End of the road

It has been said the only two gurantees in life are death and taxes.  I think most people would agree that if you were to add a third item to the list it would be change.  With Doulos Ministries I have experienced many seasons of change.  I said goodbye to my good friends in Denver, CO when the organization relocated to Kansas City over four years ago.  I had to make a difficult choice to leave family and some of the best people I have known for a new adventure in Missouri.  I watched the closure of our inner city ministry, the discipleship program, and the Branson campus.  Many leaders, friends, co-laborers, and even my wife Jena sacrificed and served the ministry before ultimately experiencing the same guranteed fate of change when they, too, left the ministry by circumstance.  After seven plus years with Doulos, my number has come up and my work with the organization is no more.

What happened over the past seven years?  I spent three years in Denver.  One year as a direct care staff working nights and weekends directly with the boys at Shelterwood.  I spent the next two years in Denver as house director working alongside amazing peers and ministry leaders.  I spent four years in Kansas City.  Two as case manager and two more as house director (again).  Although my heart and passion has grown to serve the big brothers and young adults of the ministry, the demanding role of house director ultimately spelled the end.  It is a young mans job and one that is difficult to endure with a family.  I was hopeful that I would be able to move into role more suited for my gifts and abilities but as I pointed out, it is naive to think that I am immune to the change experienced by so many of my beloved past ministry peers and leaders.

To all of my faithful ministry partners, I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support of my work at Doulos.  I will be able receive your gifts of financial support through the end of the year but my work on campus is finished effective immediately.  I covet your prayers as I search for the next chapter of my life.  Jena and I will remain right here in Kansas City.  When you look at the life of the disciples, you will find that most of them, in the absence of Jesus, returned to what they knew before.  I do not feel that my life in ministry is a closed chapter but for now I will return to what I knew before:  administration, accounting and finance.  If you know of a ministry or finance lead, I would certainly appreciate it.  Please know that you have made a difference.  Parents, teens, big brothers and staff have been affected by your faithful support of my work at Doulos.  Thank you, dearly.

Blessings,
Brian Albright

Happy Halloween

I trust you and your friends and family have a fun and safe Halloween.  The Halloween season is one of the most popular since it starts pretty much after Labor Day with almost two months of preparation.  Last night Jena and I hosted a Harvest party at our home with friends from work. We had the usual fall stuff (chili, queso, and an outside fire pit). Tonight, Jena and I will venture out to Chipotle to get the $2 burrito before returning home to take Kaiden around the neighborhood as Captain America.

Speaking of scary news...last weekend was Shelterwood Parent Retreat.  I am happy to report the event went extremely well.  With over 30 families and 120 folks in attendance, we had plenty of contingency plans in place for the anticipated drama but it all worked out.  God was faithful, families were blessed and that's what matters!

Kansas City Elite

My friend Blake was recently nominated as a candidate for the Kansas City Elite Foundation sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts.  KC Elite is a program by which NAPA gives back to those who serve in the community.  Blake (pictured in the middle), currently serves as a substitute teacher at Shelterwood.  Blake graduated as big brother in June and also works at a local church.  Even though Blake has a seminary masters degree, he humbly serves in a modest role at Shelterwood and as a church volunteer.  To top it off, Blake is an underdog who achieves despite living with cerebral palsy.  With all the credentials mentioned, Blake was awarded the KC Elite prize of $2500 worth of auto work on his beat-up Toyota pick-up truck provided by NAPA parts and local dealers.  In addition, Blake was interview by the Speed Channel, Fox Channel 4 and he personally met the driver of the NAPA Auto Parts NASCAR #56, Martin Truex Jr (pictured to the left of Blake).  I had a chance to watch all of this unfold last Thursday as Blake was honored.

Oh yeah, there was one more small detail.  The prize included two tickets to Sunday's NASCAR race at the Kansas Speedway, VIP parking and access to Hospitality Village in the NAPA tent.  It was a tough sacrifice, but I accepted when Blake asked if I would join him for the race.  I actually had never experienced a live NACAR race and it was incredible.  The roar of the stock car engines was something I will never forget.  In case you're wondering, Matt Kennseth won the race (#17) and Truex finished in 2nd.

In some Shelterwood news, the Beyond Week activities when well last week.  The students served the community on Monday and Thursday followed by Friday's Fun Day.  Fun Day included a co-ed coffee house in the Dining Hall with open mic and later a food fight on the hill.  There are plenty of pictures on the SW Facebook page if you'd like to see them.

This weekend begins our Fall Family Retreat for parents of the boys.  I ask for your prayers for this busy time on our campus.  We are now at maximum capacity of 32 male residents.

