A publication of Sheridan House Family Ministries1 7 0 0 S o u t h F l a m i n g o R o a d • D a v i e , F L 3 3 3 2 5 • ( 9 5 4 ) 5 8 3 - 1 5 5 2 • w w w. s h f m . o r g

August 2010

Honoring Christ by serving the needs of children and families

How did America get in this financial dilemma? In a phrase: many Americans couldn’t say, “No!” to spending. While a child lives

at Sheridan House, part of his or her training is financial responsibility.

During the summer at Sheridan House, the children participate in academic classes, learn vocational skills, meet local professionals, serve others in the community, and, whenever possible, have fun. Part of their summer experience includes earning Sheridan House currency we call “mazumas.” A child’s earning power is based on points earned each week for positive behavior. With their mazumas, the children must “pay” for everything during the summer months: room and board, tuition, transportation, utilities, insurance, and entertainment. It is important that the children earn enough each week to cover their expenses. Sometimes, special opportunities arise for the children to spend the mazumas they have earned on “something extra” like a recreational activity, a special snack, or a chance to get out of work hours to do something special.

At the end of the summer program, the children participate in a live auction, where they can spend the mazumas they have earned and saved on a variety of things. Boys can bid on things like sports equipment and football jerseys, while the girls can buy things like jewelry and make-up kits. There may even be an MP3 player available!

We have the opportunity and responsibility to teach the children to make the same tough choice their parents must make every day in regards to spending and saving. Through the use of mazumas, the children are learning to choose to be responsible and understand the value of a dollar. More significantly, they learn the value of saving. Those who choose to be responsible with their mazumas will reap the benefits at the end of the summer. The items used in this end of the summer program auction are items donated by people like you and me. If you are interested in being a part of this learning experience, you can donate an item towards this auction. Simply mail it in to or drop it off to our main campus.

During both June and July, churches across South Florida partnered with us in an effort to Restore a Life & Save a Future of a child in our residential program. We are so thankful for the outpouring of love we received through the special offerings they took on our behalf. The children we serve daily have a variety of behavioral issues that brought them here. However, through the love, discipline, and training they receive while enrolled at Sheridan House, they are able to not only achieve the goals set before them, but also conquer the strongholds in their lives with help from our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

The children we minister to day-in and day-out have a great need and our residential team has been gifted and equipped to serve them at the point of their need, but without the assistance from our partnering churches and supporters like you, none of this would be possible. A small monthly gift helps to sponsor a child at Sheridan House and offers them the guidance they so desperately need.

Join us in something awesome…something that only God can do…something that will matter for eternity…and watch Him Restore a Life & Save a Future!

Serving Him,

A Note From Bob -

Support a child at: www.shfm.org/restorealife

Residential Summer ProgramBy: Brian Vann

Each child must then ask themselves,

“Do I spend or should I save?”

As house parents in the residential program, we have the

honor and privilege of helping middle-school aged girls as

they are questioning who they are, who God is, and what

they believe.

The 2009-10 school year proved to be challenging for the

girls in our home. Each of them desperately

needed to change their behavior and heart

towards their parents, teachers, and other

significant adults in their lives. Many of them

were also struggling with whether or not they

wanted to choose to have a relationship with

Christ as well.

Just before the school year ended, we attended

a Wednesday night youth group service as we

have all year. The girls always enjoy the youth

group; however, that Wednesday was very

different. As the evening was coming to an

end, the youth pastor invited any student to

the front to pray with him if he/she wanted

to make a decision for Christ. To our surprise, three of our

girls walked forward for prayer.

As we rode home in our van, Jessica announced that she

prayed to accept Jesus in her heart. She boldly shared

with the other girls in the van that she went to church

with her parents all the time, but she had never prayed and

personally accepted Jesus in her heart. She beamed with

excitement and pride as she spoke and really wanted the

other girls to know that she accepted Jesus.

After Jessica shared her experience with the girls, Kimberly,

the newest girl to our home, shared that she too asked

Jesus in her heart when she went up to pray with the

youth pastor. While we spoke with her about it, she let us

know she attended church but had done bad things and

knew she wasn’t a Christian. She said she knew now she

wanted to follow Jesus and needed His help.

As we celebrated what Jessica and Kimberly briefly shared,

Madison mentioned she had gone up to pray as well, but she

was still a bit confused. She said she prayed to accept Christ

2 years ago, but she didn’t think she meant it because of

the poor choices she had made in her life before coming to

Sheridan House. She questioned her commitment and was

unsure regarding her own salvation. We explained salvation,

how she could be confident and secure in her

decision, and free from doubt. She said she

wanted to do it right then—in the van. So,

we led Madison in a prayer of salvation with

a van full of girls.

We experienced a beautiful “God moment”

that night. There was a revival going on as

we saw God moving in the hearts of our

middle school girls. It was amazing!

Our girls are not perfect, but they are each

on a significant life journey to understanding

who Christ is, showing evidence of loving

Him more every day, and making Him known

to others around them.

Our girls are not perfect, but they are each on a significant

life journey to understanding who Christ is...

By: Brenda Schneider

*The children’s names have been changed for protection and privacy.

Your contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (1-800-435-7352) within the state. Registration does not

imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Sheridan House Family Ministries registration number is CH24786.

Sher

idanHouse

FamilyMinistries

Since 1968 Sheridan House Family Ministries1700 S. Flamingo Road, Davie, FL 33325(954) 583-1552 • shfm.org

Womens’ Bible Study with Rosemary Barnes

Hosea 6:3a

Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.

NKJV

Tuesday Evening Sept. 14, 2010 7:00-8:30 p.m.

– or – Wednesday Morning

Sept. 15, 2010 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Registration Fee: $15.00Space is limited

*No child care provided

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Real Answers for Real Families

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