SOWER Ministry Newsletter September 2024

It is hard to believe we’re already in the final month of our three-month SOA commitment here at The Potters Place (SC-545) in Central, South Carolina.  Our travel trailer is located on one of three quiet and beautiful RV sites amongst tall pine trees with full hookups. We have been busy helping with brush clearing, pruning, construction, lawn mowing, organizing a library and other projects; such as a grieving pool and finishing a new cottage.

Potter's Place was founded and is still managed by Don and Shannon Schaupp. They purchased six acres in 2006 for a picnic shelter that was designed for welcoming visiting families from church. Over the years they have built a large welcome center that is used for meetings and group functions. There are four cottages that are offered for full-time pastors and missionaries for up to a week at a time at no cost. Five prayer cabins, three prayer closets and two prayer rooms are offered on a first come first serve basis. All are situated throughout the property to ensure a quiet and peaceful setting. 

Potter's Place is located in the town of Central, South Carolina and is close to both Southern Wesleyan and Clemson Universities. We describe it as an oasis that caters to anyone who wants to find peace and solitude and get closer to the Lord. It is a place of rest and recovery for pastors, missionaries and others who need a place to come and pray, participate in devotions, and reflect on God's glory. Their mission is to “encourage others to seek and follow God by providing a place and environment for spiritual renewal and growth through personal solitude, and to serve other Kingdom-building leaders who meet here.” 

They rely on local volunteers and organizations like the “SOWERs” to help with ongoing maintenance and improvement projects. 

I highly encourage you to check out Potters Place and keep it on your list for future SOWER projects. 

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. 

Van and Trudy Grainge SOWER# 4082

A Note From Tim Miller (Director)

Cross Bar X (CO-552)

I just want to reiterate what a blessing and absolute game-changer SOWERs has been for us. Our facility has never looked so well cared for as it has after this last summer of SOWERs service. The solo couples we had in May and June were essential to our operations as my wife (the regular office administrator) was recovering from an emergency C-section and our daughter's birth at 32 weeks. Your SOWERs stepped into the office support role seamlessly. I was amazed at the Lord's provision to give us two different couples with administrative backgrounds. Without their help, we would not have been able to run this summer!

Additionally, the last two groups we had in July and August were tremendous blessings to us and our staff. I was greatly encouraged by conversations with Brad Smith about SOWER's continued pursuit of honoring God's word organizationally. Praise the Lord for your leadership and faithfulness!

We are a small ministry. With only 3 year-round staff and 150 acres to care for, SOWERs is not just a luxury, but a critical part of what we do. Thank you and God Bless!

WELCOME BACK!!

After a 10-year gap in requesting SOWERs, Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, (AZ-496) in Mesa, Arizona, is again available for SOWER sign-up. For many who are not familiar with Sunshine Acres here is a brief introduction.

Sunshine Acres was founded in 1953 by Reverend Jim Dingman and his wife, Vera, to provide “a loving, Christian home for children who are separated from their parents and to help them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures, preparing them for success in adult life.” Sunshine Acres, a Christian charitable organization, does not accept government funding and will never turn away a child for financial reasons. 

Work may include painting, landscaping, light housekeeping, help in the dining facility, tutoring, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and the operation of heavy equipment. There is a well-equipped maintenance building and maintenance staff. Due to helping in the dining facility, work hours may be flexible as agreed to between the SOWERs and Sunshine Acres staff. During the three-week work portion of the project, SOWERs are always invited to eat lunch in the cafeteria.    

Sunshine Acres provides 16 full hookup 50 amp RV spots, most accommodating RV’s over 40 feet long. The spots are all on asphalt and should require minimal leveling. The RV location, entirely gated, boasts a small building with men’s and women’s showers along with a laundry.  

Sunshine Acres is located adjacent to the Red Mountain Freeway (“Loop” 202) and Higley Road in the north part of Mesa, Arizona. Nearby recreational activities abound, including hiking, fishing, numerous golf courses, and the Commemorative Air Force Museum. The nearest Walmart is three miles away. Great hospitals and medical care in the general Phoenix (and Mesa) area are too numerous to mention. If you sign up in the Spring, you can enjoy the Spring Training baseball games throughout the Valley of the Sun. At Sunshine Acres, you are only 11 miles from Sloan Park, Spring home of the Chicago Cubs!  There are opportunities to serve in Oct (2), Nov (2), April (3), May (4), Jun (5), Jul (3), Aug (3), Sept (2). Check their ministry listing details for more information.

John & Kathy Bruch (3991)

URGENT NEED - YWAM Chico (CA-130)

Greetings,

I wanted to update you regarding the Park Fire, fourth largest in California history, that overwhelmed the perimeter of our buildings just one month ago. We have an urgent need for volunteers to help us with getting everything cleaned up. One of the concerns now is flooding in the creek basins, due to landslides and all the fire debris. We especially need people who know how to safely operate chain saws. There are also some critical painting projects. We have plenty of work available!

Can you help? Thank you for considering this urgent need we have between now and mid-December.

Andy Elliott

SOWERs' contact

YWAM Chico

FROM WHERE I SIT (in the OFFICE)…………..by Gail Fieler #3187

It has been a real encouragement receiving positive comments on the new Member Dashboard and the new developments. I hope you will take time to peruse the site and use all of the search options for projects, forms & docs, and member information.  A few reminders we encountered this past month………..

1. When submitting a GL report be sure to choose the correct project, month & year! We had several that chose 2023 instead of 2024! Get your year right because we are about to head to 2025!

