News & Alerts
November 2009
Dear Friends:
This letter is a follow-up to the one
sent out last March highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing
Servants' Touch Ministries (STM). As part of God's sovereign plan, He has
allowed STM to experience many 'twists and turns' that were unforeseeable a few
years ago. Our mission remains the same. "To Serve God by serving youth...that
they may receive hope through Christ, Giver of everlasting life." With this in
mind, the following is a brief overview of the currentState of the Ministry.
Servants' Touch Ministries (STM) has
been serving youth and their families in the greater Fairbanks community for the
past fifteen years. The first twelve years of ministry were focused on
providing Sunday Services, multiple weekly Bible studies, mentoring, special
events, and community re-entry preparation to residents of the Fairbanks Youth
Facility. We have forged an enduring and mutually beneficial relationship of
trust and partnership with management and staff of the facility. This component
of the ministry remains strong with the possibility of future outreach.
Last spring the Board of Directors
reluctantly decided to suspend (at least temporarily) the operation of the
Diamond Willow Discipleship Home (DWDH) due to financial circumstances brought
on by the current economic downturn. Our goal for DWDH was to provide a stable,
loving family environment as a means to model daily living and share
transitional living skills. At the time of suspending the home, four young men
had lived in DWDH for periods of two to six months and participated in the
residential discipleship program. Since closing DWDH, we have received several
requests for our housing services (from individuals and organizations) which we
regretfully could not accommodate. Different agencies, both government and
private, for a variety of circumstances, are having difficulty in filling the
housing needs of our at-risk youth. The need for a locally based Christian home
still exists now
more than ever.
The deepest felt-change impacting the
overall ministry was the recent closure of Master's
Touch Manufacturing (MTM). In
January of 2006, Master's Touch Mfg. (MTM), which was an existing local
woodworking enterprise oriented toward the gift and tourism markets, was
purchased by STM. The intent and purpose of MTM was twofold: to provide
vocational training to adjudicated youth and other populations in need of job
skills, and to serve as a sustaining branch of Servant's Touch Ministries by
generating income for the ministry while simultaneously providing a needed
service to youth. Over the past three years, fourteen youth and three adult men
have participated in vocational training at MTM.
In May 2009, I was asked to be the
Executive Director of Servant's Touch Ministries and was assigned the task of
communicating the status of the overall ministry to current and potential
partners. The STM Board of Directors operates the ministry under prayer and
biblical principles for the all encompassing goal of bringing everyone
encountered into a relationship with Jesus our Savior. It is STM's policy not
to solicit contributions from sources that might have stipulations limiting our
ability to represent Jesus in His entirety. At this point in time, STM has
operated totally on the contributions of individuals, churches, board members,
missionary staff, and revenue from the sale of wood products. We, as an
organization, believe that God directed the implementation of all the above
mentioned components of STM, yet we find ourselves at a pivotal point in our
existence. Would you partner with
us in prayer as we ask God to provide for the specific needs outlined below:
In spite of the obstacles and
tough decisions to make, I write this letter with expectancy to see how God will
lead and direct. From God's vantage point, problems are not to be worrisome,
rather problems are an opportunity for God to be our supply. The Scriptures
promise, "And my God will supply...according to His riches in glory in Christ
Jesus" (Philippians 4.19 ESV).
If you believe God is nudging you to partner with STM in any way, please contact me, Dave Dewar (Executive Director, Servant's Touch Ministries) at:
Phone = (907) 455-4543 or cell #(907)750-0558
Email = dewar4God@alaska.net
or info@servantstouch.org
Prayerfully and in cooperation with the
Servant's Touch Ministries' Board of Directors,
Dave Dewar
Executive Director
Servants' Touch Ministries, Inc.
March 14, 2009
Dear Friends:
Since the mid-1990’s Servants’ Touch Ministries (STM) has been reaching out to troubled teens in the Fairbanks area. Over the years, STM has grown from one program into a multifaceted outreach to struggling young people. There are three unique aspects of STM programming, each complementing the other to address the needs of troubled youth from a Christian perspective.
The primary outreach focuses on youth who are detained in the Fairbanks Youth Facility. Each week volunteers minister to 20-40 youth through evangelism, discipleship, worship, and programs to equip youth with the necessary skills to return to their communities as responsible citizens. It is exciting to hear reports from the volunteer staff of teens committing their lives to Christ and desiring to grow deeper in their understanding of their newfound faith.
The second leg of STM is the Diamond Willow Discipleship Home (DWDH). The Home is designed to disciple teens in their walk with Jesus, to establish them in a local church, and to better prepare them to successfully re-integrate into their communities. DWDH is designed to model healthy family dynamics while offering the opportunity to practice and learn independent living.
The third aspect of STM is Master’s Touch Manufacturing (MTM). In January 2006, STM expanded the ministry capabilities through vocational training. Young people have an opportunity to create wood products from inception to completion, while learning valuable skills and attitudes for employment.
One of our directors reminded the leadership team that, “Christians know they are weak, are thankful for it and rely on God to do the work through them: ‘For when I am weak, then I am strong,’ (2 Corinthians 12:10). As a ministry we sincerely desire to be weak in the flesh and strong only in Christ.” We are all aware that the nationwide economic downturn is revealing our weakness; but that is when we can rely more on Christ – and shine His light before the world. Yes, the economic “crisis” has affected this ministry seriously but we know that God has a plan and is using the financial strain to remind us of our dependence on Him. We do not desire to presume on God, yet we are confident that what He has foreordained is for all our good (Romans 8:28).
Due to increasing financial shortages, the leadership team has decided to eliminate and/or restructure the programming offered. After much prayer and discussion the leadership has decided to the do the following:
Discontinue (at least temporarily) the Diamond Willow Discipleship Home. This has been an area of ministry that God has not, as yet, used to its full potential.
Actively pursue grants and other sources of income in an attempt to payoff the existing note when MTM was purchased. The amount needed is $105,000.
Communicate our needs to the broader Christian community, other Christian organizations, and short-term mission groups, soliciting their prayer and support.
If these measures do not bring us to a foreseeable, debt-free organization, we are preparing to terminate the Master’s Touch portion, at the end of this summer, September 7, 2009.
Continue faithfully to minister to teens in the detention facility through worship services, Bible studies, mentoring, and restorative justice programming.
Please be in prayer for Servants’ Touch Ministries as we experience a season of pruning and purification. As a faith-based ministry, STM depends upon God and His people to pray and support this vital ministry to at-risk youth. Your prayers and gifts will greatly help Servants’ Touch fulfill its mandate to help teens become fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.
In Christ’s service,
Frank Taylor, President
On behalf the Board of Directors
PO Box 81133 Fairbanks, AK 99708
Phone (907) 455-4543 E-mail: info@servantstouch.org