Did you know…. that the SOWER Board of Trustees has been sending the "Journeying Through Grief" books to the surviving spouse of a SOWER couple at 4 crucial times during the first year after the passing. Each of these books is time-sensitive, focusing on the feelings and issues the person is likely experiencing at that point in their grief. Since the timing is very important, it is equally important that the SOWER Office be informed of a death as soon as possible. Contact information is also important as some have not kept up-to-date on their information once they can no longer work projects. All this to say that, if you hear of a death in our Ministry family, please contact the office as soon as possible so we can get these books in their hands at the proper time.

As we step down after sixteen years of being the voices on the phone for the SOWER Ministry and serving to keep things running as smooth as possible for SOWERs and projects, we also wish to thank everyone who contributed to the love gift offering. We plan to use it for a special vacation in the future. May the Lord continue to BLESS the SOWER Ministry and ALL who serve, as HE has for the last forty-one years.

Yours in Christ,

Alean & Ray Arthur #2810

Have you had a chance to check it out yet?? You should've received an email in early April with all of the ins and outs of setting up your very own login, along with the User Manual/Training guide. Once you're in, you'll have access to real-time search for all ministry projects, their needs and more. A simple button push will allow members to request a ministry project for any given month. (No need to create an email to the SOWER ministry office, although that is still acceptable.) You will still receive confirmation from the office about your sign-ups. Group Leader reports will be found on the specific ministry page for easy reference. Be sure to check out all of the tabs across the top to see the wealth of information available. While there are more exciting improvements coming in future releases, this release allows a LOT more functionality for all members.

We're closing in on the Prize! The March team did an amazing job of getting everything painted, the siding completed and the building ready for those final touches! The April team has been finishing up the interior - sink installations, knobs and pulls, paint touch-ups and the last big job - installing the A/C and heat systems. There will still be landscaping and other tidying up to do, but it's very exciting to see this all come together!

There are a couple hidden gems in western NY that many SOWERs are missing out on and we wanted to bring them to the forefront so y’all could enjoy the wonder of some terrific projects. Check out the videos below to learn about these two worthwhile SOWER projects that could use your help this summer! You won't be disappointed!

Richard and Linda Webster #3808

Dear SOWERS,

Since 2007, Glen Eyrie has been honored to partner with the SOWER ministry in our shared desire to glorify the Lord. I want to express our deepest gratitude for your selfless and excellent service. There is hardly a square foot of our 727 beautiful acres that has not been improved through the loving and skilled hands of SOWERS!

As our mission statement declares, “We create excellent guest experiences, through God-honoring hospitality, so that Christ is known.” Since we minister primarily through hospitality, it’s important to create and maintain a lovely and welcoming environment. It may not seem at first glance that we need help, but historic buildings like our castle are in constant need of upkeep. We are currently one year into a five-year castle renovation which will add much-needed HVAC and fire suppression systems. Our other buildings, gardens, and grounds also require regular support.

When we were unable to welcome conference groups in 2020, we opened our doors to individual stay guests. This allowed us to minister to people who never would have found us, many of whom are not believers. We have had the honor to see people come to a saving faith in Christ at our For You Are Known, Aging Faithfully, Marriage Getaway and BE Women's Retreats. The Lord has brought much good out of that challenging and difficult situation!

We can’t thank you enough for helping us bless our guests! As a token of our appreciation, we provide a nice lounge for you to meet in, complete with books to borrow, and snacks and drinks for you to enjoy. As you can see in the photo, our volunteer lounge is now lovelier than ever, thanks to the wonderful SOWERS who refreshed it last Fall! We hope you can come see it for yourselves sometime soon.

Thank you once again for being an essential part of our mission.

With deep gratitude for all of you,

Wendy Buckler

The Navigators/Glen Eyrie Group (CO-458)

Panfork Baptist Camp (TX-538) in Wellington, TX, is back on the Active project list! They are asking for two (2) SOWERs every month through December.

Praise the LORD - all of our Area Representative positions are currently filled! Area Reps are vital to our ministry in many aspects. They are our ‘boots on the ground’ for our existing ministry partners, building relationships while also checking on the parking conditions and the mission of the projects. They visit potential projects to verify both their need for us and our ability to serve them. Active membership and a willing spirit are the credentials needed. If you are an alumnus, we welcome your SOWER experiences in monitoring the quality of our existing projects and ushering in new ones. If this is an area where you would like to serve - now or in the future - or have questions about this position, please contact Gail Fieler, VP, at gailfieler@gmail.com. We’d love to keep a “bank” of potential Area Reps for now and the future!

We’d like to thank Les Turkelson (#3192) for staffing the Men For Christ Rally in Schaumburg, Illinois, on March 22-23, 2024. There were 21 other exhibitors at the rally, and the SOWER's booth had around 200 men stop by and inquire on Friday afternoon. Les was able to talk with several pastors who were interested in sharing our SOWER Ministry with their churches. He also gave out many brochures to men who were interested in taking them home to share with their wives. Thank you, Les, for helping us promote SOWERs around the country. We appreciate your commitment and love for this ministry.

Your Publicity & Promotion Committee,

Floyd Adcock (#3748)

Brad Smith (#3482)

Alean Arthur (#2810)

Let's try to shorten up that Underserved Project List! Send in highlights about your favorite project on the UPL along with a couple of pictures to stephanie@rvthereyet.org to help get it OFF the list!

Group Picture - AIM (Africa Inland Mission Retirement Center)

Steve and Beth Pugh #3861, Steve and Diane Hahn #3749, Skip and Anne Stromberg #3756, Charlie and Diane Zaharako #2983, Duane and Nancy Motley #3342, Brian and Jeanie Clark #3838, Glenn and Dee Ann Hershberger(GL) #3739. Photo by Glenn Hershberger

Header Photo - The Cottages at Hope Children's Home (FL-175)

Verse Photo - Bill and Betty McClintick #3213

Solar Eclipse Gazing Couple - Troy & Staci Kelcher #3841

I’m happy to try to clarify these two SOWER terms. Let’s start with the Home Project because there have been some changes to that policy. You can claim a Home Project if you had a relationship with the ministry (1) before you were a SOWER or (2) before the ministry became a SOWER project. A third criterion has been added recently – if you have a permanent residence within 50 miles of the project you can also claim it as a Home Project. For example, if (before you became a SOWER) you were volunteering at a retreat center, met some SOWERS and then became a SOWER, you could claim that retreat center as a “Home Project”. Likewise, if you were already involved with a ministry (before or after you became a SOWER) and then that ministry joined our SOWER ministry family, it also could be your “Home Project”. Regardless of which criteria fits, a Home Project cannot be claimed without written approval from the project host. Claiming a home project gives you more flexibility in working outside the framework of our standard sign-up procedures. (See the full guidelines for working at your Home Project HERE) 

A Project Sponsor does not necessarily have a prior connection to the ministry (though they may), and agrees to promote it as they are able. A Project Sponsor is an active SOWER couple that is willing to work at that project a couple of times during the first two years the project is open for SOWERs. By working the project, the Sponsors can mentor the project host as to how our ministry works and help to get the project established. By developing a relationship with the project (host), the Sponsors can act as cheerleaders for the new project and encourage others to serve there. Contact Brad Smith (East), Gail Fieler (Central), or Evan Asby (West) if you have an interest in becoming a Project Sponsor. A prospective ministry must have a sponsor before it can become an active project.