Helping Single Parents
       Helping the Community

Christ Our Shepherd has been such a blessing to my child and I. As a parent it's very difficult to leave your child daily in the care of others. Christ Our Shepherd gives me peace of mind, knowing that my child is safe and cared for by the many teachers who love him. He loves going to school and he learns so much everyday. I am so thankful to the entire staff at Christ Our Shepherd.

Carla White, Mom of Aiden Jarett

Over the past few years, I and my children have been blessed….and saved….by Christ Our Shepherd. First, for the incredible after-school program for my daughter, who at the time was in 4th grade and we needed to be at a place that offered guidance, security and love - and we found all of these and so much more with the wonderful people at Christ Our Shepherd. I cannot say enough about the program, the people, the true love and care bestowed upon us. Then when we were desperately seeking the same for a daycare/pre-school program for my son and had experienced a heartbreaking situation with a daycare in the area, we turned to Christ Our Shepherd. They immediately took us in, gave us hope for my son's safety and well being and have taught all of us the beauty of care through God's will and teachings. I am forever thankful for being led to Christ Our Shepherd. They are truly Christ's shepherds and our lives are forever enriched.

Thank you!
Molly Hedrick

Christ Our Shepherd is the only job that I have worked at that helps out single parents. When I first started working here I couldn't believe all of the different things they offered to the parents. There have been times where I needed money to pay a bill and I didn't have it and Christ Our Shepherd helped me out. There have been times where I didn't have groceries and they help me out also.

One of the single parent classes that was very helpful to me was the Budgeting Class that I took. That helped me out a lot because I have had a hard time trying to manage money and sometimes I still do, but just listening to the information they gave me was very, very helpful and I learned a lot as well.

Jesica Covington
Staff and Single Parent

Dear Ministry Leaders, for many years your ministry has remained on my heart because of the blessings you bestowed upon my precious granddaughters, Piper and Kaylynn Redlinger during their pre-school years. Finding your school and daycare was nothing short of a miracle for my son, Marcus. In 2004, his wife, and mother of Piper and Kalynn simply abandoned him with two small girls, ages 3 and 2 at the time. Among all of the stress and sorry of the situation, we prayed and asked God to find a school and day care for the girls, and the doors immediately opened to us at COS. Not only that, but the school demonstrated their love, provision, and concern for the girls and Marcus in so many ways…. Food at Thanksgiving, clothes for the girls, and love and support for all of them. We say first hand what it means to show the love of Christ in this world and I will never forget your love and graciousness to my precious family during those days.

Thank you for being willing to sacrifice and work for this ministry. My prayers are that God will continue to minister to so many struggling single parents and their precious children in a world that seems to have forgotten their needs.

God bless all of you and never forget how important the job is that God has given you.

Patty Graves
Grandmother

Just wanted to let you know how rewarding COS has been in our lives.

While researching summer camps for our son Alex, I remember COS' website and how it conveyed an acceptance and love for children as well as those children with differences. It made a great impact on us.

As you know our son, Alex, has a fairly severe speech/language disability, which has caused him to be socially immature as well as insecure with peer relationships.

Upon Alex attending COS last summer (2007), we noticed a dramatic change in Alex. No longer was he the quiet, insecure boy that we've come to know. He had blossomed under the love and acceptance of not only the teachers at COS but the children as well.

For the first time outside his home environment, Alex feels comfortable being totally himself - differences and all. For parents who have watched their child struggle to belong and be accepted, we feel truly blessed to have COS in our lives.

Words cannot express what COS, the teachers and children mean to us and our family. We are saddened that Alex's time at COS will end after this summer (2008) and hope that we'll be able to continue to find enriching and accepting situations like COS for Alex.

God Bless You!
David & Jay Fick, Parents

Aidan starts kindergarten tomorrow. I know he is ready because Miss Ulani and Miss Jessica have told us that he is, and you wonderful ladies have given him such a solid foundation from which to grow. I can't begin to thank you enough!

Tomorrow brings mixed emotions for me. I am so excited for what Aidan will learn and do, but I am so heartbroken that it is finally time for him to leave his Christ Our Shepherd home.

Three years ago, Aidan and I passed the COS campus every day after daycare. From John Street, I saw big, beautiful trees and a precious yard for little children to play in. Little did I know how much love COS would hold for my child and our family!

I could have never asked for a better place for my son to be while Rob and I were working. I don't know of any other place where we could have found a family like yours. Aidan has learned so much and I can't thank you enough for all of your patience, love and encouragement. Christ is alive and well at Christ Our Shepherd - all because of you!

We'll be back to visit, and you can always look forward to Christmas cards and updates about Aidan. I will never forget you and wish you all a lifetime of love!

Your friend,
Jennifer Johnson

Christ Our Shepherd has inspired me as a single parent. Spiritually and mentally. Spiritually it has shown me how important it is to keep God in your life and have faith because through God all things are possible.

Mentally it has helped me understand the wrong's and right's of society and what it takes to be an excellent single parent.

Lenora Robinson,
Staff and Single Parent