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.

MOM'S PANEL AT REDEEMER COVENANT CHURCH

Julie, Dorea, Sharita, Holly, Sharon

Redeemer Covenant Church of Tulsa, OK invited PressPause to it's campus Sunday, April 22, 2012.  The event was the Mentoring Mom's Spring Luncheon organized to celebrate their nine month program. Women of all ages and stages of life attended. A few babies accompanied their mommies.

Stonecroft's Mom's Panel presented the "Top Ten Things I've Learned or Am Learning" about parenting.  Sharita Bent shared her lessons of life with a toddler, Holly Tumpkin gave tips for moms of elementary age children, Julie Wilson talked about life with teenagers, Dorea Potter covered life lessons with college age kids and Sharon Braner gave lessons about being a mom of married children with children of their own. Dorea also presented the list of lessons learned by Caroline Casselberry who is on a mission trip to Honduras.  Caroline's story involves raising teenagers alone after the death of her husband.

A vital relationship with Jesus was presented as critical and  the source of patience, love and wisdom no matter what stage of parenting.

Forty ladies attended the event, thirty-four were first time guests at any Stonecroft outreach meeting. Several Stonecroft booklets, "A New Beginning," were shared as were the Pocket New Testaments, Gospel of John.  Contact numbers and e-mails were exchanged as new friendships were formed.

Carrie Storms organized the luncheon and heads the mentoring program at Redeemer. Amy Clark invited the panel to participate. It was a lovely day of encouraging women of all ages to connect with each other and their God. 

PressPause and Human Trafficking

First Baptist Church of Bartlesville, OK was the setting for Tulsa OK, PressPause p.s.46.10 Thursday April 5, 2012.
The "Adults on Mission" group invited Stonecroft speaker Sharon Braner to give a PowerPoint presentation explaining  modern day slavery known today as Human Trafficking. 38 members and 6 guests attended.  All were Stonecroft first-time guests.
Information was shared and a Q&A time  followed.  Jesus was presented as the deliverer from the bondage of sin that reigns in all hearts that have not surrendered to Him. He alone "sets the captives free."
Contacts were made and new friendships formed. Prayer and encouragement followed the presentation and  everyone left with a new awareness of people suffering in our communities that need our help.

PressPause p.s.40.10 Presents Human Trafficking

PressPause p.s.40.10 held an informal discussion on the topic of Human Trafficking September 26, 2011.   The Broken Arrow, OK  IBC Bank graciously offered the use of their community room for the gathering.  PressPause Chair, Sharon Braner gave a PowerPoint presentation with the help of Janet Renfro, new PressPause Board member. 

Fifteen women gathered (two of whom were new to Stonecroft) to hear the details of the fastest growing  crime that is enslaving hundreds of thousands of men, women and children annually.  Emotions surfaced as the statistics of many folks and the personal stories of a few women trapped in this modern day slavery were revealed. The group discussed child pornography, prostitution, teen Internet use, etc, and opportunities to reach out to people involved. 

Jesus was presented as the source of freedom from the slavery to sin and guilt, and the power to live righteously.  Those held against their will, the perpetrators of this crime, as well as we ourselves, are offered new life in Him.

The ladies left with a list of "how can I help,"  opened eyes, and a prayer for direction.

We agreed that it is painful but critical for us to  look beyond ourselves to see others that desperately need Jesus.

  

Happy Birthday - Tulsa OK PressPause p.s.46.10

On September 1, 2011  Tulsa OK PressPause p.s.46.10 will be ONE year old!  My, how time flies! It was one year ago that the Broken Arrow CWC birthed this baby.  Several committee members gathered on that day at the home of Joan Beavers for a baby shower/announcement/birth! It was a delightful experience and we all felt the nervous jitters new parents and grandparents often encounter. No one knew where this baby was heading, how she would grow and mature or where she would end up! Yesterday PressPause celebrated their one year anniversary with the Tulsa #2 group as they reminisced about many, many years of ministry and gathered for their last meeting  under that name.  Birthday cupcakes, balloons and party favors were shared with the ladies of all four Tulsa Stonecroft groups that attended the meeting  at the Indian Springs Country Club of Broken Arrow.  It seemed so appropriate to honor those fabulous women of past years of  Stonecroft ministry  and  celebrate this new baby at the same time.  

