It is such a blessing to us when local businesses in Colorado Springs offer to partner with us by providing financial support to further our mission!  Royal Salon, owned by Indre Roy, has recently offered to do just that!  Read about what Royal Salon is doing for Family Life Services and how you can help, all while benefitting from the great service the salon provides!

Who is Royal Salon?

‘Lots of salons can sell you stuff and promise to treat you well. At Royal Salon, providing great merchandise and a personalized service experience are more than just words…it’s what we do. We only hire the best people who share our passion for Natural and Organic products. That way, you know you’re being helped by people who know their stuff. “Good enough” is just not an option for us.

We genuinely care about our customers and go above and beyond to provide the best service possible. We do these things, and more, while providing you with Natural and Organic products at a good value.’ – Indre Roy, Owner

How are they helping Family Life Services?

When you go into Royal Salon for any hair service and mention Family Life Services and this article, Royal Salon will donate $5 to our programs!  This is such a fun and easy way to make a difference in the lives of the families we serve.

Where are they located?  How can I contact the salon?

They accept walk-ins at their beautiful new location: 1635 W. Uintah Street.

Call to schedule an appointment: 719-390-3128.

For more information about Royal Salon, please visit their website.

What could be better than looking fabulous and helping single moms and their kids? Give Royal Salon a call.

The following devotion was written by Nancy Parker Brummett. Nancy is an author and freelance writer in Colorado Springs, CO. You can like her author page on Facebook or visit Nancy Parker Brummett to subscribe to her blogs or learn more about her life and work. 

A single mom often feels like there just isn’t enough of anything except frustration. In any given day, she doesn’t have enough hands to get everything done. There may not be enough time for the chores, the jobs, the homework and the carpooling. Patience and diapers might both be in short supply, and rarely is there enough money to get to the end of the month.

And yet, when she offers up what little she has to the Lord and asks Him to make up the difference, she and her children may receive abundantly more grace and mercy than they can imagine.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7 we see an account of a single mom who worried about not having enough. She went to Elisha, the prophet, to plead her case. She was worried that her deceased husband’s creditors were going to come and take her two sons away to work as slaves. Elisha asked, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” The woman explained that she had almost nothing “except a little oil.” But Elisha told her to go to all her neighbors and ask for empty jars, and then to fill each one up with oil. Miraculously, the “little oil” she had became enough to fill all the jars in the house right up to the brim! “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left,” Elisha told her.

This Mother’s Day as single moms reflect on the jobs they are doing with their kids, may they sense God’s pleasure. May they realize that whatever they have a little of—a little time, a little food, a little hope, or a little faith—God can take that little and make it more than enough.

This Mother’s Day, we are offering a special opportunity for you to honor the amazing mothers in your own life by giving a designated gift in her name.  This is a wonderful way to help support the single-moms and children we serve at Family Life Services through our Residential Program and Women of Courage Outreach.

Please take the time to download and review the card below, and if you would like to participate be sure to get the card back to us by May 7, 2012.

We will send the the special mother in your life a beautiful greeting and let her know you made a donation in her name.

FLS-mothers-day-reply

Ever wonder what is at the core of our organization? Recently we shared who we are and what we stand for to a group of ministry partners at our New Beginnings Celebration. After 70 Years of amazing ministry, God has given us a true sense of who He  has asked us to serve and what He has formed our organization to be.

Thanks to Reflective Spark for the beautiful visual to help us tell our story!

This week, we are celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week!

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Family Life Services, and much of the work we do here could not be accomplished without them.  From our Bible Study Mentors and Child and Youth Volunteers who work directly with our residents, to the church and community groups who work so hard to improve our facilities, these amazing individuals have made an eternal impact on the families we serve.  We pray that all those who have given of their time so generously over the years will see an abundant blessing in their lives, homes and families.

Thank you, Family Life Services Volunteers, for all you do.

We wanted to share some of the beautiful flowers that have started to bloom on our property already. We hope you enjoy them and from our families to yours~ have a blessed and holy Easter season celebrating the Risen Savior Jesus Christ!

Steve Earll and his wife Carrie

When Steve Earll, the second of our Nancy Parker Brummett Service Award Recipients, first moved to Colorado Springs, he and his family were taken under the wings of Ron and Jane Knudtsen.  (Jane, if you remember, is also being award the NPB Service Award this year.)  A licensed professional counselor, Steve, with a little motivation from the Knudtsens, began volunteering his time with Family Life Services in the mid ’90s, consulting on cases with Ron Knudtsen, who was on staff at the time, and contributing his professional expertise to the organization.

In 1997, Steve lost his first wife to cancer.  As he recovered from this tragic loss, Ron Knudtsen walk with him, helping him overcome the grief and stood with him as he entered a two year period where Steve experienced the challenges of single parenthood while raising two teenage daughters.

