4

Visit our websites atwww.cherishcenter.org www.cherishhouse.org

KCompassion and Care

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

Paid Okoboji, IA

Permit No. 1003

Box 1003Okoboji, IA 51355712-338-3333

Address services requested

Physical Location: 1004 22nd Street, Milford,2 blocks south of Perkins712-338-3333 info@cherishcenter.orgMailing address: Box 1003, Okoboji, IA 51355

CHERISH HOUSE (maternity home for teens)

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING

PARENTS OF PREGNANT TEENS (support for parents)

RESOURCES FOR YOUNG MOMS (including pregnancy testing, coun-seling, adoption support)

MARRIAGE MATTERS Mentoring for married couples

CHERISHED WOMEN/CHERISHED KIDS (groups for moms)DOCKS (group for dads)

MENTOR MOMS/MENTORS FOR MENEARN WHILE YOU LEARN (parent training)

THEE GARAGE SALE (providing low and no-cost items for those in need)

NO APOLOGIES FOR TEENS/TWEENS (sexual abstinence training for teens)

FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE

Available at

feel sad, scared, lonely, and ashamed. But while they are at the Cherish House they get to learn about God and how He loves us. You’ll find love wherever God is. Love shown to the girls at Cherish House helps turn their life around. It helps change their life around because they finally feel that even though they haven’t made the best decisions in their life, someone still loves them. They get to have renewed hope for the future. “…some of the choices we have made in our lives haven’t pleased God….there is still time to return to the truth of God’s word and ask for forgiveness. If we don’t take action, ask for forgiveness, and change our ways, it will be too late. Jesus will return, bringing justice with Him, and we MUST be ready!” (by Jess Boehm)

Continued from page 1

Thank You...To those involved in the annual Plants to Cherish Sale. $10,000 raised!

To Grace United Methodist Church for hosting a pancake breakfast and raising dollars for Cherish House and our No Apologies, parenting, and counseling programs!

To all of the churches who have done the Baby Bottle Campaign for Cherish House. Contact Karen Kosse at 712-338-3333 on how to do this easy and fun activity.

Adoption Grant Given

Cherish Center is privileged to award adoption grants to couples from our supporting churches. The following

is from a recent recipient: We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the generous grant we were awarded for our adoption from Ethiopia. This process is lengthy and expensive, but we cling to the hope that we have been called by Christ to love the orphans of the world. We also have hope because people like you remind us that we are not alone. May the Lord continue to richly bless your ministry! Love in Christ, Chris & Kim Witt

KIn this IssueCherished Gifts . . . . . . . 2 Benefit Auction . . . . . . . 3Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Providing a HOME and HOPE for young women in need

Compassion and Care

Volume 12, Issue 2 • Summer 2011

BY JAN TURNER

While serving people in need, we are also

privileged at times to host an intern or a job-shadowing student who is searching out a career path in family services. One of these young women was Jess Boehm who chose Cherish Center as her project for her confirmation class. The following are brief statements from her paper that demonstrate her heart for young mothers who are facing the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy: “I chose Cherish Center to show compassion, mercy, and justice. I showed compassion by learning about Cherish House. Cherish House is a place where young girls who have found themselves pregnant can live until their baby is born. While at Cherish House, they learn that God will always care for them. I showed mercy by helping organize the Baby Boutique. That’s a little store in Cherish Center where expecting mothers can come and buy clothes for their babies with “Mommy Bucks” that they earn by going to a parenting class and counseling sessions. I learned about justice. These mothers to be who come to Cherish House normally

Continued on page 4

Baby Time

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Houseparents Kevin and Patti Johnson are preparing for an

exceptionally busy month as four girls at Cherish House prepare to deliver their babies. All four young mothers are due within a six-week period: Stephanie, Marysa, Kimberly, and Kandice (not pictured.) The girls have received good pre-natal care along with training, counseling, and personal support as they make decisions pertaining to both parenting their baby and placing their child for adoption. While at Cherish House, some of the girls have continued their education, one has completed her high school education, and the others have been working and/or volunteering. Staff members Kathy Holck and Counselor Missy Graves have been working with the girls on their future plans after their baby is born.K

Cherish Center has been able to serve people

because volunteers have invested a tremendous number of hours over the years. Pictured alongside are some of the 80+ volunteers who help at Thee Garage Sale, the plant sale, at Cherish House, and others programs of Cherish Center.

GOVERNOR’S AWARD Roger and Shirley Westphal

(Thee Garage Sale) and Karen Kosse (lead Mentor Mom and Baby Bottle Campaign Coordinator) were the recipients of the annual Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service at a ceremony in Storm Lake in July. Making the presentation was Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds.

