With two additional facilities added to our
campus, we are poised to help even more individuals and families who need a helping
hand. The Mission of Yahweh operates with only three full-time staff members and a large number of weekly volunteers.
We hope you, too, will be actively involved in this mission of love in the heart of the Houston community.
Community Effort Sustains The Mission
SPRING/SUMMER 2006 NEWSLETTER
The Event of the Year!
City and State officials, and out-of-state
guests will be invited to attend The
Mercy House ribbon cutting ceremony.
Thanks to a generous donation from
HomeAid (The Greater Houston Builders
Association) and Ameriquest Mortgage,
you will soon receive a special invita-
tion with the date and time!
Attention All Mission Donors and Sponsors!
The Grand Openingof The House of Joy
Childrens Recreational & Educational Center
June 3rd, 2006, 10:45 am
Featuring food, fun, and special guests.
Thanks to a generous donation by The Childrens Fund, Inc., The Mission
of Yahweh will host the ribbon cutting for The House of Joy. All CFI
members, Mission donors and volunteers are invited to attend!
(Please see volunteer and sponsorship opportunities on Page 6.)
Special Thanks to Jay Stevens Photography,
for his super photographic coverage of the
Mercy House dormitory ground-breaking
ceremony!
The Mercy House
Transitional Dorm Ribbon Cutting
September, 2006
(Date & Time TBA) Page 2
Area Youth Raises Money
for The Mission Kids
A Houston area youth went the extra mile
for the sake of The Mission of Yahweh.
A while back, a first grader named Carter
build a lemonade stand and sent all
proceeds to help The Missions residents.
In addition to selling lemonade, Carter
also sold miniature sailboats made from
bottle corks. Thanks to Carter and donors
like you, lives continue to be changed at
The Mission of Yahweh.
Mission Staff Full-Time
Barbara Moore, Resident Manager., RAs, Resale
Alonda Scott, Case Manager
Betty Godso, Volunteer & Bus. Develop. Manager
Mission Staff Volunteer
Ron Sterlekar, Director of Development
Jamie Miller, Personnel, Operations & Resale
Mel Kieke, Administration
Mission Staff Part-Time
Glenda Fenner, Weekend Resident Manager
Rosetta (Yvettee) Turnerhill, Children Activity Coord.
Barbara Pierce, Weekend Development Assoc.
Lenda Murrell, Weekend Development Assoc.
Eddie Oliver, Maintenance
Juan Colchado, Groundskeeper
Mission Staff Resident Assistants
(Full-time On-Campus Volunteers)
Daphne Atkins,
Myrtle Christie, Angie Wiggins, Debbie Wilson,
Donna Stephens, Sylvia Figueroa
Mission Front Office Volunteer
Elinor Macmillan, Tuesdays for 22 years!
June Long, Wednesdays, for 23 years!
Betsy Lowe, Thursday afternoons
Carol Janicke, Friday mornings
Van Stokes, Friday afternoons
Mission Specialists & Services Weekly Volunteers
Shann Shinn, Computer Class Administrator
Computer Class Instructors Melissa Bolinger,
Becky Martin, Becky McCord, Joyce Urban,
Marilyn Owings, Barbara Whitten, Denise Sanders
GED Class Instructor
(residents & community women)
Delores Williams, w/Harris County
Childrens Self-Esteem Class Instructors
Dale Gibson & Alton Wimberly w/FUUSA &
Dierdre Charles w/MHMRA
Mental Health Diedre Charles, MHMRA
Employment Svcs. & Parent Link Tracy Kidd, FUUSA
Character First Class Instructors
(Monday evenings)
West Houston Chinese Church
First Book Class Instructors
(Tuesday evenings)
Laura Deschamps, Brenda Howard, Alfreda Hill
Rhetta Jones, Asst. Resale Shop Manager
Jerry Nguyen, Mission Maintenance & Signage
Bob Janicke & Robert Dobbs, Resale Computer Repair
Charles Eldred, Mission Website
Mission Chapel Services Volunteer Ministers
Debra Witherspoon (Thursday evenings)
New Life Church (2nd & 4th Fridays, incl.
Childrens Church)
Marilyn Stringer (1st & 3rd Fridays)
Rivers of Living Waters Church (Saturdays, incl.
Childrens Church)
Luberta & Ernest Johnson, neighbor (Sundays)
White Oak Baptist (Sundays, incl.
Childrens Church)
Mission Newsletter
Editor Jonathan Simpson
Design Dave Mahavier
Production Donated by Direct Marketing Network
Mission Board of
Directors (Volunteer)
Steven Prod
(Chairman)
Julie Pitts Mount
Randy Blanchard
Jamie Miller
David Brown
Mission Advisory Board
(Volunteer)
Peg Dudar (Houston
Homeless Coalition
Founder)
Mel Kieke
Suzie & Steve Austin
Debra Witherspoon
Pam Lockard Sterlekar
Joann Snook
Carter working at his lemonade stand
to raise funds for The Mission.