Over the years, Steve continued to remain committed to the work of Family Life Services and in 2000 was asked to join the Board of Directors.  In 2005, he became Chairman of the Board and served the organization by contributing wise counsel and leadership during changes in administration and the expansion, growth and development of the Family Life Services programs.  He served as Chairman of the Board for 7 years, rolling off in January of 2012.

In his professional life, Steve served as the Director of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program at Penrose from 1981-1988.  After leaving Penrose, he began his private practice as a licensed professional counselor and licensed addictions counselor, specializing in family trauma and addictive behaviors.  For the past forty years, Steve has ministered to countless families and seen lives transformed and restored.

Although no longer a member of the Family Life Services’ Board, he remains committed to the mission and programs of the organization.  Having been a single parent, he personally relates to the struggles our single moms face on a daily basis and knows the importance of having a stable and supportive environment in which to face these challenges.  He believes that the mission of putting families back together and ministering to modern-day orphans and widows is what we are called to do as Christians, and he has certainly done just that in his professional career and his long and devoted volunteer history with FLS.  We are grateful for all he has contributed to this ministry and for his dedication to the Lord and His work.  We are honored to be able to present Steve with the Nancy Parker Brummett Service Award on Monday night at our New Beginnings Celebration.

Steve has been married to his wife, Carrie, for 13 years.  Together they have three grown daughters and five grandchildren.

For information on how you can get involved at Family Life Services, please check out our current volunteer opportunities.

Jane Knudtsen, Bible Study Mentor and 2011 Nancy Parker Brummett Service Award Recipient

Twelve years ago, Jane Knudtsen joined the volunteer team of Family Life Services as a Bible Study Mentor.  She found out about this opportunity from her husband, Ron, who was working as a counselor on our staff at the time.  Feeling the Lord calling her to minister to women in this capacity, she said “Yes” to that call and started out on a journey of love, commitment and God’s grace.

During her twelve years of volunteer work, Jane has mentored six single moms, coming alongside them to help them grow in their personal walk with the Lord.  She approaches her time with each mom with a dual purpose.  First, she desires to “scratch where she is itching in terms of Scripture”.  She seeks to help the mom grow from where she is today into where she wants to be tomorrow.  She helps answer questions about the contents of the Bible, guides her through Bible studies, provides “homework” assignments to help her explore and think through the Scriptures and their practical application in her own life, or may simply read the Bible aloud, allowing the transformational power of God’s Word to minister to the mom’s heart and mind.

Jane’s second goal is to foster a friendship, a true and meaningful relationship, with the moms.  This does not happen overnight.  It takes time and consistency to build a sense of trustworthiness and security.  The strong relationship between a mentor and a mom is built over two years of small victories, incremental growth and consistent prayer.

On a personal level, Jane says that she has grown tremendously in her own walk with the Lord as she walks through the Scriptures with her mentorees.  This experience has forced her to read the Bible with new eyes and a heart that is constantly open to what the Lord would have her share with the moms.  She constantly asks herself, “Am I walking the talk?” She feels that the time she spends mentoring is an investment into the Kingdom, and she finds it deeply meaningful to help these moms grow in their appreciation of being a part of the family of God.

Jane is a wonderful example of a committed, dedicated and passionate volunteer.  When asked what it means to be a volunteer, her response was simply: “To move from the vision to the trenches and just keep showing up.”  Jane has kept showing up for twelve years.  Family Life Services is truly grateful for her passionate commitment to the organization and the single moms we serve.  We are so pleased to be able to honor her for all the years she has sown into this ministry with the Nancy Parker Brummett Service Award 2011 at our New Beginnings Celebration on March 19^th.

Jane and her husband, Ron, have been married for 57 years.  They have four children, twelve grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two more on the way.

For information on how you can get involved at Family Life Services, please check out our current volunteer opportunities.

Our Spring 2012 Child & Youth Intern, Jessica Terrones

Jessica Terrones was one of the first smiling faces that greeted me on my first day at Family Life Services.  Working with her is such an uplifting experience because she is so real and genuine in sharing her heart for the kids here.  Her background experiences are similar to many experiences that the children at FLS are currently going through, and so Jessica’s heart for this organization is rooted in pointing these families to the redemption that can only be found in Jesus Christ.  As Jessica is filled up with Christ’s love, she desires to pour it out on the kids.

Interviewing Jessica was a neat experience.  Although we have only known each other for a short amount of time, she genuinely opened up her life to me, tears freely flowing.  Get ready to get to know a true sweetheart!

