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Immanuel- God with us Matching Challenge

Dear Friend,
“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.” – Luke 2:10 Immanuel, which means “God with us,” changed everything. Hope arrived in Jesus. God had personally come to live among us, teach us, rescue and restore us, die for us, come back for us, and live in us through His Holy Spirit. Amazing! Inspiring! News we have to share!
In 2015, Show-Me shared that good news with a hurt, 16-year-old atheist who felt afraid, alone, and with little hope for a future:
Journey couldn’t fathom a God who loves and yet lets one of His children go through the awful things she endured as a child. If He was real, He was far away. That belief all changed at Show-Me. “God came to me through the people here,” stated Journey. “They didn’t just tell me about Him, they showed me Him by how they lived.” Seeing it through actions and not merely words, she began to believe. A few months later, she asked God to live in her heart and was baptized. This spring she will graduate and plans to go to college in the fall to study graphic design. God came alive to her at Show-Me!

YOUR continued support is a witness to Journey and the world that God is real – and He is WITH us – as Immanuel!

Here is one last opportunity in 2018 to share with children a “God with us” message. A group of donors just set a new Matching Gift Challenge to MATCH every gift given NOW until December 31st, 2018 – up to a total of at least $30,000 that is returned in the enclosed envelope or given online at https://www.showmehelpingkids.com/give/! I say “at least” because this challenge continues to grow as additional supporters step up to increase the matched amount.

Thank you for extending a hearty “God with us” message to the awesome kids at Show-Me! YOUR prayers and contributions ring the truth of Immanuel to young lives anxiously waiting to be rescued and restored.
Grateful for you,
Chad Puckett, Director

 

PS: Remember, your gift is DOUBLED and will have TWICE the impact
in response to this challenge! Make sure to postmark your gift by December 31st for 2018 tax benefits!
Double the Blessings for YOU and our children

By |2018-12-19T09:24:00-06:00December 19th, 2018|Categories: Child's Story, Children, Testimony|

World Changers – Making a Difference

by Belinda Smith

Just recently I heard one of our junior high boys say he wanted to make a difference in the world but he felt he wasn’t old enough to really do anything yet. We want our youth to understand that they can play a vital role in advancing the kingdom NOW. Everyone can do something right where they are, no matter their age. Three ways we are focusing on: PRAY, GIVE and GO. We can always pray, often give, and sometimes
we are even called to go. We created a visual on the wall so we can see how
Show-Me Christian School has reached out and made an impact on their family/school, community, country, and world throughout the school year: coloring on a gift sack used to encourage someone; baking cookies or raking leaves for a neighbor in the community; volunteering to help with Special Olympics or another event; giving money to help build an orphanage for those rescued from human trafficking; praying for churches, missionaries and organizations, spending a week in El Paso, Texas; or maybe even taking a trip out of the country….everyone can do something.
At the beginning of the year, the kids were asked a question: “How do you see God using you in the future to advance the kingdom?” My husband starting asking young people this when talking about the future, for the purpose of prioritizing God’s plan over our own. Also on the wall are pictures of each of our world changers next to how they want God to use them… future web designer, chef, actor, police officer, missionary, pilot, physical therapist, dog trainer, nurse,athlete, etc. Spreading the Word of God is not just for preachers and missionaries. We are all commanded to spread the Good News.

We greatly appreciate God’s provisions through our Show-Me friends that love and support us. At the same time, we don’t want our kids to ever feel entitled. It is our desire to teach our youth how to give back or pay it forward. We want them to be “others minded.” The best way to feel better is to do something nice for someone else. This has shown to be true with our students through the following comments after serving others in El Paso, TX, during our Fall break:

“I liked seeing how happy everyone was with the work we did on the church.”
– Ethan, 7th grade

“Something I’ll always remember is the overwhelming gratitude [of those we served]”
– Emily, 12th grade

“My favorite part was seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of the kids.”
– Josie, 10th grade

“Hanging out with all the kids and being a part of the VBS was my favorite.”
– Deonsay, 9th grade

When we serve others, we are both the giver and the receiver of the blessing. Service is rewarding and humbling. Our desire is to continue planning trips and projects that will give our youth experiences and perspective while reaching out to those in need but also to keep our eyes open to simply fill a need when we see it. We are raising world- changers who aren’t waiting for the future to make a difference. They are making a difference now!

