Come, be inspired at our Annual Fall Fundraiser on Tuesday, September 21
The theme of the night is "Inspiration". Bing Goei, Eastern Floral CEO and Founder of the Goei Center, will speak briefly on his Inspiration for restoring the historical Kindel Furniture factory into the beautiful place it is now. You will also hear from our Director, Lou Roossien on what inspires "The Other Way" and how we work to inspire Westown Families.
Come enjoy delicious desserts, fellowship and be inspired yourself by the stories of families in our community and the wonderful setting of this year's event.
RSVP now by e-mailing Jackie Koning (jkoning@theotherway.org) or calling 616.454.4011 x 5112. Complimentary vallet parking will be provided.
Welcome Jevon Willis - Our New Youth Ministry Manager
We're excited to introduce Jevon Willis as our new Youth Ministry Manager.
Jevon and his family reside in South East Grand Rapids Michigan. He and his wife, Dena, have three children. Kiev is twelve years old and in the seventh grade. Quintin is four years old and will be beginning pre-school this school year. Alexis is the baby girl of the family and is currently two and a half years old. Their family attends Madison Square Christian Reformed where Jevon currently serves as a deacon and enjoys playing the drums for the choir.
Professionally, Jevon is a limited licensed social worker. He has worked with teens and their families in Kent County as a substance use disorder therapist for the past five years. Jevon has worked with many churches, businesses and organizations in the community providing drug education and other creative awareness activities like “drive in movies in the park.”
Jevon is a graduate of Ferris State University where he received his bachelors of social work and of Western Michigan University where he earned his masters of social work.
Jevon enjoys playing the drums and listening to music. He serves as the emcee for H20, city wide Christian concert events. He has also served as the emcee for the Where U At? Urban Youth Conference event that is held each April at Spring Hill Camp. (We are excited to have Jevon as the emcee for our September 21 Fall Fundraising Event - see above).
He has a number of dreams for his work at “The Other Way”. "I cherish relationships and anticipate laughing, crying and experiencing life with TOW neighbors, friends and colleagues," says Jevon. "I anticipate building new relationships and stronger bonds with current partners of TOW. I am looking forward to creating exciting opportunities and programming that captures and reflects the creative and intelligent energy that the youth on the west side of the city posses."
"I enjoy the experience of working alongside youth that are in need of positive role models that are intentional about how they live life. What truly excites me about working with youth is watching a young person move from being clueless about some of life’s realities and becoming part of creating positive solutions that are both intentional and impactful," adds Jevon.
We praise God for bringing Jevon to our staff. Please pray for him as he begins to grow and develop relationships with neighborhood teens. If you'd like to get involved with our Youth Ministry, please contact Jevon at 454.4011 x 5221 or by e-mail (jwillis@theotherway.org)
Helping Adult Children Honor God with Money
God calls parents to teach, encourage, and faithfully guide their children. They have been given a special trust to serve as stewards or managers of their children. Yet even with the biblical challenge of teaching and training children, parents are not responsible for the decisions their adult children make - each person is held accountable individually. Parents are accountable, however, for the guidance they provide to their children. Here are some basic principles to help you in this special calling:
1. Help adult children understand God’s principles. God can be trusted to take care of your child's needs after they leave your home - that includes providing for them financially and showing them how to follow Him as they learn to handle money His way. “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18).
2. Continue to offer appropriate guidance to adult children. Although adult children are responsible to make their own decisions, offering wise counsel along the way is an important way to show love to your children as they navigate the joys and challenges of life. “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father, the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 16:26).
3. Allow adult children to fail. Some of life’s most valuable lessons are learned because of trying and failing. Although it is difficult to watch children struggle, parents must sometimes love their children enough to allow them to fail so that they can learn from the failure. Many parents attempt to buffer their children financially, which often makes the problem worse.
4. Encourage dependence on God. More money won’t help adult children change their spending habits. Parents may have sincere motives for helping their children, but sometimes they encourage dependence on parents rather than God. If God is trying to teach the children discipline and parents step in, the children may have to go through the challenge all over again. Parents sometimes have do what God often does with His own people: allow problems to come into their lives and withhold finances to increase their dependence on Him.
5. Provide assistance with caution. There is nothing wrong with helping adult children if they are truly in need. If their income is adequate and it is being mismanaged, parents need to let their children know that although they love them, any financial help must be contingent on the children establishing a workable budget and getting good counsel to help implement it. Parents need to be cautious, however, and allow God to lead them in a manner that will not thwart His purposes in their children’s lives.
