Seminarian

California

Elizabeth Daniel is a seminary student at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. She left Fort Myers in 2006 to begin her studies in 2007. Her concentration within the MDiv degree is Christian Formation and Discipleship. God has not yet revealed the direction He wants her to take or the kind of position He expects her to fill after she graduates from Fuller in Spring or Fall 2010. A member of Covenant Presbyterian Church since 1996, Elizabeth returned to Fort Myers in February 2008 to participate in the vote to leave the PCUSA as she has been an ardent supporter of the move to the EPC through the New Wineskins organization.  Now a member of New Hope, she is hopeful that she will go under the care and supervision of the New Wineskins in 2009.

Bill Loy

Lee County

Young Life is a non-denominational, Christian, non-profit organization that is committed to introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. Young Life staff and leaders are caring adults who strive to build positive relationships with teenagers. Through friendships as well as through club, Campaigners and camp, Young Life leaders get to know teenagers and gain their trust. Because of these relationships, leaders “earn the right to be heard” and can share the Gospel with their teenage friends. Young Life wants to reach every kid, everywhere, for eternity.

www.younglife.org

Kevin Cummings

Lee County

Teen Challenge believes in second chances. Their purpose is to facilitate life transformation for the boys, girls, men and women whose lives have been affected by issues like anger, rebellion, depression, drug use and/or abuse and other life controlling problems. They believe that by providing students with a fresh perspective, they will have the opportunity to realize their potential and reach their dreams. They believe in God’s ability to change a person’s life; and know that given the chance, every person can go on to lead a satisfying and purposeful life.

www.teenchallenge.cc

Ed & Annie Ravish

Lee County

The mission of The Gabriel House is unique: to rescue children who have been abandoned, discarded and who are in need of medical treatment. The vision is to rescue, rehabilitate and help these children reach their highest level of independence and functioning. The home provides a loving compassionate Christian environment which does not discriminate against race, creed or color. The target population is focused on children from birth to six years old. The healing power of love flowing freely to little children, coupled with the necessary medical treatment, has been close to miraculous. Over the past twenty years, many, many children have been rescued, medically treated and adopted across the United States. However, the healing does not stop after the medical treatment. The children take with them into their adoptive families a very powerful source of love.

www.gabrielhouse.org

Bill Harward

Lee County

InterVarsity is an evangelical campus mission serving more than 31,000 students and faculty on more than 580 college and university campuses nationwide. Incorporated in 1941, InterVarsity has a rich tradition of campus witness, thoughtful discipleship, and a concern for world missions.

www.intervarsity.org

Kathy Miller, President

Lee County

Since 1996 Lifeline Family Center has been providing young women in crisis pregnancy a safe home. It is a non-traditional maternity home modeling the love of God. During the-two year program, young moms develop confidence and maturity through spiritual guidance, professional counseling, character building and parenting classes, GED prep and career training.  Support and services are provided to birth mom and babies until the child’s second birthday.  Ultimately, moms learn to become God-dependent, self-supporting contributing members of society. Lifeline Family center is certainly successful at their goal of “changing the world - two lives at a time.”

www.lifelinefamilycenter.org

Sarah Owen, CCMI

Lee County

CCMI’s Soup Kitchen provides a noon time meal six days a week to men, women, and children in a traditional soup kitchen setting, nutritious packaged meals and beverages for the homebound hungry, a food pantry that provides emergency groceries to families in need, bagged lunches for the local labor pool and 2 nutritious meals a day for the children in our childcare center. The Soup Kitchen’s noontime meals provide a stable, dignified and healthy way for the temporarily or chronically homeless to receive a nutritious meal. The latest Lee County homeless census indicates that there are nearly 3,000 homeless men, women and children residing in the county, and the many that are located near the Center in the Dunbar area.

www.ccmileecounty.com/soupkitchen.html

Sarah Owen, CCMI

Lee County

CCMI’s Faith in Action Program seeks to keep the elderly in their homes, while maintaining their independence and quality of life. The frail elderly are matched with volunteer drivers who provide services such as transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping and friendly visiting. 2005 US Census Data indicates that 22.7% of Lee County residents are over the age of 65 which confirms a great need for services to assist the elderly in this area.

www.ccmileecounty.com/faithinaction.html

Zoeller Ministries, Inc.

United States

Zoeller Ministries serves two primary services. The first is the Zoeller’s outreach to the car racing community; providing prayer and spiritual support to race car drivers, their families and their fans. The second purpose is their ministry, Kids Racing for Life. This ministry provides an opportunity for children with cancer to experience automobile road racing up close and personal in a way few people ever get to and most people can only dream of. Stephen and Stephanie and a dedicated group of volunteers take the children and their families, usually 250+ people, to major race events. The “Kids” get to meet the drivers, receive autographed t-shirts and get a guided tour of the race facility. They also enjoy sitting in exotic sports and racing cars and for one hour each day, actually ride around the track with a professional driver; truly a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for children whose tomorrow may never come.

www.racerev.com

Sarah Owen, CCMI

Lee County

CCMI’s Hands and Hearts Childcare provides a state licensed childcare center for working poor families. Full time childcare is provided, at a reduced rate, to families who are working, living below 150% of the poverty level, and on the waiting list at Childcare of Southwest Florida. 40 children are currently enrolled at their childcare facility and 20 are on the waiting list. In June of 2007 we converted the Center to a Montessori pre-school in order to give the students the best possible education.   

www.ccmileecounty.com/handsandhearts.html

Amigo Center

Lee County

The Amigos Center mission is to provide the tools for success, primarily to immigrants of Southwest Florida and their families, to improve their quality of life. Their services include a Language Ministry that served 163 students in Spanish and English classes throughout Southwest Florida last year, a Social Services group that provides seminars and talks on succeeding in the US and provides help with hurricane and disaster recovery, and an Immigration Ministry offering family-based and country specific immigration and citizenship services.

www.amigoscenter.org

Sarah Owen, CCMI

Lee County

CCMI’s Meals on Wheels Program organizes, plans and administers the delivery of well-balanced and nutritious meals to the homebound; and does so at the lowest possible cost. One nutritious meal a day, five days a week (with extras for the weekend) are delivered by a team of volunteers regardless of the client’s ability to pay, to residents of Lee County who are unable to plan, shop for or prepare meals due to illness, disability or advanced age. In addition to the delivery of daily meals, they also deliver weekly or monthly HOPE (Helping Older People Eat) Bags to clients they have identified as in need of additional food items.

www.ccmileecounty.com/mealsonwheels.html