Random News from the Wood

At the midway point through October, Shelterwood is trucking along.  Yesterday, one of my big brothers point out the date which read:  10 11 12.   In the busyness of life I sometimes miss those random moments.  I tend to look for significant events to center by blog entries around and nothing epic  came to mind so I figured I would catch you up on some random news from the Wood.

Last weekend we hosted our Girls Family Weekend.  We had another great time providing support for the parents and coaching families as they spent four days on campus with their teens.

Tis the season for the flu and it has ravashed the guys house.  It is now mostly passed but not without a trace.  I believe all but five of our thirty residents caught a piece of it including many of our big brothers.  At one point in the week, 9 boys stayed home from school.  As of today, though, everyone is  healthy!

We have recently hired a Recreational Therapist.  This is a new position and our rec therapist, KaraLee, will be developing therapuetic activities and sessions with our residents on a weekly basis.  I have already been involved in some staff team building and I was impressed.  KaraLee brings a  wealth of experience and the recreation program increases the quality of Shelterwood.

Today we celebrated the graduation of one of our residents, Seth.  Seth actually graduated earlier in the year from Shelterwood High School and was able to complete the final stage of our program at home while attending college.  He returned today for a ceremony and reports from his parents indicate that he is doing quite well back at home.

Next week is our semi-annual Beyond Shelterwood Week.  Two of the five weekdays we will be venturing out into the community into several groups to serve other organizations.  The residents will be in school for two days and one day is reserved for "fun."  KaraLee and her team will be organizing campus wide activities.

Jim Subers is several weeks into a weekly Bible study he leading for the entire guys house.  Jim has a real heart for evangelism and he is taking the boys through the Beautiful Outlaw video series based on the book by John Eldridge.  The boys are really enjoying the experience and it doesn't hurt that some sort of grilled meat is included every week.  

If you have few moments while reading this blog, please say a quick prayer for our big brothers and sisters.  They do incredible work and can always use some extra support from our vast Shelterwood family.  

Working for the Parent Weekend

Tomorrow is one of Shelterwood's "All Property Serve Days."  The weather is calling for 70-something so the experience should be reasonable.  Next weekend we will be hosting our Girls Family Weekly and it's time to spruce things up for our wonderful families.  Lots of good times and memories surround these famous work days dating back to Denver.  During the month of October we will be hosting both family weekend experiences.  The Guys will be at the end of the month.

Last Friday we concluded the second of our two day Shelterwood spiritual retreats for our staff.  It was an amazing time of professional development, fellowship, personal growth and spiritual healing.  Over 30 staff members rotated through one of the two events.  We hope to continue to develop the retreat process in order to reach out to all departments including teachers, counselors, and other support staff.

Things continue to progress at Shelterwood.  Last weekend our board of Directors were in town for a planned meeting.  According to Jim Subers, our CEO, the meeting went well and our business leaders are encouraged and pleased with life, growth and business at Shelterwood.  We currently stand at 30 boys and 26 girl residents along with 13 big brothers and 11 big sisters.  We have come a long ways with much work to do and your prayers and support have made the difference!

Rooted 101

For the past several months our Shelterwood Director has been working to bring the concepts of Healing for The Nations to our campus.  Several of our staff have been afforded the opportunity to attend one of the monthly scheduled intensive retreats.  It's difficult to summarize in a blog, but in essence HFN deals with spiritual healing from the false beliefs we carry in our hearts  about ourselves.  Lies.

 For more information, you can check out the HFN website at  http://www.healingforthenations.org/

Over the next two weeks, we will be taking our big brothers and big sisters through a condensed two day retreat titled "Rooted".  The retreat/training will take our staff through a Shelterwood history from Richard Beach to Kansas City.  Additionally the training will cover residential concepts including Love and Logic, Mindset, De-escalation and ultimately land on the subject of spiritual health and the need for the Holy Spirit in our lives as staff working with at-risk youth.  It's a lot to take in for a two day period but I have been working with Director, Rujon Morrison on a way to present the profound spiritual truth of HFN in a culturally relevant way to our young adult staff at Shelterwood.  It should be fun.

The retreat is scheduled for September 20-21 and September 27-28.  In order to maintain adequate supervision in the house, half of the staff will attend each conference.  Please keep our big brothers and sisters in your prayers as we take them through Rooted 101.

Go Dawgs!

For all of you die hard sports fans, I have a story to tell...

