Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
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Message from our Executive Director |
We all have heard sermons preached about extravagant hospitality. I have the privilege of getting to see it put into action on a weekly basis! Covenant Presbyterian Church continues to let us use their Community Center as a static host site during the pandemic. Trinity Baptist Church in Sherman welcomed our current guests (a mom, dad, and 4-month-old baby girl) with this beautiful bouquet and a kind note wishing them well and telling them the volunteers are praying for them. First United Methodist Church in Sherman and Park Avenue Church of Christ in Denison have outdone themselves in providing delicious meals. Read on to see what First Baptist Church in Whitesboro did for the guests of Family Promise!
We are so grateful that one of our former guests is able to work from the Day Center, since her apartment is not hardwired for internet (a requirement for her online job). We also are grateful for the continued financial support of Family Promise by so many of you, especially since we are not able to have our annual Bed Race fundraiser this year.
This is a challenging time for so many. What a privilege it is to be able to help some who need it most!
Blessings and peace,
Leigh
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Notice to those of you who are Host Coordinators, pastors, movers, shakers, and keepers of church calendars: the 2021 Family Promise hosting calendar is starting to fill up! While we aren’t exactly sure what hosting will look like next year, we do know the need will be present. Please call Leigh Walker (903-271-1088) to schedule the dates your congregation would like to host guests. Dates are filled on a first come, first served basis so get your preferences in soon! Thank you so much for ALL you do for families experiencing homelessness in Grayson County. You are making a positive difference in our community!
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Family Promise intersects faith and community to empower Grayson County families to end child homelessness. During the pandemic, Family Promise of Grayson County is working harder than ever to see this come to fruition! To do this, we need your help.
Family Promise of Grayson County is taking part in North Texas Giving Day—the annual one-day online giving event that raises money for North Texas nonprofit organizations. This year, September 17 th is the official date; however, beginning Tuesday, September 1 st, you can schedule your North Texas Giving Day gifts at NorthTexasGivingDay.org. Simply click on this link (or go to the site and search for Family Promise of Grayson County), make a donation, and tell your friends!
Once a gift is made, you will receive an email confirming your donation has processed, and you will receive a tax receipt confirming your donation. Of course you always can donate on our website or just mail a check!
We know that many of you support more than one local nonprofit. Now there is a shopping cart feature on the North Texas Giving Day website. You may choose all the nonprofits to which you want to donate and then check out in one easy process. Thank you in advance for making a difference in our community!
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Thanks to First Baptist Church of Whitesboro, Family Promise is the proud owner of a beautiful 2003 Chevrolet Suburban! The SUV was the church’s mission vehicle, used by missionaries staying at the Baptist mission house. The church decided not to rebuild after the house burned down during a storm in May 2020, so they no longer needed the vehicle. They initially considered selling the Suburban, but since it was donated to be used in mission, and since Family Promise of Grayson County is one of the missions of First Baptist Church of Whitesboro, it was decided that donating the vehicle to Family Promise was the best option. We are so grateful to have this well-kept, 9-passenger vehicle for our guests’ transportation! Thank you again to Pastor Mike Flanagan and the First Baptist Church of Whitesboro!
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In order to stay connected and informed, Family Promise Coordinators are meeting monthly by Zoom. This super-flattering picture is from our August meeting! It was so much fun to catch up and to share ideas. Our next Zoom meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 10 th at noon. Be sure to check your email on the 9 th for the link. This is open to any volunteers, so if you are not a Coordinator but would like to attend, please email Amyee at cm@familypromisegrayson.org for the link. If there is a topic you would like to discuss, please let us know ahead of time and we will include it in the discussion! |
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Get to Know the Family Promise Board
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This month's featured Board member is Reverend Aaron Logan. Aaron was born in Phoenix, Arizona and made his way to Texas as soon as he could! He went to Stephen F. Austin University for his undergrad in Music Education and did his Masters work at the University of North Texas in vocal performance. Aaron sang professional opera all over the country and in Italy. He felt a call to a different career after he and his wife found out they were having twins. During this time Aaron felt a calling to ministry. A few years later, Aaron went to seminary at Brite Divinity School at TCU. He currently is appointed as an Associate Pastor at First United Methodist in Sherman. Pastor Aaron lives in Sherman with his wife and twin daughters Maddy and Abby. He is passionate about the ministry of Family Promise and what they are doing in this community!
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Best Wishes on Retirement
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Reverend Michael Mattil has been the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Denison since 1988. He and his wife Cheryl have three grown daughters, three sons-in-law and six grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and building things including working with Habitat for Humanity off and on since 2009.
Michael was part of the leadership team that brought Family Promise to Grayson County. His church is one of twelve host and eight support churches involved in the program. Michael chaired the committee that hired Leigh Walker to serve as Executive Director in early 2018.
Michael retired from Grace Lutheran in August. He and Cheryl plan to stay in the area and remain involved in the community. Congratulations Michael on a remarkable career!
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Family Promise of Grayson County leaders celebrate IRS approval as a public charity. L-R: Joe Frank, Rev. Michael Mattil, Becky Frank, Terri Chapin, and Dianne Smith. (2016) |
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Reverend Nancy Powers has been the Priest and Pastor at St. John the Apostle Episcopal Church in Pottsboro for six years. Prior to her calling, Nancy was a school teacher in the greater Dallas area. Under Mother Nancy’s leadership, St. John has been and is very active in the community. As a member of the Pottsboro Ministerial Alliance, her church participates in a Back to School Festival where school supplies, food, and even haircuts are given to children at no charge. Prior to becoming the pastor, Nancy was a mission outreach minister.
Nancy is a big supporter of Family Promise of Grayson County and has volunteered as an over-night host. She leaves the ministry to take care of her family. She certainly will be missed. ❤
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Bright and early one Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago, the Family Promise Board of Directors got together to discuss short- and long-term goals. Topics covered ranged from celebrating successes to pastor breakfasts to “adopting” graduate families to PR videos. The following five committees were formed or restructured: Public Relations/Marketing, Church and Volunteer Recruitment/Retention, Finance (insurance, PayPal, QGiv, IRS), Fundraising (Bed Race, No Show Gala, North Texas Giving Day, grants), and Governance (Policies and Procedures, Personnel).
If you have interest in helping with one or more of these committees, please call Executive Director Leigh Walker (903-271-1088), and she will get you plugged in! Your skills are needed, and this is a great opportunity to get more involved with Family Promise of Grayson County!
Special thanks to First United Methodist Church for hosting the Board retreat and to Laura Blalock for the delicious breakfast!
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Gracious and Loving God, we give thanks for all of the rich blessings you give to us each day. You're always there when we need you. You have never turned us away and you have never failed us. In our troubles and trials and when the road seemed long, you have been right there with us and you have helped us. Thank you for all you have done for us, but most of all we thank you for who and what you are.
God, we ask you to put us to work in Grayson County. Give us the spiritual eyesight to see the physical and emotional needs of people. We know that you have called us to be the hands and feet of you on this earth. As people of God, let us be your ambassadors in whatever way you call us.We pray this in your Son's name. Amen
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If you would like to learn more about Family Promise of Grayson County including:
- How to participate
- How to volunteer
- How to support through donations
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