PressPause HONORS LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE TEACHERS AND STAFF

Marcia Mitchell, Founder
Catherine Zollar, Stonecroft speaker,
Laura Francis, volunteer
Julie Harrelson, teacher

Today, July 19th, 2013, PressPause of Tulsa returned to the Little Lighthouse to celebrate with the teachers/staff/therapists/administration the end of their school year.

Chairman, Sharon Braner, Financial Coordinator Laura Francis and faithful volunteer, Patty Clay provided a free meal, a Stonecroft speaker (Catherine Zollar) lots of hugs, cheers and applause.

40 folks attended, 34 first timers for the Stonecroft Outreach Event. Gifts were awarded the teachers, interns were acknowledged and thanked, and a parent prepared video of the students and teachers past year was enjoyed.

Catherine Zollar presented her story of loss and redemption that brought laughter, tears and finally a standing ovation. The ladies loved her! A few sought her out for prayer at the close of the meeting as they realized their special connection to her story. The gospel was clearly presented through Catherines tale of grief, answered prayer and the hope she has in Jesus Christ.

It is a joy and privilege to serve the folks at the Little Lighthouse.

It truly is "more blessed to give than to receive."

PressPause RETURNS TO THE LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE

L-R: Speaker: Marty Hight, Sharon Braner
Rebecca Zehner, LaDawna Sanco, Laura
Francis, Carolyn Reiger, Patty Clay.

The parents of the Class of 2013 enjoyed the Little LightHouse Parent Dinner, May 2, 2013. Nineteen graduates of the very special school for children with disabilities will leave their beloved Tulsa school and next fall be mainstreamed into the public school system or be home schooled. 

Former LLH Alumni Parent, and Stonecroft approved speaker, Marty Hight shared stories of her daughter, Avery, who was not expected to survive at birth yet is now a thriving delightful thirteen year old. Marty encouraged the audience to become advocates for their child and to trust God's perfect plan for each one. Because Avery graduated from the LLH a few years ago, all the parents could relate to Marty's delightful laughter and tears.

PressPause volunteers served the free home-cooked dinner to thirty-eight moms, dads, teachers, and staff. Janet Renfro and Cheryl Brown also helped provide casseroles and desserts. At least thirty attendees were first time guests to any Stonecroft event. 

As the evening closed, nine people picked up the Stonecroft booklet, "A New Beginning."  Eight copies of the gospel of John were picked up by the parents also.

PressPause is honored to serve the folks at the Little Light House of Tulsa  by inviting them to "pause" and reflect upon the person and work of Jesus.  

PressPause Presents Human Trafficking Topic to Ladies Networking Group

PressPause was invited to the Bartlesville OK Women's Networking group April 18, 2013. The secular networking group consists of women in the community interested in educating and promoting issues concerning women that are current topics in our national debate. Previous speakers for this group presented arguments on the Equal Rights Amendment,  Evolution, Food Labeling, Women's Reproductive Rights, etc. This group is very active and their meetings are open to the public.

The topic last night was Human Trafficking.

PressPause Chair Sharon Braner and Financial Coordinator Laura Francis met with the leadership of the group for dinner before the meeting and then visited with the 20 folks gathered at the Bartlesville Public Library for the presentation. The 40 minute PowerPoint Human Trafficking presentation raised awareness and sparked discussion in the group. Information was given as how to be involved in fighting this crime, how to address pornography in our churches, and how to warn young boys and girls of danger. One woman shared the story of her 15 yr. old stepdaughter that went missing years ago and was never heard from again.  Two high school senior girls shared their desire to join the movement to combat Human Trafficking and their educational goals to pursue degrees in this area.
Another woman left making plans to organize a "pornography" seminar at her church.

The meeting was promoted in the local newspapers and several attended because of their interest in the topic.

The bondage of sin experienced by all mankind was compared with the bondage of being held by force, fraud and coercion. The group was encouraged to take the message of freedom offered by God into their communities.  Four Stonecroft "A Gift for You" booklets defining salvation and life with Christ were voluntarily picked up and taken home.

PressPause exists to take Stonecroft Speakers into the marketplace. We are thankful for the opportunity to speak to folks that would normally not attend the traditional Stonecroft events.

PRESSPAUSE SERVES THE LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE

TREES!  Felt trees with lots of buttons, leaves and fruit.

It might seem like a toy, but it is a critical tool used at the Little Lighthouse of Tulsa, OK,  the internationally famous school for children with severe disabilities. Children ages 0-6 attend the school at no cost to their families. Parents of all the major religions, and sometimes no religion, wait patiently for their child to be accepted as space allows.