For a copy of “Questions and Answers about Giving to Children” contact Lou Roossien at 616.454.4011 ext. 5113 or lroossien@theotherway.org
Selected concepts of the above content generated by Crown Financial Ministries. This information is broadly educational in nature. Please consult your own advisors or West Michigan Christian Foundation (www.wmcfoundation.org)
Summer Family Camp Roundup
Five families headed to Cran-Hill Ranch for a 3 day weekend of Family Camp Fun from August 20 - 22. Our devotions and discussions, this camp, focused on Jesus in all areas of our lives.
At the Friday night camp fire, Melita read from Colossians 1:10-12 and talked about our tendency to treat Jesus like a light switch - We turn him on when it feels safe, like at Church and "The Other Way", but we will turn him off whenever he's inconvenient (ex. with our friends, at the movie theatre, in our homes...)
The adults talked about Jesus breaking down the walls we have built up in our minds and the importance of transformation of the mind like it talks about in Romans 12:1-2.
Saturday evening devotions around the fire focused on Matthew 7:24-26. Parents had the chance to talk about the importance of practicing Jesus' teachings and having Him as our foundation so when storms come, and they will come, we will have a strong foundation in Him.
They fished, they swam, they played football, kickball, Phase 10, dominos and Pit!
One couple even volunteered to cook a delicious meal on Saturday night - grilled corn on the cob, grilled chicken, rice, beans and tortillas.
We celebrate this opportunity and the growth God continues to do in our families.
Free Basketball Clinic and Volleyball Game Hosted by Cornerstone University
On Tuesday, September 14, Cornerstone University will be hosting a Free Basketball Clinic for Grand Rapids kids. Anyone under the age of 18 will be admitted free and adult admission is only $5 with all gate proceeds going straight to "The Other Way"!
Immediately following the Basketball Clinic, the Golden Eagles Varsity Volleyball team will take on the Concordia University Cardinals. Families should stick around for the fun and enjoy the Camo-themed game!
The Basketball Clinic starts at 6 pm with the Volleyball game immediately following at 7 pm. The event will be held at the Hansen Athletic Center, 1001 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call (616.454.4011 x 5114) or e-mail Kyle.
Ride for Refuge (and for "The Other Way")!
Do you like to ride your bicycle?
If so, you have the opportunity to help raise funds and awareness about "The Other Way" while you do something you already enjoy!
The 2nd Annual (in Grand Rapids) Ride For Refuge will be held October 2 and event organizers are anticipating 1,000+ riders!
The Ride for Refuge is an event aimed at raising awareness and money for organizations working with displaced, exploited and vulnerable people. "The Other Way" has officially been selected as one of the "Ride Partners" for 2010!
We're excited about this opportunity and are actively seeking Riders AND Team Captains. Here's how you can get involved:
Riders: Join the already existing "The Other Way" team by clicking here. Set a personal fund raising goal and raise money and pledges for the event. On October 2, pedal your bike on a pre-determined loop (5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 mile courses).
Team Captains: Become a Team Captain for "The Other Way" and recruit your friends and family as riders to help raise funds and pledges for the event.
This is a family friendly event and suitable for people of all cycling abilities. We hope to have entire families participate and help "The Other Way" reach it's goal of raising $10,000!
For more information, contact Kyle or go to the official website here.
Retirement Trends for Kingdom-Minded Christians
Christians believe that God is their refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble and times of uncertainty (Psalm 46). This bold declaration is as true today as it was when it was written centuries ago, and is a great source of comfort and strength as younger and older workers alike observe several emerging retirement planning realities:
• Demographics. As the members of the “baby boom” generation — people born between 1946 and 1964 — approach retirement, the demographic profile of the U.S. workforce will undergo a substantial shift: a large number of older workers will be joined by relatively few new entrants to the labor force.
• Longevity. The number of senior citizens is skyrocketing. The United Nations reported that as recently as 2002, 10 percent of the world's population was 60 or older. By 2050, that percentage is expected to increase to 22 percent (larger than the percentage of children ages 0 to 14).
• Medical Advancements. Medical and Technological advancements such as better medicines, cell phones, and scooters have improved the mobility and activity of older people compared to previous generations.
• Employer Needs. Companies are using more part-time and workers as well as independent contractors and consultants to reduce costs and maximize flexibility. These positions often fit the needs of both retirees who desire temporary work, but also suit the employers who value dependable, experienced help.
• Lower incomes. Low yields on certificates of deposit made it challenging for seniors to live off the interest on their savings. Stock market fluctuations have also eroded the asset bases of many retirees, prompting many to return to work to supplement their incomes.
Source: Congressional Research Service and Faith-Based Family Finances.
Would you like some Christian perspective on your retirement planning? Request a copy of “Let God Make your Retirement a Re-Firement” by simply contacting Lou Roossien at (616) 454-4011 ext. 5113 or lroossien@theotherway.org
A Westown Adventure - A Big Success
Sunday, May 16, marked our first annual Westown Adventure offering friends and supporters of "The Other Way" the opportunity to learn more about how we walk alongside our neighbors, particularly in the summer months.