2. If you are concerned about sensitive material that you might be submitting on the GL report send that information to the office in an email. The only information that you enter that is seen by the public is the box labeled “Work Completed”.

3. When submitting a request for a project, you do NOT need to click the submit button twice or even 3 times! Once is enough!

4. When conversing with the office about any SOWER issue, please note your SOWER #!

5. Annual Registrations are very important especially if you are signed up past December 2024. You will NOT be able to work a project in 2025 if you have not submitted your registration. You can do it yourself on the Member Dashboard or print off the form and mail to the office. Skills and profile information can be edited online yourself.

6. If you have changed your RV (size, style, etc.) we need to know and that can be edited online as well. This information is reflected on your skill sheet to GLs and Hosts and is critical for parking at the projects.

7. Background check 10-year recertification are now required and beginning in 2025 we will be notifying those that have joined since 2015 that are in need of a renewal. We will send you a reminder via email with instructions on how to request that recertification.

Thank you for your patience with the new Member Dashboard. The Board is considering additions and developments to the site this coming year. Change is not always easy; growth is fabulous! 

The SOWER office has a ministry opportunity for a full-time couple to serve at the office. This would be considered a missionary position and will have some benefits, such as a monthly stipend, parking in the RV lot at the office and some vacation time. The ideal couple should have worked 25 projects or more so they are familiar with all things associated with signing up, working and reporting on projects. They need to have experience with the Microsoft applications on the computer and Quickbooks or other accounting software and have a heart for service to our Lord through the ministry. If this is something you might be interested in, contact the office for the full position description.

There is a current need for an Area Rep for the State of Arizona. This would include the following projects:

AZ - 74 Rainbow Acres Ranch 

AZ - 281 Ethnos360 Aviation (NTM) 

AZ - 393 Pusch Ridge Christian Academy 

AZ - 471 Youth Haven Desert Ranch 

AZ - 487 Gospel Rescue Mission-Women's Recovery

AZ - 491 Phoenix Christian Preparatory School 

AZ - 520 Standing Stones/Shepherd's Canyon Retreat 

AZ - 596 Sunshine Acres Children's Home

There is also a need for an Area Rep in Eastern Canada -

ON - 554 Ethnos Canada 

ON - 556 Elim Lodge Ministries 

ON - 559 Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre

If you would like more information about this opening or are interested in the position, please contact Evan Asby (3945), Western and Canadian Project Coordinator.

The Project Committee would like to say a huge thank-you to all of our AR's (present and past) who are serving (or have served) in this important position. If you are an active Member or Alumni and are interested in learning more about this vital part of our ministry, we'd love to talk to you!

Gail Fieler (3187)

Project Committee Chairman

A complete and 'real-time' updated Underserved Project list is now available on the New Member Site! Check it out!

Underserved Projects List

Sponsor Needed for Camp Maranatha in New Hampshire

Camp Maranatha exists to strengthen the family and support the local church by offering events that inspire life-changing encounters with Jesus. Located in New Durham, New Hampshire, Camp Maranatha has been accepted as a new project for the SOWER ministry. However, as with all new projects, we need a sponsor before adding the camp to our list of ministries and inviting SOWERs to come and work. That’s where you come in! A sponsor is a SOWER who commits to sign-up for the project at least 2-3 times in the first two years of the newly accepted project. The sponsor also spreads the word about the new project to help bring others along as well. Please note that this project is only accepting RVs up to 35’ in length currently. Please pray about this opportunity to be the key to allowing SOWERs to serve at this worthy ministry! If you would like to be a sponsor or have questions, please contact Brad Smith (3482). For more information on the camp click on the picture or any of the links above.

This month there are 78 SOWER couples serving at 48 different ministries around the country. Praise God for all the work that's being accomplished! Check the New Member site for information on where YOU can serve!



Group Picture - The August 2024 Group serving at Cross Bar X Ranch(CO-552) taken while on an outing. L-R Brad and Cindy Smith (3482), Ron & Debbe Mead (4044), Mark & Leslie Rahner (3897), Terry & Lou Blount (3952).

Header Photo -Camp Nathanael - KY-570

Dear Sam and Sally, 

Is it really necessary to always read the Welcome SOWERs at the opening meeting? It does seem unnecessary, especially for experienced members. Some project we have worked the Welcome SOWERs was not read at the opening meeting. Other projects we read it first thing. We are not sure what we should be doing - can you explain?

Signed,

Unsure

Dear Unsure,

Thanks for asking this important question. The Welcome SOWERs should ALWAYS be considered “required reading” at the beginning of each project for several reasons. 

It is an important reminder of our most basic elements from our Member Guidelines. Essentially it reminds us of who we are, what we do and how we do it. Since members, on average, serve between three and four projects a year, this review can be critical. The items in Welcome SOWERs are also a reflection of the most frequent occurrence of problems/violations addressed in our ministry. These reminders refresh our memory, keep us focused and challenged. And it also gives the GL the ability to say, “Remember when we read at our opening about [a violation]?” when a problem arises. While it may seem redundant when you’re on your fourth project in a row and you have to read it AGAIN, it is always a helpful reminder of some of our SOWER “basics”.

Always be sure to use the most current version noted on the bottom footer (currently 5/06/24) as there might be changes from the last time you read it.

Serving our Lord with you (and reading it every time too!),

Sam & Sally

Do you have a SOWER etiquette question? Or maybe you'd like some clarification about a policy or rule. Sam and Sally would love to hear from you! Contact them at - samandsally@sowerministry.org.