George Yowell—1941-2016 by Chan Sheppard

The world lost an incredible man this past Father’s Day.  He died surrounded by family members expressing love and gratitude for his amazing life.  For over six years he had suffered from the effects of Alzheimer’s.  Among the many wonderful stories, expressions of support, and words of wisdom offered me by my father-in-law George Yowell, here are three that stand out:

• “Do we really want to pass a deficit budget?”
• “Why don’t I just take Hal Wilson to the Pancake Pantry for breakfast and see if he would like to donate his building on Indiana?”
• To the Chief Operating Officer of the YMCA when PTM was considering a request to become a YMCA agency: “as long as Chan is the Executive Director of PTM, I will personally meet any budget shortfall that PTM may incur”.

George got involved with PTM in the Fall of 1999, when the organization was less than two years old.  He became an afterschool volunteer and soon after a board member.  He used his influence gained from positions of leadership in the business, faith and non-profit communities to build support for PTM—and to help lay a foundation for an organization that could last.  With great hope, he led in PTM’s efforts to move from borrowed space in a deteriorating church fellowship hall to what is now the “Hal and Martha Wilson Center”, a wonderful space used by over 100 youth each week.  George demonstrated incredible generosity in personal gifts offered to PTM and in encouraging others to give.  In addition to his leadership, he has been personally involved as an afterschool volunteer, a special event participant, and an annual marketplace mentor.  He has also recruited over 20 marketplace mentors to volunteer with Springbreak in the Marketplace.  He and his wife, Norene, have been instrume
ntal in the life and growth of PTM.  They were honored together in 2012 with PTM’s Hal Wilson Award for extraordinary hope, ability to see potential, encouragement of others, generosity, and emphasis on Christian growth.

More than these incredible contributions to PTM, George took a personal interest in me and mentored me in many areas of non-profit management.  He opened doors for me to walk through in conversations with friends who have advanced the cause of PTM and helped develop me as a leader.   Even more significant in my life than support of PTM and professional development has been the privilege and joy of being part of his family.  With great gratitude to God, I remember his well-lived life and cherish the opportunities I have had to spend with him and his amazing family.

 

To learn more about the impact George Yowell has made on communities in Richmond, VA and Nashville, here is a link to his obituary.

 

 

 

Fishing Memories by Chan Sheppard

I am sure that there are many successful people in life who have never been fishing.  I am even more sure that there are millions of people with vivid memories of a childhood fishing experience.  And of those who have a fishing story from childhood, I am willing to bet the majority include a father or grandfather (I will admit that this personal research has involved fewer than 5 people, but I have a gut feeling about this one…).  For so many of our students at PTM, a fishing trip with a father is not normative.

This past weekend, Darryl Thompson rallied a group of men to serve as “fishing mentors” for ten of our students.  Our students felt the sting of bug spray and sunscreen, the burn of the sun on a 95 degree day, the frustration of waiting patiently on overfed catfish, and the sheer joy and delight of being with a kind and loving male mentor, catching fish, being in the outdoors, and forming positive memories of experience outside of their normal routine.

Fishing is not essential for overcoming the hardships inherent in living in a low-income neighborhood, but having positive adults investing in a variety of ways is.  I am so thankful for men who spent a Saturday morning building into our students experiences that they will look back on as life-shaping stories of resilience and hope.

“I Don’t Want to Be Dismissed” by Chan Sheppard

It was the last night of Summer JAM.  Andy was dripping with sweat after finishing the last song of the night, of the week, of the summer.  He asked all the students to sit with their crew leaders and said, “Before I dismiss you for the night….” I didn’t hear what came after “night” because I overheard a girl near me say, “I don’t want to be dismissed.” She happened to be an older girl who attends West End Community Church, but she expressed the sentiments of the other 130 students who have been participating in Summer JAM—students who would like Summer JAM to last all summer.  It’s not just having something to do, or the cool crafts, or the fun games, or the exciting Bible stories, or the meals, or the incredible music times—it’s the combination of these activities surrounded by an enthusiastic and colorful group of volunteers in friendship and worship from a diversity of cultures and backgrounds.

There are a lot of great reasons for churches to spend thousands of dollars decorating their buildings and providing VBS for the members of their congregation and their friends, but I love the approach of West End Community Church.  Rather than host VBS in their own church, they provide an outdoor VBS in the Preston Taylor neighborhood involving Preston Taylor area churches and welcoming with open arms participants from WECC, PTM, the surrounding neighborhood, and new this year PTM students at our newest site (St. Luke’s Community House).  Because of the racial and ethnic mix involved, we all were able to get a fuller picture of a loving and creative God.