PressPause Financial Coordinator, Laura Francis, was made aware of this expensive item and took it upon herself to provide trees for the children of the Little Lighthouse that struggle to see, breathe, and walk.  Helping them learn to "button up" is a huge step in their progress.  Laura purchased all the necessary parts and spent hours learning to make buttonholes on her new sewing machine. 106 butttonholes and 54 buttons later NINE trees were complete.

The trees will be delivered this week to a very appreciative and surprised therapist, at no cost to the school. Rather than having to share ONE tree with so many kiddos, the teachers now have TEN.

PressPause enjoys celebrating with the staff and parents as the children that were given no hope of a productive life learn to "button up."

Sometimes the love of Christ is delivered in unusual ways! 

STONECROFT SERVES

PressPause has been BUSY serving!

After hosting several events taking Stonecroft speakers into Tulsa businesses these past couple of years, we found ourselves right in the middle of SERVICE.

The Little Lighthouse, a school for severely disabled children, ages 0-6, has been the focus of our efforts.  The school enrolls 60 children per year, without charge to their parents. The waiting list for future students is long. Families that come to the school are of all faiths and denominations, some no church involvement at all. ALL are extremely grateful for the miracles that occur in that fabulous place.  Tiny bodies wracked with all kinds of ailments improve dramatically.

Funding is provided by school  fundraisers and generous donations. There are no government grants or subsidies.

Laura Francis, PressPause financial coordinator, led this effort by volunteering in a classroom for 3 yr olds for the past 3 years.  PressPause has made bibs for the children, paint shirts, craft trays, curtains for the classroom, provided toddler books in Spanish and Laura often cleans the room so the teachers can attend meetings. 

She has provided "kitchen utensils" for the class, aprons for the teachers and helped them cook every Wednesday.  Our most recent addition to the classroom is a hand-made and designed vest with pockets on the front and back that hold heavy bean bags.  Slipped on a struggling, wiggly child, it brings calm and peace to his little spirit. We will be providing more of these very effective vests soon.

Everything has been donated and we work from a "wish" list given to us by the teachers and therapists.

The friendships developed with the staff and the children are rewarding for all involved. We have recently been invited to host their "graduation" dinner for the parents of the 6 yr olds that will soon be mainstreamed into the public schools. PressPause volunteers will provide and serve a delicious meal while parents hear a speaker tell of Jesus and His love for them and their child.

Stonecroft Serves at the Little Lighthouse!

PressPause Returns to the Little Lighthouse

Sharon Braner, Janet Renfro, Carolyn Reiger,
Patty Clay and Laura Francis

On May 10, 2012 PressPause returned to the Little Lighthouse of Tulsa, OK.  to serve dinner to the parents of the graduating class.

The Little Lighthouse has been serving children with special needs from birth to age six since 1972. Upon graduation these children move into the public school system, private schools or are home schooled. Leaving the security and expertise of the Little Lighthouse can be a traumatic transitional time.

Twenty seven parents (thirteen daddies) all new to Stonecroft, attended.  Seven staff members encouraged the parents as five PressPause volunteers cooked and served. 

 Marty Hight of Tulsa gave the group tips on how to become an effective advocate for the children in the next phase of their education.  Her delightful humor and personal family stories were encouraging.  Marty shared how her strong faith in God gave her strength and joy in rearing her now 12 year old special needs child, Avery.  Full of confidence and sporting a big smile, Avery joined her mom as she spoke.

Marcia Mitchell, founder and CEO of the school welcomed the group and encouraged them to stay close to the faculty and staff who dearly love each child.  Her strong faith is the foundation of the school as it welcomes people of all faiths or no faith into the state-of-the art facility.  The Little Lighthouse is a Tulsa treasure that is changing  lives locally and has become an international resource as delegations from other countries visit the school.

Eighteen copies of the Gospel of John were picked up by the parents.

The volunteers of PressPause consider it a privilege to serve the parents and staff of this remarkable place.

 



Sharon Braner & Ellen Langland

May 3, 2012, National Day of Prayer, was the day and Tulsa First Baptist Church, Tulsa, OK was the setting.  The ladies of First Baptist invited PressPause Chair Sharon Braner to be the speaker for their spring luncheon.  Sharon shared her Stonecroft talk "What is Your Life Singing Today?"  Lots of laughter and musical memories were shared and Jesus was presented as the only ONE that can change our hearts, attitudes, emotions and life.

A former Stonecroft Village Missionary attended along with approximately 50 ladies that have never been involved with any Stonecroft Christian Women's Club.  New friendships were formed and plans to work together in the future were discussed.

The ladies agreed to sing the "song of redemtion" when they left the meeting, praying that when others look at them they would see Jesus first.