Last Saturday was the inaugural football game for the Missouri Tigers in the Southeastern Conference.  Kind of a big deal.  Last year Mizzou left the Big 12 Conference and joined the high profile SEC.  The first game on the schedule was the University of Georgia Bulldogs.  The game was televised nationally on ESPN and game tickets were hard to come by.  Lucky for us, we have some connections at Georgia and a crazy group of us guys scored free tickets in the UGA booster section five rows in front of the marching band.  It was raucous.  Good times and amazing fellowship.  The game was played in Columbia, MO which is 100 miles east.  With a 7pm kick-off time, TV time-outs and plenty of traffic, we arrived home at 2:30am.  I was worth every minute.  Pictured left to right are my brothers and friends Blake, BJ, myself, Jimmy and Adam!

As much fun as the game was, we still had time to display Christ.  In the bumper-to-bumper traffic jam following the game, two unfortunate Missouri college girls had a car overheat right in front of us. The poor ladies were terrified as folks were hollering to "turn off the engine."  They had no idea what to do and the traffic was unforgiving.  Well, four crazy Georgia fans from Doulos stepped in.  We jumped out and pushed their car to the side of the road.  In addition, we repaired the radiator hose temporarily allowing them to safely drive back to the dorm.  Of course, they have no idea we are from Doulos or even believers in Christ but they were thrilled to receive the help and it was the right thing to do!

The football game was yet another reminder that community is what matters most.  Sure we stay busy with all the hustle and bustle of Shelterwood but the life lesson is that people always matter.

Birthday Reflections

Yesterday was my birthday and although I am not much for attention, it is perfectly fine to mention it the day after when it's too late to acknowledge.  Of course I had to work at Shelterwood and it seemed like the whole day was filled with meetings.  Ugh.

The highlight of the day was my lunch appointment with Jena at our local Mexican restaurant.  In an attempted surprise, my good friends from work joined us making the  mid-day celebration rich with meaning.  The folks I deeply care about-- Blake, Adam, Tom, and Daniel-- were all present.  Being the sweetheart that she is, Jena orchestrated the whole thing.  And no birthday is complete without wearing a ridiculous sombrero while listening to an off-key serenade from the wait staff.

Settling into Fall

As the weather finally begins to cool in Kansas City, the fall schedule is heating up.  Nothing unusual.  Our new big brothers and sisters wrapped up orientation and training on Friday and have officially been launched into service.  Sometimes it's entertaining to observe the cycles at Shelterwood.  King Solomon was right all along when he recognized that nothing is new under the sun.  The new bigs were tiring from all the training and eager to begin ministry with the students.  Meanwhile the current staff is tiring from the demands of ministry and desiring more training. Funny how that works.

We have seen a significant influx of new families in both lodges.  We have two families arriving tomorrow (Monday) which will push us up to 29 boys.  Our regular chapel schedule resumed on Thursday morning.  I enjoyed the opportunity to lead worship with the students and staff.  Many of our bigs have rotated through worship so it was nice for the "old dog" to get a turn.  It was a tough crowd at first.  Literally only two of the 27 boys stood up to participate in worship but thankfully God showed up.  It's a good thing it's not about me.  Fellow staff and friend, BJ, shared about the wanderings of Israel in the dessert with a message entitled, "Why the heck am I here?"  Timely.

I appreciate your faithfulness in support of Doulos.  God continues to bring us families to heal and young adults to mold.  It does matter!

Georgia on my mind

Jena and I just completed a much needed vacation  through the southern states down to Savannah.  We started out our adventure by driving to Knoxville and spending a few with days with our good friends Doug and Lita.  Our two days in Knoxville were filled with late night conversations, a beautiful lake view and even a trip to Dollywood.  Jena and I met Doug and Lita two years ago while on a Carnival cruise to Mexico.  They are ministry veterans with a similar blended family experience.  We have stayed in regular contact over the years and finally had a chance to re-connect.  Amazing how God orchestrates divine appointments.

Following our stop in Tennessee, Jena and I drove the rest of the way to Savannah and spent the week on Tybee beach with Jena's folks.  Between the pool, high tide surfing, beach volleyball and long walks searching for sea shells, I stayed plenty busy.  We try to make down to Savannah at least once a year.  Of course it is Jena's hometown and Tybee is the location of our wedding engagement.  Sweet memories.

Post summer break started last Friday at Shelterwood.  It made for a nice quiet return to work today.  Our new big brothers and sisters arrived today.  A fantastic group of young men and women.  Over the next two weeks we will be walking them through the Shelterwood orientation process including a Healing For the Nations retreat led by our director, Rujon.

I will be taking on a new role at Shelterwood as an advocate for the big brothers.  I will still operate as the House Director but, in addition, I will be overseeing the mentoring and growth development of our big brothers.  It should be an easy transition with my passion and appreciation for the big brothers.  Please remember our bigs in your prayers over the next two weeks as they adjust to the next chapter of ministry for their life.

