May News Letter

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Dear Friends and Family
Last month I gave you the great news that we finally received our long awaited Federal Non Profit Status or 501 (c) (3); so donations can now come straight to The Refuge rather than funneling through a church. This month I am pleased to tell you that we have found a property that we hope we can soon call the home of The Refuge. We are making an offer on it tomorrow June 3, 2008. It is located on Main Street in Pleasanton and backs right up to the city park. I think it is a good location and is in very good shape. It is small, but has plenty of space on the property to add on when that is needed. The lot is a full ½ acre. It is also an excellent building to add onto when we are ready. Because it has only one large and one really large room besides the bathroom, it will be easy to build in the rooms we need. We will need teams to help with the remodeling and decorating. If you or your church is interested in doing some of these things, let me know, and give me a date that you might be available. Since our property is adjacent to the park, some of you might want to consider a mission trip to work on The Refuge and combine it with teaching neighborhood Bible clubs in the park.

I actually put this picture in the news letter about three months ago as a place of interest and asked you to pray about it. Praise the Lord! I think He is answering those prayers.We only need approximately $30,000 more to purchase the property outright. Then after that, we will need supplies to fill our blessing rooms and offices.
We have a good start on some baby items thanks to my sweet daughter-in-law, Carolyn and some of you, my sweet friends. Thank you so much for the wonderful baby things you sent. Don’t I have a sweet daughter-in-law? God has blessed me so much with a wonderful family.

I participated in a health fair on May 7th with good results. Many people came by my table asking lots of questions and picking up information on the refuge.
Prayer requests:

For the owner of the property to accept our offer.

For God to provide the finances needed for us to purchase this property; so we can move forward.

For consistent finances to meet monthly commitments.

For more volunteers to turn in their applications- we need this immediately in order to have people trained before opening.

Up coming events:
In August we will have a booth at the Cowboy Homecoming in the park and may participate in the Cowboy Homecoming parade as well. If all goes as planned, we may be able to advertise our Open House for The Refuge Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center at this function!
In Him

ColleneMyers

The RefugeAtascosa Pregnancy Care Center

830-569-5883

TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com

http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13 NIV)

Dear Friends and Family

I have great news! We finally have our Federal Non Profit Status or 501 (c) (3). We are still looking at properties and hope to have a place soon. I hope you will all be considering what you can do to help once we get a place. We will need teams to help with remodeling, decorating, and we’ll need supplies to fill our blessing rooms and offices. If you are interested in doing some of these things, let me know, and I will start to put together a list of contacts, so I can let you know as soon as I do what needs to be done.

We had a great Board training class this month. All six of our board members were present. I can’t believe I forget to take the opportunity to get a picture with everyone in it. I still don’t have a good picture to show you.

I have continued to speak at various churches and next month we have the opportunity to participate in a health fair. Be in prayer for us concerning that on May 7th.

Prayer requests are:
For God to provide us with a property so we can move forward.
Consistent finances to meet monthly commitments.
More volunteers to turn in their applications.
Up coming events such as the health fair in May, Cowboy Homecoming parade and in the park in August as well as other functions not mentioned.

In Him
ColleneMyers
The Refuge
Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
830-569-5883
TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com
http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13 NIV)

PS

I wanted to share with you about something that I forgot last time. My granddaughters, Kathrynne, Madelyn and Noelle Myers, shown in these pictures along with little brother Jonathan, thought of a unique way to earn money to donate to the Pregnancy Center. They have been making cards for special occasions and selling them; and in addition they have been making chocolate covered pretzels and snacks and selling them during break at there home school co-op classes.

All of this was their own idea and through their own labor. Now I’m sure mom supervised, but she has assured me the girls did the work and the selling on their own. Last month they presented me with $34 , and are planning to continue selling their pretzels for a while. This might be a neat idea for children’s groups that would like to raise funds for the center. Thanks for allowing me to brag on my grandchildren.