Guests were introduced to programs like the Youth Employment Service, Summer Leaders In Training (L.I.T.), and the Garden of Eatin'. They also had the chance to walk through all of our facilities including the Family Center.
Approximately 200 people attended the event, including over 75 that had never attended an "Other Way" event before. We were blessed with beautiful weather, a great turnout and very encouraging feedback.
You can read more about the event in recent articles on The Rapidian and on Rapid Growth Media.
We want to give out a huge Thank You to all our event sponsors:
DeVries Properties, Amway's One by One Campaign, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Plante & Moran, Brann's and Fifth Third Bank.
Check out a few pictures from the event below...
Planned Giving Spotlight...
A Letter from Mom and Dad
Dear Children,
We came across a beautiful passage in our quiet time with the Lord recently in Psalm 16 that says, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance." That verse really spoke to your mother and me, and it has prompted some heart-stirring conversations that we'd like to share with you.
As our children, you were very much at the center of our discussions, and we are so thankful for the "good inheritance" we have received from the Lord. As we grow older, we want each of you to know how much we love you, and deeply appreciate the many ways you have enriched our lives.
We're especially pleased at the many evidences of the Lord's blessings in your lives, and we want you to know that the greatest pleasure you could give us is to pass on to your children, as we have tried to do with you, that same commitment to live all of life as service to God.
It would please us greatly if you would make sure that each of our grandchildren knows how our love for you, for them, and for the Lord are all tied together and reflected in the way we have divided our estate among you and the ministries dear to our hearts such as "The Other Way" Ministries.
And that is why, in addition to our Estate Plan, we have also created a "Spiritual Will," which is really a love letter to our family - passing on our values, life lessons, and our blessing to the next generation. We hope that when the time comes and you are all together, someone would read Psalm 16 and our Spiritual Will, as an expression of our love to you, and desire to see our family serve the Lord with gladness for generations to come.
We love you,
Mom and Dad
Want to learn how to make a Spiritual Will for your family? E-mail (lroossien@theotherway.org) or call (616.454.4011 x 5113) Lou and ask for a copy of “Blessing Your Family with a Spiritual Will”.
A Testimony from our Board Chair, Mark Roberts
tes-ti-mo-ny, noun;
Oral or written statements made by a competent witness.
Mark Roberts is a competent witness to the reality of God's calling him from a small group bible study, to walk through the doors of "The Other Way" Ministries. Although 'marketing' is his trade at Herman Miller, his words are a personal witness to "hearing God speak... saying, 'Here it is, Mark, here's what you've been waiting for.'"
We are delighted to share with you Mark's 'witness' to how God moved him from quiet cynicism to Board leadership of our Christian community development ministry:
For several years when I had contemplated how I might show the love of Jesus Christ, I kept getting the message of "urban ministry". There were several to choose from, but none lit my fire.
In the fall, my wife and I joined a church group for a study of "40 Days of Purpose". Of course, that book and study only reinforced my need to find an answer. During the last meeting, when it calls for action, one of our group members said he had a video of something that he belongs to. He didn't mention the name, or a category or a mission. Nothing! But what I heard was "Here it is Mark, here's what you've been waiting for." Now maybe you’ve never heard God speak, but those of you who have know what I’m talking about. During this time warp, as the group member proceeded toward the player to start the video, I was shaking inside and nearing a breakdown. I was going to tell him to sign me up before he even got it started. You can probably guess it was a video of ‘The Other Way’ Ministries. Fortunately, there was a “Friend-Raiser” just a few weeks away.
Now I wasn’t sure how this was going to work out. I was always a cynic. Why would I give a buck to someone if they’re just going to drink it. Even for a more innocent purpose, providing a meal only means they’re back the next day. There is a need for this type of ministry, but that night my eyes were opened to an initiative called Christian Community Development. This isn’t about new buildings, park benches, sidewalks and planting flowers, this is about walking alongside people so they can make sustainable change in their own lives. Referencing the biblical parable, this isn’t giving a man a fish to feed him for the day, this is teaching him to fish so he can feed himself and his family. Ideally, this is him eventually showing others how to fish. He may even find his way to own a pond or create a fishing club. How could I not be sold on it?
About a month later I attended an open house at ‘The Other Way’. As a pretty handy person, I figured I’d sign up for some painting or carpentry work. God had other plans, or at least Lou Roossien, Executive Director of ‘The Other Way’ did. In short order, I ended up on the Board of Directors. I tell Lou that God didn’t want me to hurt anyone with power tools.