The Difference

On Friday we celebrated the graduation of our big brothers and big sisters from the August 2011 class.  You may have seen this very picture from the Shelterwood Facebook page but it is worth repeating.  Simply put: our "bigs" make the difference!  Year after year I have watched young men and women dedicate their lives to the service of Shelterwood and pour out heart and soul into the hurting families and teenagers that pass through our program.  True measures of success pass the test of time and the relationships built between our bigs and the residents have done just that.   Life goes on after Shelterwood and so does the bond between bigs and littles.  Families come to Doulos broken and hurting and they leave their children with complete strangers.  It is during this time that our big brothers/sisters step into the gap and become Christ when mom and dad cannot.  They listen, love, laugh and discipline despite the resistance and lack of appreciation from the teens.   They are true servants. The proudest moments I feel at Shelterwood come during the graduation ceremonies of our bigs.  

Well done Adam, Kerry, Ryan, Cody, Brian, Tammy, Amanda, Ashley, Courtney and Kiley!  

Summer Heat

Summer time continues to pass through Kansas City in blazing hot fashion.  It has mostly been in the 100's and you get accustomed to the survival techniques for staying cool.  Even the swimming pools and lakes warm up and offer minimal relief.  Oh, the dog days of summer!

It has been great to have my kids in town this week.  Justin and Sumer will be returning to college in the fall.  Justin is working as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Boulder and will be transferring to Metro College in downtown Denver in late August.  Sumer is working at a local restaurant and will return to Colorado State in Fort Collins for the fall semester.  My daughter Savannah will be a senior in high school this year and she, too, has a summer job.   My youngest daughter Samantha works during the school year as a gymnast instructor freeing up her the entire summer to spend with dad in KC.

Shelterwood is back in session for the second summer school term.  It is nice to have the sumer schedule back on track.  The house trips were a success for both the guys and the girls.  Both lodges spent a week at Point 11 camp in addition to some camping adventures.  

There are some areas on campus where I would certainly appreciate your prayers:

1. Our August big brothers and sisters are graduating soon and transitioning to the next chapter in life.  Please pray for guidance and wisdom as they consider the next move.

2. This week is the state accreditation visit from Missouri.  Our Director has been preparing and planning but it is always a stressful time when state comes on campus.

3. August has become a month of transition and change.  We typically receive an influx of residents as well as a new class of big brothers and sisters.  In addition to staff and headcount changes, we have seen major change and restructure over the past several August months.  Although I don't know of any change coming yet, pray for the ministry as we prepare for the August rush and refocus.

Celebrate Freedom

I trust you enjoyed the 4th of July holiday with your family and friends!  Jena and I spent the day with good Shelterwood friends grilling and enjoying the crazy noise that comes out of Jackson county every year to celebrate Independence.  It has been blazing hot in Missouri but fortunately for us the humidity has prevented the fires that have ravaged Colorado and allowed us to still enjoy fireworks.  For that we are thankful.  At the risk of sounding cheesy, I feel blessed to enjoy freedom and fellowship with with friends and family.

Speaking of freedom, during the Shelterwood mock trial a week ago, I filled the role of defendant.  I spent the previous 3 years as a juror but this year was different.  I was the "Big Bad Wolf" and on trial for the murder of Leon and Wilbur pig.  I faced the additional charge of mugging Red Riding Hood.  Many characters were involved and each had a story to tell.  Only the judge (Ms. Numerick) knew the whole truth.  It was a tense trial but my lawyers did an excellent job getting me acquitted of all charges.  I rewarded them both with a trip to the QT.  (In case you're wondering...I was actually innocent of the murders and guilty of the robbery).

Campus has been empty all week except for a few staff here and there.  The kids are off on annual summer trips.  The girls are in St. Louis and the boys are down at Point 11 Kanakuk camp.  The travels will conclude Friday and Saturday and residents will be on campus over the weekend before leaving for the second phase of travels next week.  Next week the boys will be traveling back to Branson and Rockin Z Ranch in Arkansas while the girls take their turn at Point 11.

Mission Camouflage

Summer continues to march on here at Shelterwood.  With our seasonal Mission Impossible theme there is a different emphasis on each week.  To illustration,  I was walking up the hill on campus Thursday afternoon, and I noticed one of our energetic big brothers roaming the woods in a ghillie suit while teams of residents searched for him.   Now that, my friend, is commitment; to wear such a heavy suit while exerting energy in the Missouri heat.  We are wrapping up Mission Camouflage week and our focus as been as follows:

Focus: being flexible, meet the needs of different situations, meeting the needs of different people, being able to be who you are needed to be but still be able to be yourself at the same time. Being prepared. Being ready and waiting. 