One of the personal joys of Summer JAM 2016 for me was having PTM students and former PTM students who are in their late teens playing basketball in the middle of all of the Summer JAM activities.  Every now and then I would overhear one of the bare-chested muscle-bound 17 year olds mouthing the words to some of the Summer JAM songs he had sung years ago.  I heard more than one student remark, “I remember when I used to go to Summer JAM”.  It’s impossible to know all that happens in the life of a child during a week of VBS, but I have seen enough to know that God is working in amazing ways through every Summer Jam volunteer—for some the impact is seen immediately and dramatically, but for most the impact is more gradual, but just as real.   I love that our children “don’t want to be dismissed” from an amazing week of feeling safe, loved, and inspired and am confident that we will see significant fruit from this powerful week.

God’s Provision by Corey Gephart and Chan Sheppard

(Chan)  This past November I had a meeting with Corey Gephart (CEO) and Patricia Bing (Family Resource Center Director) of St. Luke’s Community House.  I thought it was an introductory meeting to discuss our different programs since we serve in the same general area, but Corey began by saying, “would PTM be willing to serve the youth currently enrolled in Youth Encouragement Services (YES)?” She explained that YES is shifting their focus to two sites in other areas of Nashville and that would leave 75 K-12th graders without an afterschool program.  As the CEO of St. Luke’s she wanted to see those 75 youth continue to have access to educational and spiritual development opportunities.

The timing of this opportunity was perfect for PTM.  Our board approved a strategic plan in 2014 that prescribed building a multi-purpose building to house programs which have expanded and growing the number of students that PTM is serving to 275 by 2017.   With the addition of the site at St. Luke’s Community House (four minutes from PTM’s Wilson Center), PTM will now have access to a building that is large enough to have all of our students together in the same place for special events and opportunities.  We no longer have the same need for a new or larger building (preventing the need for a million dollar + capital campaign). Also, we will add 75 students to PTM.  The students at St. Luke’s Community House will now have mentors, participate in PTM Life and Springbreak in the Marketplace, and take part in many field trips over the course of the year—all while meeting daily for afterschool or summer programming.

After getting to know the staff at St. Luke’s and their mission for serving families in the 37209 zip code (which includes the Historic Preston Taylor Homes), I have grown in my excitement about this partnership and am looking forward to June 6^th when students will begin at “Community House” under PTM leadership.

(Corey) When I learned that St. Luke’s Community House would need a new partner for afterschool and summer programs, I immediately thought of Preston Taylor Ministries.  They were already serving West Nashville, shared our mission values and leveraged volunteers as much as we did.  Luckily, our Family Resource Director and I had already set up a meeting with Chan.  I think we surprised him by coming right out and asking him if PTM would like to become our partner!

St. Luke’s campus hosts many partnerships and several organizations have exclusive access to particular areas.  The afterschool partner utilizes the Rogers Center – a large gym with offices, kitchen, classrooms, chapel and playground – at no cost to the partner and receives monthly pass-through funding to operate under the umbrella of our Child Development Center. Because we are “place-based” and one of the only local resources for families in West Nashville, it is critical that we attract the best partners, experts in their lines of service, to operate within the St. Luke’s family.

As Chan and I continued conversations with each other and our teams, we realized how serendipitous and synergistic this partnership truly could be.  Not only would we be able to engage more children and youth in the neighborhood, but we would be able to bring a more robust program, greater adult mentorship and have more afterschool days in the school year for working parents.  The outcomes PTM demonstrates at other sites left no doubt in my mind that this was the partner I wanted and needed for St. Luke’s.

We are thrilled to launch our new collaboration!

 

*If interested in volunteering with PTM—either at Community House or one of PTM’s other summer or afterschool sites, please contact Sara Horton (sara@prestontaylorministries.org).  We are having a summer volunteer orientation at PTM’s Wilson Center (4014 Indiana Avenue) on May 26^th from 1:00-3:00.  Or, for afterschool program volunteering, please sign up for our preview and orientation on August 10^th from 4:00-6:00pm by contacting Sara.

 

Meet Lakeyia: 2015 LEAP Year Staff

 

My name is Lakeyia Bell. I am twenty – five year old recent college graduate from Cleveland, OH. Prior to coming to Nashville, TN, I served in the Episcopal Service Corps program located in the NJ/ New York area. I worked for a non- profit community action agency called HOPE Cap Inc.