• If Jessica was a musical instrument, she would be a cello, because she’s always wanted to be smooth and rich!
• She only flosses when she has a piece of broccoli stuck in her teeth.
• Jessica shared with me the great blessing of spiritual mentors in her life that have walked through things she is currently walking through, who are able to come along side her, guide her, and love on her.  “God is a genius,” was the simple statement she used to explain how God perfectly crosses out paths with others to help us through our daily walk.  I am thankful God crossed my path with this genuine woman of God.
• To rest in the Lord, Jessica enjoys playing her clarinet, using her musical talent to give back to God.
• One bucket list item for Jessica: Riding in a hot air balloon! Brave girl!
• I asked Jessica to tell me about a real God moment in her life.  Her gratitude and trust in the Lord shone so bright as she told me this story: “I graduated in May from Colorado College without a place to live.  I had to lean on Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” I had to listen to God intently and in faith, rest in His control over it all, even if that meant going against common sense. For six months, I dealt with uncertainty on a daily basis.  But when a room finally opened up for me, the goodness of God was all over it.  The friendship I am experiencing with my roommate is definitely a God thing, a relationship only He could provide, and the depth of nourishment that has come from that friendship is an incredible example of God’s perfect provision in His perfect time.  He calls us to do crazy things, but it is so worth it.”
• Jessica’s favorite joke: “Two muffins were in an oven and one muffin said, ‘Man, it’s getting hot in here!’ The other muffin said, ‘Wow! A talking muffin!” (rather corny, but good try Jessica)
• Jessica shared a quote with me that is currently impacting her life in a big way: “The recovery of passion starts with reappraising the value of the treasure.” -Brennan Manning.  Applicable to all areas of life, whenever apathy about anything creeps in, she takes time to be still and reflect on why that thing is valuable.  Reflect on the treasure that is life in Jesus.  Second Corinthians 5:17 is also rocking her world right now: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  According to Jessica, living out this verse would revolutionize our lives.  We are clothed in Christ, so the past cannot control us anymore!

I am inspired by Jessica’s insight and authentic love for Christ and his children.  What a privilege to work with her! Truly grateful,

Katie from Georgia

I heard a lot about Scott before I met him.  He attended Focus Leadership Institute a few semesters ago, and everyone who knew him had only great things to say.  When I met him, I understood why.  Some people have a way of making you feel accepted and at ease in a new environment, and Scott is definitely one of those people.

When I asked Scott about his heart for Family Life Services, there was no hesitation as he told me so simply his purpose he lives out every day: “I have a heart for children: Children struggling with poverty and children without father figures in their lives, especially young boys in need of a loving male role model.  So Family Life Services is a perfect fit for me.  In essence, I want to be a father to the fatherless.”  In watching Scott interact with the kids, you can know that these aren’t just words.  They genuinely reflect his heart and his mission here at FLS.

His heart, along with the simple fact that he is super goofy, was continually revealed through the rest of his answers.  I know you will enjoy getting to know him as much as I did.

• One item from Scott’s bucket list: to tame a wild stallion! What high goals you have!
• He flosses once every couple weeks, randomly, whenever it crosses his mind… I actually think that is pretty impressive.
• Scott’s favorite way to rest in the Lord is to spend time in God’s creation.  He loves to run or hike outdoors.  Here is Colorado, there are so many opportunities to get outside and experience God’s creation!
• When it comes to great blessings, Scott immediately told me about his family.  God gave him sweet parents who raised him in the Word and siblings who really care.  His strong foundation on the Bible stems from his family growing up, something he doesn’t take for granted, but rather something he praises God for daily.
• If Scott could be a musical instrument, he would be a guitar.  His reasoning was expressed to me with a sly smile as he said, “Yeah, because it reminds me of sunsets and long walks on the beach…” Classic, Scott.  Classic.
• Scott experienced God’s provision in a big way when he moved to Colorado in January.  Within one week, God provided Scott’s housing and two part-time jobs!  Our God definitely shows up and shows off in mighty ways when we trust in Him.
• Scott’s favorite joke was so simple, and yet it got me so tickled… “Knock, Knock.” “Who’s there?” “Eat Mop.” “Eat Mop Who?”…hehehe…
• A quote that inspires Scott to dream big comes from Henry David Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined.”

The second chapter of Proverbs has a special place in his heart as well, showing him how to pursue God with everything that he is.  This passage especially spoke to him during his life-changing experience at the Focus Leadership Institute last year.

• Scott also loves to dance.  Anytime, anywhere.  Even at work!

Scott has provided me with a encouraging example of how passion, responsibility, and fun can work together to make a difference in the lives of those around you.  I hope to glean this ability as I continue to work with Scott at Family Life Services, as well as pick up some awesome dance moves…

In Him,

Katie from Georgia

Be sure to watch for our next interview with the intern when Katie sits down with  Jessica Terrones, our local intern and Graduate from Colorado College.