Last week we had a special assembly in the gymnasium on Monday morning to welcome Tanya Crevier.  Tanya is a world class basketball dribbler and handler who literally can spin 10 basketballs at one time.  Teamed up with her two nephews they performed multiple tricks for us with the participation of select kids from the audience and to the sound of hyper sports music.  At one point during the show, Tanaya's nephews rode ten-foot-high unicycles while juggling bowling pins.  True story.  Tanya, of course, is a motivational speaker and she travels around encouraging folks with her testimony of faith and determination.  

A few more kids graduated the program this past week, one new family arrived in the guys house and a pair of our recently graduated big brothers and sisters are getting married on campus tomorrow (Sunday).  

On a more serious note, please remember our big brothers and sisters in your prayers.  During the summer our verteran bigs nearing graduation typically begin feeling worn down and weary.  They can often lose focus and get discouraged.  In addition, our new bigs are learning the ministry and feeling overwhelmed with the learning curve and fast pace of group home life.  Both can certainly use your prayers.  They are amazing young men and women!

Summer Days!

As advertised, the Summer Session began on Monday.  With school in session half days Monday through Thursday, there is lots of room for activities.

We launched our "Mission Impossible" summer theme on Monday with a game a battleship in the pool that included canoes and water balloons!  Of course, there was no shortage of rogue water balloons launched towards individuals and not boats.

Wednesday, the residents departed campus following lunch for our first of many community service days throughout the Kansas City metro area.  In the evening we celebrated our long anticipated Sheltie Awards.

A few months back the kids were divided into co-ed groups with the instructions to create a short film in the spirit of the Oscars.  Each team was assigned a movie genre from action to romance.  The project culminated with a formal dinner on campus followed by the movie premieres in the gymnasium.  Staff and kids alike dressed up and a limo was even provided to transport the kids from the Dining Hall to the gym.  Following the viewing of the films, awards were presented in the areas of Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Film, and Best Director.  The sound of  enthusiastic applause and cheer echoed in the gym.  It was nicely done and enjoyed by all!!

Summer school will break the first two weeks of July for our annual house trips and then resume session through mid-August.

Pomp and Circumstance

It's the season for Graduations both in the Albright home and at Shelterwood.  Kaiden graduated from kindergarten a few weeks back on a Monday night.  We celebrated afterwards in style at the homemade country ice cream store.  It was a popular choice as we ran into several other graduates with the same idea.  The next morning Kaiden was quite upset when he had to return to school.  He had a good argument but nonetheless had to go back and finish the week.  In Missouri most of the kids attend summer school through June.  It keeps the students sharp and allows the older kids to either catch up or make up work.  With the added recess and snack time, Kaiden is not complaining about summer school.

This past week concluded a whirlwind of graduations at Shelterwood.  A week ago Friday one guy and one girl graduated the program.  Monday, two girls graduated.  Wednesday, one girl.  Thursday, two guys followed by three high school graduates.  Our Pre-Summer break started a day later on Friday.  Once the kids return from break our summer program will begin on Monday June 4th.  With the graduations the guys lodge headcount is still holding on at 27 boys.  Over the Memorial Day weekend 3 new big brothers are arriving to top off our June class of men at 6.

The weather is warming up and rumor has it the summer of 2012 will bring lots of heat, humidity and bugs to Kansas City.  Oh the joy!  Stay cool and have a blessed Memorial Day weekend with your families!

May flowers

As the saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers" and things are blooming nicely here at Shelterwood.  May is always a busy time with graduations, new arrivals, and the anticipation of the summer program.  

The guys parent retreat concluded last weekend with smashing success!  It was one of our most full events regarding attendance and most every scheduled gathering was standing room only including the family dinner on Thursday and the Sunday morning worship time.  Most important, parents were encouraged and blessed by peer groups and staff.  It's hard to believe it was the seventeenth parent weekend I have lived through.  

We have a group of residents and staff currently on a mission trip to Haiti.  They arrived safely yesterday and are doing well.  The team will return on Monday night.  Similar to last year, we have partnered with Global Orphanage for the trip.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Three new big brothers arrived on Monday of this week.  Gabe, Josh and Jeremy.  They are solid young men excited be on campus and eager to serve.  Three more "bigs" arrive on May 29th and three will graduate on June 7th.  A new family arrived on Monday bringing our total back up to 30 boys.  Always plenty of comings and goings...

April Showers

April has been a busy month as evidenced by the tardy blog update.  I last wrote on Easter Weekend and the end of the month is already here.  Wow.  April has certainly been showered with activity for Shelterwood and the Albright family.