During my internship at HOPES, I gained a lot of experience in social service and non -profit management. My experience with the Episcopal Service Corp, lead me to apply as a Leap year intern. The Episcopal Service Corp prepared me professionally. I asked the Lord to guide me to a ministry where I can use my gifts to minister to the youth in spirit and truth, without restrictions and God brought me to Preston Taylor Ministries.

Through my amazing experience as a LEAP intern, I am learning to be more patient, more relational and more nurturing. I am learning to accept challenges as they come and to allow God to use me to help the youth find their purpose and identity in Jesus. PTM transformed me into a woman who has total faith in God’s ability to provide and use the broken pieces of my life in order to mold together the pieces of other people’s lives.

One piece of wisdom I will take from being a Leap year intern is the knowledge that God allows me to plant seeds and water them. He then sends in the labors to harvest the fruit of the planter. I may not always see the fruit of my labor; however, I am confident in knowing that seeds were planted in the lives of my students.  After my journey as a Leap intern is over, I plan on furthering my education by attending graduate school and building up my young women’s ministry, Girl Time.

Campfire Joy by Chan Sheppard

Jeraney was talking in a low voice at our campfire vespers service.  I cannot remember every word he said.  I was distracted by three thoughts:

• All of these elementary boys that have been so loud and rambunctious all weekend are really quiet. They are listening.
• It was a great idea to make s’mores inside and serve them on a platter while our students sat around the campfire.
• I am so proud that Jeraney has the courage to speak to 75 people about his faith in Jesus.

But I do remember Jeraney saying, “I started at PTM when I was in 1^st grade and I am now a 9^th grader at East”.  I looked around the campfire at my cabin of 4^th graders (thanks to Lavell we named ourselves the “Golddiggers” to go along with the Treasure Hunt theme of the weekend) and considered that Jeraney used to be where they are.  They were listening to Jeraney much better than they had been listening to me.  They heard him say that he has given his life to Jesus.  They heard him say that experiences with PTM and Barefoot Republic Camp had made him want to live a Christian life.  They heard him challenge them to grow in faith.  And they listened.

After Jeraney finished, Kennedy stood up to share.  Kennedy also started at PTM as a 1^st grader and talked about her faith in Jesus and then added that she had committed her life to Christian ministry.   She is now a 9^th grader and has been consistent in expressing her desire to minister to young girls to help them grow in their understanding that they are “wonderfully made”.

Listening to Jeraney and Kennedy made my cup start to spill over.  God has been so good to provide for their experiences at PTM.  They both have participated in afterschool programming for over 8 years.  Both have been on over 50 different field trips with PTM.  Both have been to Barefoot Republic Camp for five years.  Both have one-on-one mentors through Dinner and Devo.  Both have applied for one of our Summer SaLT paid internships this summer.  And all of those 4^th graders listening and watching will have the same opportunities to pursue a “God-inspired Dream”.  I am thankful for the hundreds of people pouring into the youth of PTM—and thankful for the way our high school students are pouring into our younger students.

 

*If interested in seeing many of the highlights from our Treasure Hunt Retreat held at Barefoot Camp with 60 PTM students, you may click here.

A Dream Granted by Nina Borum

Each year I am allocated $2,000 to spend on making dreams come true for PTM students. Considering we have about 200 students, you can imagine how difficult that task can be!  Usually, I find opportunities that benefit a group of students instead of just one to make the most of our budget but sometimes making the dream of one student come true is worth it.

This past weekend, we took a group of students on our annual PTM Wide Retreat. During this retreat, we intentionally present the gospel to them through worship, bible teaching, small groups and tons of large group games. Due to the success of our Christmas Tree Pickup Fundraiser, we were able to take 75 total people on retreat this year.

Unfortunately, there was one student, Joeuan, who didn’t turn in his permission form for retreat and was replaced by another student. A day before retreat he showed up to programming and let us know that his bags were packed and he was excited to go on retreat. It was a sad situation because someone would have to tell him that unfortunately his spot was taken and he would not be able to go.

Site directors pleaded with me to let him go anyway. It wasn’t an easy decision for me because I was already a few hundred dollars over budget and I needed to find a way to cut costs. After some thought, I decided to bring Joeuan into my office. As I called him in, I still wasn’t sure if I was going to say no or yes, but I wanted to speak with him. I simply asked him why he wanted to go on retreat. He went on to tell me that he thought that retreat would help him to manage his anger better and that he wanted to learn more about Jesus and have fun.  He said that he’d been lonely since his dad died a few months ago and that sometimes his uncles were too busy at work to spend time with him. I asked him if he had a PTM mentor yet and he said that he didn’t have one but would really like one.

