that can be used, and we give food and water when we can. And you just never know when someone might be given a little boost by finding antlers in September.
Blessed beyond measure,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
Dear friends,
Several years ago staff tried to summarize our ministry in as few words as possible and came up with these six words: Christ Leads, People Care, Lives Change. Those 3 phrases became our motto several years ago, but more than that, they are words to live by.
CHRIST LEADS
You, our supporters, are literally the link between Christ and changed lives. We are fortunate to see the results of your caring commitment every day and as we enter the last weeks of 2014, we are praying to close strong financially, spiritually, and relationally. It is our prayer that those Changed Lives, having received new life in Christ, will one day share in the blessing of standing with those People who Care and make all the difference.
PEOPLE CARE
Yes you do! You, our supporters, are renovating an apartment and leading chapel; organizing the donations in the basement and answering phones; serving on the board and giving financially … The list also includes you helping our Kid Zone becoming a reality. We have hired a second teacher, staff has come up with a model, and we are off and running! Also, your generous outpouring of funds at our banquet in 2014 helped our ministry tremendously. We raised $50,000.
We’ve even given people like you, are supporters, a special name — The Home Team. You give us the Home Team advantage, are always there for us, and cheer for our women and children in a way that helps them. Thank you, Home Team!
LIVES CHANGE
Women often stop by the Home, and if they graduated from CrossRoads or the GARDEN, always ask to see their name on the wall. There are more than 250 names in our Hall of Faith. It is testimony to the Changed Lives that you have helped re-direct, and for those gifts, we are eternally grateful. Here are some examples of recent lives that have been changed:
Gina: Gina Walker graduated in 2010, joined our staff as a house manager in 2012 and this year qualified to become one of our parenting teachers. Gina brings a sense of joy and a call to accountability for the women she supervises and teaches. She has been where many of them are right now and is able to connect with them on that level, but more important to inspire them to step up to another level. She is living proof of a life changed through Christ, and it was her faith in Him that pulled her through a tragic time last year when she lost her son, Jerome. Gina and her husband, Derrick, are now raising Jerome’s children. There is no quit in Gina. There is only Christ.
Kelly: “My mom’s name is on the wall!” These were the proud words of 5-year old Addison for something her mother, Kelly, accomplished before this little one was even born. When stopping by the Home recently, Kelly showed Addison the 2002 grads and pointed out that her name plaque was the first one that year. Addison was as excited for her mom at that moment as we were in 2002.
Judy: We love it when grads and former residents drop by for a visit. We are really glad Judy paid a visit because we discovered that her graduation name plaque was in the wrong year, so we moved it to 1999 where it belongs. It is especially touching and encouraging to staff and current residents that these name plaques are so important. Judy is doing well and works as an office manager in a medical office.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
Dear Friends,
We recently had something minor happen that offered a major illustration of God at work even when we don’t see what He is doing; even when it might not feel good. The old wooden sign that has hung on the post in front of our property simply says, “EVANGEL HOME 137.” It was splintered and weather beaten, but it still identified us and welcomed people here; something it has done for decades. Then several weeks ago it disappeared.
I had no idea what happened, and was suddenly and profoundly saddened by the empty space — not just the absence of the sign, but the fear of what would happen in the absence of our ministry. The old wooden sign is in a way a symbol of what women and children can find in this place. You give life to that symbol by being the hands, feet, and heart of Christ.
I thought about the disappearing ministry because of last year’s disappointing finances. Evangel Home has a financial need, and I am asking for your help to meet it. Year-end giving was not as significant as it usually is. In fact we experienced the fourth lowest December giving in 15 years — coming at the end of a year that was already down. Now, we have very little in reserve.
Here are the basics — excluding large designated gifts for projects such as the kitchen:
— Total giving was down 14% from $702,000 in 2012 to $603,000 in 2013
— December fell by 17% from $173,000 to $143,000
— Individual giving was down 11% from $396,000 to $354,000 — Churches followed the same pattern and fell 14% from $93,000 to $80,000
We were able to reduce expenses from $732,000 to $717,000 in 2013 and relied on the 2012 financial cushion to get us through last year. That cushion is now threadbare. Many of our donors have remained steadfast and committed during these unsettled economic times, but some have had to reduce the amount of giving. Compounding this is the loss of several large and long-time annual gifts. We lost $30,000 in this area.
Back to the sign for a minute. I soon learned it had not been stolen, and even though it has now been returned, it is not perfect. A friend named Rod had taken it to freshen it up, and he planned to make it better than ever. However, as he sanded, puttied, painted, and varnished, he suddenly envisioned the sign as an example of what God does as He welcomes women and children to this place. So Rod left some splintered wood and unfilled cracks; some dull paint and rough spots to remind us of the women who still need to come to Evangel Home and let God put them together.
Just as our friend had a surprise plan for the sign, we believe that God’s plan for Evangel Home is a similar story. We do not always know what He is doing, but we do know that He is always faithful. We will never be perfect, but we pray that Evangel Home will continue to welcome women and children, in His name, for decades to come.
Many women have said they find Christ in this “place of love and restoration.” Please consider helping us through this rough financial time and ensure that such discovery is possible for those women and children yet to come.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
The women of Evangel Home are like pebbles landing in water and sending out ripples that affect their futures, their relationships with God, and the lives of their friends and families.You are also like pebbles, but rather than being the ones who land, you are the ones creating ripples that touch the lives of our women and children, hold up our ministry, and affect a neighborhood as well as a Kingdom.
If Evangel Home is a body of water, the ripples of financial support are pretty calm in this season. Comparing ripples to ripples, we are down 15 percent from this time last year.
We have received large designated gifts in each of these years for special projects such as remodeling the kitchen. If these gifts are removed from the income stream, the numbers look like this:
| Year | Amounts |
| 2013 | $369,237 <15% |
| 2012 | $455,530 |
| 2012 total giving without restricted gifts = $702,000 |
It is encouraging to know that giving in the last quarter of the year usually picks up and carries us into the next year. However, we do see some warning signs on the water and are asking more people to serve as those ripple-creating pebbles. In addition to trusting that some will read these words and respond here, we have also created a special Team Evangel area on our website with some opportunities for consistent support. Visit us at www.evangelhome.org/teamevangel.
Serving Him Together,
Gerre Brenneman
Executive Director