The weekend following Easter was the girl's family retreat at Doulos.  Like always, it was a busy 4 days of activity on campus with the parents of our girls.  It actually did not feel too crazy for me but as I checked in with other first-time staff I realized that I have grown accustomed to the full nature of the weekend experience and it was, in fact, quite busy.  Needless to say, the retreat concluded in style with our Sunday morning chapel and family share time.  A reminder of the healing that takes place every day and every year at Shelterwood.

On the heels of the parent retreat we had two accreditation visits.  It was time to renew both our residential license with the state of Missouri and our private school credential with the North Central Association.  Both visits went exceeding well but not without a fair amount of stress in preparation.  Paperwork, and a review of several policies.

Jena and I had a family vacation scheduled to Florida and it was nice to get away (although I paid a hefty price upon return for the absence).  We took the boys to Disney in Orlando and it was as magical as you would expect.  It was my first visit to Disney in Orlando and it was tempting to compare to California Disneyland.   The weather was perfect and the family time was priceless!

Next weekend is the guys parent weekend.  Although identical in schedule to the girls experience it will be much busier.  We have 30 boys in the program as compared to 23 girls meaning more families and although I oversee the girls lodge I have a much larger role in the guys lodge.  Of course, I always enjoy seeing the parents and watching the families interact.

As you read this latest blog, please be reminded how much I appreciate your support and interest in the work of Shelterwood and Doulos Ministries!

He is Risen

He is risen. He is risen, indeed.

Today is the day we celebrate the hope of our faith; the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I pray that your day is filled with joy and rest! May you enjoy times of refreshing with your families and friends as well as the hope of life. Christ the Lord has risen today. Hallelujah!

This morning we held a sunrise service on campus at Shelterwood. 6:30am on the hill near the cross. Not too many teens showed up at first, but by the time we started, about 20 total folks had trickled up the hill. It was quite cold and the ground was filled with the morning dew. We laid out a tarp for folks to sit down on but it did not save my shoes from getting wet. Between each worship song, I had to warm up my hands to keep the circulation going. One of our big brothers, Adam, shared an Easter message while the kids bundled up on the tarp with blankets. It warmed up today in KC to around 70 but it was in the 40's as we celebrated a special service.

Retreat Time

Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week we took our big brothers and sisters off campus on a well deserved retreat. Rujon Morrison led the devotional and healing small groups with excellence. She is a gifted speaker and counselor with spiritual discernment. Her husband Steve and I rounded out the experience with worship. Although the time was short, it was full of impact.

Our CEO, Jim Subers, showed the qualities of a true servant by cooking and serving most of the meals including grilled salmon and steak on Tuesday evening.

Jim had quite the surprise in store for us when he divided the staff into teams for a game of ultimate octopus. Similar to the rules of ultimate Frisbee, this gem of a game used an actual squid in place of a frisbee. In the group picture above, Jim is kneeling in front of the cooler that housed the game ball.

Please join me in praying regularly for our big brothers and sisters. They are amazing young men and women who serve the teenagers faithfully. We are blessed to have each and every one of them!

Spring Break

Spring Break officially began yesterday at Shelterwood. Some of the boys will be traveling home to visit with family while others remain back on campus for a week of sleeping in and activities that will most surely include food, movies, and late night conversations with big brothers. The NCAA tournament was on yesterday with all of the brackets posted on the office window for scoring and bragging rights. Other boys were outside skateboarding, sunbathing and listening to a music mix of Jack Johnson and Dub Step. The school teachers are taking a well deserved break and the staff will be catching up on various projects in addition to spending time in the lodges with the kids.

We celebrated a graduation on Monday morning at 8:30 with the Meyers and welcomed in a new family an hour later. The head count in the boys lodge remains at 26. We had a special guest speaker on Thursday morning for chapel. Jay, a local youth pastor, shared with the student body about social status and the misguided theory that blessing equals wealth. Some of the boys attend Jay's youth group during the week.

Following Spring Break, I will be taking the big brothers and sisters on a two day retreat nearby. Our bigs are amazing servants who work hard and the retreat is a small appreciation of their effort. Rujon will be joining us as we focus on rest, healing, worship and community.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Playing Catch-up

At this point, it is safe to assume that winter is going to be mild in Kansas City. I keep waiting for a built-up winter blast but today it's 70-something with a high wind advisory. Crazy.

In my last blog I mentioned the upcoming Beyond Week and it was one of the best I have experienced. I missed Tuesday's activity due to a family arriving at Shelterwood but I caught the next two events with Hillcrest Thrift Store and Spofford Children's Home. The Hillcrest thrift store supports the ministry of a transitional program for struggling and previously homeless families. We had great time sorting through clothes, tagging and stocking the store. The staff was friendly and the boys had a blast. During our time at Spofford,

we worked outside raking leaves and cleaning up the playground for the children who reside in the program.