By |2018-11-05T11:21:11-06:00November 5th, 2018|Categories: Child's Story, Children, Testimony|

New Image for Show Me Homes

Dear Friends,
‘Things don’t happen by chance, they happen by change.’
After celebrating 50 fantastic years of Show-Me Christian Youth Home, let’s launch into the next 50 with a fresh new image of what Show-Me is all about.  Let’s challenge the image of a “youth home” by exploring who needs a place like Show-Me and what the ultimate goal of this ministry truly looks like.
You, I, and the rest of the world, need Show-Me.  Not all of us will need to place a child here (but, honestly, if we ever find ourselves in that position, I’m glad we have a choice).  We need this ministry because there will always be vulnerable kids who need a home, a family.  As a Christ-follower, I have a unique opportunity and obligation to reach into their lives.  Christianity never looks more beautiful than when His people engage in the needs of the world around them.
The ultimate goal beyond the “Rescue” includes the “Restore.”  We strive to prepare each child for a healthy future and excellent eternity.  Healthy, restored, Christ-following adults make this world a better place for all of us.
Show-Me evaluated every aspect of the program and made significant changes and updates to reflect the needs of the children we serve.  Now, in this 51st year, let’s launch a new image of Show-Me Christian Youth Home!
I love the new image: fresh, inspiring, simple.  “Show-Me Homes,” what most folks call us anyway, and though “Christian” and “Youth” are no longer part of the branding, it will always be our driving force, as reflected boldly in our Mission:  “Compelled by Christ to Rescue and Restore Young Lives.”
Thank you for joining the force to reach into vulnerable lives, provide for their needs, and prepare them for a great future and eternity!
Blessed to Bless,
Chad Puckett
Director
By |2018-09-18T16:55:12-05:00September 18th, 2018|Categories: Celebration, Children, Events, Uncategorized|

More than Enough- Nothing is Impossible with God

Twenty-one years ago, as a single youth minister in Pittsburg, Kansas, God shook up my little world. I admired the work of Show-Me Christian Youth Home since my college days, as a volunteer with the Christian Campus House at Mizzou, and as an intern one summer. I intended to return “one day” to serve – “one day”, when married and with parenting experience. But, that day had not yet arrived. Nevertheless, my Father showed me the “multitudes” of children who needed a home and a family. They
longed for someone to invest in their lives, love them now and prepare them for a stable future. They were like shepherd-less sheep. Many prayers poured out for those kids, prayers for their provision and their security, prayers for them to have the home and families they deserve. I remember pleading with God. “Father, I see so many kids struggling without a home and family.” “Yes, I do, too.” “God, please provide them a home with a family who loves them.” “You do it. You take care of them. You provide their home. You become their family.”
“Me? I don’t have what it takes. God, those kids need a home with a father and a mother.” “A home with a father is better than no home at all.” At the end of a long list of excuses, He spoke tenderly to my heart: “Give me all you have and I promise I will make it more than enough.”

A Bachelor to the Rapture
A few months later, four boys started calling me “Dad.” God allowed me to be a father to some of the neatest kids I ever dreamed of meeting. I also served as Children’s Services Coordinator (aka “caseworker”) for all the kids at Show-Me. Gale and Karen Culler took me under their wings. I quickly caught their passion for this dynamic ministry.
I continued to long for the day I could provide these kids with a mother in the home. I prayed for her often, to have a passion for God and His work at Show-Me that rivaled my own. However, I started to accept the fact that I may be a “bachelor to the rapture.” With six boys in the home, I didn’t appear to be the most eligible bachelor in the world. And I was okay with that; God used single people to accomplish His purposes.