My mind was racing trying to find a loophole in our budget. I wasn’t feeling great that I was already over budget but I knew that I needed to find a way to send Joeuan to camp. It suddenly dawned on me that Joeuan’s dream was to go to retreat and I could make that happen with our dream fund! Even though our dream fund is already dwindling and we still have 8 months left in the year to stretch it, I knew this was a dream worth granting. I also knew that I had to do more for him than to just let him go to retreat, I needed to find him a mentor.

If you are man and you are reading this can you help me make Joeuan’s dream come true by prayerfully considering becoming a mentor?

If not you, do you know someone else who has a little time to make Joeuan’s dream a reality?

“I Am Going to Miss This Place” by Chan Sheppard

We met Mr. David at the barn where he let us put all our gear on his pick up trip so we could ride to our campsite.  Once there we unloaded, set up our tents, and gathered to discuss the itinerary for our overnight camp.  We then began to hike to a cave on Mr. David’s property.  As soon as we began hiking, Ladarius shared with me, “I think we are going to have fun here.”  One of the things I appreciate about Ladarius is that he nearly always says exactly what is on his mind–even if it’s not relevant to the context.  This expression, however, was held unanimously by this group of six boys and two adults and set the tone for a hopeful adventure.  We explored as we walked to the other side of the property where we found the cave.  We made it inside the cave about five feet when we saw the first bat.  After showing the campers this bat and the narrow hallway that was muddy enough to ruin Kenneth’s Jordans, we decided we had had enough of this phase of the exploration and retreated to more familiar experiences–capture the flag and football in a beautiful meadow which doubled as a cow pasture.

We made it back to our campsite and split into fire starters and cooks to prepare for hobo stew.  We all agreed with Ladarius’ assertion that “this beef is bustin'” followed by “this broccoli is bustin'” and later “these s’mores be bustin'”.  Everything tastes better when cooked on a campfire.

Thankfully no one froze during the 35 degree night and the fire started early as the sun was rising on Sunday morning.  Following a vespers service, clean-up, and a few drops of rain, we finished our campout together with one more football game.  On the way back from the football field (cow pasture), Ladarius remarked, “I’m going to miss this place”.  “Me too,” I said knowing exactly what he meant.  We got to do things that we normally don’t do. Not just the campfire cooking and the tent sleeping; not simply the long hike in the open air or the fresh air, but we got to confess to one another, share prayers with one another, put our arms around each other and mean it.  We got to make memories and build resilience.  We got to build confidence and trust.  We deepened our friendships.  We did all of this without gun shots or sirens, with unfiltered starlight, and far from the heaviness of living in a low income city neighborhood.  Like these students, I crave experiences that tap into my longing for God and connection with others.  I am as thankful (if not more) as they are for the opportunities for outdoor adventure (and the generous volunteers and supporters who make it possible).

 

**If interested in joining in a PTM Outdoor Adventure group, please contact me at chan@prestontaylorministries.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter to Future Wilson Center Children’s Director by Chan Sheppard

Dear Wilson Center Director,

Thank you for leading PTM’s largest site with enthusiasm, professionalism, playfulness, compassion, and joy.  You have the unique gift of creating a space and a program that is safe and fun.  Children love coming into the Wilson Center and feeling special.  Your students will return years from now and enter the Wilson Center and remark, “I love the way this place smells”.  You know that there is nothing special about the actual smell, but the feelings generated by the hundreds of warm memories, of feeling special, of enjoying friendships, and of growing in confidence and hope.  I cannot thank you enough for your wisdom and ability to lead.

I am thankful for the opportunities you will provide for our students: opportunities to keep building a positive peer group, chances to improve academically, retreats and outings, a steady dose of awesome volunteers who believe in them.  Above all, the biggest gift you will offer them is an opportunity to grow in a relationship  with Jesus Christ.  They will see in you one who puts God first, is grounded in scriptural understanding, lives in a dynamic personal relationship with Jesus, and works tirelessly to help them pursue faith with enthusiasm.  You embody the very core beliefs that we want desperately the youth of PTM to know, feel, and experience.

In addition to being a person of great faith who bathes every decision and initiative in prayer, I very much appreciate that you value order.  You recognize that our students feel safest and most loved when there is a schedule and structure with clear boundaries.  You are able to provide and lead this structure in such a way that students can always answer the question: “where are you supposed to be?” You are able to create a consistency of schedule, discipline, and tone that gives our students confidence, security, and a sense of pride.