The senior leadership at Shelterwood recently completed a tour of similar residential programs to gain insight into best practices. They came back with renewed vision and excitement but with the realization of necessary change. The position of residential director was removed eliminating one layer of management. So what does that mean exactly? My boss was the residential director and I now report directly to the Shelterwood Director. I am thankful that God has given us vision and energy with our new leaders and I have grown accustom to change. It is a reminder that God is constant (the same yesterday, today, and forever) and I would be wise to acknowledge Him and lean not on my own understanding. Sound familiar?

Jena and I took the boys on a short vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge last week. The lodge is a rustic hotel near the Kansas Speedway with an indoor water park. The boys had a blast swimming for two days and Jena and I relaxed pool side over some great conversation. I learned about the organizational change at Shelterwood earlier in the week so the scheduled trip was timely for me personally.

Presidents and Beyond

The President's Day holiday is today which means no school for the Shelterwood residents. I believe the boys were sledding on the hill last year at this time, but no such opportunity exists today. Our semi-annual Beyond Week starts tomorrow. The guys will be dividing into three groups and alternating to three locations. Each group will spend one day serving at each of the following venues:

Spotford Childrens Home. Spotford is a residential treatment center for children ages 4-12. The children often suffer the mental effects of physical and sexual abuse. Our boys will be helping with overall property maintenance (i.e. cleaning and grounds).

Hope City. Hope is a prayer based soup kitchen. The boys will be assisting with the lunch rush including preparation, serving food and clean up. Throughout the experience, the prayer room will be open for those who wish to listen in to the live worship.

Hillcrest Transitional Housing. Hillcrest is a transitional housing program for the homeless. The boys will be working in the Thrift Store organizing the inventory.

Regular scheduled activities for the week will be suspended and the population of staff and residents will work together beyond Shelterwood.

Heart and Soul

The heart and soul of Shelterwood will always be the big brothers and big sisters. It was that way in Denver and it's that way in Kansas City. A big part of my job is coaching, encouraging and leading the "bigs" and it's what I enjoy the most. Each time I have the opportunity to welcome new families into our program (through the Intake process) the first thing I mention to the parents is the heart of the bigs. "It's what separates our program from every other residential facility." Without a doubt, every teenager that passes through Shelterwood can point to a big brother that impacted their life. Let me tell you about three in particular...

Pictured from left to right is Adam, Blake and Brian. Three amazing men. True servants and guys who go above and beyond with the residents.

Adam arrived in August from New Orleans. He has a soft approach, yet is consistent and steady. Adam often takes the initiative to lead prayer at night with his fellow bigs following bed time for the residents. Adam is full of compassion and sees the kids through the eyes of Jesus.

Blake is a seminary graduate from Nashville, TN. Blake arrived last June and is one of our veteran big brothers. Blake has shared in chapel on two different occasions and is a gifted preacher (I have a copy of his last message. Email me if you'd like a copy). Good stuff. Blake is a man of passion and strives every day to emulate Christ. He has a unique ability to relate to the Shelterwood teens and disarm them when escalated.

Brian graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Brian is a natural leader and thrives in crisis situations. He arrived last August with Adam and although Brian is young he is mature for his age, catching on quickly to new concepts and learning from experience. A true servant, Brian shows excellence and professionalism in all that is asked of him.

I am truly blessed to have these three fine young men on my staff and part of Shelterwood. God has smiled on the Guys Lodge. Please remember to pray for Adam, Blake and Brian. Like all the bigs that have come before them, they work long hours under (sometimes) difficult circumstances and need the strength of the Lord on a regular basis. Adam, Blake and Brian...the heart and soul of Doulos Ministries!

Sunny Blessings

It has been in the low 60's the past few days in Kansas City with a scent of Spring in the air. On the Shelterwood campus kids can be seen riding long boards, throwing the football and taking the ever-so-popular hackie sack outside too. I was curious as to the weather a year ago so I looked back through my blog archive and on Jan 29th, 2011 I wrote an article about another 60-something degree day. Strange coincidence. The difference; however, is that a year ago, when the temperature hit the low 60's, it created quite a mess with all the snow beginning to melt. This year winter has been rather mild. So why am I rambling on about the weather? Sunshine is a blessing and I don't want to overlook it. Life is always more enjoyable on campus when outside is an option. Many days of winter still lie ahead but today I am thankful.