A Delivered Bride and 42 Children
Two  years into ministry, a beautiful young lady interviewed for an internship. Admittedly, I’m not a “romantic type,” but there were some sparks! Jennifer started her internship in January 2000; in May I asked her to be my bride; we married in August. My Father gave me a wife beyond what I ever asked or imagined! In 2007, after Gale retired, Karen chose me to be an Associate Director. I questioned God again,

whether I had the “right stuff.” Again, He said, “Give me all you have, and I will make it more than enough.” Unfortunately, I would have to end our houseparenting role in order to make it work. In 2008, God opened up a window for us to depart from parenting at Show-Me. In ten years, He had blessed me to be “Dad” to 42 children!
In 2011, the Board readied to choose a new Director, as Karen retired after 34 years. Many people assumed I would be the natural choice, but the ambition to be the Director never enticed me, personally. After all, my business cards lacked those fancy extra letters after my name. Plain ol’ Chad Puckett doesn’t have what it takes to oversee
this incredible ministry.

 

Knee Patches & Big Shoes
After a time of prayer and fasting, essentially begging God to find someone else, I  submitted my resume. God trumped my long list of self-identified disqualifications with that simple phrase, “You do it. Give me all you have and I will make it more than enough.” After two rounds of interviews with some impressive candidates, the Board chose me to succeed the Cullers in directing Show-Me. Terrified, I stepped into some really big shoes, relying on God like never before. The past seven years as Director seems like a few months. Tough days, long nights, successes, failures, and many
worn patches on my knees, I continue to remind God that this is His work, and I’m only here so He can get it done. Many times, I felt completely inadequate to do what
He asked me to do. Each time, my Father reminded me of the only miracle recorded in all four gospel accounts: Jesus feeding the 5,000. Jesus’ disciples saw the need: a  hungry crowd. They suggested a solution: send them away to fend for themselves.
Jesus directed them: “You give them something to eat.” They focused on their limitations: “We don’t have what it takes.” Jesus assured them that if they
give what they have, He will make it more than enough. He showed them the problem and invited them to become part of the solution.

How Can We Send them away?
I’m standing here again. I see more children who need homes and families and all the opportunities to face a great future and excellent eternity that Show-Me is set up to provide. Every program and procedure has been evaluated to assure successful
results. Tough decisions have been made, programs have been developed and refined.
I look back through my life, and the last 50 years of Show-Me Christian Youth Home, and clearly see His fingerprints all over the place. I look at the lives of kids who benefited from Show-Me and the ways they are contributing to our society today. I look at the kids who currently call Show-Me “home” and see their potential and determination, rooted in the security and support they receive today.

Amazing. Satisfying. Inspiring. And, all the credit goes to God working through His people.
Each day, I still see the multitudes of little faces of children who have yet to find “home.” Instead of asking my Father to send them away to fend for themselves or to fill their needs elsewhere, I am trusting Him to take what we have and multiply our resources so we can meet their needs. And, with eager expectation, I look to my Father– this time without excuses — but with full confidence knowing He can take whatever we have to offer and make it more than enough.

 

By |2018-08-12T19:31:02-05:00August 12th, 2018|Categories: Children, Houseparent, Testimony|

Twice the Blessings

Dear Friend of Show-Me,
PROGRESS. It is an essential ingredient to transform STRUGGLE into SUCCESS. If we are ever to leap from “what is” to “what could be,” progress is the small steps we must continuously make. As Winston
Churchill said, “continuous effort—not strength or intelligence—is the key to unlocking our potential.”

Recently, the smallest of lives reminded me of this truth. As we heard “Timmy’s”* name called out at the school awards ceremony, most of us in the audience began to tear up. Our cheers turned into a standingovation as he proudly made his way across the stage. His notable smile widened as he received the “Mr. Progress” award, a special honor given to the student who makes the most progress in a school year.

What an inspiring moment for a child! The opportunity to see his struggle turn into success! It was the culmination of an eight-year battle to overcome his continuous behavioral and learning issues. His teachers and Show-Me parents had exhausted many great ideas to try to help the
little guy. Nothing seemed to work to control his anger and hyperactivity. Timmy seemed to cause so many “problems” that it was easy to lose sight of the many problems he was trying to solve in his young life.

