so how does shepherd community believe we can help families break the cycle of poverty?

relationships is key

commitment to the longe term

recognize that not everyone has the desire to !

three key points to consider in reflecting on our staregy to help break the cycle. By beginning to work with a child as soon as they are born, we recognize we are commiting to a 20 year cycle. yes, a long term investment. I think of the young lady who graduate tomorrow, she has been at shepherd for almost 10 years. She will be the first in her family. so many staff have invested in her and tomorrow we celebrate the next phase of her life towards breaking the cycle.

we have been with her, her friend, her counselor, her disciplinarian, and her cheerleader as she has fought to break free……and she will!! yet, there were others with her who did not share the same vision and today they have become statistics of violence and crime. BUT NOT HER!!

today, i reflect on her life and her tenacity to fight on , even when others around her did not. we cannot teach that, we can only remove the barriers.

Maybe that is why the Bible says we will always have the poor with us??? not sure, what do you think?

celebrate our five graduates!!

My wife and i just celebrated a special birthday for one of our children. They grow up, and it seems so quick. I remember when he was beginning to walk and now , he is soon to be a man.

i thought this morning about my wonderful children and wife. Time flies by, and as a parent i am so glad to see their growth. Yet, i worry for them, will they be safe, will they be able to recognize their dreams,will they be able to aspire to great goals and accomplish them.

Then i thought of the many children at Shepherd, and wondered about them. I sat in my office and watched many walk around our property. They too, have great dreams. Will they have the opportunities that my own children will have? Do they have the cheerleaders in life to urge them on to the hard reached goals. Does poverty snuff out the flame of dreaming big? We sure are trying to allow them to dream and work to that vision.

Yet, i know it will not always be. The chains of poverty will sink some down to the depths of despair, to the tragic consequences of erased dreams. Crime, hunger, discrimination……more chains, yet they can soar “with wings like Eagles.” They can fly to the heights their Creator planned for them.

will you help unleash a child to dream and work to that dream? let me know if you want to help…together we can make a diffference.

Journey Well with the One who created us for His plans for us to succeed.

jay