In Him
ColleneMyers
The Refuge
Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
830-569-5883
TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com
http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13 NIV)

Dear Friends and Family,
I have been remiss in keeping you posted. Please accept my apology.
We had a wonderful time at the Love For Life Banquet! The program, including speakers Carol Everett and Lisa Rush with music by Strings of Grace and special music by Danny Myers, was great! The food prepared by Lupita Criado and her group from Hosanna Baptist Church was absolutely wonderful. We also had ice cream provided by Keith Shearrer of Kaleidoscoops. Everything was wonderful!
Over $13,000 was raised that night and we received commitments of over $1,200 per month to follow.
I am so excited! It is starting to look like we may be able to open soon. Please be in prayer for specific things.

Pray that:

• We will receive additional funds needed to purchase property and open the center.
  
• More ladies will hear God’s voice and step up and volunteer to serve at the pregnancy center.
  
• Other workers, men and women will be ready to do the work needed on the building God gives us.
  
• We will choose the right building/property that God has waiting for us.

I have found a small house on a large lot that I think may be a good location and starting building for us. It is small, about half the size we expect to need; so we will need to add on or possibly get another building on the same property at some point in the future. We could even possibly use this first building for a thrift store (at a later time) that could help provide income for the center and a place where we could distribute clothing to the mothers for their babies after adding another larger building fro the pregnancy center. Many Pregnancy Centers are now doing this with great success. Here are some pictures of the property I looked at. I believe it can be purchased for less than the asking price (possibly $50,000). In that case if we chose this house, we would only need another $35,000 to make the purchase. Please be in prayer.

• Address:812 N. MainPLEASANTON, TX 78064
• Type: Commercial for Sale
• Floors: Single Story
• Square Feet: 800
• Lot Size: 60 x 362 (1/2 acre)
• School District: Pleasanton
• Price: $60,000.00

• 

In Him
ColleneMyers
The Refuge
Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
830-569-5883
TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com
http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13 NIV

First Annual Love for Life Banquet Coming in February

Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center

Invites You to a
Fundraising Dinner
Love for Life

With Featured Speaker
Carol Everett
Of the Heidi Group

Carol Everett is unique because she comes with an overwhelming amount of experience in the area of abortion. Carol knows firsthand about abortion, having been both an abortion consumer and provider. Carol was involved in the operation of four abortion clinics from 1977 to 1983, overseeing 35,000 abortions. Carol experienced a change in her life when she came to know Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Today, she is committed to safeguarding the health of women and their babies all over this nation. She also speaks to the post-abortive men and women to offer a message of healing and hope.
Carol has spoken on national broadcasting programs with Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Dr. Marlon Maddox of Point of View, Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries on Truths that Transform, and Pat Robertson of the 700 Club.
Carol is president and founder of The Heidi Group which offers many services to pregnancy centers all across Texas.

Special Music by
Strings of Grace,
Billy and Danny Myers and Judy Sanders

The Strings of Grace believe they have been called to share the Gospel through music. They are a southern gospel/country/blue grass quartet made up of two couples, Mike and Linda Bender and Chuck and Becky Lum. They have performed frequently in the South Texas area. Their performance will be a real treat.
Billy and Danny Myers and their sister Judy grew up in South Texas as well. Their beautiful voices will bless your heart.

Join Us

Saturday, February 16, 2008
6 PM

At Cowboy Fellowship

Pleasanton, Texas

There is absolutely no charge to attend but please RSVP to Suzy Hull 830-769-3081, Abby Pawelek 830-570-4969, Caryl Hudson 210-254-4041, or Lisa Rush 830-569-8888
by February, 9, 2008 to reserve your seats.

Please join us for this very exciting and important event in the life of The Refuge.

In Him
ColleneMyers
The Refuge
Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
830-569-5883
TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com
http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13 NIV)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Dear Friends and Family,
We have been working on getting “The Refuge” Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center opened in the Pleasanton area for the past year or so. As the year is coming to a close it finally looks like we are getting closer to really getting opened. We are now incorporated and are sending off our paper work for non profit status (501 C 3) by the end of the year. We have been looking at property and have been doing fund raising events.

I have made many friends along the way as I have been involved in different mission endeavors and I count you among them. As we come to the end of another year, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers and support through the years. Our mission at The Refuge is to save the lives of many babies and to make Atascosa County a better place for our children and grandchildren. We want to teach the parents that come in to the center how to be better parents, and we want to introduce them to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I’m including some information from our flyer below; so you can see the kinds of services we will be offering. The flyer also includes donation information.I hope you will consider making a year-end gift to The Refuge to help us get opened. All gifts are tax-deductible. No matter if it is large or small, we will sincerely appreciate your support. I will make one promise to our supporters. That promise is this: I will be the best steward of your contributions that I can be.

