Spring 2012 Fostering Hope Newsletter - COBYS Family Services

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Campolo, Blackwoods Headline Praise Dinner A popular story teller and a gospel quartet with a storied history will headline the 17th annual Wenger Foundation Praise Dinner on Thursday, May 3, at 6:00 p.m., at the Lebanon Expo Center. The event will benefit COBYS Family Services and three other ministries. Preacher Tony Campolo will give an inspirational message. Campolo is professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education. He has written more than 35 books, blogs regularly at his website, redletterchristians.org, and speaks some 400 times a year. Also performing will be the Blackwood Brothers Quartet. In existence since 1934, the Blackwood Brothers have recorded over 200 albums and toured in 47 countries. They have won eight Grammy Awards and six Dove Awards and were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998. In addition to the inspiration provided by Campolo and the Blackwoods, the evening will include a buffet meal catered by Country Home Catering. Other ministries benefitting from the event are Evangelical Seminary, Friendship Community, and On Fire Youth Ministries. The cost to attend is $100 per person or $1,000 per table of 10 guests. One hundred percent of donations support the designated ministries. Underwriting all of the event’s expenses are the Achey family, Tony Campolo will speak and the Blackwood Brothers Quartet will sing at the May 3 Wenger Foundation Praise Dinner. Thanks for the Memories (and Hamballs!) COBYS Executive Director Mark Cunningham surprised Marion Brubaker with a bouquet of roses and some words of gratitude at the COBYS Resource Family Christmas Party at Florin Church of the Brethren in December. (Full Disclosure: The Florin Brethren provided the roses; the kind words were from Mark.) The Florin congregation has provided the annual dinner for some 15 years, serving up ham balls and Christmas cookies. For most of that time Marion was the primary organizer. Now a resident at Brethren Village, she is relinquishing the organizational responsibilities, but not giving up involvement. Lord willing, we expect to see an apron-clad Marion in the kitchen again next year, dutifully following instructions from her successor. At this year’s party, approximately 150 COBYS resource parents, children, and staff enjoyed a meal, entertainment by Steven Courtney (pictured top right), and the annual appearance of Santa & Mrs. Claus (who bear a resemblance to Florin members Marty & Lois Witman). Fostering Hope 6
Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry; John Byler; Roger & Marjorie Gerhart; Roger & Carolyn North, North Group Consultants; Sight & Sound Ministries, Inc.; the Wenger Family, Wengers of Myerstown; and other anonymous contributors. The Wenger Foundation, Inc., was established in 1996 as the charitable giving arm of the Wenger Family of Companies. Since then, the Foundation has awarded nearly $2 million to a variety of Christian and community ministries, including $242,306 to COBYS, which first became a beneficiary of the Praise Dinner in 1999. Last year’s Praise Dinner attracted 800 people and raised nearly $90,000, including $16,940 for COBYS. Invitations to the event will be mailed in March. For more information, please contact the Wenger Foundation at 717-866- 2130 or rwalmer@wengers.com. You on Facebook? If you are, why not sign up to follow COBYS? We’re up to 128 fans, to date, and our Facebook page is becoming a great source for inspiration and information. Here are a couple recent posts: A six-year-old counseling client was asked by his mother what adoption means. His response was quick: “Adoption is when you’re stuck with the same family.” Out of the mouths of babes... “We have to learn to make room for God—to give God ‘elbow room.’ We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses.” —Oswald Chambers We were blessed by several churches and church groups who gave in special ways during the Christmas season. Manor Church, Ridgeway Community COB, and Wyomissing COB donated offerings from special services; volunteers from Lancaster Evangelical Free Church provided wrapped Christmas presents for children and teens in our Permanency program; and Myerstown COB Women’s Fellowship donated gift cards to benefit various parts of our ministry. We are grateful for all the support we received during December from individuals, businesses, churches, and others. We were reminded again of how generous people can be! A Place Called Home My expectations are so high But all I gotta’ do is try I just want my kids to feel stable To sit and eat dinner at the table To have a big happy family Or just the kids and me Going on family trips Or to the pool for a quick dip Playing board games Loving each other all the same I’m tired of living like a mouse I just want to give my kids a house We’ve gone from place to place Moving like we’re in a race I just want them to have a place to call home Not one they built as a kid outta’ foam I’m talking four brick walls. . . and halls For more than a decade COBYS Family Services has provided intensive parenting training through the Family Nurturing Education and Support Program. Family Nurturing is approved by the Lancaster County Children & Youth Social Service Agency and often serves parents who are seeking to make a fresh start. A participant in the program, who recently had been released from prison, shared her aspirations for a stable home life in the form of a prayer. I’m not too picky as long as it’s clean You couldn’t imagine some of the places I’ve seen We don’t need diamonds or furs I just want to offer them structure Is that too much to ask? What do ya’ say? Father God, I pray. . . Please give us all this blessing So our hearts will forever sing Amen Fostering Hope 7
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Page 3 and 4: (continued from page one) recalls,
Page 5: and Jess Schrodel worked with paren

Spring 2012 Fostering Hope Newsletter - COBYS Family Services

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