newsletter

Thanks to everyone who participated in Teen Haven’s Sponsor a Camper! By providing scholarships for urban youth, nearly 500 teens learned about God at our 45th season of summer camp, including Sheelah.

Sheelah had an anger issue. At 12 years of age, her language would make any sailor blush. She struggled all week with her anger and finally threatened another camper. When a call was made to her foster mom, Sheelah lost it, yelling

terrible things to her foster mother.After the phone call as I sat with her,

Sheelah’s real hurt came out. With her eyes full of tears, Sheelah kept repeating that no one loved her. She said she was tired of foster homes and just wanted to find her biological mom. In essence she felt this woman was the only one who could love her.

In time, Sheelah was convinced that the Lord loved her, and that we loved her. By the end of the talk, Sheelah chose to speak to her foster mom and seek

forgiveness for her actions, apologize to her cabin supervisor and make things right with the Lord and others.

Friday before departure for home, I observed Sheelah laughing and kidding around with the staff. Sheelah was a child again knowing that she was truly loved by Jesus and those in His family.

Pray that as Sheelah and the other teens return home to their cities, they will stay plugged into Teen Haven and mature in their faith.

Nearly 500 campers learned

about Jesus this summer at

Teen Haven’s camp.

Truly LovedBy Vinny Mikusow, Camp Director, Teen Haven

“If it wasn’t for Teen Haven camp,

I wouldn’t have ever been saved,”

says Luis, age 10, as he spends time

with Ethan, a Teen Haven volunteer.

Health Services has developed a patient case management program to meet with patients whose health status hasn’t been improving due to special needs or social barriers. The following is a story from a recent home visit with a patient.

Ms. D is in her 50’s, uses a walker and has severe, uncontrolled diabetes. She’s been very engaged with Health Services but her blood sugars are still dangerously unstable. Due to our con-cern for her, we set up a meeting in her

Just the Right TimeBy Colleen Elmer, Executive Director, Water Street Health Services

apartment to see how we could help. When we got to her door and

knocked, there was no answer. As we were getting ready to leave, we finally heard a faint whisper of “help me”. We went in to find Ms. D lying on the floor, drooling and dazed, after falling off her kitchen chair. Her blood sugar was dangerously low. After stabilizing her, we were able to note three major issues and create a plan for the future. Ms. D acknowledged how God is looking out for her as He sent us at just the right time that day to help her.

Preschool and kindergarten is all about change through learning. Remembering past achievements makes us very excited for our new school year.

As our 2011/2012 school year progressed, Mrs. Jessica had provided books with more words and less pictures to encourage her Kindergarteners’ use of their developing skills. One day when

the students were “reading” during quiet reading time, one little boy was painstak-ingly looking at the words and sentences in his book. He sounded out each letter as he went along. With a sudden burst of enlightenment, he looked up at his teacher with a big smile and exclaimed, “Mrs. Jessica, I can read this. I really can! I know what this says!” Needless to say, it was a heartwarming moment for both student and teacher.

Enrolling Still for 2012/2013! Pre-K in Lancaster and Columbia, or Kindergarten in Lancaster.Call Lorraine at (717) 394-9723 or visit WonderClubEarlyLearningCenters.org.

To see more of these precious students, watch our video at TinyURL.com/WonderClub >

Change Through LearningBy Lorraine Brandt, Administrator, Wonder Club Early Learning Centers

Gale, left, the Clinical Director at Health Services, visits Ms. D at her home.

As of July 29th after much prayer and discernment, the Lydia Center program has been closed for a time of transition.

Several events presented us with a timely opportunity to step back and reevaluate the ministry. A significant factor was the Lydia Center executive director’s move out of state (to be married!) and subsequent resignation, leaving a key position vacant.

We praise God for those recognized in the July 26th graduation. We also give thanks for the 200 women whose lives were impacted by the staff, volunteers and friends of the ministry over the last 10 years.

While we remain enthusiastically committed to the vision of the Lydia Center, we recognize that we have never fully achieved the potential represented by this aspect of our women’s ministry program.

We plan to complete our analysis and review of the Lydia Center program by year end, and we anticipate a refocused program to be put into place in 2013. We ask for your prayers as we work through this process and as we continue to serve women and children through the Water Street Mission.

Do you have questions?You are welcome to email us atContact@WaterStreetMinistries.org.

Doors Closing for Windows to OpenBy Steve Brubaker, Chief Vision Officer, Water Street Ministries

The Lydia Center lodge in Wrightsville, PA.