We covet your prayers!Thank you again, and I pray for you to have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and blessed New Year. (See flyer info after sinature block.)

In Him
ColleneMyers
The Refuge
Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
PO Box 509, Pleasanton, TX, 78064
830-569-5883
TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com
http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13 NIV)

The Refuge

Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
The Refuge will offer free pregnancy testing and practical assistance through our programs

Ministry Purpose

To save lives in the name of Jesus. We have positive solutions concerning
unexpected pregnancies.
To provide free education, including parenting classes, to
mothers who decide to keep their babies.
To provide abortion recovery classes to those who have already experienced

Free Programs
Confidential pregnancy testing
Lay counseling, and spiritual counseling
Maternity clothes
Baby clothes, diapers and many other items
Parenting classes (before and after birth)
Teaching on healthy relationships, abstinence/sexuality, and STDs
Abortion recovery classes
And more

Opportunities for Partnership
Pray for us and our ministry.
Volunteer to work at the center or on a committee.
Give the gift of financial support.
Host a baby shower or fund raiser.
Share about our services with friends, co-workers, etc.
Invite us to speak at your church, civic group, or club.

Please join with us to make The Refuge a reality.
Make a monthly contribution or a one time gift.
In order to receive a tax deductible receipt, currently checks should be payable to Cowboy Fellowship or FBC Splendora.
After this year the checks can be made out to The Refuge, but for this year only, make checks out to one of these two churches mentioned above and put for The Refuge in the memo line. We will still get the money. This is just so you can have a tax deductible receipt. Thanks again. Collene Myers

September News Letter

Hi Everyone,

It has been a long time since I sent out an actual News letter and mailed it to all my non- email using friends and supporters. I am sorry for that. You get used to just posting things on the blog site and expect everyone to know what is going on with you. When I started to think about it I realized, if I am not reminded, I don’t go to blog sites and check up on my friends; so maybe they don’t do that either. I don’t want to loose track of you all. I want to remind you how important you have all been to my life and ministry.

I was working in my office trying to put away some things I brought home from my son and daughter-in-law’s house where they had been sitting for about two years. There were a lot of things from my time with Mercy Ships. I found an envelope with a bunch of cards and notes encouraging me when I broke my leg within the first month of sailing with Mercy Ships. Once I started reading them, I was encouraged anew. It is funny how Satan tries to attack us with the same old discouragements again and again by just packaging them a little differently. Many of you may not realize (because I haven’t been writing as much) that I have been quite discouraged from time to time since embarking on this new journey with God to start a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Atascosa County. Well I have, and your past words of encouragement touched my heart all over again. Thank you again! And please don’t stop thinking of me and praying for me. I need your prayers.
Here is one of the scriptures you sent me almost five years ago. It still works! Praise The Lord!!

“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow, for when your endurance is fully developed; you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” James 1:2-4.

We had a great steering committee meeting this month. We had 10 people in attendance. Praise the Lord! We discussed how to use the bottles donated by FBC Splendora, Texas for the “Baby Bottle Boomerang” fund raiser. We also received some large size bottles to place in businesses. We have already started to distribute them. We also made further plans concerning the fund raising banquet. Our hope is to have it before the end of the year.

On a personal note, I was blessed by Pastor Kerry(left) and Frenchy (right), from FBC Splendora! They came and chopped down and mowed the jungle I was living in. I didn’t have a lawn mower of my own and had been out of town quite a bit as well. I had bunches of small china berry trees growing everywhere. To make a long story short, it had really gotten out of hand. Praise the Lord again for the help of these two great guys!

Continue to pray for:
· Financial support
· Volunteers
· My personal finances and family situation.

God Bless you all!

In Him,
Collene Myers
The Refuge
Atascosa Pregnancy Care Center
830-569-5883
TheRefugeAtascosa@yahoo.com
http://www.therefugeinatascosa.blogspot.com/

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb."
(Ps. 139:13 NIV)