2

GIVING FOR OTHERSK KTerry & Marcia SteffenOur moms Edith Cook and Frieda Jorgensen by Gordie & Mary Jo JorgensenSolomon & Isaac Shaffer by DeeDee & Casey ShafferHis mother Karen Kosse by Jeffrey KosseMr. & Mrs. Bud Walker’s 60th Anniversary by Skeeter & Sally LawrenceBob & Jenean Gunderson’s 50th wedding anniversary In Memory of:Gabrielle Renee Cardwell by Intersect and Rick & Dianne PorterKatherine “Kay” Stultz by Rev. Harry & Florene StultzBill Chaffin by Roger & Shirley WestphalBill Chaffin by George & Carolyn KrugerGilbert & Theresa Feldhacker by John & Linda CesnikFather Jim Fandel by Elmer & Beanie SteierAlma Osborne by Annette SchaefferDonald Christ by Skeeter & Sally LawrenceGraham Evan Petty by Scott & Julie PettyOur 3 miscarriages saved from this earth by Ken & Cheryl HesseniusElijah David by Jenni CunninghamClarence Kranz by Jodi MillerRose Simpson by Tami HorsmanBradley Graham and Bill & Lana Richards by Brad & Francel GrahamMarvin Int Veld by Martha & Jim Jones

Cherished gifts can be sent to Cherish Center

Box 1003, Okoboji, IA 51355

Mission Statement

To transform lives, strengthen families,

enhance communities."...I know what I am planning

for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you,

not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good

future." Jeremiah 29:11"This is pure and undefiled

religion, to visit orphans and widows in their

distress..." James 1:27

BOARD OF DIRECTORSLaurie Simington, President Mark Leiss, Vice President

Dave Butterworth, Secretary Pastor Russell Muilenburg Brad Olsen, Shelly Robison

Aimee DietzenbachEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jan TurnerCHERISH CENTER

OFFICE STAFF Jane Loveall,

Financial Adm Kathy Holck,

Client Services Emily Parrott,

Office Manager Missy Graves,

Staff Counselor Karen Kosse,

Lead Mentor Mom and Baby Bottle Coordinator

Shantel Pausley, Regional BBCHOUSE PARENTS

Kevin & Patti JohnsonRELIEF HOUSE PARENT

Dianne PorterCHERISHED WOMEN/

CHERISHED KIDS Kathy Holck, Patti Johnson

DOCKS Kevin Johnson

THEE GARAGE SALE Management Team:

Alice Leiss, Diana Jacobsen Warren Jager

Want to be a part of our Prayer Team?

Call our office 712-338-3333 cherish@milfordcable.net

www.cherishcenter.org

CherishedGifts

Joey Elbert by Jamie ElbertMy daughter Angela Johnson by Jo MegillDr. Ken Clayton by Melanie CarlsonElizabeth Coffin by Christy ThompsonHelen Keel by Collette RozeboomOur daughter by Thomas & Amy JohnsonAnn Marie Lewis by Stewart & Julie LewisRobert Batschelet by Ruth BatscheletSpenser Baskerville by Steve & Sandy BaskervilleFrances Ross by Robert RossPat Neilsen, mother of Mike Nielsen by the Papillion-LaVista South Titan Baseball TeamLolita Schmidt by Lisa & Gary PetersJune Sundblad by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne CarlsonPatricia Jones by Judy Ann Johnson

Cherished Friends (the adopt a day at Cherish House)Mark & Brenda OlsonBrian & Laurie BrueggemanTurner Jenness Family Funeral HomesJay & Kohlene LausenStewart & Julie LewisPat & Shirley GillespieKeith DiekeversConnie SteinDr. Steve & Sandy BaskervilleJeffrey & Aimee DietzenbachRuth BatscheletGrace United Methodist Church

In Honor of and/or for Mother’s DayJeanette Roetman by Carla RoetmanKenna Marie Roan and Rilynn Marie Mercer by Marietta Smith-KruseJan Turner by Tara RabenbergRemington Hyde by Richard & Dona HicksJake by Steve & Nancy LetcherBill Walton by Tammara DuhnPatricia Jones by Charles JonesMrs. Grace Haburn, Joyce Johnson, Mary Lou Hovda, and Virginia Bundy by Juanita PetersonGladys Zweifel by Donna HarmsApril & Shane by Ken & Cheryl HesseniusStephanie Niccum & her son Aiden Van Maasdam by Mark & Monica NiccumAnita Early by Shari FrerichsKevin and Patti Johnson & Missy Graves by Marla MuxenCarter Rekow by Paul RekowAlynn Ingledue by Jane KruseMy three amazing children by Julie EbelHeidi Steffen Mogush by

Make a "cherished gift" in honor of someone special!

3

CARING FOR OTHERSK KVolunteers and staff worked hard this

summer to pull off their first evening auction in order to help raise funds for an updated van for Cherish House. The evening’s event resulted in $4000 being raised. Pictured below are Warren Jager, Roger Westphal, Alice Leiss, Jacob Feather, Don Andresen, Monica Butcher and Austin, Robert Hoekstra, Matt VanDoorn, Shelly and Dr. Dave Robison, Scott Lemke, Ben VanDoorn and Bethany Van Rees

Benefit Auction To Purchase Van

Professional Counseling is available at Cherish

Center for children, students, adults, couples, and families. For those in need, we are able to underwrite some of the costs. Call Cherish Center at 712-338-3333 for more information.

Parenting Classes will begin this fall. Help

us spread the word. Call 712-338-3333 for more information.

“You Are Cherished” “I am Cherished”

That’s the phrase printed on the 150 beach balls given to kids and teens at the annual Praise in the Park Sunday morning service in July.

This annual event is a great way for people to join together across denominational lines.

Cherish House needs your help

in finding and funding a newer 8-passenger van. Dependable “wheels” are important for the multiple doctors’ appointments and getting to the hospital on time!