“When I came to the Mission I was hopeless. What God did through the Mission was give me an identity

linked to Him. He’s given me a hope...an opportunity to live the rest of my life serving Him....”

William, Mission graduate

Watch videos from William and other graduates

at WaterStreetMinistries.org/Graduates!

You’ve probably noticed that your summer edition of the Messenger is four pages instead of 16.

To balance wise stewardship with effective communication, we’re replacing two of our Messenger magazines with two shorter newsletters like this one.

This and other changes you may see are based upon feedback from volunteers and donors. We hope what we are doing more simply communicates how your support makes all the difference for people in need.

Based on Your Feedback By Paul Pearce, VP of Advancement, Water Street Ministries

Thoughts or comments? Email us!Contact@WaterStreetMinistires.org

You can also write us!Water Street MinistriesPO Box 7267Lancaster, PA 17604.

In July, David Thompson, chairman of the Board of Directors for Water Street Ministries, announced that the board has accepted – with regret – the resignation of Jere Shertzer, president and CEO.

Jere has faithfully served Water Street Ministries since 1996, guiding the organization through strategic growth — reaching more people in need of the services offered by the ministries of Water Street.

Steve Brubaker, chief vision officer of Water Street Ministries, is serving as interim executive director as a search committee discerns the right person to fill the role of president.

Water Street Ministries has always relied upon the faithful partnership of generous friends like you, and this leadership transition is no exception.We ask for your prayers as we continue to change one life at a time by:• Educating young children through

Wonder Club Early Learning Centers

Leadership Transition By Steve Brubaker, Chief Vision Officer & Interim Executive Director, Water Street Ministries

David Thompson, Chairman of the Board, Water Street Ministries

• Equipping urban youth through Teen Haven• Providing health care through Water Street

Health Services• Providing rescue and renewal for homeless

men, women and children through the Water Street Mission

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to change one life at a time. May you be blessed!

210SouthPrinceStreet•POBox7267•Lancaster,PA17604•Direct717.393.7709•Contact@WaterStreetMinistries.org • WaterStreetMinistries.org

For the past few years, Water Street has been operating in a budget deficit. Although it’s been challenging as donations haven’t kept pace with the needs, we have believed with confidence in the generosity of our community and the faithfulness of our God.

So it is with great joy that we write to you today. Instead of ending our fiscal year on June 30 with a projected deficit, we were able to end the year in a positive financial situation. This is only through friends like you giving their resources, the ministry managing those resources well, and most importantly God’s blessing. Thank you for helping to change one life at a time!

Thank you for your faithful partnership

to help change lives!

Needed Items• Bunk bed mattresses for Teen Haven’s camp

and the Mission• School supplies for Wonder Club and the

Mission• Hope Totes filled with toiletries for the Mission• Cars for graduates to increase employability.

Call Stan at 717.393.7709 x235.

For More DetailsVisit WaterStreetMinistries.org/WishList or call (717) 393-7709 ext. 0.

Drive a Bus? Help Us!Water Street’s Wonder Club in Lancaster is losing their playground for the 2012-13 school year. To drive our students to a nearby playground, we are in need of a person with a valid CDL license and passenger certification to serve as volunteer bus driver for 1.5 - 2 hours one or two mornings a week between the hours of 8:30am and 11:00am.Interested? Call 358-2040 or email Volunteer@WaterStreetMinistries.org.

Are you interested in other volunteer opportunities?Visit WaterStreetMinistries.org/Volunteer or call 717.358.2040

Saturday, October 6, 2012Water Street Ministries

210 South Prince Street, LancasterFree parking. Free food. Free live music.Same weekend as Lancaster ArtWalk!

Sunday, September 16 @ 6PMDouble Tree Resort

2416 Willow Street Pike, LancasterTo reserve seats, call Evelyn at

717.358.2032

600 THROUGH ONEA N N U A L D I N N E R 2 0 1 2

Water Street’s Annual Dinner is sponsored by B&F Properties.

Thank You!Many thanks to Bryn Mawr Trust & Ward

Chiropractic for helping to drive away hunger by sponsoring the Mission’s 2012 Golf Tournament.

180 golfers joined us at Tanglewood Golf Club on June 15th. Will you join us for next year’s

tournament Friday, June 21, 2013?

Giving Campaign 07.01.2011 � 06.30.2012

Goal • • • • • • • • $4,509,000 Actual • • • • • • • $4,863,764