Vol. 16, Issue 4
Investors Like You Broaden Our Influence
During the Christmas season, we reflect on the loving sacrifice of our God, Who sent His only Son to secure our redemption. It is a season of great joy and hope.
However, for many it is also a season of sadness. At this time of year, we see a significant increase in calls for help. Souls burdened by life's challenges search for comfort amidst the season's pressures.
The hallmark of Jesus’ ministry was compassionate restoration. He lived among the broken, modeling a nonjudgmental approach that brought hope to the weary. Recently, a client shared how fear of judgment held him back from seeking help, but his heart was transformed when he encountered compassionate restoration—and was met with grace instead of condemnation.
This Christmas, perhaps the greatest gift we can offer is compassion. By creating a safe emotional space for those who are troubled, we reflect the heart of Jesus. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, may we also embody His love and extend the same compassion He so freely gave to us.
Thank you for partnering with us in this mission. Your investment makes it possible for us to continue to offer hope to the hurting. May God bless you and your family this Christmas season.
-Steve Swartz
HOH Founder / Executive Director
Forever Changed: A Story of Restoration and Hope
Thomas & Elizabeth Adamson
“About a dozen years ago, we were in marriage counseling. Even though it was a Christian counseling center, there wasn’t much emphasis on our spiritual life. Some of our deep, core emotional needs were not addressed. Then we heard about HOH from a family member who had done marriage mentoring at HOH and the impact on their lives was obvious.
When we came to Haven of Hope, we were struggling with honest communication, hearing each other, hurt and pain in our sexual relationship, moral failure, and emotional needs. It was difficult for us to describe these struggles because they were both familiar and overwhelming.
During our weeklong intensive, our mentor helped us to identify these painful areas and put words to them. The pain was unpacked in a safe and unhurried environment. The nightly exercises helped us to take ownership of the work. It was powerful to shine light on the hidden or forgotten parts of our hearts from our childhood years. We learned about the pressures of our past and our present, and how we respond to those pressures. Most importantly, in prayer we confessed our sins against each other as well as the wounds we inflicted on each other. We were given new pictures of our hearts, as being children loved and understood by Jesus.
Maybe for the first time in 25 years of marriage, it has become normal to be emotionally present and spiritually aware of one another. Knowing our pressure patterns has helped us to process how we interact with each other and how to be sympathetic to each other in the busyness of life. We are on a new journey of love and devotion where we can be heard and do not need to hide.”
From Our Clients-
Board Member Spotlight:
Bill & Kathy McGlone
We are blessed by couples who serve on our executive board of directors. It is a joy to introduce you to board members:
Bill & Kathy McGlone
Bill and Kathy met in eighth grade, but years later reconnected when Bill returned from the Navy. On their first date after his return, Bill shared with Kathy his life changing decision to follow Jesus. That night after hearing the gospel, Kathy asked Jesus into her heart.
Bill and Kathy share their testimony of how they became a part of HOH:
“At a time of deep struggle in our marriage, we attended a Caring for the Heart conference. We met with Steve and April for a mentoring session, and our marriage was forever transformed. We were blessed by the help we received, and we want other couples to receive this same healing.”
In addition to serving as the board president, Bill is also involved in the men’s ministry at their church, and Kathy is a support leader in their church’s women’s ministry, They celebrated 51 years of marriage and have three married children: Sarah (Bill), Jonathan (Andrea), and Jason (Mary).
Nothing Boring about the HOH Board!
A Heart to Care for Other Couples
Steve & Janeen Martin
Have you started the journey to cultivating your spouse’s and children’s hearts? Are you looking for a way to invest in this journey for the sake of Jesus? Maybe you should consider leading a Connection Group.
My wife Janeen and I started our "Caring for the Heart" journey approximately ten years ago at a Two Hearts One Flame Marriage Retreat in Pennsylvania. Following the retreat, we started implementing the Journey of My Heart tool. We learned to go to the Room of Grace instead of just reacting to each other. As we implemented these tools, we saw our family start to function more as a team and to care more for each other.
A few years later at another Two Hearts One Flame Marriage Retreat, Steve Swartz asked us to try out the new Building Block for Relationships (BBFR) materials he had written to help couples continue on their healing journey after their week of intensive mentoring in the office. My wife and I realized that we felt called to use our story and the BBFR tools to help other couples grow closer in their marriage journey. One night a week for seven weeks, my wife and I minister to other hurting couples in our home. We meet together with two other couples for about an hour to teach and model how to process spin cycles that may occur once a couple returns home to their normal routine.
Being a facilitator has tested and strengthened our relationship and has given both of us opportunities to choose humility and serve one another. We have a weekly opportunity to practice forgiveness ourselves and to better understand each other. Being a facilitator has allowed the Lord to use our journey to help others.
If you believe God is leading you to become a BBFR facilitator, then like Peter, ask Jesus, "Lord if it's you, tell me to come.” When we stepped out of our comfort zones and moved toward Jesus, He met us and is using us to help other couples.
—Steve & Janeen Martin
Follow us on Social Media
Haven of Hope invites you to check out our social media posts on Instagram and Facebook. We would love for you to also share us with a friend.
Recently, our posts have focused on unresolved emotional pain and its long term affects on how we view ourselves, how we view life, and how we view God. We looked at the generational effects of our emotional pain and how it can be passed on through emotional and behavioral contagion. We also included posts on what we need to do to emotionally heal and stay in emotional health.
During the holiday season, we will be including posts where you will be able to share your holiday traditions and memories.
To be inspired by these thought-provoking posts, check out Haven of Hope on Facebook and Instagram! Then Like-Follow-Share with your friends and family!
Megan and Caleb were at their tipping point as a couple when they came to Haven of Hope and experienced hope, understanding, and lasting change. Because we offer our mentoring services free of charge, couples like Megan and Caleb can get the help they so desperately need. Will you partner with us to care for couples in crisis?