One Child’s Story: Timmy
Only three years old, Timmy, with his Mom and five young siblings, fled an abusive home and ended up at a women’s shelter. Knowing it was no place to raise kids, the ministry counseled Mom and told her of Show-Me. She hoped to place her children there for only a short time while the shelter helped her get back on her feet. Soon, that plan unraveled and mom ended up in jail. Not the ending we all hoped for, but at least the children could remain together. In the safety and stability of Show-Me, they discovered their academic, artistic, and athletic talents. They continuously earned Honor Roll and achieved numerous awards.

Each of the siblings found a way to thrive…except Timmy. He began to believe that he might never overcome his struggles. His “problems” were interwoven. Struggles in school led to acting out at home. The only way to solve one problem was to help him understand and deal with them all.

We approached his issues together from all angles.
• Counselors helped him to understand and talk about his past.
• His houseparents created an environment in which he could thrive with consistency and routines. Breaks were added to his studies so he could go outside and run out his extra energy.
• Our self-paced school gave him structure to focus and minimize distractions.
Feeling the love of so many people who believed in him and his future, something clicked! With an amazing attitude, congenial spirit, hard work and determination, Timmy is now embracing a new role for himself and finding success.

How can a child transform struggle into success? The number one factor is a team of support that never gives up. And, that’s exactly what Timmy had in his corner. A team, including YOU, who believes in each child’s potential and is ready to invest in their success. To challenge YOU to be a part of the next child’s team, an anonymous donor has offered to match your gift to Show-Me this summer. Every gift received by July 31st will be DOUBLED – up to a total of $20,000!You can make your donation here! So, let’s create more moments like these for the “Timmy’s” who haven’t had that moment, yet – a moment that makes an impact for a lifetime.
Thank you for believing in each of these young lives and being part of their team. With your support, together, we can turn their STRUGGLE into SUCCESS!

Awaiting the next moment,

Donation receipt signature

Chad Puckett, Director

By |2018-07-02T16:03:14-05:00July 2nd, 2018|Categories: Child's Story, Children, Uncategorized|

Christian School Honors

The past few weeks have been busy for the students and teachers of the Show-Me Christian School. We have celebrated both their academic and athletic accomplishments from the past year. Nearly all of our students participate in organized sports here at our main campus in La Monte. This past year, we had teams that competed in Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Archery, Track & Field, and Girls Softball. Our annual athletic banquet honored all of the hard work each of our athletes put in throughout the year. Some of our feature awards were: giving out six new varsity letter jackets, scholar athlete awards, given to students who participated in three sports while maintaining a 3.0 grade average, and we honored our Girls State Champion Track  & Field Team from 2017 with a special commemorative plaque.

We also honored all of our students at our annual academic banquet. During this banquet, each student is recognized with a Christ-like character trait. Teachers evaluate each student’s performance throughout the year, choosing the trait that the student most showed throughout the year. Each student really looks forward to hearing the trait each of their teachers sees in them. Some of the other honors given throughout the evening include: Supervisor’s Student award, given to the highest performing student in each classroom, three new inductions into the National Christian Honor Society, given to high school students who achieve not only high grades, but maintain high character, and Bible Memorization medals are given to students who memorized every monthly memory verses. 41 out of 45 of our students earned this medal.

We are proud of all of our kids, and all of their God-given talents! We cannot wait to see what the next school year holds.

By |2018-05-29T18:14:02-05:00May 29th, 2018|Categories: Academics, Child's Story, Children, Sports|

Mighty Man Coming Soon!!!

Many young lives have been touched by our VBS videos, Cowboy and Mr Blaine. They continue to be a great way for kids to learn about Show-Me Christian Youth Home and learn some great lessons about the love of Jesus.

We are excited to announce our new series – The Adventures of Mighty Man– the five-part series will be available for the 2018 camp and VBS season. The video series will take your kids on a fun, action-filled video series where they can find their own super powers to make a difference in the world through missions.

Your kids will be excited to journey with Mighty Man around Show-Me Christian Youth Home as he searches for his SPARK.  Each episode, they will learn about the true super powers God can unlock in all of us: unconditional love, wisdom, talents, trust, and faith in action.   