Against All Odds

I am blessed to have a wonderful big sister (Sherrolyn) and a solid big brother (Kevin). Last Thursday in Shelterwood chapel, I took an opportunity to share a piece of my life story with the staff and students. The testimony involved the early years of my life with Kevin, Sherrolyn and mom; a young family with no father. As I look back, I can say with confidence that God is Faithful and True. He provides the tools we need to get through difficult seasons and the healing we so desperately need in the stillness and aftermath.

Several years ago, my mother wrote a book telling the story of a young pastors wife overcoming hardship and tragedy beyond imagination. Against All Odds is the story of Linda, Sherrolyn, Kevin and Brian Albright and I felt the timing was right to share with Shelterwood. As I retold the events of the book, you could hear a pin drop in the room when I would pause. The typical, easily distracted group of teenagers were fixed on my every word. It was a true honor to glorify the Lord and bless others by sharing God's Providence. In every circumstance, the Lord is in control. He sustains. He carries through.

I wish I had the space to share more of the story. However, I do offer a few suggestions if you desire to learn more. First of all, the book itself tells the story from my mothers viewpoint. You can hear her struggles and victories in Against All Odds by Linda Mason. Limited copies are still available and can be found on Amazon. Aside from Amazon, I may be able to track one down for you. Second, if you would like to hear from me personally, whether through public appearance or personal visit, please let me know and I would be willing to work through arrangements. If nothing else, be blessed by the knowledge that our God sees and knows all. There is a purpose behind your trial and hope for your healing future.

balbright5280@yahoo.com

Shelterwood 2012

The last six months at Doulos Ministries and Shelterwood has been interesting, to say the least. There were many unexpected twists and turns and as I sit here at the kitchen table contemplating this latest blog, it seems like a "State of Shelterwood" is in order. I have mentioned most of this in past blogs as it unfolded, but in the spirit of new year's, here is a review...

During the summer months, three of the five Shelterwood senior directors departed the ministry including the Shelterwood Director, the President and CEO and the Discipleship Director. A new Shelterwood Director was hired in August, only to leave a month later in September. During the short tenure of the Shelterwood director, it was decided to replace the Discipleship director position with a new role of Resident Director. The RD oversees residential life, the facilities and the cafeteria. I report to the Resident Director and I am happy to report that they are still with Doulos. Still with me?

In October, the board of directors hired a new president and CEO, Jim Subers. Over the Christmas holiday, Jim moved his wife and two teenage boys to Kansas City from Texas. Jim is a gifted leader and brings much needed vision and enthusiasm to Shelterwood.

In December, Jim hired a new Shelterwood Director. Rujon Morrison. Rujon and her husband Steve have operated Healing For the Nations for the past several years. Steve will office on the Doulos campus and continue to run HFN. Rujon is a dynamic leader and brings significant resources to our ministry. We will be utilizing the Healing For the Nations model with our Shelterwood big brothers and sisters as well as with some of our students. In addition, Rujon is connected with the cutting edge Brain Balance Center and it will be offered to select families. In short, the Brain Balance Center focuses on restoring the rhythm of the brain by stimulating the weaker hemisphere. The center is located in Overland Park.

As mentioned in earlier blogs, our new big brothers and sisters have arrived and are settling in. Training and orientation is moving along with the new class of bigs. This coming week we have a handful of new residents arriving. By weeks end, we will be at 50 students.

So what does all of this mean for me? Well, my current job title is House Director. The boys lodge is run by two Hall Directors who function similar to the old "house director" in Denver and Branson. The Hall Directors report to me. As mentioned above, I report directly to the Resident Director and my role involves leading the house staff including big brothers, hall directors and direct care staff. I recently attended a 3 day Healing For the Nations workshop and I will be learning and using the techniques in discipleship with my staff. So, in some ways, my role is similar to what is was before all of this crazy change. The most significant difference will be in discipleship. If you recall, the Discipleship Director position was replaced with the Resident Director leaving a void in the area of discipleship.

If you have been able to grasp all of this, then congrats!! I confused myself in the process of writing it all down. It is good to know that Doulos Ministries and Shelterwood is moving forward. The change has been difficult for many of us but has definitely created strength. As Jim Subers said recently, "God has smiled on Shelterwood."

Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to you and your families! I pray you had a wonderful holiday season ringing in the new year. Like most of you, the normal routine is back in place this week. The boys are in school and Jena and I are back to regular work schedules. The same can be said at Shelterwood. A new class of big brothers and sisters arrived yesterday. Of course a few residents departed over the holiday break and 5 or 6 new boys are already scheduled to arrive over the next week. I am thankful for the slow pace brought on by Christmas but now it's back to a sprint at Doulos.