10247 Algiers, Houston, TX 77041
Phone 713-466-4785 Fax 713-466-3480
www.missionofyahweh.org
A New Place for Playtime
In August, Harris Huguenard as leader
of his Eagle Scout Troop, did an amaz-
ing thing for The Mission. Along with
his father, Jim, they collaborated
with private donors to raise $13,000
to purchase and construct a new
playground on campus behind the
Learning Center. The playground
includes of a jungle gym, a swing
set, and safe mulch grounding.
Thanks to this in-kind donation, the
new playground equipment will allow
children to have a safe place to play
within the confines of The Mission
campus for years to come.
(Donors include Fisher Boyd Brown Boudreaux, JD Fields and Co., Steve & Lynn Young, Sharon Mattingly,
Wayne Fisger, Stephanie & Stephen Pappas, Jerry & Linda Brown, Steve & Lynn Young, Cytex Plastics
Inc., Casey & Susan Cornett, Drayton McLane, Christopher & Lisa Zook, Hope Hennessy, Terri Chase,
Ken & Vicki Douglas, Robert & Jean Mrlik, Shelton & Sonny Smith, James & Leigh Tomforde, Tracy Troop.)
For information on donating funds or equipment to The Mission, contact
Betty Godso at 713-466-4368.
Want to Try Your Hand at Fundraising for a Great Cause?
The Mission of Yahweh depends on private
donations and an enthusiastic volunteer staff
to operate. This has been the case for almost
one-half century of The Missions existence.
As community need has continued to grow,
so has our budget. We are now forming fund-
raising teams to answer this call.
Volunteers needed are: 1) Grant Writing Team, 2) Church Call Team,
3) Corporate Sponsorship Team, 4) Fundraiser Event Team, 5) On-Line
Marketing, and 6) General Mission Marketing Team (including new donor
acquisition). If you have a desire to do your part to help homeless women
and children, please call Ron Sterlekar at 713-894-2714.
Special Needs: Grantwriter & Fundraiser Teams
Contact Ron Sterlekar at 713-894-2714 In order to keep costs at a minimum, The Mission relies
heavily on volunteer staff members. There are presently
several open positions covering a wide range of skills.
While these positions are non-paying, the great personal
rewards and blessings that come from helping others
in their time of need far outweigh any monetary com-
pensation.
Among the many committed people who have
volunteered at The Mission over the
years, Elinor Macmillan and June Long
can attest to the great blessings that
come through volunteering. With a com-
bined 45 years of volunteer service at
The Mission, both Mrs. Macmillan
and Mrs. Long continue to serve
Mission residents faithfully. The follow-
ing are brief testimonials in their own
words about why they have been vol-
unteering for so many years and what
keeps them coming back.
Many years ago a friend asked me to come out to The Mission of
Yahweh and see if I thought I would like to volunteer in the office.
I saw a need there and over the years I have come to see the value
that the services here provide to homeless women and children.
I keep coming back because when I see women and children
walk in the door and realize they have no other place to go, I know
that the services provided here are greatly needed. Then any
small thing that I can do to help gives me satisfaction.
This sense of satisfaction and knowledge of filling a need
are a blessing. Also, the relationships with other volunteers and
the staff members are great blessings to me. Being here is a
way to serve the Lord.
Elinor Macmillan
Twenty-three years ago, a friend of mine from
church told me The Mission of Yahweh would
be a good place to volunteer. So I came out
with her and was moved to work with women
and children. Since that time, I have continued
to volunteer here because I like to help people
who have problems.
As far as personal blessings and benefits go,
I have established deeper relationships with
my fellow church members who have also volun-
teered here. Most of all, it is very rewarding to know
you are helping somebody who is in need.
June Long
The Mission Wants You toVolunteer!
Page 3
Recent Mission Testimonials
This is a note of appreciation to the many people at The Mission
who have helped me with open arms and good hearts. I had
nowhere to go, but they brought me here and gave me a bed,
clothes, food, love and most of all, brought me closer to God.
Thanks to them, I am back on the right road.
Karen
I am writing a letter of thanksgiving for all the wonderful things
you have done for me and my three kids. When we came to
The Mission I was unemployed and homeless. When we got to
The Mission I was given shelter, food, and clothing. Most impor-
tantly, I was treated with respect. You prayed with me, counseled
me and sheltered me until I was blessed with my own place. The
Mission was a huge blessing for me and my children. In my time
of crisis you could not have been more helpful. Sharonda
The following is a personal note left by a former resident
for Myrtle, one of The Missions Resident Assistant security/
courtesy officers.
Myrtle, Yo