 

To check out the BRAND NEW Mighty Man Trailer, or if you would like more information about bringing The Adventures of Mighty Man to your church or camp, go here.

 

By |2017-06-27T10:13:51-05:00June 27th, 2017|Categories: Children|

Introducing the Graduates from the Class of 2017

Each of these young adults have earned their Path to Purpose diplomas. By achieving this milestone, each graduate will have access to $500 in emergency funds, assistance in purchasing their first vehicle, and whatever ongoing support they need to keep their momentum moving in the right direction.

Name: Destin McMurray
Years at Show-Me: 4 years
Graduate of: Show-Me Christian School
The Next Chapter: Attend State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, to specialize in Biomedical Engineering Technology. “I will help people by fixing the machines that are used to save their lives.”
Impact Show-Me had on his Life: “When I came here, I didn’t talk to anyone. I was shy and kept to myself. But, I learned how people think and what their actions mean. I have learned the confidence to be a leader.”

Name: Emma Novak
Years at Show-Me: 5 years
Graduate of: Grundy County High School
The Next Chapter: Become a PreMed student majoring in Biology at The College of the Ozarks. After college, I plan to continue onto Med School to become a Pediatrician and eventually travel as a medical missionary.
Impact Show-Me had on her Life: “Show-Me planted a seed in me for loving children and a yearning to help those in need.”

Name: Grace Brodersen
Years at Show-Me: 6 years
Graduate of: Show-Me Christian School
The Next Chapter: Major in Social Work at Missouri State University. “I want to help kids in foster care who don’t have a voice. I want them to feel loved, safe, and know someone is watching out for them.”
Impact Show-Me had on her Life: “I learned to forgive and love the people who hurt me. I had real control issues that I learned to let go. My biggest challenge was finding self-worth and knowing I am loved, but I know God overcame that for me.”

Name: Jenna Watkins
Years at Show-Me: 6 years
Graduate of: Show-Me Christian School
The Next Chapter: Attend Missouri Southern State University majoring in Early Childhood Education to one day become a Kindergarten teacher and Volleyball coach.
Impact Show-Me had on her Life: “Show-Me really is a family. It is all about family. You have lots of siblings, so you never feel lonely because there is always something going on.”

By |2017-06-03T18:22:18-05:00June 3rd, 2017|Categories: Children, Events, Path to Purpose|

Drysdale Unit Breaks Ground for New Home

On May 7, Show-Me Christian Youth Home (SMCYH) ceremonially started the construction of its new Reed Home at Drysdale Farm in Barnett with approximately 60 in attendance to make the occasion.

The addition of this new home will mark the first major step in expanding the current Drysdale Farm facility into becoming a campus community for the non-profit organization as modeled at the main campus in La Monte, Mo.

SMCYH is a faith-based organization aimed at helping young lives by providing a safe, stable, loving home to young people struggling because of circumstances in their current home environment, according to their mission statement.

“We face a challenge to rescue and restore even more young lives,” explained Director Chad Puckett. “The need exceeds our capacity. The Reed Home is the next opportunity to meet this challenge.”

The Reed Home will serve as a residential home for a new Show-Me family of up to eight children. Located just north of the current house at 19314 Jones Creek Road in Barnett, this second home will be approximately 3,500 square feet and will have six bedrooms.

The main construction will begin this summer and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2018. Like most of the homes at SMCYH, volunteers will assist in much of the labor.

“Show-Me’s story is our story: one person will tell me about how their church helped to put up the roof, another how they built the porch,” Puckett said. “The Drysdales or Reeds may have set aside the funding and dream, but it takes the whole community before a child can find safety under its roof. ”

The new home is named in honor of Ned and Louise Reed, who donated their property in Camdenton, to start the Camdenton Unit in 1988. Due to the close vicinity of the new highway directly next to the unit, it was closed in 2008. Funds were set aside to establish this new home at Drysdale.

By |2017-06-02T17:50:12-05:00June 2nd, 2017|Categories: Celebration, Children, Events|
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