We've checked the baby's pluse and vital signs and are happy to report that she is up and walking!  During the past 12 months PressPause has been invited to TEN different businesses, homes,  country clubs, a school,  a retirement community, a bookstore, etc. and served over 270 people with 200 of those folks attending a Stonecroft event for the first time.  "Too many to count" copies of the Gospel of John printed in partnership through  the Pocket Testament League and Stonecroft were voluntarily picked up.  Hearts were softened as the Gospel of Jesus Christ was presented every time.  Several different Stonecroft speakers volunteered their time, voice and details of their lives.  What a great year this has been!

The PressPause calendar is filling up for this next year and we couldn't be happier about it.  New venues and partnerships are being explored.

Recently several CWC committee members have inquired about the popular topic of Human Trafficking wondering if it is appropriate for the traditional CWC meetings, so we've organized a free event for anyone that would like to preview this PowerPoint presentation in a smaller setting. (Men can come too.) If you're in the area and interested, you're welcome to PressPause from your busy life and consider how the person of Jesus Christ offers freedom for all of us....freedom from the slavery  and power of sin.  





 



ON THE ROAD TO TEXAS

PressPause p.s.46 took a road trip!  We (Chairman Sharon Braner and Financial Coordinator Laura Francis)  packed up our luggage, a computer, projector, screen, and cords of every kind imaginable and drove to Mansfield, TX August 10-11, 2011.  After consulting maps, two or three GPS devices, and a couple of phone calls to husbands we arrived intact.

The purpose of the trip was to present a PowerPoint Presentation on Human Trafficking to those lovely women of the Mansfield CWC.  Much more transpired!

After introductions and hugs, their lovely team informed us that this luncheon was their last.  Their club was ending their traditional monthly gatherings in that very upscale country club.  Attendance continued to slide, and finding people to fill the leadership roles were almost impossible.  Just telling the story brought tears to their eyes, they did not expect their efforts to end in this way.  THEN, they shared that they were continuing their Stonecroft Bible Studies, TEN in the area.  Over one hundred ladies from various neighborhoods were faithfully attending Bible Studies they had organized and were leading, not interested in the luncheons but VERY interested in the Word of God.  WOW!  We were so encouraged by their zeal and love for Stonecroft's mission of evangelism.

Now they plan to gather to PRAY and to seek new ways of meeting people in their community with the love of Jesus.  We were able to share with them how we had been taking Stonecroft speakers INTO the marketplace where people were already gathered, rather than inviting them to come to us.  The conversation got very exciting.  We prayed together, shared ideas and made promises to keep in touch and perhaps get together again for some brain storming and encouragement.  New friends for eternity!!!

Oh, yes, Human Trafficking was also shared.  After the pictures and shocking statistics, stories poured out of personal experiences of exploitation and  real fears for wayward children and grandchildren. Promises were made to speak up if (or when) abuse of women or children is identified. The motivated ladies vowed to keep their eyes and ears open, to closely monitor computers  in their own home, to give their daughters and granddaughters the teen-age quiz to start conversations about dating relationships,  and to talk to their husbands, sons and grandsons about the commonplace violence and disrespect toward women everywhere.

We came home confidant that those TX women are on the move.  This was not an ending for them but a brand new beginning that will take them places they never dreamed they would be.   They're moving on with a smile on their face and a zeal for the solution for all slavery from sin and bondage, the person of Jesus Christ.

Once again, we went to be a blessing and received a bigger one instead.  Isn't that the way it always works?