While valuing and instilling order, you are also flexible.  You anticipate changes to staff and volunteers and are quickly and enthusiastically able to implement Plan B or Plan C.  You recognize the importance of our students having fun and creating memories and model that for them.  You do not lose focus on days when it feels more like chaos than order.

You are wise.  You know how to interact sensitively with parents who may disagree with you.  You know when to nurture and when to confront.  You know each student and parent by name and story.  While showing no favoritism you are able to treat each child according to his/her own personality and needs.

You are a hard-worker.  You never consider how many hours you have worked in a week.  You don’t believe anything is impossible. You have a “make it happen” mentality.  You do not make excuses, but pursue every possible resource for providing the children under your care with great opportunities.

You are a team-player.  You embrace PTM’s mission and recognize humbly that results are up to God.  You encourage other staff members and participate with them in programs that are not directly your responsibility.  You recognize the incredible value of PTM volunteers and you equip them to build life-changing “joy-filled friendships”.  You like staying after PTM events to join in a staff “circle of love” to celebrate all that God is doing through PTM. You recognize and are grateful for all of the people who are playing a part in leading our youth.

You are a great communicator.  You know how to teach our students.  You are creative in how you present the gospel, field trip opportunities, and long division.  You are a great writer.  You share stories with our supporters.  You respond quickly to emails and coordinate our volunteer staff.  You inspire faith and courage in how you communicate.  People naturally and excitedly follow you.

You are a builder.  You recognize that the children under your care have benefitted from great leaders and volunteers.  You want to add to that legacy.  You create programs and continue traditions that will far outlast in any of us on staff.  You lead in a way that you can sustain.  Even though you are spending yourself on behalf of others, you are taking the time to care for yourself in a way that prevents burnt out and allows you to prosper and thrive both in and out of PTM.

You will enjoy the PTM staff and fit in like family.  The salary will be $29,000.  PTM will also pay partial health benefits through PTM’s group health insurance policy.  Additionally, there will be three weeks of paid leave built into the rhythm of the year.  While you could make more money in another job, you will truly feel like you are overpaid.  Like for me, the biggest benefits will come in the satisfaction of serving God and others doing something that is fun, that makes a difference, and that provides many opportunities for relationships with outstanding people.

If interested in this position, please email a cover letter and resume to Collin (Collin@prestontaylorministries.org).  I can’t wait to meet you and to serve with you.  You will make PTM better.

 

Very gratefully yours,

 

Chan Sheppard

Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

Partnering with Preston Taylor Ministries by Patrizio Murdocca

My name is Patrizio Murdocca. I am a freshman at Vanderbilt University, and the President/Founder of Interfaced Ministries (www.interfacedministries.org) — a 501(c)(3) dedicated to closing the student technology gap. To fulfill our mission, we donate laptops to students as part of our Interfaced Scholar Program. Scholars receive a brand new Chromebook laptop, life-skills training via recordings, and one-on-one mentorship with our staff.

I started Interfaced Ministries in August 2013 in Florida, but when I got to Nashville in August 2015 to start at Vandy, I felt called to bring Interfaced to Nashville students. After a few months of laying the foundation and finding support, I got in contact with Preston Taylor Ministries. Since the day I first met Chan and Collin, I have been humbled by the knowledge, passion, and dedication of Preston Taylor’s incredible staff. I am honored to partner with Preston Taylor Ministries in order to serve Preston Taylor’s students via Chromebook donation to select students.

In addition to Interfaced’s partnership with Preston Taylor, I have been volunteering myself on Monday’s as part of their middle school programming. I am honored to lead a group of students in a weekly Bible study. On one particularly special evening, we watched a Christian spoken word piece together. I watched, with watery eyes, as the students identified with the pain the poet expressed — the hurt and anxiety that results from sin. Next, as the poet expressed the Salvation of the Gospel, I saw as each and every one of their facial expressions changed from sadness to happiness; they understood the message of the clip — Jesus loves us! When the video was over, I asked them some follow up questions, but by that point, they were practically able to run the discussion!

Given the fact that they come to us at the end of the day, we are constantly seeking new and engaging ways of engaging with our students; from videos, to stories, to demonstrations. I feel so blessed to be apart of the incredible work Preston Taylor Ministries does in the Nashville Community. Moving forward, I hope to be able to increase the number of students Interfaced can provide with computers, and to continue developing relationships with these amazing students.