One final note, just for laughs. At work, we often joke about assigning tasks to the person who didn’t show up for meeting. After about a year on the board, I happen to miss a meeting. The next day I was told I was selected Chairman, “If I would accept”. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor.
If you want to read more about what Christian Community Development is, I suggest reading the book, “Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life”, by Bob Lupton. It’s a bit shocking to read how meaningful Christian actions can sometimes be devastating and keep people suppressed. I read how sending used clothing to a foreign country actually hurt the natives. I learned that providing unsolicited Christmas gifts can tear apart families. Development is less about doing for others and more about enabling others to do for themselves.
Or, if you want to learn more about ‘The Other Way’ or my experience, feel free to contact me through the ministry.
- Mark Roberts
Your chance to Explore "The Other Way" Ministries is coming Sunday, May 16
Come learn more about what we do in the Westown Neighborhood through this interactive, family-friendly experience on Sunday, May 16 from 3-5 pm.
You'll have the chance to see first hand how we're working to build the Kingdom in our community (and Lord willing, enjoy a beautiful May afternoon!).
Click here or on the image above to open a pdf version to hand out to your friends and family!
If you'd like more information or to RSVP TODAY contact Jackie Koning at jkoning@theotherway.org or 616.454.4011 x 5112. You can also RSVP through our Facebook Fanpage by clicking here.
Current Event Sponsors include:
To join this list of sponsors, please contact Kyle by e-mail or phone (616.454.4011x5114).
A Gift That Gives Back
Did you realize that you can increase your income through a creative giving tool called a Charitable Gift Annuity?
A Charitable Gift Annuity pays you an income for life (or the lives of you and your spouse). The rate of return is based on your age at the time of your gift. (See sample rates below).
Age |
Payout Rates |
60 |
5.0% |
65 |
5.3% |
70 |
5.7% |
75 |
6.3% |
80 |
7.1% |
85 |
8.1% |
90+ |
9.5% |
This chart reflects sample payout rates for single donors. Payout rates differ for couples. |
|
* Rates are determined by the American Council on Gift Annuities (effective through July 1, 2010)
You receive a charitable deduction for a portion of the gift when you make the gift. Additionally, a portion of the income comes back to you tax-free. After your lifetime, the remainder of the gift goes to "The Other Way" Ministries (or any other charities you select).
A Charitable Gift Annuity offers several benefits, including:
- Increased Income
- Tax Deduction
- Annual Payments (partially tax-free)
- Increased Kingdom Impact
- Legacy for Future Generations
For more information, ask for a FREE copy of “ Questions & Answers about Gifts That Give Back” by contacting Kyle at (616) 454-4011 x 5114 or kvanstrien@theotherway.org.
Family Meals: The Start of Something Great!
On Monday, February 22, we celebrated the start of Family Meals with families participating in programs at "The Other Way".
Two times each month 9 to 12 families will gather around dinner tables at the Family Center to share a meal together, talk about community, study scripture and play games together. These community building activities are designed to invest in relationships of our families with the goal of having Christian community, with stronger Christ-centered families.
Monday evening, 9 families from Westown enjoyed a meal prepared and served by volunteers from Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, MI.
After eating together, adults from Community Reformed led a program for the kids, and family development staff and 17 other adults talked about the importance and the difficulty of creating true community. Reading scripture from 1 John 4 and Hebrews 10, we talked about being a community of Love and Hope!
Kirkhof School of Nursing Partnership Does More than Promote Community Health
Seven years ago we began partnering with the Grand Valley State University Kirkhof School of Nursing to promote the improved health of our neighbors. Over the years, the six week Community Health Clinical rotation for the nursing students has provided our neighbors with valuable training and advice on how to lead healthier lives. But last week, we witnessed another example of how important this partnership really is.
During a routine meeting, the GVSU nursing students were able to diagnose and refer one of our neighbors to the hospital just in time to receive critical care for a stroke. Our friend is currently recovering, and their situation is getting better thanks to the quick thinking and decisive action of the nurses.
We continue to praise and thank God for their sharp minds and perceptive eyes in our community.
Become a Fan on Facebook!
We want you to join the growing community of "Other Way" Fans on our Facebook page.
In just one week, we were able to more than double the number of people following us on Facebook!
Want to know what's going on in Westown? What local businesses and restaurants you should check out? What exciting things we have going on in our programs?
We are working to post daily updates on neighborhood happenings and create a dialogue with our neighbors and supporters.
We invite you to become a "fan" and join the conversation. Follow us here.
EFT Donations
We are now able to process EFT (electronic funds transfer) transactions. With your authorization, we can automatically withdraw your donation from your checking or savings account each month, or quarterly, or whenever you tell us to. We can also charge your donation to your charge card. Call or, better yet, email Sandy in the office for information.
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